The Nucleon Elastic Form Factors

Abstract

The nucleon elastic form factors are of fundamental interest, provide a unique testing ground for QCD motivated models of nucleon structure and are of critical importance to our understanding of the electromagnetic properties of nuclei. Even after an experimental effort spanning nearly 50 years the nucleon form factors are still the subject of active investigation. Advances in polarized beams, polarized targets and recoil polarimetry have been exploited over the last decade to produce an important and precise set of data. I review the status of the experimental efforts to measure the nucleon elastic form factors.