Inelastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering Experiments and Nucleon Structure

Abstract

Inelastic electron-scattering experiments are reported for four-momentum transfers from 3.0 to 22.0 ${\mathrm{F}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$. The results of these measurements have been combined with values of proton cross sections measured in the same region of $q^2$ and have been analyzed in terms of a three-pole Clementel-Villi model for the isotopic form factors. Parameters appearing in this model have been adjusted by statistical methods. The minimum values of ${\chi }^2$ obtained show that the different blocks of information on elastic electron-proton and inelastic electron-deuteron cross sections measured at Stanford are consistent with each other. An important result of the analysis is that the cross sections cannot be fitted with only one $T=1\mathrm{}$, $J=1\mathrm{}$ multipion resonance, unless the effective mass of such a particle is taken to be approximately 600 MeV. This value is considerably lower than the accepted mass of the $\rho$ resonance. On the whole the agreement with other data on the proton form factors and neutron form factors is rather good, although there is still some disagreement with results on the charge form factor of the neutron.