Neutron Form Factors from Inelastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering

The differential cross section for quasielastic scattering of electrons from neutrons initially bound in deuterium has been measured at 90° and 120° laboratory angle for values of the four-momentum transfer squared equal to 11, 15, 20, 25, and 35 ${\mathrm{F}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$. The yield of momentum analyzed scattered electrons was measured using C${\mathrm{D}}_2$, C${\mathrm{H}}_2$, and C targets. The Durand theory for the effects of deuteron binding is used to extract experimental values for the ratio of the electron-neutron and electron-proton differential cross sections. Over most of the range of the experiment $\frac{{\sigma }_n}{{\sigma }_p}$ is between 0.3 and 0.5. The neutron form factors obtained are consistent with previous measurements at lower momentum transfer. $\left|G_{\mathrm{En}}\right|$ remains less than 0.3 and $\left|G_{\mathrm{Mn}}\right|$ continues its decrease towards zero with increasing momentum transfer ($\left|G_{\mathrm{Mn}}\right|<\mathrm{}0.2\mathrm{}$ at $q^2=35\mathrm{}$ ${\mathrm{F}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$).