0000000000067190
AUTHOR
P. M. King
Comparing proton momentum distributions in A = 2 and 3 nuclei via 2H 3H and 3He (e,e′p) measurements
We report the first measurement of the $(e,e'p)$ reaction cross-section ratios for Helium-3 ($^3$He), Tritium ($^3$H), and Deuterium ($d$). The measurement covered a missing momentum range of $40 \le p_{miss} \le 550$ MeV$/c$, at large momentum transfer ($\langle Q^2 \rangle \approx 1.9$ (GeV$/c$)$^2$) and $x_B>1$, which minimized contributions from non quasi-elastic (QE) reaction mechanisms. The data is compared with plane-wave impulse approximation (PWIA) calculations using realistic spectral functions and momentum distributions. The measured and PWIA-calculated cross-section ratios for $^3$He$/d$ and $^3$H$/d$ extend to just above the typical nucleon Fermi-momentum ($k_F \approx 250$ …
Search for Effects Beyond the Born Approximation in Polarization Transfer Observables ine→pElastic Scattering
Intensive theoretical and experimental efforts over the past decade have aimed at explaining the discrepancy between data for the proton electric to magnetic form factor ratio, $$G_{E}/G_{M}$$, obtained separately from cross section and polarization transfer measurements. One possible explanation for this difference is a two-photon-exchange (TPEX) contribution. In an effort to search for effects beyond the one-photon-exchange or Born approximation, we report measurements of polarization transfer observables in the elastic $$H(\vec{e},e'\vec{p})$$ reaction for three different beam energies at a fixed squared momentum transfer $Q^2 = 2.5$ GeV$^2$, spanning a wide range of the virtual photon p…
Accurate Determination of the Neutron Skin Thickness of Pb208 through Parity-Violation in Electron Scattering
We report a precision measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry A_{PV} in the elastic scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons from ^{208}Pb. We measure A_{PV}=550±16(stat)±8(syst) parts per billion, leading to an extraction of the neutral weak form factor F_{W}(Q^{2}=0.00616 GeV^{2})=0.368±0.013. Combined with our previous measurement, the extracted neutron skin thickness is R_{n}-R_{p}=0.283±0.071 fm. The result also yields the first significant direct measurement of the interior weak density of ^{208}Pb: ρ_{W}^{0}=-0.0796±0.0036(exp)±0.0013(theo) fm^{-3} leading to the interior baryon density ρ_{b}^{0}=0.1480±0.0036(exp)±0.0013(theo) fm^{-3}. The measurement accurately co…
New Measurements of the Transverse Beam Asymmetry for Elastic Electron Scattering from Selected Nuclei
We have measured the beam-normal single-spin asymmetry $A_n$ in the elastic scattering of 1-3 GeV transversely polarized electrons from $^1$H and for the first time from $^4$He, $^{12}$C, and $^{208}$Pb. For $^1$H, $^4$He and $^{12}$C, the measurements are in agreement with calculations that relate $A_n$ to the imaginary part of the two-photon exchange amplitude including inelastic intermediate states. Surprisingly, the $^{208}$Pb result is significantly smaller than the corresponding prediction using the same formalism. These results suggest that a systematic set of new $A_n$ measurements might emerge as a new and sensitive probe of the structure of heavy nuclei.
Transverse Beam Spin Asymmetries at Backward Angles in Elastic Electron-Proton and Quasielastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering
We have measured the beam-normal single-spin asymmetries in elastic scattering of transversely polarized electrons from the proton, and performed the first measurement in quasi-elastic scattering on the deuteron, at backward angles (lab scattering angle of 108 degrees) for Q2 = 0.22 GeV^2/c^2 and 0.63 GeV^2/c^2 at beam energies of 362 MeV and 687 MeV, respectively. The asymmetry arises due to the imaginary part of the interference of the two-photon exchange amplitude with that of single photon exchange. Results for the proton are consistent with a model calculation which includes inelastic intermediate hadronic (piN) states. An estimate of the beam-normal single-spin asymmetry for the scatt…
Measurement of double-polarization asymmetries in the quasi-elastic Process
We report on a precise measurement of double-polarization asymmetries in electron-induced breakup of He3 proceeding to pd and ppn final states, performed in quasi-elastic kinematics at Q2=0.25(GeV/c)2 for missing momenta up to 250MeV/c. These observables represent highly sensitive tools to investigate the electromagnetic and spin structure of He3 and the relative importance of two- and three-body effects involved in the breakup reaction dynamics. The measured asymmetries cannot be satisfactorily reproduced by state-of-the-art calculations of He3 unless their three-body segment is adjusted, indicating that the spin-dependent part of the nuclear interaction governing the three-body breakup pr…