We have measured the neutron structure function g$_{ 2}^{ n}$ and the virtual photon-nucleon asymmetry A$_{ 2}^{ n}$ over the kinematic range $0.014\leq x \leq 0.7$ and $1.0 \leq Q^{ 2} \leq 17.0$ by scattering 48.3 GeV longitudinally polarized electrons from polarized $^{ 3}$He. Results for A$_{ 2}^{ n}$ are significantly smaller than the $\sqrt{ R}$ positivity limit over most of the measured range and data for g$_2^{ n}$ are generally consistent with the twist-2 Wandzura-Wilczek prediction. Using our measured g$_{ 2}^{ n}$ we obtain results for the twist-3 reduced matrix element $d_{ 2}^{ n}$, and the integral $\int$g$_{ 2}^{ n}(x)dx$ in the range $0.014\leq x \leq 1.0$. Data from this experiment are combined with existing data for g$_{ 2}^{ n}$ to obtain an average for $d_{ 2}^{ n}$ and the integral $\int$g$_{ 2}^{ n}(x)dx$.
Categories: hep-ex