Nuclear transparency

Nuclear transparency is the ratio of cross-sections for exclusive processes from the nuclei to those of the nucleons.

If a nuclear cross-section is denoted as $$\sigma_N$$ and free nucleon cross-section as $$\sigma_0$$, then nuclear transparency can be defined as

$$T= \sigma_N/A\sigma_0$$, where $$\sigma_N$$ can be parameterized in terms of $$\sigma_0$$ as $$\sigma_N =A^\alpha \sigma_0$$.

Therefore, transparency can be expressed as $$T= A^{\alpha -1}$$.

Here, nucleon cross-section can be thought of as a hydrogen cross-section, and nuclei cross-section can be as for other targets.