The nuclear dependence of the inclusive inelastic electron scattering cross section (the EMC effect) has been measured for the first time in ${}^{10}\mathrm{B}$ and ${}^{11}\mathrm{B}$. Previous measurements of the EMC effect in $A\le 12$ nuclei showed an unexpected nuclear dependence; ${}^{10}\mathrm{B}$ and ${}^{11}\mathrm{B}$ were measured to explore the EMC effect in this region in more detail. Results are presented for ${}^9\mathrm{Be}$, ${}^{10}\mathrm{B}$, ${}^{11}\mathrm{B}$, and ${}^{12}\mathrm{C}$ at an incident beam energy of 10.6 GeV. The EMC effect in the boron isotopes was found to be similar to that for ${}^9\mathrm{Be}$ and ${}^{12}\mathrm{C}$, yielding almost no nuclear dependence in the EMC effect in the range $A=4\text{–}12$. This represents important new data supporting the hypothesis that the EMC effect depends primarily on the local nuclear environment due to the cluster structure of these nuclei.

• Received 8 July 2022
• Revised 21 April 2023
• Accepted 17 July 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.108.035201