Large Q2 electrodisintegration of the deuteron

TL;DR

This paper investigates deuteron disintegration at high momentum transfer to probe small internucleon distances, focusing on electromagnetic interactions and final state interactions using new theoretical approaches and comparing with experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces a new prescription for bound nucleon effects in electromagnetic interactions and applies generalized eikonal approximation to model final state interactions at high Q^2.

Findings

Rescattering peaks at ~70° recoil nucleon angle.

Forward angles are optimal for small-distance deuteron studies.

Comparison with data supports the GEA model predictions.

Abstract

The break up of the deuteron is studied at high $Q^2$ kinematics, with main motivation to probe the deuteron at small internucleon distances. For this, two main issues are studied: electromagnetic interaction of the virtual photon with the bound nucleon and the strong interactions of the produced baryons in the final state of the reaction. Within virtual nucleon approximation we developed a new prescription to account for the bound nucleon effects in the electromagnetic interaction. The final state interaction at high $Q^2$ kinematics is calculated within generalized eikonal approximation ~ (GEA). Comparison with the first experimental data confirm GEA's early prediction that the rescattering is maximal at $\sim 70^0$ of recoil nucleon production relative to the momentum of the virtual photon. Also the forward recoil nucleon angles are best suited for studies of the deuteron at small distances.