Likelihood of a zero in the proton elastic electric form factor

Working with the 29 available data on the ratio of proton electric and magnetic form factors, , and independent of any model or theory of strong interactions, we use the Schlessinger point method to objectively address the question of whether the ratio possesses a zero and, if so, its location. Our analysis predicts that, with 50% confidence, the data are consistent with the existence of a zero in the ratio on GeV2. The level of confidence increases to 99.9% on GeV2. Significantly, the likelihood that existing data are consistent with the absence of a zero in the ratio on GeV2 is 1/1-million.