Medium modifications of the neutron charge form factor

Abstract

We discuss the behavior of the neutron charge form factor in a nuclear environment using the framework of a chiral πρω Lagrangian. For momentum transfers of 0.4 (GeV/c${)}^2$ and larger, the medium renormalization of fundamental meson parameters leads to a sizable decrease in the neutron charge form factor. This effect might be seen in an upcoming high-precision experiment to determine the electric form factor of the neutron through scattering of polarized electrons from polarized ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$. We also find that the effective nucleon mass and axial-vector coupling constant $g_A$ are quenched.