C.A. Davis

Charge symmetry breaking in np-->dpi(0).

The forward-backward asymmetry in np-->dpi(0), which must be zero in the center-of-mass system if charge symmetry is respected, has been measured to be [17.2+/-8.0(stat)+/-5.5(syst)]x10(-4), at an incident neutron energy of 279.5 MeV. This observable is compared to recent chiral effective field theory calculations, with implications regarding the du quark mass difference.

Charge Symmetry Breaking innp→dπ0

The forward-backward asymmetry in np-->dpi(0), which must be zero in the center-of-mass system if charge symmetry is respected, has been measured to be [17.2+/-8.0(stat)+/-5.5(syst)]x10(-4), at an incident neutron energy of 279.5 MeV. This observable is compared to recent chiral effective field theory calculations, with implications regarding the du quark mass difference.

Parity violation in P‐P scattering at TRIUMF

The TRIUMPF experiment 497 which will measure the (weak) parity violating component of the nucleon‐nucleon interaction with proton‐proton quasi‐elastic scattering at 223 MeV is described. The longitudinal analyzing power Az=(σ+−σ−)/(σ++σ−) where σ+ and σ− are the scattering cross sections for positive and negative beam helicity, respectively, with an expected precision of ±2×10−8. (AIP)

Precision measurement of the weak charge of the proton

Large experimental programmes in the fields of nuclear and particle physics search for evidence of physics beyond that explained by current theories. The observation of the Higgs boson completed the set of particles predicted by the standard model, which currently provides the best description of fundamental particles and forces. However, this theory’s limitations include a failure to predict fundamental parameters, such as the mass of the Higgs boson, and the inability to account for dark matter and energy, gravity, and the matter–antimatter asymmetry in the Universe, among other phenomena. These limitations have inspired searches for physics beyond the standard model in the post-Higgs era through the direct production of additional particles at high-energy accelerators, which have so far been unsuccessful. Examples include searches for supersymmetric particles, which connect bosons (integer-spin particles) with fermions (half-integer-spin particles), and for leptoquarks, which mix the fundamental quarks with leptons. Alternatively, indirect searches using precise measurements of well predicted standard-model observables allow highly targeted alternative tests for physics beyond the standard model because they can reach mass and energy scales beyond those directly accessible by today’s high-energy accelerators. Such an indirect search aims to determine the weak charge of the proton, which defines the strength of the proton’s interaction with other particles via the well known neutral electroweak force. Because parity symmetry (invariance under the spatial inversion (x, y, z)u2009→u2009(−x, −y, −z)) is violated only in the weak interaction, it provides a tool with which to isolate the weak interaction and thus to measure the proton’s weak charge1. Here we report the value 0.0719u2009±u20090.0045, where the uncertainty is one standard deviation, derived from our measured parity-violating asymmetry in the scattering of polarized electrons on protons, which is −226.5u2009±u20099.3 parts per billion (the uncertainty is one standard deviation). Our value for the proton’s weak charge is in excellent agreement with the standard model2 and sets multi-teraelectronvolt-scale constraints on any semi-leptonic parity-violating physics not described within the standard model. Our results show that precision parity-violating measurements enable searches for physics beyond the standard model that can compete with direct searches at high-energy accelerators and, together with astronomical observations, can provide fertile approaches to probing higher mass scales. Measurement of the asymmetry in the parity-violating scattering of polarized electrons on protons gives the weak charge of the proton as 0.0719u2009±u20090.0045, in agreement with the standard model.Large experimental programmes in the fields of nuclear and particle physics search for evidence of physics beyond that explained by current theories. The observation of the Higgs boson completed the set of particles predicted by the standard model, which currently provides the best description of fundamental particles and forces. However, this theory’s limitations include a failure to predict fundamental parameters, such as the mass of the Higgs boson, and the inability to account for dark matter and energy, gravity, and the matter–antimatter asymmetry in the Universe, among other phenomena. These limitations have inspired searches for physics beyond the standard model in the post-Higgs era through the direct production of additional particles at high-energy accelerators, which have so far been unsuccessful. Examples include searches for supersymmetric particles, which connect bosons (integer-spin particles) with fermions (half-integer-spin particles), and for leptoquarks, which mix the fundamental quarks with leptons. Alternatively, indirect searches using precise measurements of well predicted standard-model observables allow highly targeted alternative tests for physics beyond the standard model because they can reach mass and energy scales beyond those directly accessible by today’s high-energy accelerators. Such an indirect search aims to determine the weak charge of the proton, which defines the strength of the proton’s interaction with other particles via the well known neutral electroweak force. Because parity symmetry (invariance under the spatial inversion (x, y, z)u2009→u2009(−x, −y, −z)) is violated only in the weak interaction, it provides a tool with which to isolate the weak interaction and thus to measure the proton’s weak charge1. Here we report the value 0.0719u2009±u20090.0045, where the uncertainty is one standard deviation, derived from our measured parity-violating asymmetry in the scattering of polarized electrons on protons, which is −226.5u2009±u20099.3 parts per billion (the uncertainty is one standard deviation). Our value for the proton’s weak charge is in excellent agreement with the standard model2 and sets multi-teraelectronvolt-scale constraints on any semi-leptonic parity-violating physics not described within the standard model. Our results show that precision parity-violating measurements enable searches for physics beyond the standard model that can compete with direct searches at high-energy accelerators and, together with astronomical observations, can provide fertile approaches to probing higher mass scales.Measurement of the asymmetry in the parity-violating scattering of polarized electrons on protons gives the weak charge of the proton as 0.0719u2009±u20090.0045, in agreement with the standard model.

An EDM measurement with a new comagnetometer and a high density UCN source

We discuss a new neutron EDM measurement of 10−28 e cm. For the improved UCN density, we will apply a new spallation UCN source of superfluid He. For magnetometry, 129Xe nuclear spins are injected into a EDM cell, to supress GPE. Performance of the prototype KEK-RCNP UCN source, and the obtained Ramsey resonance spectra are presented.

Evidence of Xi hypernuclear production in the ^{12}C(K^-,K^+)^{12}_{Xi}Be reaction

The E885 collaboration utilized the 1.8 GeV/c K^- beam line at the AGS to accumulate 3 x 10^5 (K^-,K^+) events. Xi hypernuclear states are expected to be produced through the reaction K^- + ^{12}C -> K^+ + ^{12}_{Xi}Be. The measured missing-mass spectrum indicates the existence of a signal below the threshold for free Xi production. Although the resolution was not sufficient to resolve discrete hypernuclear states, the excess of events in the region of missing mass, kinematically inaccessible in free Xi production, is compared to theoretical prediction for ^{12}_{Xi}Be production.

Early Results from the Qweak Experiment

A subset of results from the recently completed Jefferson Lab Qweak experiment are reported. This experiment, sensitive to physics beyond the Standard Model, exploits the small parity-violating asymmetry in elastic scattering to provide the first determination of the proton’s weak charge . The experiment employed a 180 μ A longitudinally polarized 1.16 GeV electron beam on a 35 cm long liquid hydrogen target. Scattered electrons in the angular range 6° θ 2 = 0.025 GeV 2 were detected in eight Cerenkov detectors arrayed symmetrically around the beam axis. The goals of the experiment were to provide a measure of to 4.2% (combined statisstatistical and systematic error), which implies a measure of sin 2 ( θ w ) at the level of 0.3%, and to help constrain the vector weak quark charges C 1 u and C 1 d . The experimental method is described, with particular focus on the challenges associated with the world’s highest power LH 2 target. The new constraints on C 1 u and C 1 d provided by the subset of the experiment’s data analyzed to date will also be shown, together with the extracted weak charge of the neutron.

Measurement of charge symmetry breaking in np elastic scattering at 350 MeV

TRIUMF Experiment 369, a measurement of charge symmetry breaking in np elastic scattering at 350 MeV, has completed data taking. Scattering asymmetries were measured with a polarized (unpolarized) neutron beam incident on an unpolarized (polarized) frozen spin target. Coincident scattered neutrons and recoil protons were detected by a mirror symmetric detection system in the center‐of‐mass angle range from 50°–90°. A preliminary result for the difference of the zero‐crossing angles, where analyzing powers cross zero, is Δθcm =0.445°±0.054°(stat.)±0.051°(syst.) based on fits over the angle range 53.4°≤θcm≤86.9°. The difference of the analyzing powers ΔA≡An−Ap, where the subscripts denote polarized nucleons, was deduced with dA/dθcm=(−1.35±0.05)×10−2u2009deg−1 to be [60±7(stat.)±7(syst.)±2(syst.)] ×10−4.

Parity violation in proton-proton scattering

Abstract Measurements of parity-violating longitudinal analyzing powers (normalized asymmetries) in polarized proton-proton scattering provide a unique window on the interplay between the weak and strong interactions between and within hadrons. Several new proton-proton parity violation experiments are presently either being performed or are being prepared for execution in the near future: at TRIUMF at 221 MeV and 450 MeV and at COSY (Kernforschungsanlage Julich) at 230 MeV and near 1.3 GeV. These experiments are intended to provide stringent constraints on the set of six effective weak meson-nucleon coupling constants, which characterize the weak interaction between hadrons in the energy domain where meson exchange models provide an appropriate description. The 221 MeV is unique in that it selects a single transition amplitude ( 3 P 2 - 1 D 2 ) and consequently constrains the weak meson-nucleon coupling constant h ϱ pp . The TRIUMF 221 MeV proton-proton parity violation experiment is described in some detail. A preliminary result for the longitudinal analyzing power is A z = (1.1 ± 0.4 ± 0.4) × 10 −7 . Further proton-proton parity violation experiments are commented on. The anomaly at 6 GeV/c requires that a new multi-GeV proton-proton parity violation experiment be performed.

Search for charge symmetry violation in np elastic scattering

Abstract At TRIUMF we are measuring charge symmetry violation in np elastic scattering. If charge symmetry holds the analyzing powers A n and A p are equal. The measurements will therefore determine the difference from zero of ΔA ≡ A n − A p . The measurements are carried out in the vicinity where the analyzing powers cross zero in order to minimize systematic errors. A 350 MeV polarized ( P n ≅ 0.5) or unpolarized neutron beam is incident onto respectively an unpolarized or polarized ( P p ≅ 0.65) target of the butanol frozen spin type. A symmetric (about the beam axis and in the scattering plane) system of proton detectors and neutron arrays records neutron-proton coincidence events. The detection system allows measurements in the centre-of-mass angular range of 50°–90°.