  We present a theoretical analysis of inclusive photoproduction of phi mesons
in nuclei. In particular the dependence of the total phi meson yield on the
target mass number is investigated. The calculations are done using the
semi-classical BUU transport approach that combines the initial state
interaction of the incoming photon with the coupled-channel dynamics of the
final state particles. The conditions of the calculations are chosen such as to
match the set up of a recent experiment performed at SPring8/Osaka. Whereas the
observables prove to be rather sensitive to the phi self energy in the medium,
the attribution of deviations from the standard scenario to a particular
in-medium effect seems to be impossible.
