Accurate Determination of the Neutron Skin Thickness of ^{208}Pb through Parity-Violation in Electron Scattering

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.172502

D Adhikari, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA.
H Albataineh, Texas A & M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA.
D Androic, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science.
K Aniol, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90032, USA.
D S. Armstrong, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185, USA.
T Averett, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185, USA.
C Ayerbe Gayoso, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185, USA.
S Barcus, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Newport News, Virginia 23606, USA.
V Bellini, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
R S. Beminiwattha, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272 USA.
J F. Benesch, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Newport News, Virginia 23606, USA.
H Bhatt, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
D Bhatta Pathak, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272 USA.
D Bhetuwal, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
B Blaikie, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T2N2 Canada.
Q Campagna, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185, USA.
A Camsonne, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Newport News, Virginia 23606, USA.
G D. Cates, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.
Y Chen, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272 USA.
C Clarke, Stony Brook, State University of New York, NY 11794, USA.
J C. Cornejo, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
S Covrig Dusa, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Newport News, Virginia 23606, USA.
P Datta, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
A Deshpande, Stony Brook, State University of New York, NY 11794, USA.
D Dutta, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
C Feldman, Stony Brook, State University of New York, NY 11794, USA.
E Fuchey, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
C Gal, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.
D Gaskell, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Newport News, Virginia 23606, USA.
T Gautam, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia 23668, USA.
M Gericke, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T2N2 Canada.
C Ghosh, Stony Brook, State University of New York, NY 11794, USA.
M Knauss, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-30-2021

Publication Title

Physical review letters

Volume

126

Issue

17

First Page

172502

Abstract

We report a precision measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry A_{PV} in the elastic scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons from ^{208}Pb. We measure A_{PV}=550±16(stat)±8(syst) parts per billion, leading to an extraction of the neutral weak form factor F_{W}(Q^{2}=0.00616  GeV^{2})=0.368±0.013. Combined with our previous measurement, the extracted neutron skin thickness is R_{n}-R_{p}=0.283±0.071  fm. The result also yields the first significant direct measurement of the interior weak density of ^{208}Pb: ρ_{W}^{0}=-0.0796±0.0036(exp)±0.0013(theo)  fm^{-3} leading to the interior baryon density ρ_{b}^{0}=0.1480±0.0036(exp)±0.0013(theo)  fm^{-3}. The measurement accurately constrains the density dependence of the symmetry energy of nuclear matter near saturation density, with implications for the size and composition of neutron stars.

Open Access

OA

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS