Photoproduction of mesons in nuclei at GeV energies

Abstract

In a transport model that combines initial state interactions of the photon with final state interactions of the produced particles we present a calculation of inclusive photoproduction of mesons in nuclei in the energy range from 1 to 7 GeV. We give predictions for the photoproduction cross sections of pions, etas, kaons, antikaons, and ${\pi }^{+}{\pi }^{-}$ invariant mass spectra in ^{12}C and ^{208}Pb. The effects of nuclear shadowing and final state interaction of the produced particles are discussed in detail.

Comments: Text added in summary in general reliability of the method, references updated. Phys. Rev. C (2000) in press