Quasielastic electron-deuteron scattering in the weak-binding approximation

We perform a global analysis of all available electron-deuteron (ed) quasielastic scattering data using Q2-dependent smearing functions that describe inclusive inelastic ed scattering within the weak-binding approximation. We study the dependence of the cross sections on the deuteron wave function and the off-shell extrapolation of the elastic electron-nucleon cross sections, which show particular sensitivity at x1. The excellent overall agreement with data over a large range of Q2 and x suggests a limited need for effects beyond the impulse approximation, with the exception of the very high-x and very low-Q2 regions, where short-range meson exchange and final state interaction effects become more relevant.