KL-Nucleus Total Cross Sections between 30 and 150 GeV: Quantitative Evidence for Inelastic Screening

We have obtained high-statistics, virtually systematics-free $K_L$-nucleus total-cross-section data for C, Al, Cu, Sn, and Pb from 30 to 150 GeV. These cross sections have an $A^{0.84\pm 0.01}$ dependence over most of the momentum range, in agreement with the Glauber-Franco model. Their magnitudes are, however, not compatible with that model alone: The discrepancies are clearly resolved once one allows for inelastic screening within the nucleus. The data strongly support the theory of this latter effect as given by Karmanov and Kondratyuk.