Eur. Phys. J. A (2004) 22: 331-336
https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2004-10039-3

Model-independent properties of two-photon exchange in elastic electron-proton scattering

¹ NSC Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology, 61108, Kharkov, Ukraine
² DAPNIA/SPhN, CEA/Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France

Received: 17 May 2004
Accepted: 8 June 2004
Published online: 9 November 2004

Abstract

We derive from general symmetry properties of the hadron electromagnetic interaction, such as C-invariance and crossing symmetry, the general characteristics of two-photon exchange in electron-proton elastic scattering. We show that the presence of this mechanism destroys the linearity of the Rosenbluth separation.