Experimental Study of the Magnetic Structure of the Neutron

Abstract

A measurement of the ratio of the magnetic form factor of the neutron to that of the proton has been carried out by comparing large- and small-angle elastic electron-deuteron scattering at constant four-momentum transfers. The experimental result for the average value of the ratio in the range of momentum transfers from 1.6 ${\mathrm{f}}^{-1\mathrm{}}$ to 2.25 ${\mathrm{f}}^{-1\mathrm{}}$ is $\frac{F_{2n}}{F_p}=(0.91\mathrm{}\pm 0.05)\pm 0.07$; the first error is a standard deviation arising from experimental uncertainties, and the second from theoretical uncertainties in the analysis. Measurements of the ratio of the nucleon isotopic scalar form factors have also been obtained from this experiment. The average value of $\frac{{F_2}^s}{{F_1}^s}$ for the same range of momentum transfers has been found to be (+0.06±0.09) ±0.13. The small-angle scattering data have been used to determine the charge form factor of the deuteron in the range of momentum transfers from 0.98 ${\mathrm{f}}^{-1\mathrm{}}$ to 2.8 ${\mathrm{f}}^{-1\mathrm{}}$. The results are consistent with a repulsive-core model of the deuteron.