Neutrino scattering on polarized deuterons

The possible presence of anI=0 axial vector piece in the hadronic neutral current may be detected by looking for an asymmetry in the emission of the recoil deuterons in elastic scattering of neutrinos or antineutrinos on polarized deuterons. It is estimated that this asymmetry could be about 40% with the incident neutrinos in the energy range of tens of MeV.     

Radiative corrections to polarization observables in elastic electron-deuteron scattering in hadronic variables

Model-independent QED radiative corrections to polarization observables in the elastic scattering of unpolarized and longitudinally polarized electron beam by a deuteron target are calculated. Two experimental setups are considered: the deuteron target is arbitrarily polarized, or the vector and/or tensor polarization of the recoil deuteron is measured. The calculations are based on taking all essential Feynman diagrams into account and using the covariant parametrization of the deuteron polarization state. The radiative corrections are calculated for the hadronic variables using invariant integration of the leptonic tensor. Numerical estimates of the radiative corrections to the polarization observables are made for various values of the kinematical vari-ables.     

Theoretical study of deuteron polarization in γ+d → π0+d

The state of polarization of the recoil deuteron in γ+d → π⁰+d on unpolarized and target polarized deuterons is analyzed in detail. A new set of statistical tensors is introduced to describe non-oriented systems, such as the recoil deuteron in γ+d → π⁰+d, and their relationships to the vector and tensor polarization parameters are established. The new statistical tensors reduce, in the case of oriented systems, to Fano's statistical tensors. Numerical results are computed using two different deuteron models for polarized photon asymmetry, polarized target asymmetry and the vector and tensor polarizations of the recoil deuteron, and these are presented at various c.m. pion production angles at different energies in the region of the first π-N resonance. The study of these parameters is suggested as a promising source of information on isoscalar pion photoproduction amplitudes.     

Radiative corrections to polarization observables in elastic electron-deuteron scattering in leptonic variables

The model-independent QED radiative corrections to polarization observables in elastic scattering of unpolarized and longitudinally polarized electron beams by a deuteron target are calculated in leptonic variables. The experimental setup when the deuteron target is arbitrarily polarized is considered and the procedure for applying the derived results to the vector or tensor polarization of the recoil deuteron is discussed. The calculation is based on taking all essential Feynman diagrams into account, which results in the form of the Drell-Yan representation for the cross section, and the use of the covariant parameterization of the deuteron polarization state. Numerical estimates of the radiative corrections are given in the case where event selection allows undetected particles (photons and electron-positron pairs) and the restriction on the lost invariant mass is used.     

Weak interactions in polarized electron-nucleus scattering

Scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons from nuclei is analysed in view of information on weak interactions. Emphasis is given to the competition of contributions due to Z-boson and photon exchange. In some kinematical domains parity mixing of nuclear states and similar processes become predominant. The asymmetry of elastic deuteron scattering is well suited for studying the polar isoscalar current, even independently of the nuclear structure. At deuteron disintegration in principle all parts of the neutral weak currents may be observed. Both cases allow for clean tests of weak interaction theories.     

Photodisintegration of polarized deuterons —measurement of angular distributions atE γ=450, 550 and 650 MeV

At the Bonn 2.5 GeV electron synchrotron an angular distribution of the target asymmetry of the reaction γ+d↑→p+n has been measured at photon-lab-energies of 450 and 650 MeV and at proton-CM-angles between 25° and 155°. At 550 MeV the data of our previous run [1] have been improved. Using deuterated ammonia as material for the polarized deuteron target a maximum vector polarization of 44% could be achieved. At 450 and 650 MeV the data are consistent with a smooth sin 2Θ-like distribution. The evidence for a structure around 90° at 550 Mev remains. This might be due to the influence of a higher momentum state (like a dibaryon). The feasibility of measuring the tensor asymmetry of the deuteron photodisintegration with a polarized target has been shown for the first time. Data were taken in a short run for one kinematical setting.     

Asymmetry in the scattering of protons on polarized deuterons at 1.21 GeV/c

By using a polarized deuteron target we have measured the asymmetry in the differential cross section for elastic scattering of protons on deuterons and for quasi-elastic scattering of protons on protons bound in deuterons between the two states of opposite polarization, normal to the scattering plane of the initial deuteron. The beam momentum was 1.21 GeV/c. It is checked that the neutrons bound in the deuterons are polarized to approximately 20%.     

Parity-violating electron deuteron scattering and the proton's neutral weak axial vector form factor

We report on a new measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry in quasielastic electron scattering from the deuteron at backward angles at Q2=0.038 (GeV/c)2. This quantity provides a determination of the neutral weak axial vector form factor of the nucleon, which can potentially receive large electroweak corrections. The measured asymmetry A=-3.51+/-0.57 (stat)+/-0.58 (syst) ppm is consistent with theoretical predictions. We also report on updated results of the previous experiment at Q2=0.091 (GeV/c)2, which are also consistent with theoretical predictions.     

General bounds on the isovector coupling constants of the weak neutral current

We show that experimental data on inclusive neutrino reactions can be used to obtain general bounds on the coupling constants of the isovector part of the hadronic weak neutral current provided this isovector current is related to the charged current by isospin rotation. These bounds are free from the assumption of a specific model for the neutral current as well as any dynamical assumption on the hadronic structure functions. We derive upper bounds on the coupling constants which involve only the cross sections for isospin-averaged nucleon target as well as lower bounds which require a knowledge of the cross sections for proton and neutron separately.     

Target asymmetry and effective neutron polarization with polarized deuteron targets

A careful discussion is given of the definitions of “target asymmetry” and “effective neutron polarization” in the reaction $\text{d}\text{(γ,π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{)2}\text{p}$ with polarized deuterons. The connection between the analyzing powers, T_q^k of the reaction and the target asymmetry, T is established taking into account the method of preparation of the polarized target. It is further shown that the concept of effective neutron polarization P_eff is valid only in a very approximate way, even when the target deuteron is purely vector polarized.     

Manifestation of tensor magnetic polarizability of the deuteron in storage ring experiments

It was previously shown that the tensor magnetic polarizability of the deuteron causes the spin rotation with two frequencies and experiences beating for polarized deuteron beams in storage rings. We confirm an existence of this effect and derive general formulae describing deuteron spin dynamics. It is found that an initially tensor polarized deuteron beam can acquire a final horizontal vector polarization of order of 1%. This effect allows to measure the tensor magnetic polarizability of the deuteron in storage ring experiments.     

Neutral current effects in nuclei

We review the effects of weak neutral currents is nuclei and show how different nuclear processes can sensitively test gauge theory models of the weak and electromagnetic interactions. Our attention is focused principally on neutral current neutrino interactions in nuclei, although one chapter of our review is devoted to weak neutral current effects in polarized electron scattering off nuclei.     

Polarization observables in elastic electron deuteron scattering including parity- and time-reversal-violating contributions

The general formalism for polarization observables in elastic electron deuteron scattering is extended to incorporate parity- and time-reversal-violating contributions. Parity-violating effects arise from the interference of γ and Z exchange as well as from the hadronic sector via a small parity-violating component in the deuteron. In addition we have allowed for time-reversal-invariance-violating contributions in the hadronic sector. Formal expressions for the additional structure functions are derived, and their decomposition into the various multipole contributions are given explicitly. Received: 19 December 2000 / Accepted: 14 February 2001     

Passive magnetic shielded spin polarized electron source with optical electron polarimeter

A new GaAs(100) spin polarized electron source with an optical polarimeter, which is employed in the field of polarized electron and gas atom collision, is presented in detail. The apparatus is passive-magnetic-shielded by a box and a cylinder made of nickel--iron--molybdenum soft magnetic alloy without Helmholtz coil arrangement. And a uniformly distributed residual magnetic field of less than 5×10^-7,T is obtained near the collision area. The spin polarized electron beam is transmitted and focused onto collision point from photocathode by a set of electron optics with more than 25% transmission 95cm distance through an 1mm diameter aperture. Construction and operation of the apparatus, such as vacuum and magnetic shielding system, photocathode, laser optics, electron optics and polarimeter are discussed. The polarization of the spin polarized electron beam is determined to be 30.8\pm3.5% measured with a He optical polarimeter.     

QED corrections to {\vec A}({\vec e},e'B)X and A({\vec e},e'{\vec B})X reactions: The case of tensor polarization

The model-independent leading radiative corrections to polarization observables in semi-inclusive longitudinally polarized electron-nucleus scattering with the registration of a produced hadron and scattered electron in coincidence were calculated using the Drell-Yan representation in electrodynamics. The cases of a tensor-polarized target or a produced hadron with tensor polarization were considered. The exclusive process of the electrodisintegration of a polarized deuteron was also studied.     

Polarized parity violating electron scattering on 3He

We calculate the asymmetry parameters, A, and figures-of-merit for polarized parity violating electron scattering from ³He via the reaction, e⁻ +³ He → e⁻ +³ He. We do this explicitly forv incident electron energies of 1.0 GeV and 4.0 GeV. We find a sharp and unexpected variation in A due to cancellations between the weak and electromagnetic form factors caused by the different q² dependences of these form factors. We find that at small angles, the asymmetry may be obtained to reasonably high accuracy for all energies considered and that the interesting region where the asymmetry has its first maximum and minimum is accessible for electron energies of 1 GeV or higher. In addition we find that the asymmetry and figures-of-merit are in the range of those for other proposed target nuclei. We also consider the possibility of strange quark contributions to the asymmetry and show that at the first maxima and minima, possible contributions of the strange quark current vector form factors cause large variations in the asymmetry which might be observed.     

Relativistically invariant analysis of -isobar production in deuteron electrodisintegration: : General analysis of polarization effects

The differential cross-section and the polarization observables for Δ-isobar production in the deuteron electrodisintegration process, e^-+d→e^-+Δ+N, are calculated in a general formalism based on structure functions. The obtained expressions have a general nature, hold for one-photon-exchange, assuming P-invariance of the electromagnetic interaction and the conservation of the hadron electromagnetic current. The dependence of the differential cross-section of the e^-+d→e^-+Δ+N reaction on the vector and tensor polarizations of the deuteron target with unpolarized and longitudinally polarized electrons is considered. The general dependence of the asymmetries on two of five kinematic variables, the azimuthal angle φ and (linear polarization of the virtual photon) is calculated. A similar analysis is performed for the polarization of the nucleon produced in γ^*d→ΔN reaction provided the electron beam is unpolarized or longitudinally polarized. Polarization effects, which are due to the strong ΔN-interaction in the final state are calculated. The photoproduction of the Δ-isobar on the deuteron target has been considered in detail, as a particular case. The differential cross-section and various polarization observables have been derived in terms of the reaction amplitudes. The polarization observables due to the linear and circular polarizations of the photon, when the deuteron target is arbitrarily polarized have been derived in terms of the reaction amplitudes. The polarization of the final nucleon is also considered.     

Charge form factor of the neutron at low momentum transfer from the 2H-->(e-->,e'n)1H reaction

We report new measurements of the neutron charge form factor at low momentum transfer using quasielastic electrodisintegration of the deuteron. Longitudinally polarized electrons at an energy of 850 MeV were scattered from an isotopically pure, highly polarized deuterium gas target. The scattered electrons and coincident neutrons were measured by the Bates Large Acceptance Spectrometer Toroid (BLAST) detector. The neutron form factor ratio GEn/GMn was extracted from the beam-target vector asymmetry AedV at four-momentum transfers Q2=0.14, 0.20, 0.29, and 0.42 (GeV/c)2.     

Strangeness in the nucleon: Newest results from Happex and G0

We present an introduction to accurate measurements of the weak neutral current in the elastic scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons off hadronic targets, and show how they can provide new and stringent limits on the contribution of strange quarks to the nucleon form factors. Such a contribution is of particular interest for the study of nucleon structure, since strange quarks do not contribute to the valence state and give us a direct insight into the dynamics of quark-antiquark fluctuations. We discuss the latest published results of Happex and G0 experiments as well as the perspectives of high precision measurements of parity violating asymmetries.