Abstract
The neutron structure function F2n(x) is evaluated within the kinematic range 10−3<x<1 from the deuteron and proton data by employing relativistic theoretical description of F2D(x) and several assumptions on the high-x asymptotics of F2n(x)/F2p(x). It is shown that new measurements of F2D(x) in the range 0.6<x⩽0.8 would substantially improve understanding of the relation between d and u valence quarks in the limit x→1.
Highlights
The valence quark structure of the proton and neutron has for some time been assumed to be understood
In the considered kinematic range all three limits provide good approximation, which means that the solution for F2n(x)/F2p(x) converges in the range x < 0.6 to the virtually unique function described by Eq (8)
We have proposed theoretically justified and fully consistent procedure for extracting the neutron structure function F2n(x) in the kinematic range 10−3 < x ≤ 1 under three different assumptions on F2n/F2p at x = 1
Summary
The valence quark structure of the proton and neutron has for some time been assumed to be understood. It is extremely difficult to confront the predictions made for the limit x → 1 with measured values which have to be extrapolated to this limit This explains coexistence of numerous models of F2D(x) used in practice of measurements of F2n(x) as well as for motivating new experimental research into the valence quark structure. Most common misapprehension shows up in attempts to find an analogy (and even extrapolation rule) between the EMC effect and a modification of the nucleon structure inside the deuteron There is no such theoretical concept as the EMC effect, which is just a bare observation that F2A/F2D < 1 in a certain range of x.
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