Neutron Form Factors from High-Energy Inelastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering

Abstract

The inelastic electron-deuteron scattering cross section has been measured for incident electron energies between 300 Mev and 650 Mev and for final electron energies primarily at the maxima of the inelastic continua. The data were interpreted in terms of neutron form factors by employing the impulse approximation calculations of Goldberg. The results indicate that ${F_{2n}}^2$ is nearly equal to the proton form factor ${F_p}^2$ for $2.65<\mathrm{}{q}^2<15.1\mathrm{}$ ${\mathrm{}\left(\mathrm{fermi}\right)\mathrm{}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$ but may be 20% or 30% higher than ${F_p}^2$ for the lowest of these $q$ values. Uncertainties, primarily in the theory, make it impossible to determine whether the difference is real. The results also indicate that $-2.5<\frac{F_{1n}}{F_{2n}}<0.5\mathrm{}$ for $5.1<\mathrm{}{q}^2<12.8\mathrm{}$ ${\mathrm{f}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$.