C. Yan

Inclusive electron - nucleus scattering at large momentum transfer

The response function of nuclei in the quasielastic region at large momentum transfer (q≤10 fm^-1) is measured for a series of nuclei, 4He, 12C, 27Al, 56Fe, and 197Au, up to large values of the Bjorken scaling variables x<2.5.

Proton Spin Structure in the Resonance Region

We have examined the spin structure of the proton in the region of the nucleon resonances (1.085 GeV<W<1.910 GeV) at an average four momentum transfer of Q2=1.3 GeV2. Using the Jefferson Lab polarized electron beam, a spectrometer, and a polarized solid target, we measured the asymmetries A|| and A(perpendicular) to high precision, and extracted the asymmetries A1 and A2, and the spin structure functions g1 and g2. We found a notably nonzero A(perpendicular), significant contributions from higher-twist effects, and only weak support for polarized quark-hadron duality.

x and ξ scaling of the nuclear structure function at large x

Inclusive electron scattering data are presented for ^2H, C, Fe, and Au targets at an incident electron energy of 4.045 GeV for a range of momentum transfers from Q^2=1 to 7 (GeV/c)^2. Data were taken at Jefferson Laboratory for low values of energy loss, corresponding to values of Bjorken x ≳ 1. The structure functions do not show scaling in x in this range, where inelastic scattering is not expected to dominate the cross section. The data do show scaling, however, in the Nachtmann variable ξ. This scaling appears to be the result of Bloom- Gilman duality in the nucleon structure function combined with the Fermi motion of the nucleons in the nucleus. The resulting extension of scaling to larger values of ξ opens up the possibility of accessing nuclear structure functions in the high-x region at lower values of Q^2 than previously believed.

Probing Quark-Gluon Interactions with Transverse Polarized Scattering

We have extracted QCD matrix elements from our data on doubly polarized inelastic scattering of electrons on nuclei. We find the higher twist matrix element d˜2, which arises strictly from quark-gluon interactions, to be unambiguously nonzero. The data also reveal an isospin dependence of higher twist effects if we assume that the Burkhardt-Cottingham sum rule is valid. The fundamental Bjorken sum rule obtained from the a0 matrix element is satisfied at our low momentum transfer.

Electroproduction of kaons on light nuclei

The A(e,e{prime}K{sup +})YX reaction on H, D, {sup 3}He, and {sup 4}He was investigated in Hall C at CEBAF. Data were obtained for Q{sup 2} {approx} 0.35 and 0.5 GeV{sup 2} at 3.245 GeV. The missing mass spectra for both H and D are fitted with Monte-Carlo simulations incorporating peaks corresponding to {Lambda} production on the proton and {Sigma} production on both the proton and neutron. For D, the cross section ratio {Sigma}{sup 0}/{Sigma}{sup {minus}} {approx} 2, and excess yield close to the thresholds for {Lambda} and {Sigma} production can be attributed to final-state interactions that are compared to the data. The analysis of the data for the He targets is in a more preliminary state with broader quasi-free peaks resulting from the higher Fermi momenta. Evidence for bound {Lambda}-hypernuclear states is seen and other structure may be present.

Separated response function ratios in exclusive, forward π(±) electroproduction.

The study of exclusive π(±) electroproduction on the nucleon, including separation of the various structure functions, is of interest for a number of reasons. The ratio RL=σL(π-)/σL(π+) is sensitive to isoscalar contamination to the dominant isovector pion exchange amplitude, which is the basis for the determination of the charged pion form factor from electroproduction data. A change in the value of RT=σT(π-)/σT(π+) from unity at small -t, to 1/4 at large -t, would suggest a transition from coupling to a (virtual) pion to coupling to individual quarks. Furthermore, the mentioned ratios may show an earlier approach to perturbative QCD than the individual cross sections. We have performed the first complete separation of the four unpolarized electromagnetic structure functions above the dominant resonances in forward, exclusive π(±) electroproduction on the deuteron at central Q(2) values of 0.6, 1.0, 1.6  GeV(2) at W=1.95  GeV, and Q(2)=2.45  GeV(2) at W=2.22  GeV. Here, we present the L and T cross sections, with emphasis on RL and RT, and compare them with theoretical calculations. Results for the separated ratio RL indicate dominance of the pion-pole diagram at low -t, while results for RT are consistent with a transition between pion knockout and quark knockout mechanisms.

Measurement of the neutron electric form factor via recoil polarimetry

Abstract.The ratio Gen/Gmn of the electric to the magnetic form factor of the neutron has been measured by analyzing the polarization of the recoiling neutron in quasi-elastic scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons from deuterium at the Q2 values of 0.45, 1.15, and 1.47 (GeV/c)2. The experiment has been performed in Hall C of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. With Gmn being known Gen can be deduced. The preliminary results show that the lowest Q2 points follow the Galster parametrization and that the 1.47 (GeV/c)2 point rises above this parametrization.

Tensor polarization in elastic electron-deuteron scattering to the highest possible momentum transfers

In elastic electron-deuteron scattering, the tensor polarization moments t 20 , t 21 and t 22 , together with the unpolarized cross-sections, have been measured up to a momentum transfer of 1.8 (GeV/c) 2 , or 6.8 fm −1 . The experiment was performed at Jefferson Laboratory using the recoil deuteron polarimeter POLDER. Preliminary results are presented and discussed, especially in view of their significance concerning the applicability of perturbative QCD to this exclusive process.

Separated response functions in exclusive, forward π± electroproduction on deuterium

Background: Measurements of forward exclusive meson production at different squared four-momenta of the exchanged virtual photon, Q2, and at different four-momentum transfer, t, can be used to probe QCDs transition from meson-nucleon degrees of freedom at long distances to quark-gluon degrees of freedom at short scales. Ratios of separated response functions in π- and π+ electroproduction are particularly informative. The ratio for transverse photons may allow this transition to be more easily observed, while the ratio for longitudinal photons provides a crucial verification of the assumed pole dominance, needed for reliable extraction of the pion form factor from electroproduction data. Purpose: We perform the first complete separation of the four unpolarized electromagnetic structure functions L/T/LT/TT in forward, exclusive π± electroproduction on deuterium above the dominant resonances. Method: Data were acquired with 2.6-5.2-GeV electron beams and the HMS+SOS spectrometers in Jefferson Lab Hall C at central Q2 values of 0.6, 1.0, and 1.6 GeV2 at W=1.95 GeV, and Q2=2.45 GeV2 at W=2.22 GeV. There was significant coverage in φ and e, which allowed separation of σL,T,LT,TT. Results: σL shows a clear signature of the pion pole, with a sharp rise at small -t. In contrast, σT is much flatter versus t. The longitudinal/transverse ratios evolve with Q2 and t and at the highest Q2=2.45 GeV2 show a slight enhancement for π- production compared to π+. The π-/π+ ratio for transverse photons exhibits only a small Q2 dependence, following a nearly universal curve with t, with a steep transition to a value of about 0.25, consistent with s-channel quark knockout. The σTT/σT ratio also drops rapidly with Q2, qualitatively consistent with s-channel helicity conservation. The π-/π+ ratio for longitudinal photons indicates a small isoscalar contamination at W=1.95 GeV, consistent with what was observed in our earlier determination of the pion form factor at these kinematics. Conclusions: The separated cross sections are compared to a variety of theoretical models, which generally describe σL but have varying success with σT. Further theoretical input is required to provide a more profound insight into the relevant reaction mechanisms for longitudinal and transverse photons, such as whether the observed transverse ratio is indeed attributable to a transition from pion to quark knockout mechanisms and provide useful information regarding the twist-3 transversity generalized parton distribution, HT.

Measurements of the separated longitudinal structure function FL from hydrogen and deuterium targets at low Q2

Structure functions, as measured in lepton-nucleon scattering, have proven to be very useful in studying the partonic dynamics within the nucleon. However, it is experimentally difficult to separately determine the longitudinal and transverse structure functions, and consequently there are substantially less data available in particular for the longitudinal structure function. Here, we present separated structure functions for hydrogen and deuterium at low four-momentum transfer squared, Q^2 < 1 GeV^2, and compare them with parton distribution parametrization and k_T factorization approaches. While differences are found, the parametrizations generally agree with the data, even at the very low-Q^2 scale of the data. The deuterium data show a smaller longitudinal structure function and a smaller ratio of longitudinal to transverse cross section, R, than the proton. This suggests either an unexpected difference in R for the proton and the neutron or a suppression of the gluonic distribution in nuclei.