Elastic electron scattering from light nuclei

The charge and magnetic form factors of light nuclei, mainly for mass numbe r A less than or equal to4, provide a sensitive test of our understanding o f nuclei. A number of "exact" calculations of the wave functions starting f rom the nucleon-nucleon interaction are available. The treatment of two-bod y effects needed in the calculation of the electromagnetic form factors has made significant progress. Many electron scattering experiments have provi ded an extensive data base from which the various (mainly elastic) form fac tors can be extracted. This review discusses the data and the determination of the form factors, and compares them to the results of theory.