Electromagnetic structure of A = 2 and 3 nuclei in chiral effective field theory
The objectives of the present work are twofold. The first is to address and resolve some of the differences present in independent, chiral-effective-field-theory ({chi}EFT) derivations up to one loop, recently appeared in the literature, of the nuclear charge and current operators. The second objective is to provide a complete set of {chi}EFT predictions for the structure functions and tensor polarization of the deuteron, for the charge and magnetic form factors of {sup 3}He and {sup 3}H, and for the charge and magnetic radii of these few-nucleon systems. The calculations use wave functions derived from high-order chiral two- and three-nucleon potentials and Monte Carlo methods to evaluate the relevant matrix elements. Predictions based on conventional potentials in combination with {chi}EFT charge and current operators are also presented. There is excellent agreement between theory and experiment for all these observables for momentum transfers up to q {<=} 2.0--2.5 fm{sup -1}; for a subset of them, this agreement extends to momentum transfers as high as q ~ 5--6 fm{sup -1}. A complete analysis of the results is provided.