  We extend the original idea of reduced nuclear amplitudes to capture
individual helicity amplitudes and discuss various applications to exclusive
processes involving the deuteron. Specifically, we consider deuteron form
factors, structure functions, tensor polarization observables,
photodisintegration, and electrodisintegration. The basic premise is that
nuclear processes at high momentum transfer can be approximated by tree graphs
for point-like nucleons supplemented by empirical form factors for each
nucleon. The latter represent the internal structure of the nucleon, and
incorporate nonperturbative physics, which can allow for early onset of scaling
behavior. The nucleon form factors are evaluated at the net momentum transfer
experienced by the given nucleon, with use of $G_E$ for a no-flip contribution
and $G_M$ for a helicity-flip contribution. Results are compared with data
where available. The deuteron photodisintegration asymmetry $\Sigma$ is
obtained with a value of $\Sigma(90^\circ)\simeq -0.06$, which is much closer
to experiment than the value of -1 originally expected. The method also
provides an estimate of the momentum transfer values required for scaling
onset. We find that the deuteron structure function $B$ is a good place to
look, above momentum transfers of 10 GeV$^2$.
