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The mirror nuclei of tritium and helium-3 have been studied by the method of elastic electron scattering. Absolute cross sections have been measured for incident electron energies in the range 110-680 MeV at scattering angles lying between 40 and 135\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} in this energy range. The data have been interpreted in a straightforward manner and form factors are given for the distributions of charge and magnetic moment in the two nuclei over a range of four-momentum transfer squared 1.0-8.0 ${\mathrm{F}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$. Model-independent radii of the charge and magnetic-moment distributions are given and an attempt is made to deduce form factors describing the spatial distribution of the protons in tritium and helium-3.

Distributions of electrons elastically scattered by He/sup 3/ and T are compared in order to analyze the three-body forces acting in these mirror nuclei. The charge and magnetic form factors for the nuclei are calculated. Three of these form factors are nearly equal to one another but the charge form factor of He/sup 3/ is different from the other three. (T.F.H.)