$P$- and $D$-State Contributions to the Charge Form Factors of ${\mathrm{H}}^3$ and ${\mathrm{He}}^3$

The method of Sachs is used to obtain explicit expressions for the $P$- and $D$-state components of the ground-state wave functions of ${\mathrm{H}}^3$ and ${\mathrm{He}}^3$, under the assumption that they have $T=\frac{1}{2}$ and $J^P={\frac{1}{2}}^{+}$. The effect of a reasonable admixture of these components on the electric charge form factors of the two nuclei is calculated, and it is found that the striking difference between the observed charge form factors cannot be accounted for in this way. It seems most likely that a combination of $S^{\prime }$-state and $T=\frac{3}{2}$-state admixture might provide an explanation of this effect without leading to disagreement with other experimental observations.