Pion and proton form factors in the Regge description of electroproduction $p(e,e'\pi^+)n$

TL;DR

This paper analyzes pion electroproduction above the resonance region using a Regge model, emphasizing the roles of pion and proton form factors, and demonstrates improved data description at high momentum transfer.

Contribution

It introduces a Regge-based model with a simple dipole proton form factor that better fits experimental data compared to previous models.

Findings

Enhanced fit to DESY and JLab data at high Q^2 and -t

Proton form factor significantly influences electroproduction modeling

Regge model with dipole form factor outperforms existing models

Abstract

Electroproduction of $\pi^+$ above the resonance region is analyzed in the Regge model for $\pi+\rho$ exchanges. Importance of the roles of pion and proton form factors in the process is discussed in comparison with existing models of Kaskulov and Mosel, and of Vrancx and Rychebusch. It is shown that the present model with proton form factor of a simple dipole-type yields a better description of DESY and JLab data over those models for high $Q^2$ and $-t$ region up to 5 GeV$^2$.