Model independent analysis of polarization effects in elastic electron–deuteron scattering in presence of two-photon exchange

The general spin structure of the matrix element, for the elastic electron (positron)–deuteron scattering is parametrized using general symmetry properties of the hadron electromagnetic interaction, such as P-, C- and T-invariances as well as lepton helicity conservation in QED at high energy, taking into account the two-photon exchange contribution. The expressions for the differential cross section and for all polarization observables are given in terms of fifteen real functions. In presence of two photon exchange, deuteron electromagnetic form factors can still be extracted from electron and positron elastic scattering in the same kinematical conditions.