Meson Exchange Effects on the Electromagnetic Structure of the Deuteron

Abstract

In a recent paper, Adler and Drell reported on a calculated effect of the $\rho \pi$ mesonic exchange current on the electromagnetic interactions of the deuteron. The present paper describes more fully the method of calculation used and discusses the confrontation of the results with more recent large-angle elastic electron-deuteron scattering experiments. The most striking aspect is that at $q^2$ values of 6, 7, and 8 ${\mathrm{}\left(\mathrm{fermi}\right)\mathrm{}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$ the recent data are in excellent agreement with the present theory, but the magnetic scattering does not agree with the predictions of the older and well-studied impulse approximation.