Elastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering and Possible Meson-Exchange Effects

Data on elastic electron-deuteron scattering is obtained using a two-spectrometer coincidence-detection technique. Preliminary analysis of the data has been compared with an impulse approximation theory and has enabled the investigation of possible meson-exchange and/or relativistic effects. The measurements were made using a 1.2 cm thick liquid deuterium target and two 180 degree N=1/2, double-focusing magnetic spectrometers. Deuterons were deflected by a 72-inch, 100 MeV/c spectrometer and detected by a six-channel ladder of plastic scintillators. Electrons were deflected by a 36-inch, 550 MeV/c spectrometer and detected by a similar five-channel ladder with a liquid Cerenkov backing counter. The solid angle was defined by the 36-inch spectrometer. By demanding a coincidence between counts from each spectrometer, background events from competing inelastic processes were eliminated. De3ayed accidental coincidence rates were monitored. (Author)