Measurement of the Spin-Dependent Structure Function $g_1(x)$ of the Proton

We have measured the spin-dependent structure function $g_1^p$ of the proton in deep inelastic scattering of polarized muons off polarized protons, in the kinematic range $0.003<x<0.7$ and $1\,\mbox{GeV}^2<Q^2<60\,\mbox{GeV}^2$. Its first moment, $\int_0^1 g_1^p(x) dx $, is found to be $0.136 \pm 0.011\,(\mbox{stat.})\pm 0.011\,(\mbox{syst.})$ at $Q^2=10\,\mbox{GeV}^2$. This value is smaller than the prediction of the Ellis--Jaffe sum rule by two standard deviations, and is consistent with previous measurements. A combined analysis of all available proton, deuteron and neutron data confirms the Bjorken sum rule to within $10\%$ of the theoretical value.