Precise measurement of deuteron tensor analyzing powers with BLAST

Abstract

We report a precision measurement of the deuteron tensor analyzing powers T 20 and T 21 at the MIT-Bates Linear Accelerator Center. Data were collected simultaneously over a momentum transfer range Q=2.15-4.50fm -1 with the Bates Large Acceptance Spectrometer Toroid using a highly polarized deuterium internal gas target. The data are in excellent agreement with calculations in a framework of effective field theory. The deuteron charge monopole and quadrupole form factors G C and G Q were separated with improved precision, and the location of the first node of G C was confirmed at Q=4.19±0.05fm -1. The new data provide a strong constraint on theoretical models in a momentum transfer range covering the minimum of T 20 and the first node of G C. © 2011 American Physical Society.