Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics 198, 287-306 (2011)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2011-01495-x

Review

Real and virtual Compton scattering: The nucleon polarisabilities

¹ Institut für Kernphysik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany
² Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, CNRS/IN2P3, Laboratoire de Physique Corpusculaire, BP. 10448, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France

Received: 8 July 2011
Revised: 21 July 2011
Published online: 23 September 2011

Abstract

We give an overview of low-energy Compton scattering γ^(∗)p → γp with a real or virtual incoming photon. These processes allow the investigation of one of the fundamental properties of the nucleon, i.e. how its internal structure deforms under an applied static electromagnetic field. Our knowledge of nucleon polarisabilities and their generalization to non-zero four-momentum transfer will be reviewed, including the presently ongoing experiments and future perspectives.