Electron Scattering for Nuclear and Nucleon Structure

This 2001 book, now OA, examines the motivation for electron scattering and develops the theoretical analysis of the process.

John Dirk Walecka (Author)

9781009290593, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 9 February 2023

380 pages
25.4 x 17.8 x 1.9 cm, 0.72 kg

'Walecka is a leading nuclear theorist who has been strongly associated with electron scattering work at each of these world-class facilities, and he is undoubtedly uniquely qualified in this field … the present book is thus long-awaited masterly exposition of the field by its leading international proponent. In all respects this is an impressive and scholarly tome … it is hard to imagine this work being bettered in the near future, and it will surely now stand as the textbook in the field for many years to come. It deserves to be read by any serious student of the field.' R. F. Bishop, Contemporary Physics

The scattering of high-energy electrons from nuclear and nucleon targets provides a microscope for examining the structure of these tiny objects. The best evidence we have on what nuclei and nucleons actually look like comes from electron scattering. This 2001 book examines the motivation for electron scattering and develops the theoretical analysis of the process. It discusses our theoretical understanding of the underlying structure of nuclei and nucleons at appropriate levels of resolution and sophistication, and summarizes experimental electron scattering capabilities. Only a working knowledge of quantum mechanics and special relativity is assumed, making this a suitable textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses. It will also provide a valuable summary and reference for researchers already working in electron scattering and other areas of nuclear and particle physics. This text has been reissued as an Open Access publication on Cambridge Core.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Motivation
2. Pictures of the nucleus
3. Some optics
4. Why electron scattering?
5. Target response surfaces
6. Why coincidence experiments?
7. Units and conventions
Part II. General Analysis: 8. Electromagnetic interactions
9. Multipole analysis
10. Dirac equation
11. Covariant analysis
12. Excitation of discrete states in (e, e*)
13. Coincidence experiments (e, e* X)
14. Deep inelastic scattering from the nucleon
15. Polarization in deep inelastic scattering
16. Parity violation in inclusive electron scattering
Part III. Quantum Electrodynamics: 17. Basic elements
18. Radiative corrections
Part IV. Selected Examples: 19. Basic nuclear structure
20. Some applications
21. A relativistic model of the nucleus
22. Elastic scattering
23. Quasielastic scattering
24. The quark model
25. Quantum chromodynamics
26. The standard model
27. Parity violation
28. Excitation of nucleon resonances
Part V. Future Directions: 29. TJNAF(CEBAF)
30. Other facilities
31. Future directions
Appendixes.

Subject Areas: Educational: Physics [YQSP], Physics [PH]