Subtracted dispersion relation formalism for the two-photon exchange correction to elastic electron-proton scattering: comparison with data

TL;DR

This paper develops a subtracted dispersion relation approach to improve predictions of two-photon exchange corrections in elastic electron-proton scattering, comparing the formalism with experimental data for various observables.

Contribution

It introduces a novel subtracted dispersion relation formalism specifically for two-photon exchange corrections in elastic electron-proton scattering.

Findings

The formalism provides improved agreement with experimental data.

It accurately describes unpolarized cross sections and polarization transfer observables.

The approach enhances understanding of two-photon exchange effects.

Abstract

We apply a subtracted dispersion relation formalism with the aim to improve predictions for the two-photon exchange corrections to elastic electron-proton scattering observables at finite momentum transfers. We study the formalism on the elastic contribution, and make a detailed comparison with existing data for unpolarized cross sections as well as polarization transfer observables.