Meson Clouds and Nucleon Electromagnetic Form Factors

In contrast with common non-relativistic lore, the usual Sachs form factors are not the Fourier transforms of charge or magnetization densities. Instead, the two-dimensional Fourier transform of the electromagnetic F1 form factor is the charge charge density of partons in the transverse plane. An analysis of the available data for neutron form factors leads to the result that the neutron charge density is negative at the center, and that the square of the transverse charge radius is positive. This contrasts with many expectations. Additionally, the use of measured proton form factors leads to the result that the proton’s central u quark charge density is larger than that of the d quark by about 80%. The proton (neutron) charge density has a long range positively (negatively) charged component indicative of a pion cloud.