arXiv subjects

Ashot Gasparian

Publications and source records attributed to Ashot Gasparian.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Sensitivity of a Missing-Mass Search for a Light Dark Photon with a Positron Beam on a Hydrogen Target

We present a Geant4-based simulation study of the sensitivity to a light dark photon, $A'$, using a positron beam incident on a thin liquid-hydrogen target and a high-resolution forward electromagnetic calorimeter for final-state photon reconstruction. This study is motivated by ongoing research and development toward a low-energy positron facility at Jefferson Lab. The proposed search employs the missing-mass technique in the annihilation-in-flight process $e^+e^- \to \gamma A'$, providing sensitivity to the $A'$ independently of its decay mode. We evaluate the expected backgrounds from standard QED annihilation and bremsstrahlung processes and present the projected sensitivity to the kinetic-mixing parameter $\epsilon^2$ as a function of the $A'$ mass. The experiment with 500~MeV beam will provide the data for $A'$ mass range 7-19 MeV. The projected sensitivity on $\epsilon^2$ is $4\times10^{-8}$ at $m_{A'}=19$~MeV.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Elastic Positron-Proton Scattering at Low Q$^2$

Systematic differences in the the proton's charge radius, as determined by ordinary atoms and muonic atoms, have caused a resurgence of interest in elastic lepton scattering measurements. The proton's charge radius, defined as the slope of the charge form factor at Q$^2$=0, does not depend on the probe. Any difference in the apparent size of the proton, when determined from ordinary versus muonic hydrogen, could point to new physics or need for the higher order corrections. While recent measurements seem to now be in agreement, there is to date no high precision elastic scattering data with both electrons and positrons. A high precision proton radius measurement could be performed in Hall B at Jefferson Lab with a positron beam and the calorimeter based setup of the PRad experiment. This measurement could also be extended to deuterons where a similar discrepancy has been observed between the muonic and electronic determination of deuteron charge radius. A new, high precision measurement with positrons, when viewed alongside electron scattering measurements and the forthcoming MUSE muon scattering measurement, could help provide new insights into the origins of the proton radius puzzle, and also provide new experimental constraints on radiative correction calculations.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2021

Strange Hadron Spectroscopy with Secondary KL Beam in Hall D

We propose to create a secondary beam of neutral kaons in Hall D at Jefferson Lab to be used with the GlueX experimental setup for strange hadron spectroscopy. The superior CEBAF electron beam will enable a flux on the order of $1\times 10^4~K_L/sec$, which exceeds the flux of that previously attained at SLAC by three orders of magnitude. The use of a deuteron target will provide first measurements ever with neutral kaons on neutrons. The experiment will measure both differential cross sections and self-analyzed polarizations of the produced $Λ$, $Σ$, $Ξ$, and $Ω$ hyperons using the GlueX detector at the Jefferson Lab Hall D. The measurements will span CM $\cosθ$ from $-0.95$ to 0.95 in the range W = 1490 MeV to 2500 MeV. The new data will significantly constrain the partial wave analyses and reduce model-dependent uncertainties in the extraction of the properties and pole positions of the strange hyperon resonances, and establish the orbitally excited multiplets in the spectra of the $Ξ$ and $Ω$ hyperons. Comparison with the corresponding multiplets in the spectra of the charm and bottom hyperons will provide insight into he accuracy of QCD-based calculations over a large range of masses. The proposed facility will have a defining impact in the strange meson sector through measurements of the final state $Kπ$ system up to 2 GeV invariant mass. This will allow the determination of pole positions and widths of all relevant $K^\ast(Kπ)$ $S$-,$P$-,$D$-,$F$-, and $G$-wave resonances, settle the question of the existence or nonexistence of scalar meson $κ/K_0^\ast(700)$ and improve the constrains on their pole parameters. Subsequently improving our knowledge of the low-lying scalar nonet in general.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2021

Advanced extraction of the deuteron charge radius from electron-deuteron scattering data

To extract the charge radius of the proton, $r_{p}$, from the electron scattering data, the PRad collaboration at Jefferson Lab has developed a rigorous framework for finding the best functional forms - the fitters - for a robust extraction of $r_{p}$ from a wide variety of sample functions for the range and uncertainties of the PRad data. In this paper we utilize and further develop this framework. Herein we discuss methods for searching for the best fitter candidates as well as a procedure for testing the robustness of extraction of the deuteron charge radius, $r_{d}$, from parametrizations based on elastic electron-deuteron scattering data. The ansatz proposed in this paper for the robust extraction of $r_{d}$, for the proposed low-$Q^{2}$ DRad experiment at Jefferson Lab, can be further improved once there are more data.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

Robust extraction of proton charge radius from electron-proton scattering data

Extracting the proton charge radius from electron scattering data requires determining the slope of the charge form factor at $Q^2$ of zero. But as experimental data never reach that limit, numerous methods for making the extraction have been proposed, though often the functions are determined after seeing the data which can lead to confirmation bias. To find functional forms that will allow for a robust extraction of the input radius for a wide variety of functional forms in order to have confidence in the extraction from upcoming low $Q^2$ experimental data such as the Jefferson Lab PRad experiment, we create a general framework for inputting form-factor functions as well as various fitting functions. The input form factors are used to generate pseudo-data with fluctuations intended to mimic the binning and random uncertainty of a given set of real data. All combinations of input functions and fit functions can then be tested repeatedly against regenerated pseudo-data. Since the input radius is known, this allows us to find fit functions that are robust for radius extractions in an objective fashion. For the range and uncertainty of the PRad data, we find that a two-parameter rational function, a two-parameter continued fraction and the second order polynomial expansion of $z$ can extract the input radius regardless of the input charge form factor function that is used. We have created an easily expandable framework to search for functional forms that allow for a robust extraction of the radius from a given binning and uncertainty of pseudo-data generated from a wide variety of trial functions. This method has enabled a successful search for the best functional forms to extract the radius from the upcoming PRad data and can be used for other experiments.

nucl-ex↗