Electron-deuteron scattering in a relativistic theory of hadrons

Abstract

We review a three-dimensional formalism that provides a systematic way to include relativistic effects including relativistic kinematics, the effects of negative-energy states, and the boosts of the two-body system in calculations of two-body bound-states. We then explain how to construct a conserved current within this relativistic three-dimensional approach. This general theoretical framework is specifically applied to electron-deuteron scattering both in impulse approximation and when the $\rho \pi \gamma$ meson-exchange current is included. The experimentally-measured quantities $A$, $B$, and $T_{20}$ are calculated over the kinematic range that is probed in Jefferson Lab experiments. The role of both negative-energy states and meson retardation appears to be small in the region of interest.