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Title: Two-photon exchange in elastic electron-nucleon scattering

Journal Article · · Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 3T 2N2 (Canada)
  2. Jefferson Lab, 12000 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, Virginia 23606 (United States)

A detailed study of two-photon exchange in unpolarized and polarized elastic electron-nucleon scattering is presented, taking particular account of nucleon finite size effects. Contributions from nucleon elastic intermediate states are found to have a strong angular dependence, which leads to a partial resolution of the discrepancy between the Rosenbluth and polarization transfer measurements of the proton electric to magnetic form factor ratio, G{sub E}/G{sub M}. The two-photon exchange contribution to the longitudinal polarization transfer P{sub L} is small, whereas the contribution to the transverse polarization transfer P{sub T} is enhanced at backward angles by several percent, increasing with Q{sup 2}. This gives rise to a small, < or approx. 3% suppression of G{sub E}/G{sub M} obtained from the polarization transfer ratio P{sub T}/P{sub L} at large Q{sup 2}. We also compare the two-photon exchange effects with data on the ratio of e{sup +}p to e{sup -}p cross sections, which is predicted to be enhanced at backward angles. Finally, we evaluate the corrections to the form factors of the neutron and estimate the elastic intermediate state contribution to the {sup 3}He form factors.

OSTI ID:
20698995
Journal Information:
Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics, Vol. 72, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.72.034612; (c) 2005 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0556-2813
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English