Structure functions in the three nucleon system.

In this thesis, we study the structure functions, both polarised and unpolarised, of the three nucleon system and how they can give us information on two aspects of nuclear physics. First, we examine how to extract information on the free neutron structure functions and second we ask how does the nucleon's structure change in nuclei. Starting from a non-relativistic wave function for the three nucleon system, we use the standard convolution formalism to produce both polarised and unpolarised structure functions of ³He and ³H. In the unpolarised case we demonstrate a new way of extracting the unpolarised structure function F₂ of the neutron from the measurement of the EMC effects in both ³He and ³H. In the polarised case we discuss how close an approximation g₁³He is to g₁ⁿ. We also study the different corrections which must be included to obtain the best possible estimate for g₁ⁿ. In this case we study the nuclear effects included in the convolution formalism, the contribution of the Δ-resonance and novel off-shell corrections to the free structure functions inside ³He computed in QMC (Quark Meson Coupling model). With respect to the effects of the nuclear medium on nucleons, this thesis presents estimates of the EMC effect in both 3He and 3H and of the nuclear medium on the Gottfried sum rule. Finally we present a clear signature of off-shell effects on the proton inside ³H. In this case off-shell corrections from QMC have been used but the results show that a variety of off-shell effects are, in fact, enhanced by the convolution formalism and consequently, can be similarly identified.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physics and Mathematical Physics, 200