Nuclear transparency from quasielasticA(e,e′p)reactions up toQ2=8.1(GeV/c)2

The quasielastic ${(e,e}^{\ensuremath{'}}p)$ reaction was studied on targets of deuterium, carbon, and iron up to a value of momentum transfer ${Q}^{2}$ of $8.1(\mathrm{GeV}{/c)}^{2}.$ A nuclear transparency was determined by comparing the data to calculations in the plane-wave impulse approximation. The dependence of the nuclear transparency on ${Q}^{2}$ and the mass number A was investigated in a search for the onset of the color transparency phenomenon. We find no evidence for the onset of color transparency within our range of ${Q}^{2}.$ A fit to the world's nuclear transparency data reflects the energy dependence of the free-proton--nucleon cross section.