Neutron structure function $F_2^n(x)$ from deep inelastic electron scattering off few-nucleon systems

Abstract

The possibility of a reliable extraction of the neutron deep inelastic structure function, $F_2^n(x)$, for $ x < 0.85$ from joint measurements of deep inelastic structure functions of deuteron, $^{3}He$ and $^{3}H$ is investigated. The model dependence in this extraction, linked to the possible different interactions between nucleons in nuclei, is shown to be weak, if the nuclear structure effects are properly taken into account. A combined analysis of the deep inelastic structure functions of these nuclei is proposed to study effects beyond the impulse approximation.