Measurement ofT20in Elastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering

We report on a measurement of the tensor analyzing power $T_{20}$ in elastic electron-deuteron scattering in the range of four-momentum transfer from 1.8 to $3.2{\mathrm{fm}}^{-1\mathrm{}}$. Electrons of 704 MeV were scattered from a polarized deuterium internal target. The tensor polarization of the deuterium nuclei was determined with an ion-extraction system, allowing an absolute measurement of $T_{20}$. The data are described well by a nonrelativistic calculation that includes the effects of meson-exchange currents.