arXiv subjects

D. Flay

Publications and source records attributed to D. Flay.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

An improved direct limit on the muon electric dipole moment

A limit on the permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of the positive muon is presented based on data from the Fermilab Muon g-2 Experiment taken between 2019 and 2020. The tracking detectors measure the average vertical decay angle of positrons from muon decays, enabling a search for an interaction between a possible muon EDM $d_\mu$ and the lab-frame magnetic field. The result, $d_\mu = (-0.35 \pm 0.19_{\mathrm{stat}} \pm 0.34_{\mathrm{sys}}) \times10^{-19}~e\cdot$cm, is consistent with zero and sets a new direct limit on the muon EDM of $|d_\mu|<1.10\times10^{-19}~e\cdot$cm at the 95 percent confidence level.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Final Report on the Measurement of the Positive Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment at Fermilab to 127 ppb

This report details the final measurement of the muon magnetic anomaly, $a_{\mu}=(g_{\mu}-2)/2$, by the Muon $g-2$ experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), using positive muons collected from 2021 to 2023. The value of $a_{\mu}$ is determined from the ratio of the anomalous spin precession frequency to the shielded proton precession frequency in the muon storage ring magnetic field, combined with external constants known at the 22 ppb level. The new dataset, containing over $2.5$ times the statistics of our previous results, yields $a_{\mu}=116\,592\,0710(162)\times 10^{-12}$ (139 ppb), or $a_{\mu}=116\,592\,0705(148)\times 10^{-12}$ (127 ppb) when combined with our previous results. The new experimental world average, dominated by the measurements at FNAL, is $a_{\mu}^{\text{Exp}}=116\,592\,0715(145)\times 10^{-12}$ (124 ppb).

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of the Positive Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment to 127 ppb

A new measurement of the magnetic anomaly $a_{\mu}$ of the positive muon is presented based on data taken from 2020 to 2023 by the Muon $g-2$ Experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL). This dataset contains over 2.5 times the total statistics of our previous results. From the ratio of the precession frequencies for muons and protons in our storage ring magnetic field, together with precisely known ratios of fundamental constants, we determine $a_{\mu} = 116\,592\,0710(162) \times 10^{-12}$ (139 ppb) for the new datasets, and $a_{\mu} = 116\,592\,0705(148) \times 10^{-12}$ (127 ppb) when combined with our previous results. The new experimental world average, dominated by the measurements at FNAL, is $a_{\mu}(\text{exp}) =116\,592\,0715(145) \times 10^{-12}$ (124 ppb). The measurements at FNAL have improved the precision on the world average by over a factor of four.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measuring short-range correlations and quasi-elastic cross sections in A(e,e') at x>1 and modest Q$^2$

We present results from the Jefferson Lab E08-014 experiment, investigating short-range correlations (SRC) through measurements of inclusive quasi-elastic scattering from $^2$H, $^3$He, $^4$He, $^{12}$C, $^{40}$Ca, and $^{48}$Ca. The kinematics were selected to isolate scattering from SRCs, yielding a plateau in the A/$^2$H cross-section ratios due to the universal two-body structure of the 2N-SRCs in light and heavy nuclei. We observe approximate plateaus in the A/$^2$H ratios and provide the first extractions of the A/$^2$H ratio for $^{40}$Ca and $^{48}$Ca. We also examine the A/$^3$He ratio, aiming to identify three-nucleon SRCs (3N-SRCs). Following the approach for isolating 2N-SRCs, searching for 3N-SRC dominance involved measuring the A/$^3$He cross section ratio at modest-to-large $Q^2$ values and looking for a plateau ratios for $x \gtorder 2.5$. This was not observed in the data, and in fact increasing $Q^2$ values moved the data \textit{further away} from the predicted plateau. We show here that, when analyzed in terms of the struck nucleon's light-cone momentum, the data exhibited the expected trend, progressively approaching the predicted 3N-SRC plateau. These observations suggest that future measurements at higher energies may facilitate a definitive isolation and identification of 3N-SRCs.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2024

Detailed Report on the Measurement of the Positive Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment to 0.20 ppm

We present details on a new measurement of the muon magnetic anomaly, $a_\mu = (g_\mu -2)/2$. The result is based on positive muon data taken at Fermilab's Muon Campus during the 2019 and 2020 accelerator runs. The measurement uses $3.1$ GeV$/c$ polarized muons stored in a $7.1$-m-radius storage ring with a $1.45$ T uniform magnetic field. The value of $ a_{\mu}$ is determined from the measured difference between the muon spin precession frequency and its cyclotron frequency. This difference is normalized to the strength of the magnetic field, measured using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The ratio is then corrected for small contributions from beam motion, beam dispersion, and transient magnetic fields. We measure $a_\mu = 116 592 057 (25) \times 10^{-11}$ (0.21 ppm). This is the world's most precise measurement of this quantity and represents a factor of $2.2$ improvement over our previous result based on the 2018 dataset. In combination, the two datasets yield $a_\mu(\text{FNAL}) = 116 592 055 (24) \times 10^{-11}$ (0.20 ppm). Combining this with the measurements from Brookhaven National Laboratory for both positive and negative muons, the new world average is $a_\mu$(exp) $ = 116 592 059 (22) \times 10^{-11}$ (0.19 ppm).

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

Measurement of the Positive Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment to 0.20 ppm

We present a new measurement of the positive muon magnetic anomaly, $a_\mu \equiv (g_\mu - 2)/2$, from the Fermilab Muon $g\!-\!2$ Experiment using data collected in 2019 and 2020. We have analyzed more than 4 times the number of positrons from muon decay than in our previous result from 2018 data. The systematic error is reduced by more than a factor of 2 due to better running conditions, a more stable beam, and improved knowledge of the magnetic field weighted by the muon distribution, $\tilde{\omega}'^{}_p$, and of the anomalous precession frequency corrected for beam dynamics effects, $\omega_a$. From the ratio $\omega_a / \tilde{\omega}'^{}_p$, together with precisely determined external parameters, we determine $a_\mu = 116\,592\,057(25) \times 10^{-11}$ (0.21 ppm). Combining this result with our previous result from the 2018 data, we obtain $a_\mu\text{(FNAL)} = 116\,592\,055(24) \times 10^{-11}$ (0.20 ppm). The new experimental world average is $a_\mu (\text{Exp}) = 116\,592\,059(22)\times 10^{-11}$ (0.19 ppm), which represents a factor of 2 improvement in precision.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Precise Beam Energy Determination for Hall A after the CEBAF 12 GeV Upgrade

Precise and accurate measurements of the beam energy delivered to the experimental halls at the Thomas Jefferson Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is required by many experiments for proper data analysis and physics event reconstruction. During the 6 GeV era of Jefferson Lab, the energy delivered to experimental Hall A was determined to 2E-4 dE/E with multiple measurements; but after the machine was upgraded to 12 GeV, the accelerator's beam energy calculations needed to be re-calibrated. In order to link the 6 GeV era calibrations to the 12 GeV era, the Hall A ARC energy measurement system was left unmodified. After the upgrade, this system was used to determine the absolute beam energy being delivered into Hall A and find the new calibrations for the main machine. To ensure the validity of these results, they have been cross checked using elastic scattering data as well as spin precession data.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2021

High-Accuracy Absolute Magnetometry with Application to the Fermilab Muon $g-2$ Experiment

We present details of a high-accuracy absolute scalar magnetometer based on pulsed proton NMR. The $B$-field magnitude is determined from the precession frequency of proton spins in a cylindrical sample of water after accounting for field perturbations from probe materials, sample shape, and other corrections. Features of the design, testing procedures, and corrections necessary for qualification as an absolute scalar magnetometer are described. The device was tested at $B = 1.45$\,T but can be modified for a range exceeding 1--3\,T. The magnetometer was used to calibrate other NMR magnetometers and measure absolute magnetic field magnitudes to an accuracy of 19 parts per billion as part of a measurement of the muon magnetic moment anomaly at Fermilab.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Deeply virtual Compton scattering off the neutron

The three-dimensional structure of nucleons (protons and neutrons) is embedded in so-called generalized parton distributions, which are accessible from deeply virtual Compton scattering. In this process, a high energy electron is scattered off a nucleon by exchanging a virtual photon. Then, a highly-energetic real photon is emitted from one of the quarks inside the nucleon, which carries information on the quark's transverse position and longitudinal momentum. By measuring the cross-section of deeply virtual Compton scattering, Compton form factors related to the generalized parton distributions can be extracted. Here, we report the observation of unpolarized deeply virtual Compton scattering off a deuterium target. From the measured photon-electroproduction cross-sections, we have extracted the cross-section of a quasi-free neutron and a coherent deuteron. Due to the approximate isospin symmetry of quantum chromodynamics, we can determine the contributions from the different quark flavours to the helicity-conserved Compton form factors by combining our measurements with previous ones probing the proton's internal structure. These results advance our understanding of the description of the nucleon structure, which is important to solve the proton spin puzzle.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Magnetic Field Measurement and Analysis for the Muon g-2 Experiment at Fermilab

The Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory has measured the anomalous precession frequency $a^{}_\mu = (g^{}_\mu-2)/2$ of the muon to a combined precision of 0.46 parts per million with data collected during its first physics run in 2018. This paper documents the measurement of the magnetic field in the muon storage ring. The magnetic field is monitored by nuclear magnetic resonance systems and calibrated in terms of the equivalent proton spin precession frequency in a spherical water sample at 34.7$^\circ$C. The measured field is weighted by the muon distribution resulting in $\tilde{\omega}'^{}_p$, the denominator in the ratio $\omega^{}_a$/$\tilde{\omega}'^{}_p$ that together with known fundamental constants yields $a^{}_\mu$. The reported uncertainty on $\tilde{\omega}'^{}_p$ for the Run-1 data set is 114 ppb consisting of uncertainty contributions from frequency extraction, calibration, mapping, tracking, and averaging of 56 ppb, and contributions from fast transient fields of 99 ppb.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Beam dynamics corrections to the Run-1 measurement of the muon anomalous magnetic moment at Fermilab

This paper presents the beam dynamics systematic corrections and their uncertainties for the Run-1 data set of the Fermilab Muon g-2 Experiment. Two corrections to the measured muon precession frequency $\omega_a^m$ are associated with well-known effects owing to the use of electrostatic quadrupole (ESQ) vertical focusing in the storage ring. An average vertically oriented motional magnetic field is felt by relativistic muons passing transversely through the radial electric field components created by the ESQ system. The correction depends on the stored momentum distribution and the tunes of the ring, which has relatively weak vertical focusing. Vertical betatron motions imply that the muons do not orbit the ring in a plane exactly orthogonal to the vertical magnetic field direction. A correction is necessary to account for an average pitch angle associated with their trajectories. A third small correction is necessary because muons that escape the ring during the storage time are slightly biased in initial spin phase compared to the parent distribution. Finally, because two high-voltage resistors in the ESQ network had longer than designed RC time constants, the vertical and horizontal centroids and envelopes of the stored muon beam drifted slightly, but coherently, during each storage ring fill. This led to the discovery of an important phase-acceptance relationship that requires a correction. The sum of the corrections to $\omega_a^m$ is 0.50 $\pm$ 0.09 ppm; the uncertainty is small compared to the 0.43 ppm statistical precision of $\omega_a^m$.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2021

Measurement of the anomalous precession frequency of the muon in the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment

The Muon g-2 Experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL) has measured the muon anomalous precession frequency $\omega_a$ to an uncertainty of 434 parts per billion (ppb), statistical, and 56 ppb, systematic, with data collected in four storage ring configurations during its first physics run in 2018. When combined with a precision measurement of the magnetic field of the experiment's muon storage ring, the precession frequency measurement determines a muon magnetic anomaly of $a_{\mu}({\rm FNAL}) = 116\,592\,040(54) \times 10^{-11}$ (0.46 ppm). This article describes the multiple techniques employed in the reconstruction, analysis and fitting of the data to measure the precession frequency. It also presents the averaging of the results from the eleven separate determinations of \omega_a, and the systematic uncertainties on the result.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Measurement of the Positive Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment to 0.46 ppm

We present the first results of the Fermilab Muon g-2 Experiment for the positive muon magnetic anomaly $a_\mu \equiv (g_\mu-2)/2$. The anomaly is determined from the precision measurements of two angular frequencies. Intensity variation of high-energy positrons from muon decays directly encodes the difference frequency $\omega_a$ between the spin-precession and cyclotron frequencies for polarized muons in a magnetic storage ring. The storage ring magnetic field is measured using nuclear magnetic resonance probes calibrated in terms of the equivalent proton spin precession frequency ${\tilde{\omega}'^{}_p}$ in a spherical water sample at 34.7$^{\circ}$C. The ratio $\omega_a / {\tilde{\omega}'^{}_p}$, together with known fundamental constants, determines $a_\mu({\rm FNAL}) = 116\,592\,040(54)\times 10^{-11}$ (0.46\,ppm). The result is 3.3 standard deviations greater than the standard model prediction and is in excellent agreement with the previous Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) E821 measurement. After combination with previous measurements of both $\mu^+$ and $\mu^-$, the new experimental average of $a_\mu({\rm Exp}) = 116\,592\,061(41)\times 10^{-11}$ (0.35\,ppm) increases the tension between experiment and theory to 4.2 standard deviations

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

An experimental program with high duty-cycle polarized and unpolarized positron beams at Jefferson Lab

Positron beams, both polarized and unpolarized, are identified as essential ingredients for the experimental programs at the next generation of lepton accelerators. In the context of the hadronic physics program at Jefferson Lab (JLab), positron beams are complementary, even essential, tools for a precise understanding of the electromagnetic structure of nucleons and nuclei, in both the elastic and deep-inelastic regimes. For instance, elastic scattering of polarized and unpolarized electrons and positrons from the nucleon enables a model independent determination of its electromagnetic form factors. Also, the deeply-virtual scattering of polarized and unpolarized electrons and positrons allows unambiguous separation of the different contributions to the cross section of the lepto-production of photons and of lepton-pairs, enabling an accurate determination of the nucleons and nuclei generalized parton distributions, and providing an access to the gravitational form factors. Furthermore, positron beams offer the possibility of alternative tests of the Standard Model of particle physics through the search of a dark photon, the precise measurement of electroweak couplings, and the investigation of charged lepton flavor violation. This document discusses the perspectives of an experimental program with high duty-cycle positron beams at JLab.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2020

Novel observation of isospin structure of short-range correlations in calcium isotopes

Short Range Correlations (SRCs) have been identified as being responsible for the high momentum tail of the nucleon momentum distribution, n(k). Hard, short-range interactions of nucleon pairs generate the high momentum tail and imprint a universal character on n(k) for all nuclei at large momentum. Triple coincidence experiments have shown a strong dominance of np pairs, but these measurements involve large final state interactions. This paper presents the results from Jefferson Lab experiment E08014 which measured inclusive electron scattering cross-section from Ca isotopes. By comparing the inclusive cross section from 48Ca to 40Ca in a kinematic region dominated by SRCs we provide a new way to study the isospin structure of SRCs.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2020

Design and performance of an in-vacuum, magnetic field mapping system for the Muon g-2 experiment

The E989 Muon $g-2$ experiment at Fermilab aims to measure the anomalous magnetic moment, $a^{}_\mu$, of the muon with a precision of 140 parts-per-billion. This requires a precise measurement of both the anomalous spin precession frequency, $\omega^{}_a$, and the average magnetic field in terms of the shielded proton Larmor frequency, $\omega'^{}_p$. The measurement of $\omega'^{}_p$ with a total systematic uncertainty of 70 parts-per-billion involves a combination of various NMR probes. There are 378 probes in fixed locations constantly monitoring field drifts. A water-based probe provides the calibration. A crucial element for the multi-step measurement of $\omega'^{}_p$ is the regular mapping of the magnetic field over the muon storage region. The former E821 experiment at Brookhaven employed an in-vacuum field mapping system equipped with 17 NMR probes, which was developed by the University of Heidelberg. We have refurbished and upgraded this system with new probes and electronics. The upgrades include a new communication scheme incorporating time-division multiplexing to separate the important NMR reference clock from the data communication. The addition digitization of the NMR signals replaced the hardware-implemented zero-crossing counting of the E821 system. The digitized signals offer new capabilities in the NMR frequency analysis and its related systematic uncertainties. While the mechanical systems that move the field mapper around the ring have been mostly refurbished, the motion control system was completely replaced with a custom-built electronics centered around a commercial Galil motion controller. Both the field mapping NMR system and its motion control were successfully commissioned at Fermilab and have been in reliable operation during the first data taking periods. This article provides details of the upgrades of the field mapper and its performance.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Measurement of the single-spin asymmetry $A_y^0$ in quasi-elastic $^3$He$^\uparrow$($e,e'n$) scattering at $0.4 < Q^2 < 1.0$ GeV$/c^2$

Due to the lack of free neutron targets, studies of the structure of the neutron are typically made by scattering electrons from either $^2$H or $^3$He targets. In order to extract useful neutron information from a $^3$He target, one must understand how the neutron in a $^3$He system differs from a free neutron by taking into account nuclear effects such as final state interactions and meson exchange currents. The target single spin asymmetry $A_y^0$ is an ideal probe of such effects, as any deviation from zero indicates effects beyond plane wave impulse approximation. New measurements of the target single spin asymmetry $A_y^0$ at $Q^2$ of 0.46 and 0.96 (GeV/$c)^2$ were made at Jefferson Lab using the quasi-elastic $^3\mathrm{He}^{\uparrow}(e,e'n)$ reaction. Our measured asymmetry decreases rapidly, from $>20\%$ at $Q^2=0.46$ (GeV/$c)^2$ to nearly zero at $Q^2=0.96$ (GeV$/c)^2$, demonstrating the fall-off of the reaction mechanism effects as $Q^2$ increases. We also observed a small $\epsilon$-dependent increase in $A_y^0$ compared to previous measurements, particularly at moderate $Q^2$. This indicates that upcoming high $Q^2$ measurements from the Jefferson Lab 12 GeV program can cleanly probe neutron structure from polarized $^3$He using plane wave impulse approximation.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2019

Probing for high momentum protons in $^4$He via the $^4He(e,e'p)X$ reaction

Experimental cross sections for the $^4He(e,e'p)X$ reaction up to a missing momentum of 0.632 GeV/$c$ at $x_B=1.24$ and $Q^2$=2(GeV/$c$)$^2$ are reported. The data are compared to Relativistic Distorted Wave Impulse Approximation(RDWIA) calculations for $^4He(e,e'p)^3H$ channel. Significantly more events in the triton mass region are measured for $p_{m}$$>$0.45 GeV/$c$ than are predicted by the theoretical model, suggesting that the effects of initial-state multi-nucleon correlations are stronger than expected by the RDWIA model.

nucl-ex↗