Measurement of<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="italic">T</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>20</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>in Elastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering

We report on a measurement of the tensor analyzing power ${T}_{20}$ in elastic electron-deuteron scattering in the range of four-momentum transfer from 1.8 to $3.2{\mathrm{fm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Electrons of 704 MeV were scattered from a polarized deuterium internal target. The tensor polarization of the deuterium nuclei was determined with an ion-extraction system, allowing an absolute measurement of ${T}_{20}$. The data are described well by a nonrelativistic calculation that includes the effects of meson-exchange currents.