Measurement of the Neutron Radius of 208Pb Through Parity-Violation in Electron Scattering

We report the first measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry A_PV in the elastic scattering of polarized electrons from 208Pb. A_PV is sensitive to the radius of the neutron distribution (Rn). The result A_PV = 0.656 \pm 0.060 (stat) \pm 0.014 (syst) ppm corresponds to a difference between the radii of the neutron and proton distributions Rn - Rp = 0.33 +0.16 -0.18 fm and provides the first electroweak observation of the neutron skin which is expected in a heavy, neutron-rich nucleus.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur

A novel comparison of Moller and Compton electron-beam polarimeters

We have performed a novel comparison between electron-beam polarimeters based on Moller and Compton scattering. A sequence of electron-beam polarization measurements were performed at low beam currents (\u3c 5 mu A) during the Qweakexperiment in Hall-Cat Jefferson Lab. These low current measurements were bracketed by the regular high current ( 180 mu A) operation of the Compton polarimeter. All measurements were found to be consistent within experimental uncertainties of 1% or less, demonstrating that electron polarization does not depend significantly on the beam current. This result lends confidence to the common practice of applying Moller measurements made at low beam currents to physics experiments performed at higher beam currents. The agreement between two polarimetry techniques based on independent physical processes sets an important benchmark for future precision asymmetry measurements that require sub-1% precision in polarimetry. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V

Q(weak): First Direct Measurement of the Proton\u27s Weak Charge

The Q(weak) experiment, which took data at Jefferson Lab in the period 2010 - 2012, will precisely determine the weak charge of the proton by measuring the parity-violating asymmetry in elastic e-p scattering at 1.1 GeV using a longitudinally polarized electron beam and a liquid hydrogen target at a low momentum transfer of Q(2) = 0.025 ( GeV/c)(2). The weak charge of the proton is predicted by the Standard Model and any significant deviation would indicate physics beyond the Standard Model. The technical challenges and experimental apparatus for measuring the weak charge of the proton will be discussed, as well as the method of extracting the weak charge of the proton. The results from a small subset of the data, that has been published, will also be presented. Furthermore an update will be given of the current status of the data analysis

Parity-Violating Inelastic Electron-Proton Scattering at Low Q2Q^2 Above the Resonance Region

We report the measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry for the inelastic scattering of electrons from the proton, at $Q^2 = 0.082$ GeV$^2$ and $W = 2.23$ GeV, above the resonance region. The result $A_{\rm Inel} = - 13.5 \pm 2.0 ({\rm stat}) \pm 3.9 ({\rm syst})$~ppm agrees with theoretical calculations, and helps to validate the modeling of the $\gamma Z$ interference structure functions $F_1^{\gamma Z}$ and $F_2^{\gamma Z}$ used in those calculations, which are also used for determination of the two-boson exchange box diagram ($\Box_{\gamma Z}$) contribution to parity-violating elastic scattering measurements. A positive parity-violating asymmetry for inclusive $\pi^-$ production was observed, as well as positive beam-normal single-spin asymmetry for scattered electrons and a negative beam-normal single-spin asymmetry for inclusive $\pi^-$ production.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, version accepted in Physical Review

Comparative yield loss estimates due to blast in some upland rice cultivars.

Leaf and panicle blast severities and grain yield of some upland rice cultivars were measured in three successive years in field plots unprotected or protected with fungicides. The variation in disease severities in different plots was used to establish relationships between severity of leaf and panicle blast and yield. Linear multiple regression equations for each cultivar by year were developed to estimate the yield decrease in different cultivars per unit increase in disease. Leaf blast severities at maximum tillering or booting stage and panicle blast 25 days after heading accounted for variation in grain yield in most of the cultivars. General equations combining five early and eight medium-duration rice cultivars were developed. The estimated percentage losses in grain yield due to blastwere 2.7 and 1.5 for one percent increase in blast in the early and medium-duration cultivars, respectively

New Precision Limit on the Strange Vector Form Factors of the Proton

The parity-violating cross-section asymmetry in the elastic scattering of polarized electrons from unpolarized protons has been measured at a four-momentum transfer squared Q2 = 0.624 GeV and beam energy E =3.48 GeV to be A_PV = -23.80 +/- 0.78 (stat) +/- 0.36 (syst) parts per million. This result is consistent with zero contribution of strange quarks to the combination of electric and magnetic form factors G_E^s + 0.517 G_M^s = 0.003 +/- 0.010 (stat) +/- 0.004 (syst) +/- 0.009 (ff), where the third error is due to the limits of precision on the electromagnetic form factors and radiative corrections. With this measurement, the world data on strange contributions to nucleon form factors are seen to be consistent with zero and not more than a few percent of the proton form factors.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure