Quasi-Elastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering and Neutron Form Factors

The cross section for inelastic electron-deuteron scattering has been measured in the four-momentum transfer region corresponding to $q^2=0.389\mathrm{} \mathrm{to} 6.81$ ${(\mathrm{B}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^2$ ($q^2=10\mathrm{} \mathrm{to} 175$ ${\mathrm{F}}^2$). The impulse approximation was used in the form given by Durand to interpret the deuteron cross sections as the sum of free-proton and free-neutron scattering cross sections. Using elastic electron-proton scattering cross sections obtained with a hydrogen target and using the Rosenbluth equation, neutron form factors were obtained at $q^2=0.389, 0.623, 0.857, 1.17, \mathrm{and} 1.75$ ${(\mathrm{B}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^2$. Upper limits on the form factors were extracted from the $q^2=2.92, 3.89, \mathrm{and} 6.81$ ${(\mathrm{B}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^2$ data. No evidence for possible core terms was found in either form factor.