Deuteron relativistic charge distributions

Abstract

We study the relativistic 2D charge distributions in the case of a spin-$1$ target. These charge distributions are based on a phase-space approach allowing one to study their frame dependence, and hence to relate the familiar rest-frame picture with the light-front picture developed in the last two decades. Like in the spin-$1/2$ case, we show that relativistic kinematical effects associated with spin are responsible for the distortions of the charge distributions seen in a moving frame. Applying our results to the deuteron, we observe a mild frame dependence compared to the nucleon case.