The Proton Radius Puzzle

Carl E. Carlson

doi:10.1016/j.ppnp.2015.01.002

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arXiv · 1502.05314

The Proton Radius Puzzle

Carl E. Carlson

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Abstract

The proton size, specifically its charge radius, was thought known to about 1% accuracy. Now a new method probing the proton with muons instead of electrons finds a radius about 4% smaller, and to boot gives an uncertainty limit of about 0.1%. We review the different measurements, some of the calculations that underlie them, some of the suggestions that have been made to resolve the conflict, and give a brief overview new related experimental initiatives. At present, however, the resolution to the problem remains unknown.

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Carl E. Carlson. 2015-02-18. The Proton Radius Puzzle. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppnp.2015.01.002

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