Neutron Form Factors from Quasi-Elastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering

Abstract

The differential cross section for quasi-elastic electron-deuteron scattering has been measured at the Cambridge Electron Accelerator in the four-momentum-transfer region from 7 to 115 ${\mathrm{F}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}f[0.27 \mathrm{to} 4.47 {(\frac{\mathrm{BeV}}{c})}^{2}]$. The method used involved a coincidence between scattered electrons and recoiling protons. Electrons without a high-energy proton in coincidence were assumed to be due to a neutron interaction. The impulse approximation as developed by Durand and McGee was used to extract from the data the ratio of neutron to proton cross sections. Neutron/proton cross-section ratios from deuterium were measured at ${q}^{2}=7,10,15,20,30,45,\mathrm{and} 70$ ${\mathrm{F}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ (at 20\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}); at ${q}^{2}=15$ ${\mathrm{F}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ (at 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}); and at ${q}^{2}=115$ ${\mathrm{F}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ (at 29.64\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}). It is shown that in the low-${q}^{2}$ region there are problems of theoretical interpretation. Finally, all available experimental data on the electron-neutron interaction are used to calculate values for the neutron form factors.