Relativistic corrections in (e,e′p) knockout reactions -: art. no. 014604

A comparison between nonrelativistic and relativistic descriptions of the (e,e'p) reaction is presented. We use the nonrelativistic DWEEPY, code and develop a fully relativistic model starting from the effective Pauli reduction for the scattering state and the relativistic mean field theory for the bound state. Results for the O-16(e,e'p) differential cross section and structure functions an compared in various kinematic conditions. A limit in energy of the validity of the nonrelativistic approach is established. The effects of spinor distortion and of the effective momentum approximation for the scattering state are discussed. A satisfactory agreement with data of differential cross sections, structure functions, and polarization observables is achieved.