The Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn (GDH) sum rule connects the anomalous contribution to the magnetic moment of the target nucleus with an energy-weighted integral of the difference of the helicity-dependent photoabsorption cross sections. The data collected by HERMES with a deuterium target are presented together with a re-analysis of previous measurements on the proton. This provides a measurement of the generalised GDH integral covering simultaneously the nucleon-resonance and the deep inelastic scattering regions. The contribution of the nucleon-resonance region is seen to decrease rapidly with increasing $Q^2$. The DIS contribution is sizeable over the full measured range, even down to the lowest measured $Q^2$. As expected, at higher $Q^2$ the data are found to be in agreement with previous measurements of the first moment of $g_1$. From data on the deuteron and proton, the GDH integral for the neutron has been derived and the proton--neutron difference evaluated. This difference is found to satisfy the fundamental Bjorken sum rule at $Q^2 = 5$ GeV$^2$.
The value of the GDH integral, as a function of Q**2 , for the deuteron in three W**2 regions, the total ( > 1 GeV**2), the nucleon resonance ( 1 to 4.2 GeV**2) and the DIS (4.2 to 45 GeV**2).
The value of the GDH integral, as a function of Q**2 , for the proton in three W**2 regions, the total ( > 1 GeV**2), the nucleon resonance ( 1 to 4.2 GeV**2) and the DIS (4.2 to 45 GeV**2).
The value of the GDH integral, as a function of Q**2 , for the neutron in three W**2 regions, the total ( > 1 GeV**2), the nucleon resonance ( 1 to 4.2 GeV**2) and the DIS (4.2 to 45 GeV**2).
The dependence on Q^2 (the negative square of the 4-momentum of the exchanged virtual photon) of the generalised Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn integral for the proton has been measured in the range 1.2 GeV^2 < Q^2 < 12 GeV^2 by scattering longitudinally polarised positrons on a longitudinally polarised hydrogen gas target. The contributions of the nucleon-resonance and deep-inelastic regions to this integral have been evaluated separately. The latter has been found to dominate for Q^2 > 3 GeV^2, while both contributions are important at low Q^2. The total integral shows no significant deviation from a 1/Q^2 behaviour in the measured Q^2 range, and thus no sign of large effects due to either nucleon-resonance excitations or non-leading twist.
The GDH integral as a function of Q2 in the resonance region (W**2 = 1 to 4.2 GeV**2), the measured region (W**2=4.2 to 45 GeV**2), and the total region (W**2= 1 to 45 GeV**2).
The virtual photon absorption cross section differences [sigma_1/2-sigma_3/2] for the proton and neutron have been determined from measurements of polarised cross section asymmetries in deep inelastic scattering of 27.5 GeV longitudinally polarised positrons from polarised 1H and 3He internal gas targets. The data were collected in the region above the nucleon resonances in the kinematic range nu < 23.5 GeV and 0.8 GeV**2 < Q**2 < 12 GeV**2. For the proton the contribution to the generalised Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn integral was found to be substantial and must be included for an accurate determination of the full integral. Furthermore the data are consistent with a QCD next-to-leading order fit based on previous deep inelastic scattering data. Therefore higher twist effects do not appear significant.
Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn sum rule for proton as a function of Q2.
Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn sum rule for neutron as a function of Q2 (integral spans from Q2/2M to infinity instead of zero to infinity, see paper).
Cross section difference for the proton data. Statistical errors only.
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