Measurement of tensor polarization in elastic electron-deuteron scattering in the momentum-transfer range 3.8 <= q <= 4.6 fm-1

Transition between nuclear and quark-gluon descriptions of hadrons and light nuclei

We provide a perspective on studies aimed at observing the transition between hadronic and quark-gluonic descriptions of reactions involving light nuclei. We begin by summarizing the results for relatively simple reactions such as the pion form factor and the neutral pion transition form factor as well as that for the nucleon and end with exclusive photoreactions in our simplest nuclei. A particular focus will be on reactions involving the deuteron. It is noted that a firm understanding of these issues is essential for unravelling important structure information from processes such as deeply virtual Compton scattering as well as deeply virtual meson production. The connection to exotic phenomena such as color transparency will be discussed. A number of outstanding challenges will require new experiments at modern facilities on the horizon as well as further theoretical developments.

Precise measurement of deuteron tensor analyzing powers with BLAST

We report a precision measurement of the deuteron tensor analyzing powers T(20) and T(21) at the MIT-Bates Linear Accelerator Center. Data were collected simultaneously over a momentum transfer range Q=2.15-4.50 fm(-1) with the Bates Large Acceptance Spectrometer Toroid using a highly polarized deuterium internal gas target. The data are in excellent agreement with calculations in a framework of effective field theory. The deuteron charge monopole and quadrupole form factors G(C) and G(Q) were separated with improved precision, and the location of the first node of G(C) was confirmed at Q=4.19±0.05 fm(-1). The new data provide a strong constraint on theoretical models in a momentum transfer range covering the minimum of T(20) and the first node of G(C).

Spin-momentum correlations in quasielastic electron scattering from deuterium

The spin-momentum correlation parameter A(V)(ed) was measured for the 2H-->(e-->,e'p)n reaction for missing momenta up to 350 MeV/c at Q2 = 0.21 (GeV/c)(2) for quasielastic scattering of polarized electrons from vector-polarized deuterium. The data give detailed information about the deuteron spin structure and are in good agreement with the results of microscopic calculations based on realistic nucleon-nucleon potentials and including various spin-dependent reaction mechanism effects. The experiment reveals in a most direct manner the effects of the D state in the deuteron ground-state wave function and shows the importance of isobar configurations for this reaction.