Inelastic nucleon contributions in (e,e') nuclear response functions

We estimate the contribution of inelastic nucleon excitations to the (e,e') inclusive cross section in the CEBAF kinematic range. Calculations are based upon parameterizations of the nucleon structure functions measured at SLAC. Nuclear binding effects are included in a vector-scalar field theory, and are assumed to have a minimal effect on the nucleon excitation spectrum. We find that for q approx-lt 1 GeV the elastic and inelastic nucleon contributions to the nuclear response functions are comparable, and can be separated, but with roughly a factor of 2 uncertainty in the latter from the extrapolation from data. In contrast, for q approx-gt 2 GeV this uncertainty is greatly reduced but the elastic nucleon contribution is heavily dominated by the inelastic nucleon background. copyright 1997 The American Physical Society