The Q^2-dependence of the Generalised Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn Integral for the Proton

Abstract

The dependence on Q^2 (the negative square of the 4-momentum of the exchanged virtual photon) of the generalised Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn integral for the proton has been measured in the range 1.2 GeV^2 < Q^2 < 12 GeV^2 by scattering longitudinally polarised positrons on a longitudinally polarised hydrogen gas target. The contributions of the nucleon-resonance and deep-inelastic regions to this integral have been evaluated separately. The latter has been found to dominate for Q^2 > 3 GeV^2, while both contributions are important at low Q^2. The total integral shows no significant deviation from a 1/Q^2 behaviour in the measured Q^2 range, and thus no sign of large effects due to either nucleon-resonance excitations or non-leading twist.