Study of the p(e,e'π⁺)n electro-production reaction: form factor and electromagnetic radius of pion

After having recalled the definitions and theoretical knowledge on the form factor and electromagnetic radius of hadron and pion, and discussed the relationship between electro-production and form factor for the pion, this research thesis recalls some theoretical aspects of the electro-production process. The author discusses the reaction kinematics and shows how the electro-production cross section can be broken down in terms of photon polarization. Then, he focuses on the cross section dynamic structure. After having recalled the different possible choices for amplitudes, he studies their behaviour, firstly within the framework of the Born approximation, and then within the framework of commonly used models, notably to take the resonant part of the phenomenon into account. The limits of the different models are outlined. The second part addresses the study of forward electro-production. The author shows how the pion form factor can be simply optimized. The author describes the experimental arrangement: electron beam and liquid hydrogen target, detection system, normalisation device, data acquisition logics. In the next chapter, the author describes how data are recorded until the obtainment of N electro-production events. Results are then interpreted in terms of form factor and electromagnetic radius. They are also compared with published results obtained with other electro-production experiments or measurements based on other processes