Theoretical Interpretation of the NE18 Experiment on Nuclear Transparency in A(e,e'p) Scattering

The spectral function, measured in $A(e,e'p)$ reactions, is distorted by the final-state interaction of the struck proton with the residual nucleus. This causes a broadening of the observed transverse-momentum distribution which is large even in the $d(e,e'p)$ reaction. We discuss the effects of this $p_{\perp}$-broadening on the nuclear transparency measured in the recent NE18 experiment. Within conventional Glauber theory we can describe the measurements. Transparency effects are thus small in agreement with our earlier predictions.