On the Measurement of Sachs Form Factors in Processes without and with Proton Spin Flip

TL;DR

This paper clarifies the physical interpretation of Sachs form factors in electron-proton scattering and introduces a new method for their independent measurement using polarized initial protons.

Contribution

It establishes the physical meaning of the Sachs form factor decomposition and proposes a novel measurement technique involving polarized protons.

Findings

Clarified the physical meaning of Sachs form factors.

Proposed a new measurement method using polarized protons.

Enhanced understanding of proton structure measurements.

Abstract

The physical meaning of the decomposition of the Rosenbluth formula into two terms containing only squares of Sachs form factors has been established. A new method has been proposed for their independent measurement in the $e \vec{p} \to e \vec{p}$ elastic process when the initial proton at rest is fully polarized along the direction of motion of the final proton.