Axial and pseudoscalar nucleon form factors from low energy pion electroproduction

Abstract

The cross section for exclusive ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}^{+}$ electroproduction on the proton has been measured near threshold for the first time at two different values of the virtual photon polarization (\ensuremath{\varepsilon}\ensuremath{\sim}0.2 and \ensuremath{\varepsilon}\ensuremath{\sim}0.7). Using the low energy theorem for this reaction we deduce the axial and pseudoscalar weak form factors ${\mathit{G}}_{\mathit{A}}$ and ${\mathit{G}}_{\mathit{P}}$ at \ensuremath{\Vert}t\ensuremath{\Vert}=0.073, 0.139, and 0.179 (GeV/c${)}^{2}$. The slope of ${\mathit{G}}_{\mathit{A}}$ agrees with the value obtained in neutrino experiments. ${\mathit{G}}_{\mathit{P}}$ satisfies the pion pole dominance hypothesis, which is thus verified for the first time in this range of transfer.