Neutron Form Factors from Quasi-Elastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering

Abstract

The differential cross section for quasi-elastic electron-deuteron scattering has been measured at the Cambridge Electron Accelerator in the four-momentum-transfer region from 7 to 115 ${\mathrm{F}}^{-2\mathrm{}}f\left[0.27\mathrm{} \mathrm{to} 4.47 {\left(\frac{\mathrm{BeV}}{c}\right)}^2\right]$. The method used involved a coincidence between scattered electrons and recoiling protons. Electrons without a high-energy proton in coincidence were assumed to be due to a neutron interaction. The impulse approximation as developed by Durand and McGee was used to extract from the data the ratio of neutron to proton cross sections. Neutron/proton cross-section ratios from deuterium were measured at $q^2=7,10,15,20,30,45,\mathrm{and} 70$ ${\mathrm{F}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$ (at 20°); at $q^2=15\mathrm{}$ ${\mathrm{F}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$ (at 90°); and at $q^2=115\mathrm{}$ ${\mathrm{F}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$ (at 29.64°). It is shown that in the low-$q^2$ region there are problems of theoretical interpretation. Finally, all available experimental data on the electron-neutron interaction are used to calculate values for the neutron form factors.