Electromagnetic form factors of the nucleon

Abstract

Elastic form factors provide information about the low energy structure of composite particles.Recent double polarization coincidence experiments significantly improved our knowledge of proton and neutron form factors. Recoil polarization measurements in the p(\vec e, e' \vec p) reaction proved that at momentum transfers above Q^2 \simeq 1.5 (GeV/c)^2 the electric form factor of the proton falls significantly faster than the dipole expectation. The close--to--dipole shape at low Q^2 of the neutron magnetic form factor is now confirmed by independent measurements. For the neutron electric form factor \vec ^3He(\vec e,e'n), \vec D(\vec e,e'n) and D (\vec e,e' \vec n) double polarization experiments have provided model independent results, within their statistical errors in agreement with the Galster parameterization.