arXiv subjects

David Meekins

Publications and source records attributed to David Meekins.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

New Measurements of the Deuteron to Proton F2 Structure Function Ratio

Nucleon structure functions, as measured in lepton-nucleon scattering, have historically provided a critical observable in the study of partonic dynamics within the nucleon. However, at very large parton momenta it is both experimentally and theoretically challenging to extract parton distributions due to the probable onset of non-perturbative contributions and the unavailability of high precision data at critical kinematics. Extraction of the neutron structure and the d-quark distribution have been further challenging due to the necessity of applying nuclear corrections when utilizing scattering data from a deuteron target to extract free neutron structure. However, a program of experiments has been carried out recently at the energy-upgraded Jefferson Lab electron accelerator aimed at significantly reducing the nuclear correction uncertainties on the d-quark distribution function at large partonic momentum. This allows leveraging the vast body of deuterium data covering a large kinematic range to be utilized for d-quark parton distribution function extraction. We present new data from experiment E12-10-002 carried out in Jefferson Lab Hall C on the deuteron to proton cross-section ratio at large BJorken-x. These results significantly improve the precision of existing data, and provide a first look at the expected impact on quark distributions extracted from global parton distribution function fits.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

The Jefferson Lab tritium program of nucleon and nuclear structure measurements

A series of experiments were performed in Hall A of Jefferson Lab in 2018 that used a novel tritium and helium-3 target system. These experiments took advantage of the isospin symmetry of these mirror nuclei to make precise measurements of isospin dependence in both nucleon and nuclear structure. We summarize here the design and properties of these cells, the physics measurements that have been published, and results currently under analysis from this program.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2016

The Proton Radius from Electron Scattering Data

[Background] The proton charge radius extracted from recent muonic hydrogen Lamb shift measurements is significantly smaller than that extracted from atomic hydrogen and electron scattering measurements. [Purpose] In an attempt to understand the discrepancy, we review high-precision electron scattering results from Mainz, Jefferson Lab, Saskatoon and Stanford. [Method] We make use of stepwise regression techniques using the $F$-test as well as the Akaike information criterion to systematically determine the predictive variables to use for a given set and range of electron scattering data as well as to provide multivariate error estimates. [Results] Starting with the precision, low four-momentum transfer ($Q^2$) data from Mainz (1980) and Saskatoon (1974), we find that a stepwise regression of the Maclaurin series using the $F$-test as well as the Akaike information criterion justify using a linear extrapolation which yields a value for the proton radius that is consistent with the result obtained from muonic hydrogen measurements. Applying the same Maclaurin series and statistical criteria to the 2014 Rosenbluth results on $G_E$ from Mainz, we again find that the stepwise regression tends to favor a radius consistent with the muonic hydrogen radius but produces results that are extremely sensitive to the range of data included in the fit. Making use of the high-$Q^2$ data on $G_E$ to select functions which extrapolate to high $Q^2$, we find that a Padé ($N=M=1$) statistical model works remarkably well, as does a dipole function with a 0.84 fm radius, $G_E(Q^2) = ( 1 + Q^2/0.66\,\mathrm{GeV}^2)^{-2}$. [Conclusions] From this statistical analysis, we conclude that the electron scattering result and the muonic hydrogen result are consistent. It is the atomic hydrogen results that are the outliers.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2013

Dynamically polarized target for the g2p and GEp experiments at Jefferson Lab

We describe a dynamically polarized target that has been utilized for two electron scattering experiments in Hall A at Jefferson Lab. The primary components of the target are a new, high cooling power 4He evaporation refrigerator, and a re-purposed, superconducting split-coil magnet. It has been used to polarize protons in irradiated NH3 at a temperature of 1 K and at fields of 2.5 and 5.0 Tesla. The performance of the target material in the electron beam under these conditions will be discussed. Maximum polarizations of 28% and 95% were obtained at those fields, respectively. To satisfy the requirements of both experiments, the magnet had to be routinely rotated between angles of 0, 6, and 90 degrees with respect to the incident electron beam. This was accomplished using a new rotating vacuum seal which permits rotations to be performed in only a few minutes.

physics.ins-det↗