Nucleon form factors: From the space-like to the time-like region

Abstract

I discuss how dispersion relations can be used to analyse the nucleon electromagnetic form factors, with particular emphasis on the constraints from unitarity and pQCD. Results for nucleon radii, vector-meson couplings, the onset of pQCD and bounds on the strangeness form factors are presented. The em form factors in the time-like region reveal some interesting physics which is not yet understood in full detail. The need for a better data basis at low, intermediate and large momentum transfer and also in the time-like region is stressed.

Comments: 11 pp, LaTeX, uses epsf and espcrc1.sty, 6 figures, invited talk, DAPHCE 96, Frascati, November 1996, to appear in the proceedings (Nucl. Phys. A)