27-10-2012, 10:52 AM
Electron-Deuteron Scattering with HERA, a Letter of Intent for an Experimental Programme with the H1 Detector
ABSTRACT
This document outlines the case for a programme of electron-deuteron scattering measurements at HERA using the H1
detector. The goals of the programme are to map the partonic structure of the nucleon at large Q2 and low x, to explore the
valence quark distributions at the highest x values, to provide a precise measurement of the strong coupling constant and to
investigate the parton recombination phenomena revealed in shadowing and their relationship to diffraction. The importance
of these measurements for the understanding of the perturbative and non-perturbative aspects of QCD thought to be
responsible for nucleon structure is discussed, as is the significance of the measurements for future experimental programmes.
Some modifications to both the H1 apparatus and the HERA accelerator are necessary to realise this programme; these are
presented in the document. Mention is also made of questions that will remain unanswered following the completion of the
above programme and the potential role of HERA and of H1 in investigating these questions is outlined.