Instanton contribution to the electromagnetic form factors of the nucleon

We study the electromagnetic form factors of the nucleon, from small to large momentum transfer, in the context of the instanton liquid model (ILM). As a first step, we analyze the role of single-instanton effects, and show that they dominate the form factors at large momentum transfer. Then, we go beyond the single-instanton approximation and perform a calculation to all orders in the 't Hooft interaction. We find that the ILM is in good agreement with the available experimental data. Based on these results, we argue that instantons provide a microscopic mechanism that explains the delay of the onset of the asymptotic perturbative regime in the electromagnetic form factors.