Search Results (19 total)

We have measured the transverse asymmetry A_T^' in the quasielastic ³He→(e→,e^') process with high precision at Q² values from 0.1 to 0.6  (GeV/c)². The neutron magnetic form factor G_Mⁿ was extracted at Q² values of 0.1 and 0.2  (GeV/c)² using a nonrelativistic Faddeev calculation which includes both final-state interactions (FSI) and meson-exchange currents (MEC). Theoretical uncertainties due to the FSI and MEC effects were constrained with a precision measurement of the spin-dependent asymmetry in the threshold region of ³He→(e→,e^'). We also extracted the neutron magnetic form factor G_Mⁿ at Q² values of 0.3 to 0.6  (GeV/c)² based on plane wave impulse approximation calculations.

We present new limits on ultrahigh energy neutrino fluxes above 10¹⁷  eV based on data collected by the Radio Ice Cherenkov Experiment (RICE) at the South Pole from 1999–2005. We discuss estimation of backgrounds, calibration and data analysis algorithms (both online and offline), procedures used for the dedicated neutrino search, and refinements in our Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, including recent in situ measurements of the complex ice dielectric constant. An enlarged data set and a more detailed study of hadronic showers results in a sensitivity improvement of more than 1 order of magnitude compared to our previously published results. Examination of the full RICE data set yields zero acceptable neutrino candidates, resulting in 95% confidence-level model-dependent limits on the flux E_ν²dϕ/dE_ν<10^-6  GeV/(cm² s sr) in the energy range 10¹⁷<E_ν<10²⁰  eV. The new RICE results rule out the most intense flux model projections at 95% confidence level.

We report values for the neutron electric to magnetic form factor ratio, G_En/G_Mn, deduced from measurements of the neutron's recoil polarization in the quasielastic ²H(e→,e^'n→)¹H reaction, at three Q² values of 0.45, 1.13, and 1.45 (GeV/c)². The data at Q²=1.13 and 1.45 (GeV/c)² are the first direct experimental measurements of G_En employing polarization degrees of freedom in the Q²>1 (GeV/c)² region and stand as the most precise determinations of G_En for all values of Q².

This paper was published online on 20 May 2005 without several of the authors’ corrections incorporated. Equation (13) has been replaced. The captions of Figs. 16–18 have also been replaced. Typographical errors on pages 4, 6, 14, 15, 18, 19, 22, and 24 have all been corrected. The paper has been corrected as of 8 June 2005. The text is correct in the printed version of the journal.

The ratio of the proton elastic electromagnetic form factors, G_Ep/G_Mp, was obtained by measuring P_t and P_ℓ, the transverse and longitudinal recoil proton polarization components, respectively, for the elastic e→p→ep→reaction in the four-momentum transfer squared range of 0.5 to 3.5  GeV². In the single-photon exchange approximation, G_Ep/G_Mp is directly proportional to P_t/P_ℓ. The simultaneous measurement of P_t and P_ℓ in a polarimeter reduces systematic uncertainties. The results for G_Ep/G_Mp show a systematic decrease with increasing Q², indicating for the first time a definite difference in the distribution of charge and magnetization in the proton. The data have been reanalyzed and their systematic uncertainties have become significantly smaller than those reported previously.

We report new measurements of the ratio of the electric form factor to the magnetic form factor of the neutron, G_Eⁿ/G_Mⁿ, obtained via recoil polarimetry from the quasielastic ²H(e→,e^′n→)¹H reaction at Q² values of 0.45, 1.13, and 1.45   (GeV/c)² with relative statistical uncertainties of 7.6% and 8.4% at the two higher Q² points, which points have never been achieved in polarization measurements.

Cross sections were measured for the near-threshold electrodisintegration of ³He at momentum transfer values of q=2.4, 4.4, and 4.7 fm^-1. From these and prior measurements the transverse and longitudinal response functions R_T and R_L were deduced. Comparisons are made against previously published and new nonrelativistic A=3 calculations using the best available nucleon-nucleon NN potentials. In general, for q<2 fm^-1 these calculations accurately predict the threshold electrodisintegration of ³He. Agreement at increasing q demands consideration of two-body terms, but discrepancies still appear at the highest momentum transfers probed, perhaps due to the neglect of relativistic dynamics, or to the underestimation of high-momentum wave-function components.

A high precision measurement of the transverse spin-dependent asymmetry A_T^′ in ³He→(e→,e^′) quasielastic scattering was performed in Hall A at Jefferson Lab at values of the squared four-momentum transfer, Q², between 0.1 and 0.6 (GeV/c)². A_T^′ is sensitive to the neutron magnetic form factor, G_Mⁿ. Values of G_Mⁿ at Q²=0.1 and 0.2 (GeV/c)², extracted using Faddeev calculations, were reported previously. Here, we report the extraction of G_Mⁿ for the remaining Q² values in the range from 0.3 to 0.6 (GeV/c)² using a plane-wave impulse approximation calculation. The results are in good agreement with recent precision data from experiments using a deuterium target.

The first complete measurements of the angular distributions of the two-body deuteron photodisintegration differential cross section at photon energies above 1.6 GeV were performed at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The results show a persistent forward-backward asymmetry up to E_γ=2.4 GeV, the highest-energy measured in this experiment. The Hard Rescattering and the Quark-Gluon string models are in fair agreement with the results.

We present measurements of the recoil proton polarization for the ¹H(γ→,p→)π⁰ reaction for θ_c.m.^π=60°–135° and for photon energies up to 4.1 GeV. These are the first data in this reaction for polarization transfer with circularly polarized photons. Various theoretical models are compared with the results. No evidence for hadron helicity conservation is observed. Models that employ factorization are not favored. It appears from the strong angular dependence of the induced polarization at photon energies of 2.5 and 3.1 GeV that a relatively high spin resonance or background amplitude might exist in this energy region.

We present the first precision measurement of the spin-dependent asymmetry in the threshold region of ³H→e(e→,e^′) at Q² values of 0.1 and 0.2 (GeV/c)². The agreement between the data and nonrelativistic Faddeev calculations which include both final-state interactions and meson-exchange current effects is very good at Q²  =  0.1 (GeV/c)², while a small discrepancy at Q²  =  0.2 (GeV/c)² is observed.

We present measurements of the ratio of the proton elastic electromagnetic form factors, μ_pG_Ep/G_Mp. The Jefferson Lab Hall A Focal Plane Polarimeter was used to determine the longitudinal and transverse components of the recoil proton polarization in ep elastic scattering; the ratio of these polarization components is proportional to the ratio of the two form factors. These data reproduce the observation of Jones et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 1398 (2000)], that the form factor ratio decreases significantly from unity above Q²=1 GeV².

New electron scattering measurements have been made that extend data on the ³He elastic magnetic form factor up to Q²  =  42.6 fm^-2. These new data test theoretical conjectures regarding non-nucleonic effects in the three-body system. The very small cross sections, as low as 10^-40 cm²/sr, required the use of a high-pressure cryogenic gas target and a detector system with excellent background rejection capability. No existing theoretical calculation satisfactorily accounts for all the available data.

We present measurements of the recoil proton polarization for the d(γ→,p→)n reaction at θ_c.m.  =  90° for photon energies up to 2.4 GeV. These are the first data in this reaction for polarization transfer with circularly polarized photons. The induced polarization p_y vanishes above 1 GeV, contrary to meson-baryon model expectations, in which resonances lead to large polarizations. However, the polarization transfer C_x does not vanish above 1 GeV, inconsistent with hadron helicity conservation. Thus, we show that the scaling behavior observed in the d(γ,p)n cross sections is not a result of perturbative QCD. These data should provide important tests of new nonperturbative calculations in the intermediate energy regime.

We have measured the transverse asymmetry A_T^′ in ³He→(e→,e^′) quasielastic scattering in Hall A at Jefferson Laboratory with high precision for Q² values from 0.1 to 0.6 (GeV/c)². The neutron magnetic form factor G_Mⁿ was extracted based on Faddeev calculations for Q²  =  0.1 and 0.2 (GeV/c)² with an experimental uncertainty of less than 2%.

The ratio of the proton's elastic electromagnetic form factors, G_Ep/G_Mp, was obtained by measuring P_t and P_ℓ, the transverse and the longitudinal recoil proton polarization, respectively. For elastic e→p→ep→, G_Ep/G_Mp is proportional to P_t/P_ℓ. Simultaneous measurement of P_t and P_ℓ in a polarimeter provides good control of the systematic uncertainty. The results for the ratio G_Ep/G_Mp show a systematic decrease as Q² increases from 0.5 to 3.5 GeV², indicating for the first time a definite difference in the spatial distribution of charge and magnetization currents in the proton.

Absolute differential cross sections for the threshold electrodisintegration of the deuteron with good resolution were measured at a laboratory scattering angle of 160° for five values of Q² ranging from 8.66 to 42.4 fm^-2. Comparisons of the data averaged over E_np from 0 to 3 MeV and from 0 to10 MeV are made with nonrelativistic meson exchange calculations. These calculations are sensitive to the nucleon electromagnetic form factors, nucleon-nucleon potential, and relativistic effects. The data are also compared with a hybrid quark-hadron model calculation that describes the deuteron as a six-quark cluster for the short range part of the interaction. Some of these calculations can describe the data reasonably well over certain ranges of Q²; however, none of these calculations can accurately describe the data over the entire measured Q² range.

We report on a precision measurement of the neutron spin structure function g₁ⁿ using deep inelastic scattering of polarized electrons by polarized ³He. For the kinematic range 0.014<x<0.7 and 1<Q²<17 (GeV/c)², we obtain ∫0.014^0.7g₁ⁿ(x) dx  =  -0.036±0.004(stat)±0.005(syst) at an average Q²  =  5 (GeV/c)². We find relatively large negative values for g₁ⁿ at low x. The results call into question the usual Regge theory method for extrapolating to x  =  0 to find the full neutron integral ∫1g₁ⁿ(x) dx, needed for testing the quark-parton model and QCD sum rules.

The threshold electrodisintegration of the deuteron was measured with good energy resolution to a maximum four-momentum transfer squared of 42 fm^-2. The data are compared with meson exchange calculations that show sensitivity to the choice of exchange-current form factor, the nucleon electromagnetic form factors, and the nucleon-nucleon potential. While conventional theories can give a reasonable description of the data, comparison of the data with quark cluster calculations shows poor agreement.