Two-photon exchange and elastic electron-proton scattering

Two-photon exchange contributions to elastic electron-proton scattering cross sections are evaluated in a simple hadronic model including the finite size of the proton. The corrections are found to be small in magnitude, but with a strong angular dependence at fixed Q(2). This is significant for the Rosenbluth technique for determining the ratio of the electric and magnetic form factors of the proton at high Q(2), and partly reconciles the apparent discrepancy with the results of the polarization transfer technique.