Quasi-Elastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering and Neutron Form Factors

Abstract

The cross section for inelastic electron-deuteron scattering has been measured in the four-momentum transfer region corresponding to ${q}^{2}=0.389 \mathrm{to} 6.81$ ${(\mathrm{B}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$ (${q}^{2}=10 \mathrm{to} 175$ ${\mathrm{F}}^{2}$). The impulse approximation was used in the form given by Durand to interpret the deuteron cross sections as the sum of free-proton and free-neutron scattering cross sections. Using elastic electron-proton scattering cross sections obtained with a hydrogen target and using the Rosenbluth equation, neutron form factors were obtained at ${q}^{2}=0.389, 0.623, 0.857, 1.17, \mathrm{and} 1.75$ ${(\mathrm{B}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$. Upper limits on the form factors were extracted from the ${q}^{2}=2.92, 3.89, \mathrm{and} 6.81$ ${(\mathrm{B}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$ data. No evidence for possible core terms was found in either form factor.