Elastic Electron-Proton Scattering Cross Sections Measured by a Coincidence Technique

Abstract

We have measured elastic electron-proton scattering cross sections in the range of four-momentum transfers from 7 ${\mathrm{F}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$[0.27 ${(\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$] to 150 ${\mathrm{F}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ [5.84 ${(\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$] and at scattered electron angles of between 20\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 34\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} in the laboratory. The estimated errors in the cross sections range from \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.1% at the lowest momentum transfer to \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}9.6% at the highest. Both the scattered electron and the recoil proton were detected, resulting in an overdetermination of the kinematics. When the constraint of a coincident proton is removed, there is no significant change in the estimated cross sections.