Charged pion form factor between $Q^2=0.60$ and 2.45 ${\mathrm{GeV}}^2$. I. Measurements of the cross section for the ${}^1\mathrm{H}(e,e^{\text{'}}{\pi }^{+})n$ reaction

Cross sections for the reaction ${}^1\mathrm{H}(e,e^{\text{'}}{\pi }^{+})n$ were measured in Hall C at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) using the high-intensity Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) to determine the charged pion form factor. Data were taken for central four-momentum transfers ranging from $Q^2=0.60$ to 2.45 ${\mathrm{GeV}}^2$ at an invariant mass of the virtual photon-nucleon system of $W=1.95$ and 2.22 GeV. The measured cross sections were separated into the four structure functions ${\sigma }_{\mathrm{L}},{\sigma }_{\mathrm{T}},{\sigma }_{\mathrm{LT}}$, and ${\sigma }_{\mathrm{TT}}$. The various parts of the experimental setup and the analysis steps are described in detail, including the calibrations and systematic studies, which were needed to obtain high-precision results. The different types of systematic uncertainties are also discussed. The results for the separated cross sections as a function of the Mandelstam variable $t$ at the different values of $Q^2$ are presented. Some global features of the data are discussed, and the data are compared with the results of some model calculations for the reaction ${}^1\mathrm{H}(e,e^{\text{'}}{\pi }^{+})n$.