Octet Dominance of Baryon Matrix Elements and the Vanishing of the Neutron Charge Radius

The baryon form factor $g_V$ of the vector current is investigated. We demonstrate that the $d$-type contribution to $g_V$ is proportional to the matrix element of a decuplet operator between baryon states. Hence, if a dynamical mechanism exists which suppresses such matrix elements, the neutron charge form factor will be small even for nonzero $q^2$. This provides an explanation for the observed vanishing of the neutron charge radius.