How well do we know the neutron structure function?
We present a detailed analysis of the uncertainty in the neutron F{sub 2}n structure function extracted from inclusive deuteron and proton deep-inelastic scattering data. The analysis includes experimental uncertainties as well as uncertainties associated with the deuteron wave function, nuclear smearing, and nucleon off-shell corrections. Consistently accounting for the Q{sup 2} dependence of the data and calculations, and restricting the nuclear corrections to microscopic models of the deuteron, we find significantly smaller uncertainty in the extracted F{sub 2}n/F{sub 2}p ratio than in previous analyses. In addition to yielding an improved extraction of the neutron structure function, this analysis also provides an important baseline that will allow future, model-independent extractions of neutron structure to be used to examine nuclear medium effects in the the deuteron.
- Research Organization:
- Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF), Newport News, VA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-06OR23177
- OSTI ID:
- 1043441
- Report Number(s):
- JLAB-THY-11-1450; DOE/OR/23177-1869; arXiv:1110.3362; PRLTAO; TRN: US1203157
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review Letters, Vol. 108, Issue 25; ISSN 0031-9007
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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