The problem of the final state interaction, in quasielastic ${(e,e}^{\prime })$ scattering at large $Q^2,$ is investigated by exploiting the idea that the ejected nucleon needs a finite amount of time to assume its asymptotic form. It is shown that when the dependence of the scattering amplitude of the ejected nucleon on its virtuality is taken into account, the final state interaction is decreased. The developed approach is simpler to implement than the one based on the color transparency description of the damping of the final state interaction, and is essentially equivalent to the latter in the case of the single rescattering term. The ${(e,e}^{\prime })$ process on the deuteron is numerically investigated and it is shown that, at $x=1,$ appreciable finite formation time effects at $Q^2$ of the order of $10\hspace{0.5em}(\mathrm{GeV}{/c)}^2$ are expected.

• Received 28 April 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.62.034606