Pion electroproduction on the nucleon and the generalized GDH sum rule

Abstract

Results of the recently developed unitary isobar model (MAID) are presented for the spin asymmetries, structure functions and relevant sum rules in the resonance region. The model describes the presently available data for single-pion photo- and electroproduction in the resonance region below Wcm = 2 GeV very well. It is based on Born terms and resonance contributions, and the respective multipoles are constructed in a gauge-invariant and unitary way for each partial wave. The eta production is included in a similar way, while the contribution of more-pion and higher channels is modeled by comparison with the total cross sections and simple phenomenological assumptions. Our evaluation of the energy-weighted integrals is in good agreement for the proton but shows big discrepancies for the neutron.