First Measurement of Compton Scattering on $^3\text{He}$ at HI$γ$S
The world's first Compton scattering measurements on a $^3$He target were performed to probe neutron electromagnetic polarizabilities. Differential cross sections were measured at laboratory angles of $40^\circ$, $55^\circ$, $90^\circ$, $115^\circ$, $150^\circ$, using circularly polarized, quasi-monoenergetic photon beams at weighted mean energy values of 61.5 and 97.1 MeV from the High Intensity $γ$-ray Source at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory. Comparisons with chiral effective field theory show good agreement at 97.1 MeV but over-prediction at 61.5 MeV, motivating further theoretical development.
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