The strong nuclear interaction is probed at short-distance and high-momenta using new measurements of the $^{12}$C$(e,e'p)$ and $^{12}$C$(e,e'pn)$ reactions, at high-$Q^2$ and $x_B>1$. The data span ...a missing-momentum range of 300-850 MeV/c and is predominantly sensitive to the dominant proton-neutron short-range correlated (SRC) pairs and complements previous $^{12}$C$(e,e'pp)$ measurements. The data are well reproduced by theoretical calculations using the Generalized Contact Formalism with both chiral and phenomenological nucleon-nucleon ($NN$) interaction models. This agreement, observed here for the first time, suggests that the measured high missing-momentum protons up to $850$ MeV/c belonged to SRC pairs. The measured $^{12}$C$(e,e'pn)$ / $^{12}$C$(e,e'p)$ ratio is consistent with a decrease in the fraction of proton-neutron SRC pairs with increasing missing-momentum. This confirms the transition from an isospin-dependent tensor $NN$ interaction at $\sim 400$ MeV/c to an isospin-independent scalar interaction at high-momentum around $\sim 800$ MeV/c.
Background: The electromagnetic form factors of the proton measured by unpolarized and polarized electron scattering experiments show a significant disagreement that grows with the squared four ...momentum transfer (Q2). Calculations have shown that the two measurements can be largely reconciled by accounting for the contributions of two-photon exchange (TPE). TPE effects are not typically included in the standard set of radiative corrections since theoretical calculations of the TPE effects are highly model dependent, and, until recently, no direct evidence of significant TPE effects has been observed. Purpose: We measured the ratio of positron-proton to electron-proton elastic-scattering cross sections in order to determine the TPE contribution to elastic electron-proton scattering and thereby resolve the proton electric form factor discrepancy. Methods: We produced a mixed simultaneous electron-positron beam in Jefferson Lab's Hall B by passing the 5.6 GeV primary electron beam through a radiator to produce a bremsstrahlung photon beam and then passing the photon beam through a convertor to produce electron/positron pairs. The mixed electron-positron (lepton) beam with useful energies from approximately 0.85 to 3.5 GeV then struck a 30-cm long liquid hydrogen (LH2) target located within the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS). By detecting both the scattered leptons and the recoiling protons we identified and reconstructed elastic scattering events and determined the incident lepton energy. A detailed description of the experiment is presented. Results: We present previously unpublished results for the quantity R2γ, the TPE correction to the elastic- scattering cross section, at Q2 ≈ 0:85 and 1.45 GeV2 over a large range of virtual photon polarization ε. Conclusions: Our results, along with recently published results from VEPP-3, demonstrate a non-zero contribution from TPE effects and are in excellent agreement with the calculations that include TPE effects and largely reconcile the form-factor discrepancy up to Q2 ≈ 2 GeV2. These data are consistent with an increase in R2γ with decreasing " at Q2 ≈ 0:85 and 1.45 GeV2. There are indications of a slight increase in R2γ with Q2.
We present the results of our final analysis of the full data set of g(1)(p) (Q(2)), the spin structure function of the proton, collected using CLAS at Jefferson Laboratory in 2000-2001. Polarized ...electrons with energies of 1.6, 2.5, 4.2, and 5.7 GeV were scattered from proton targets ((NH3)-N-15 dynamically polarized along the beam direction) and detected with CLAS. From the measured double spin asymmetries, we extracted virtual photon asymmetries A(1)(p) and A(2)(p) and spin structure functions g(1)(p) and g(2)(p) over a wide kinematic range (0.05 GeV2 < Q(2) < 5 GeV2 and 1.08 GeV< W < 3 GeV) and calculated moments of g(1)(p). We compare our final results with various theoretical models and expectations, as well as with parametrizations of the world data. Our data, with their precision and dense kinematic coverage, are able to constrain fits of polarized parton distributions, test pQCD predictions for quark polarizations at large x, offer a better understanding of quark-hadron duality, and provide more precise values of higher twist matrix elements in the framework of the operator product expansion.
This paper reports new exclusive cross sections for $e p \to e' \pi^+ \pi^- p'$ using the CLAS detector at Jefferson Laboratory. These results are presented for the first time at photon virtualities ...2.0 GeV2 < Q2 < 5.0 GeV2 in the center-of-mass energy range 1.4 GeV < W < 2.0 GeV, which covers a large part of the nucleon resonance region. Using a model developed for the phenomenological analysis of electroproduction data, we see strong indications that the relative contributions from the resonant cross sections at W < 1.74 GeV increase with $Q^2$. These data considerably extend the kinematic reach of previous measurements. Exclusive $e p \to e' \pi^+ \pi^- p'$ cross section measurements are of particular importance for the extraction of resonance electrocouplings in the mass range above 1.6 GeV.
Background: Energetic quarks in nuclear DIS propagate through the nuclear medium. Processes that are believed to occur inside nuclei include quark energy loss through medium-stimulated gluon ...bremsstrahlung and intra-nuclear interactions of forming hadrons. More data are required to gain a more complete understanding of these effects. Purpose: To test the theoretical models of parton transport and hadron formation, we compared their predictions for the nuclear and kinematic dependence of pion production in nuclei. Methods: We have measured charged-pion production in semi-inclusive DIS off D, C, Fe, and Pb using the CLAS detector and the CEBAF 5.014 GeV electron beam. We report results on the nuclear-to-deuterium multiplicity ratio for $\pi^{+}$ and $\pi^{-}$ as a function of energy transfer, four-momentum transfer, and pion energy fraction or transverse momentum - the first three-dimensional study of its kind. Results: The $\pi^{+}$ multiplicity ratio is found to depend strongly on the pion fractional energy $z$, and reaches minimum values of $0.67\pm0.03$, $0.43\pm0.02$, and $0.27\pm0.01$ for the C, Fe, and Pb targets, respectively. The $z$ dependences of the multiplicity ratios for $\pi^{+}$ and $\pi^{-}$ are equal within uncertainties for C and Fe targets but show differences at the level of 10$\%$ for the Pb-target data. The results are qualitatively described by the GiBUU transport model, as well as with a model based on hadron absorption, but are in tension with calculations based on nuclear fragmentation functions. Conclusions: These precise results will strongly constrain the kinematic and flavor dependence of nuclear effects in hadron production, probing an unexplored kinematic region. They will help to reveal how the nucleus reacts to a fast quark, thereby shedding light on its color structure, transport properties, and on the mechanisms of the hadronization process.
We measured the g(1) spin structure function of the deuteron at low Q(2), where QCD can be approximated with chiral perturbation theory (chi PT). The data cover the resonance region, up to an ...invariant mass of W approximate to 1.9 GeV. The generalized Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn sum, the moment Gamma(d)(1) and the spin polarizability gamma(d)(0) are precisely determined down to a minimum Q(2) of 0.02 GeV2 for the first time, about 2.5 times lower than that of previous data. We compare them to several chi PT calculations and models. These results are the first in a program of benchmark measurements of polarization observables in the chi PT domain.
Herein we report the first measurement of $x_B$-scaling in $(e,e'p)$ cross-section ratios off nuclei relative to deuterium at large missing-momentum of $350 \leq p_{miss} \leq 600$ MeV/c. The ...observed scaling extends over a kinematic range of $0.7 \leq x_B \leq 1.8$, which is significantly wider than $1.4 \leq x_B \leq 1.8$ previously observed for inclusive $(e,e')$ cross-section ratios. The $x_B$-integrated cross-section ratios become constant (i.e., scale) beginning at $p_{miss}\approx k_F$, the nuclear Fermi momentum. Comparing with theoretical calculations we find good agreement with Generalized Contact Formalism calculations for high missing-momentum ($> 375$ MeV/c), suggesting the observed scaling results from interacting with nucleons in short-range correlated (SRC) pairs. For low missing-momenta, mean-field calculations show good agreement with the data for $p_{miss}\le k_F$, and suggest that contributions to the measured cross-section ratios from scattering off single, un-correlated, nucleons are non-negligible up to $p_{miss}\approx 350$ MeV/c. Therefore, SRCs become dominant in nuclei at $p_{miss}\approx 350$ MeV/c, well above the nuclear Fermi Surface of $k_F \approx 250$ MeV/c.
Here, we report the first measurement of differential and total cross sections for the ${\gamma}d \to K^0{\Lambda}(p)$ reaction, using data from the CLAS detector at the Thomas Jefferson National ...Accelerator Facility. Data collected during two separate experimental runs were studied with photon-energy coverage 0.8 - 3.6 GeV and 0.5 - 2.6 GeV, respectively. The two measurements are consistent giving confidence in the method and determination of systematic uncertainties. The cross sections are compared with predictions from the KAON-MAID theoretical model (without kaon exchange), which deviate from the data at higher W and at forward kaon angles. These data, along with previously published cross sections for $K^+ {\Lambda}$ photoproduction, provide essential constraints on the nucleon resonance spectrum. A first partial wave analysis has been performed that describes the data without the introduction of new resonances.
The presence of traces of water dissolved in a sodium molybdate melt and the interaction of this water with a metal surface (NP-2 nickel) in contact with the melt are confirmed. It is shown ...experimentally that U sub(3)O sub(8) can be reduced to UO sub(2) in sodium molybdate melt by the hydrogen that is released during such an interaction. A technological process of reprocessing spent oxide nuclear fuel using the phenomenon studied is described.
New results on the single-differential and fully integrated cross sections for the process gamma(upsilon)p -> p'pi(+)pi(-) are presented. The experimental data were collected with the CLAS detector ...at Jefferson Laboratory. Measurements were carried out in the kinematic region of the reaction invariant mass W from 1.3 to 1.825 GeV and the photon virtuality Q(2) from 0.4 to 1.0 GeV2. The cross sections were obtained in narrow Q(2) bins (0.05 GeV2) with the smallest statistical uncertainties achieved in double-pion electroproduction experiments to date. The results were found to be in agreement with previously available data where they overlap. A preliminary interpretation of the extracted cross sections, which was based on a phenomenological meson-baryon reaction model, revealed substantial relative contributions from nucleon resonances. The data offer promising prospects to improve knowledge on the Q(2) evolution of the electrocouplings of most resonances with masses up to similar to 1.8 GeV.