arXiv subjects

S. Riordan

Publications and source records attributed to S. Riordan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Precision Neutron Skins of $^{208}$Pb and $^{48}$Ca from Parity-Violating Electron Scattering

We have measured the parity-violating elastic electron scattering asymmetry in the PREX and CREX experiments on ${}^{208}$Pb and ${}^{48}$Ca respectively; these are both doubly-magic nuclei whose excited states can be discriminated from the ground state by the high resolution spectrometers in Hall A at Jefferson Lab. This asymmetry provides a precise determination of the weak charge form factor at one $Q^2$ and pins down the neutron radius in these two nuclei in a relatively clean and model-independent way. This is because the $Z^0$ boson of the weak interaction couples primarily to neutrons. The heavier lead nucleus, with a neutron excess, provides an interpretation of the neutron skin thickness in terms of properties of bulk neutron matter. For the lighter ${}^{48}$Ca nucleus, which is also rich in neutrons, comparisons to microscopic nuclear theory calculations are sensitive to poorly constrained 3-neutron forces. The weak neutral form factors $F_W(Q^2)$ were extracted to be $0.368 \pm 0.013$ at $Q = 0.3977 {\rm\ fm}^{-1}$ for $^{208}$Pb from PREX-2 and $0.1304 \pm 0.0055$ at $Q = 0.8733 {\rm\ fm}^{-1}$ for $^{48}$Ca. The form factor differences $(F_{ch}-F_W)(Q^2)$ were calculated to be $0.041 \pm 0.013$ at $Q = 0.3977 {\rm fm}^{-1}$ for $^{208}$Pb from PREX-2 and $0.0277 \pm 0.0055$ at $Q = 0.8733 {\rm fm}^{-1}$ for $^{48}$Ca. Correcting for Coulomb distortions and using nuclear model information, we find the neutron skin thicknesses to be $R^{208}_{\rm skin} = 0.283 \pm 0.071$ fm combining PREX-1 and PREX-2 and $R^{48}_{\rm skin} = 0.121 \pm 0.035$ fm. This paper provides a full description of the special experimental and data analysis techniques employed for precisely measuring these small asymmetries.

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arXiv2026

Near-Threshold J/$\psi \to \mu^+\mu^-$ Photoproduction and the Gluonic Gravitational Form Factors of the Proton

We report on the measurement of the two-dimensional differential cross section for near-threshold J/$\psi \to \mu^+\mu^-$ photoproduction from the J/$\psi$-007 experiment in Hall C at Jefferson Lab. Our results agree with the previously published J/$\psi \to e^+e^-$ results. We extract the integrated photoproduction cross section and find no evidence for open-charm contributions. A combined analysis of both decay channels following a Holographic QCD approach yields improved experimental constraints on the gluonic gravitational form factor $\mathcal{C}_g(t)$. Our results agree with recent lattice QCD calculations and we obtain $\mathcal{C}_g(t)$ with a comparable statistical precision to lattice QCD. Our results support a spatial picture where gluons dominate at larger radii with a confining inward pressure. This work provides new input for exploring the mechanical properties of gluons inside the proton.

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arXiv2025

Backward-angle electroproduction of $\eta'$ mesons off protons at $W=2.13~\text{GeV}$ and $Q^{2}=0.46~\left(\text{GeV}/c\right)^{2}$

The electroproduction of $\eta '$ mesons from a $\mathrm{^{1}H}$ target at $W=2.13~\text{GeV}$, $Q^{2} = 0.46~\left( \text{GeV}/c\right)^{2}$ and $\cos \theta^{\text{CM}}_{\gamma^{*}\eta'} \approx -1$ has been experimentally measured. The differential cross section of virtual-photoproduction has been obtained as $4.4 \pm 0.8 ~\left( \text{stat.} \right) \pm 0.4 ~\left( \text{sys.} \right)~ \text{nb/sr}$ in the One-Photon-Exchange Approximation. This value is one-sixth of that of real-photoproduction at backward angles. A comparison with newly-developed isobar model calculations not only shows validity of the theoretical framewark employed, but also imposes new constrains on coupling strength between the $\eta'p$ final state and nucleon resonances.

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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.

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arXiv2024

Electroproduction of the Lambda/Sigma^0 hyperons at Q^2~0.5 (GeV/c)^2 at forward angles

In 2018, the E12-17-003 experiment was conducted at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) to explore the possible existence of an nnLambda state in the reconstructed missing mass distribution from a tritium gas target [K. N. Suzuki et al., Prog. Theor. Exp. Phys. 2022, 013D01 (2022), B. Pandey et al., Phys. Rev. C 105, L051001 (2022)]. As part of this investigation, data was also collected using a gaseous hydrogen target, not only for a precise absolute mass scale calibration but also for the study of Lambda/Sigma^0 electroproduction. This dataset was acquired at Q^2~0.5 (GeV/c)^2, W=2.14 GeV, and theta_{gamma K}^{c.m.}~8 deg. It covers forward angles where photoproduction data is scarce and a low-Q^2 region that is of interest for hypernuclear experiments. On the other hand, this kinematic region is at a slightly higher Q^2 than previous hypernuclear experiments, thus providing crucial information for understanding the Q^2 dependence of the differential cross sections for Lambda/Sigma^0 hyperon electroproduction. This paper reports on the Q^2 dependence of the differential cross section for the e + p -> e' + K^+ + Lambda/Sigma^0 reaction in the 0.2-0.8 (GeV/c)^2, and provides comparisons with the currently available theoretical models.

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arXiv2024

A novel measurement of the neutron magnetic form factor from A=3 mirror nuclei

The electromagnetic form factors of the proton and neutron encode information on the spatial structure of their charge and magnetization distributions. While measurements of the proton are relatively straightforward, the lack of a free neutron target makes measurements of the neutron's electromagnetic structure more challenging and more sensitive to experimental or model-dependent uncertainties. Various experiments have attempted to extract the neutron form factors from scattering from the neutron in deuterium, with different techniques providing different, and sometimes large, systematic uncertainties. We present results from a novel measurement of the neutron magnetic form factor using quasielastic scattering from the mirror nuclei $^3$H and $^3$He, where the nuclear effects are larger than for deuterium but expected to largely cancel in the cross-section ratios. We extracted values of the neutron magnetic form factor for low-to-modest momentum transfer, $0.6<Q^2<2.9$ GeV$^2$, where existing measurements give inconsistent results. The precision and $Q^2$ range of this data allow for a better understanding of the current world's data, and suggest a path toward further improvement of our overall understanding of the neutron's magnetic form factor.

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arXiv2024

Inclusive studies of two- and three-nucleon short-range correlations in $^3$H and $^3$He

Inclusive electron scattering at carefully chosen kinematics can isolate scattering from the high-momentum nucleons in short-range correlations (SRCs). SRCs are produced by the hard, short-distance interactions of nucleons in the nucleus, and because the two-nucleon (2N) SRCs arise from the same N-N interaction in all nuclei, the cross section in the SRC-dominated regime is identical up to an overall scaling factor. This scaling behavior has been used to identify SRC dominance and to measure the contribution of SRCs in a wide range of nuclei. We examine this scaling behavior over a range of momentum transfers using new data on $^2$H, $^3$H, and $^3$He, and find an expanded scaling region compared to heavy nuclei. Motivated by this improved scaling, we examine the $^3$H and $^3$He data in kinematics where three-nucleon SRCs may play an important role. The data for the largest struck nucleon momenta are consistent with isolation of scattering from three-nucleon SRCs, and suggest that the very highest momentum nucleons in $^3$He have a nearly isospin-independent momentum configuration.

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arXiv2023

Measuring the cross section of the $^{15}$N($α$,$γ$)$^{19}$F reaction using a single-fluid bubble chamber

$^{15}$N($α$,$γ$)$^{19}$F is believed to be the primary means of stellar nucleosynthesis of fluorine. Here we present the use of a single-fluid bubble chamber to measure the cross section of the time-inverse photo-dissociation reaction. The method benefits from a luminosity increase of several orders of magnitude due to the use of a thicker liquid target -- when compared to thin films or gas targets -- and from the reciprocity theorem. We discuss the results of an experiment at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, where the cross section of the photodisintegration process $^{19}$F($γ$, $α$)$^{15}$N was measured by bombarding a superheated fluid of C$_3$F$_8$ with bremsstrahlung $γ$-rays produced by impinging a 4 - 5.5 MeV electron beam on a Cu radiator. From the photodissociation yield the cross section was extracted by performing a convolution with a Monte Carlo-generated $γ$-ray beam spectrum. The measurement produced a cross section that was then time inverted using the reciprocity theorem. The cross section for the $^{15}$N($α$,$γ$)$^{19}$F reaction was determined down to a value in the range of hundreds of picobarns. With further improvements of the experimental setup the technique could potentially push cross section measurements down to the single picobarn range.

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arXiv2023

Determining the Proton's Gluonic Gravitational Form Factors

The proton is one of the main building blocks of all visible matter in the universe. Among its intrinsic properties are its electric charge, mass, and spin. These emerge from the complex dynamics of its fundamental constituents, quarks and gluons, described by the theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Using electron scattering, its electric charge and spin, shared among the quark constituents, have been the topic of active investigation. An example is the novel precision measurement of the proton's electric charge radius. In contrast, little is known about the proton's inner mass density, dominated by the energy carried by the gluons, which are hard to access through electron scattering since gluons carry no electromagnetic charge. Here, we chose to probe this gluonic gravitational density using a small color dipole, the $J/ψ$ particle, through its threshold photoproduction. From our data, we determined, for the first time, the proton's gluonic gravitational form factors. We used a variety of models and determined, in all cases, a mass radius that is notably smaller than the electric charge radius. In some cases, the determined radius, although model dependent, is in excellent agreement with first-principle predictions from lattice QCD. This work paves the way for a deeper understanding of the salient role of gluons in providing gravitational mass to visible matter.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2022

Revealing the short-range structure of the "mirror nuclei" $^3$H and $^3$He

When protons and neutrons (nucleons) are bound into atomic nuclei, they are close enough together to feel significant attraction, or repulsion, from the strong, short-distance part of the nucleon-nucleon interaction. These strong interactions lead to hard collisions between nucleons, generating pairs of highly-energetic nucleons referred to as short-range correlations (SRCs). SRCs are an important but relatively poorly understood part of nuclear structure and mapping out the strength and isospin structure (neutron-proton vs proton-proton pairs) of these virtual excitations is thus critical input for modeling a range of nuclear, particle, and astrophysics measurements. Hitherto measurements used two-nucleon knockout or ``triple-coincidence'' reactions to measure the relative contribution of np- and pp-SRCs by knocking out a proton from the SRC and detecting its partner nucleon (proton or neutron). These measurementsshow that SRCs are almost exclusively np pairs, but had limited statistics and required large model-dependent final-state interaction (FSI) corrections. We report on the first measurement using inclusive scattering from the mirror nuclei $^3$H and $^3$He to extract the np/pp ratio of SRCs in the A=3 system. We obtain a measure of the np/pp SRC ratio that is an order of magnitude more precise than previous experiments, and find a dramatic deviation from the near-total np dominance observed in heavy nuclei. This result implies an unexpected structure in the high-momentum wavefunction for $^3$He and $^3$H. Understanding these results will improve our understanding of the short-range part of the N-N interaction.

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arXiv2022

New Measurements of the Beam-Normal Single Spin Asymmetry in Elastic Electron Scattering Over a Range of Spin-0 Nuclei

We report precision determinations of the beam normal single spin asymmetries ($A_n$) in the elastic scattering of 0.95 and 2.18~GeV electrons off $^{12}$C, $^{40}$Ca, $^{48}$Ca, and $^{208}$Pb at very forward angles where the most detailed theoretical calculations have been performed. The first measurements of $A_n$ for $^{40}$Ca and $^{48}$Ca are found to be similar to that of $^{12}$C, consistent with expectations thus demonstrating the validity of theoretical calculations for nuclei with Z~$\leq20$. We also report $A_n$ for $^{208}$Pb at two new momentum transfers (Q$^2$) extending the previous measurement. Our new data confirm the surprising result previously reported, with all three data points showing significant disagreement with the results from the $Z\leq 20$ nuclei. These data confirm our basic understanding of the underlying dynamics that govern $A_n$ for nuclei containing $\lesssim 50$ nucleons, but point to the need for further investigation to understand the unusual $A_n$ behaviour discovered for scattering off $^{208}$Pb.

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arXiv2022

Precision Determination of the Neutral Weak Form Factor of $^{48}$Ca

We report a precise measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry $A_{\rm PV}$ in the elastic scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons from $^{48}{\rm Ca}$. We measure $A_{\rm PV} =2668\pm 106\ {\rm (stat)}\pm 40\ {\rm (syst)}$ parts per billion, leading to an extraction of the neutral weak form factor $F_{\rm W} (q=0.8733$ fm$^{-1}) = 0.1304 \pm 0.0052 \ {\rm (stat)}\pm 0.0020\ {\rm (syst)}$ and the charge minus the weak form factor $F_{\rm ch} - F_{\rm W} = 0.0277\pm 0.0055$. The resulting neutron skin thickness $R_n-R_p=0.121 \pm 0.026\ {\rm (exp)} \pm 0.024\ {\rm (model)}$~fm is relatively thin yet consistent with many model calculations. The combined CREX and PREX results will have implications for future energy density functional calculations and on the density dependence of the symmetry energy of nuclear matter.

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arXiv2022

Neutral Bremsstrahlung emission in xenon unveiled

We present evidence of non-excimer-based secondary scintillation in gaseous xenon, obtained using both the NEXT-White TPC and a dedicated setup. Detailed comparison with first-principle calculations allows us to assign this scintillation mechanism to neutral bremsstrahlung (NBrS), a process that has been postulated to exist in xenon that has been largely overlooked. For photon emission below 1000 nm, the NBrS yield increases from about 10$^{-2}$ photon/e$^{-}$ cm$^{-1}$ bar$^{-1}$ at pressure-reduced electric field values of 50 V cm$^{-1}$ bar$^{-1}$ to above 3$\times$10$^{-1}$ photon/e$^{-}$ cm$^{-1}$ bar$^{-1}$ at 500 V cm$^{-1}$ bar$^{-1}$. Above 1.5 kV cm$^{-1}$ bar$^{-1}$, values that are typically employed for electroluminescence, it is estimated that NBrS is present with an intensity around 1 photon/e$^{-}$ cm$^{-1}$ bar$^{-1}$, which is about two orders of magnitude lower than conventional, excimer-based electroluminescence. Despite being fainter than its excimeric counterpart, our calculations reveal that NBrS causes luminous backgrounds that can interfere, in either gas or liquid phase, with the ability to distinguish and/or to precisely measure low primary-scintillation signals (S1). In particular, we show this to be the case in the "buffer" and "veto" regions, where keeping the electric field below the electroluminescence (EL) threshold will not suffice to extinguish secondary scintillation. The electric field in these regions should be chosen carefully to avoid intolerable levels of NBrS emission. Furthermore, we show that this new source of light emission opens up a viable path towards obtaining S2 signals for discrimination purposes in future single-phase liquid TPCs for neutrino and dark matter physics, with estimated yields up to 20-50 photons/e$^{-}$ cm$^{-1}$.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

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.

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arXiv2022

The cross-section measurement for the $^3{\textrm H}(e,e'K^+)nnΛ$ reaction

The small binding energy of the hypertrition leads to predictions of non-existence of bound hypernuclei for isotriplet three-body systems such as $nnΛ$. However, invariant mass spectroscopy at GSI has reported events that may be interpreted as the bound $nnΛ$ state. The $nnΛ$ state was sought by missing-mass spectroscopy via the $(e,e'K^+)$ reaction at Jefferson Lab's experimental Hall A. The present experiment has higher sensitivity to the $nnΛ$-state investigation in terms of better precision by a factor of about three. The analysis shown in this article focuses on the derivation of the reaction cross-section for the $^3{\rm{H}}(γ^{*},K^+)\textrm{X}$ reaction. Events that were detected in an acceptance, where a Monte Carlo simulation could reproduce the data well ($|δp/p| < 4\%$), were analyzed to minimize the systematic uncertainty. No significant structures were observed with the acceptance cuts, and the upper limits of the production cross-section of the $nnΛ$ state were obtained to be $21$ and $31~\rm{nb/sr}$ at the $90\%$ confidence level when theoretical predictions of $(-B_Λ, Γ) = (0.25,0.8)$ and $(0.55, 4.7)$ MeV, respectively, were assumed. The cross-section result provides valuable information for examining the existence of $nnΛ$.

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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

Accurate Determination of the Neutron Skin Thickness of $^{208}$Pb through Parity-Violation in Electron Scattering

We report a precision measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry $A_{PV}$ in the elastic scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons from $^{208}$Pb. We measure $A_{PV}=550\pm 16 {\rm (stat)}\pm 8\ {\rm (syst)}$ parts per billion, leading to an extraction of the neutral weak form factor $F_W(Q^2 = 0.00616\ {\rm GeV}^2) = 0.368 \pm 0.013$. Combined with our previous measurement, the extracted neutron skin thickness is $R_n-R_p=0.283 \pm 0.071$~fm. The result also yields the first significant direct measurement of the interior weak density of $^{208}$Pb: $ρ^0_W = -0.0796\pm0.0036\ {\rm (exp.)}\pm0.0013\ {\rm (theo.)}\ {\rm fm}^{-3}$ leading to the interior baryon density $ρ^0_b = 0.1480\pm0.0036\ {\rm (exp.)}\pm0.0013\ {\rm (theo.)}\ {\rm fm}^{-3}$. The measurement accurately constrains the density dependence of the symmetry energy of nuclear matter near saturation density, with implications for the size and composition of neutron stars.

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arXiv2021

Sensitivity of the NEXT experiment to Xe-124 double electron capture

Double electron capture by proton-rich nuclei is a second-order nuclear process analogous to double beta decay. Despite their similarities, the decay signature is quite different, potentially providing a new channel to measure the hypothesized neutrinoless mode of these decays. The Standard-Model-allowed two-neutrino double electron capture ($2νECEC$) has been predicted for a number of isotopes, but only observed in $^{78}$Kr, $^{130}$Ba and, recently, $^{124}$Xe. The sensitivity to this decay establishes a benchmark for the ultimate experimental goal, namely the potential to discover also the lepton-number-violating neutrinoless version of this process, $0νECEC$. Here we report on the current sensitivity of the NEXT-White detector to $^{124}$Xe $2νECEC$ and on the extrapolation to NEXT-100. Using simulated data for the $2νECEC$ signal and real data from NEXT-White operated with $^{124}$Xe-depleted gas as background, we define an optimal event selection that maximizes the NEXT-White sensitivity. We estimate that, for NEXT-100 operated with xenon gas isotopically enriched with 1 kg of $^{124}$Xe and for a 5-year run, a sensitivity to the $2νECEC$ half-life of $6 \times 10^{22}$ y (at 90% confidence level) or better can be reached.

hep-ex↗