Measurement of the magnetic form factor of the neutron.

Abstract

The [sup 2]H([ital e],[ital e][prime][ital n])[sup 1]H quasielastic cross section was measured at [ital Q][sup 2] values of 0.109, 0.176, and 0.255 (GeV/[ital c])[sup 2]. The neutron detection efficiency was determined by the associated particle technique with the [sup 2]H([gamma],[ital pn]) reaction for each of the three neutron kinetic energies. These [sup 2]H([ital e],[ital e][prime][ital n]) measurements of the coincidence cross sections are the first at low [ital Q][sup 2]. The cross sections are sensitive primarily to the neutron magnetic form factor [ital G][sub [ital M]][sup [ital n]] at these kinematics. The extracted [ital G][sub [ital M]][sup [ital n]] values have smaller uncertainties than previous data and are consistent with the dipole parametrization at the two higher momentum transfers; at the lowest momentum transfer, the value of [ital G][sub [ital M]][sup [ital n]] is [similar to]10% higher than the dipole value.