We calculate quasi-exclusive scattering of a virtual photon and a proton or pion in nuclear targets. This is the first complete calculation of “color transparency” and “nuclear filtering” in perturbative QCD. The calculation includes full integrations over hard interaction kernels and distribution amplitudes in Feynman-$x$ fractions and transverse spatial separation space b. Sudakov effects depending on b and the momentum transfer $Q^2$ are included. Attenuation of the hadronic states propagating through the medium is calculated using an eikonal Glauber formalism. Nuclear correlations are included explicitly. We find that the color transparency ratio is comparatively insensitive to theoretical uncertainties inherent in perturbative formalism, such as choice of infrared cutoff scales. However, the $Q^2$ dependence of the transparency ratio is found to depend sensitively on the model of the distribution amplitude, with end-point-dominated models failing to be dominated by short distance. Color transparency experiments should provide an excellent test of the underlying theoretical assumptions used in the PQCD calculations.

• Received 2 February 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.62.113009