The reaction ${}^2\mathrm{H}(e,e^{\prime }p)n$ has been studied with full kinematic coverage for photon virtuality $1.75<Q^2<5.5{\mathrm{GeV}}^2$. Comparisons of experimental data with theory indicate that for very low values of neutron recoil momentum ($p_n<100\mathrm{MeV}/c$) the neutron is primarily a spectator and the reaction can be described by the plane-wave impulse approximation. For $100<p_n<750\mathrm{MeV}/c$, proton-neutron rescattering dominates the cross section, while $\Delta$ production followed by the $N\Delta \to NN$ transition is the primary contribution at higher momenta.

• Received 9 January 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.262502