Electroproduction of Pions from Hydrogen and Deuterium

Abstract

The absolute cross section for direct production of pions in electron-proton and in electron-deuteron collisions has been measured by the detection of inelastically scattered electrons. Proton data have been taken throughout the range of $q^2=2.6\mathrm{}$ ${\mathrm{f}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$ to $q^2=10.75\mathrm{}$ ${\mathrm{f}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$, and center-of-mass energy $E=1100\mathrm{}$ Mev to $E=1300\mathrm{}$ Mev. Data analysis has been in terms of a neutron magnetic moment distribution. Comparison with available theory yields a neutron rms magnetic moment of 1 f, but better theoretical calculations may change this value somewhat. No theory for the electroproduction of pions from deuterons exists at present. The deuteron data are presented in terms of absolute cross sections as well as in terms of a deuteron-proton cross-section ratio.