Measurements of Elastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering at High Momentum Transfers

Abstract

Measurements of cross sections for elastic electron-deuteron scattering were made over a range of four-momentum transfers squared from 14.4 to 35.4 ${\mathrm{F}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$. Incident electrons of energies 4.419 and 4.910 BeV were scattered from a liquid-deuterium target and detected in coincidence with the recoil deuterons. Measurements of a combination of the charge and electric quadrupole moment form factors were obtained from the cross sections, and detailed comparisons were made with theoretical predictions based on wave functions derived from nucleon-nucleon scattering experiments. Good agreement was found with a few of the wave functions used. Theoretical estimates of meson-exchange-current enhancements and relativistic effects were also compared to the data.