Empirical Transverse Charge Densities in the Nucleon and the Nucleon-to-∆ Transition

Using only the current empirical information on the nucleon electromagnetic form factors we map out the transverse charge density in proton and neutron as viewed from a light front moving towards a transversely polarized nucleon. These charge densities are characterized by a dipole pattern, in addition to the monopole field corresponding with the unpolarized density. Furthermore, we use the latest empirical information on the N → ∆ transition form factors to map out the transition charge density which induces the N → ∆ excitation. This transition charge density in a transversely polarized N and ∆ contains both monopole, dipole and quadrupole patterns, the latter corresponding with a deformation of the hadron’s charge distribution.