Determination of the neutron spin structure function

The spin structure function of the neutron [ital g][sub 1][sup [ital n]] has been determined over the range 0.03[lt][ital x][lt]0.6 at an average [ital Q][sup 2] of 2 (GeV/[ital c])[sup 2] by measuring the asymmetry in deep inelastic scattering of polarized electrons from a polarized [sup 3]He target at energies between 19 and 26 GeV. The integral of the neutron spin structure function is found to be [integral][sub 0][sup 1][ital g][sub 1][sup [ital n]]([ital x])[ital dx]=[minus]0.022[plus minus]0.011. Earlier reported proton results together with the Bjorken sum rule predict [integral][sub 0][sup 1][ital g][sub 1][sup [ital n]]([ital x])[ital dx]=[minus]0.059[plus minus]0.019.