Inelastic electron scattering from nuclear matter

The response function, which is directly related to the cross section for inelastic scattering of electrons from nuclear matter, is calculated with the help of a time-dependent perturbation theory using a separable potential. All diagrams through second order in the interaction are computed and their contributions compared. The self-energy problem is examined, and it is concluded that a Hartree-Fock approximation is preferable to one which attempts to takeK-matrix insertions into account. Results for the response function are compared with those of previous workers.