arXiv subjects

Z. Ye

Publications and source records attributed to Z. Ye.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A New Low $Q^2$ Measurement of the Proton's $g_1$ Spin Structure Function from Longitudinal & Transverse Polarized Data

The proton's spin structure has proven to be far more complicated than was originally believed, and has been the subject of a number of experimental investigations. %Early measurements of the proton's spin structure function $g_1$ showed that the proton does not solely derive its spin from the spins of its quarks, starting the `proton spin crisis'. Of particular interest are the spin structure functions $g_1$ and $g_2$, which can be used to generate moments to directly compare experimental results to Chiral Perturbation Theory and other theories of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). The proton's $g_1$ structure function has been the subject of two other recent low momentum transfer experiments, but there are currently no published low momentum transfer measurements which collected data on the proton structure functions using both a longitudinally-polarized and a transversely-polarized target at the same kinematics. In this paper, we present the longitudinally polarized results of the Jefferson Lab E08-027 experiment, along with linked moments which combine this new result with the previously published transversely-polarized data from the same experiment. These results provide a proton $g_1$ extraction measured with very high precision across the resonance region, and provide new information on the value of $g_1$ dependent sum rules and moments.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Charged kaon and proton multiplicities in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering with 11 GeV electrons

Measurements of SIDIS multiplicities for charged kaons and protons from proton and deuteron targets are reported on a grid of hadron kinematic variables $0.3<z<0.7$ and $P_{t}<0.6$ GeV for leptonic variables $0.3<x<0.6$ and $3<Q^2<6$ GeV$^2$. Data were acquired in 2018-2019 at Jefferson Lab Hall C with 10.2 and 10.6~GeV electron beams impinging on 10-cm-long liquid hydrogen and deuterium targets. Electrons (hadrons) were detected in the HMS (SHMS) spectrometers. Multiplicities were fitted for each bin in $(x,~Q^2,~z,~P_{t})$ as $M_0[1+A\cos(\phi^*)+B\cos(2\phi^*)]$. The kaon kinematic range spans the regions where transverse-momentum-dependent factorization can be applied in SIDIS, and a `soft' central region where other processes are of critical importance. The kaon to pion ratios of $M_0$ are in reasonable agreement with predictions using the DSS fragmentation functions for $K^+$, but are mostly well below them for $K^-$. The kaon azimuthal modulations are consistent with zero. The kinematic range for protons is centered on the `soft' central region. The proton-to-pion multiplicity ratios are more than an order-of-magnitude larger than TMD predictions at the lowest value of $W^2$, decreasing to as little as a factor of two at the highest value of $W^2$. No significant difference is observed between proton and deuteron targets. These trends are consistent with Lund Monte Carlo predictions. The proton values of $A$ are consistently positive, with an average value of approximately 0.01, while $B$ is consistent with zero.

hep-ex↗

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.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Probing hard/soft factorization via beam-spin asymmetry in exclusive pion electroproduction from the proton

Deep exclusive meson production (DEMP) reactions, such as $p(\vec{e},e'\pi^+)n$, provide opportunities to study the three-dimensional structure of the nucleon through differential cross section and beam- and target-spin asymmetry measurements. This work aims to probe the onset of the hard/soft factorization regime through the exclusive $p(\vec{e},e'\pi^+)n$ reaction, as measured in the KaonLT experiment at Jefferson Lab Hall C. A 10.6 GeV longitudinally polarized electron beam was incident on an unpolarized liquid hydrogen target, and the scattered electron and produced meson were detected in two magnetic focusing spectrometers, enabling precision cross section measurements. The cross section ratio $\sigma_{LT'}/\sigma_0$ was extracted from the beam-spin asymmetry $A_{LU}$. The $t$-dependence of $\sigma_{LT'}/\sigma_0$ was determined at fixed $Q^2$ and $x_B$ over a range of kinematics from $2 2$ GeV). Furthermore, these data are combined with recent results from CLAS/CLAS12 to determine the $Q^2$-dependence of $\sigma_{LT'}/\sigma_0$ at two ($x_B$, $t$) settings. This was fairly flat, with $Q^2$ not having a measurable effect on the value of $\sigma_{LT'}/\sigma_0$ in the range explored. Results are compared to predictions from the generalized parton distribution (GPD) formalism, which relies explicitly on hard/soft factorization, and Regge formalism. The Regge models better predict $\sigma_{LT'}/\sigma_0$, which suggests that the factorization regime is not yet reached.

nucl-ex↗

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.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Threshold $J/\psi$ Photoproduction as a Probe of Nuclear Gluon Structure

The nuclear EMC effect is the observation that quark distributions in bound nucleons experience significant modification at large $x$ relative to free nucleons. Despite decades of measurements verifying the presence of this effect in quarks across a wide range of nuclei, behavior of large-$x$ gluons in nuclei remains almost completely unknown. As the nuclear physics community seeks out new observables to try to elucidate the mechanisms behind the EMC effect, it becomes striking that we remain ignorant regarding the impact of nuclear effects on gluonic behavior. Recent photonuclear data using the Hall D photon beam have enabled the first measurement of $J/\psi$ photoproduction from nuclei near and below the energy threshold, with the results highlighted in Physical Review Letters as an Editors' Suggestion. These data have placed the first, and currently only, constraints on the behavior of large-$x$ gluons within bound nucleons. However, compared to the quantity of data which currently informs our knowledge of the quark-sector EMC effect, these data are extremely limited, and remain unable to conclusively observe or exclude large modification of gluon distributions. A high-luminosity photonuclear experiment will enable a precision measurement of incoherent $J/\psi$ photoproduction at and below the threshold region. This data will provide the first stringent constraints on nuclear modification of gluon structure or other exotic effects which could impact the production of $J/\psi$ from nuclei. We request 85 PAC days at Hall D using the GlueX detector with a 12 GeV electron beam energy and a coherent photon peak energy of $8$ GeV, split into 80 days using a $^4$He target and 5 calibration days using a $^2$H target.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Flavor, transverse momentum, and azimuthal dependence of charged pion multiplicities in SIDIS with 10.6 GeV electrons

Measurements of SIDIS multiplicities for $\pi^+$ and $\pi^-$ from proton and deuteron targets are reported on a grid of hadron kinematic variables $z$, $P_{T}$, and $\phi^{*}$ for leptonic kinematic variables in the range $0.3<x<0.6$ and $3<Q^2<5$ GeV$^2$. Data were acquired in 2018-2019 at Jefferson Lab Hall C with a 10.6~GeV electron beam impinging on 10-cm-long liquid hydrogen and deuterium targets. Scattered electrons and charged pions were detected in the HMS and SHMS spectrometers, respectively. The multiplicities were fitted for each bin in $(x,~Q^2,~z,~P_{t})$ to extract the $\phi^{*}$ independent $M_0$ and the azimuthal modulations $\langle \cos(\phi^{*}) \rangle$ and $\langle \cos(2\phi^{*}) \rangle$. The $P_t$-dependence of the $M_0$ results was found to be remarkably consistent for the four cases studied: $ep\rightarrow e \pi^+ X$, $ep\rightarrow e \pi^- X$, $ed\rightarrow e \pi^+ X$, $ed\rightarrow e \pi^- X$ over the range $0<P_t<0.4$ GeV, as were the multiplicities evaluated near $\phi^* = 180^\circ$ over the extended range $0<P_t<0.7$ GeV. The Gaussian widths of the $P_t$-dependence exhibit a quadratic increase with $z$. The $\cos(\phi^{*})$ modulations were found to be consistent with zero for $\pi^+$, in agreement with previous world data, while the $\pi^-$ moments were, in many cases, significantly greater than zero. The $\cos(2\phi^{*})$ modulations were found to be consistent with zero. The higher statistical precision of this dataset compared to previously published data should allow improved determinations of quark transverse momentum distributions and higher twist contributions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

LHCspin: a Polarized Gas Target for LHC

The goal of the LHCspin project is to develop innovative solutions for measuring the 3D structure of nucleons in high-energy polarized fixed-target collisions at LHC, exploring new processes and exploiting new probes in a unique, previously unexplored, kinematic regime. A precise multi-dimensional description of the hadron structure has, in fact, the potential to deepen our understanding of the strong interactions and to provide a much more precise framework for measuring both Standard Model and Beyond Standard Model observables. This ambitious task poses its basis on the recent experience with the successful installation and operation of the SMOG2 unpolarized gas target in front of the LHCb spectrometer. Besides allowing for interesting physics studies ranging from astrophysics to heavy-ion physics, SMOG2 provides an ideal benchmark for studying beam-target dynamics at the LHC and demonstrates the feasibility of simultaneous operation with beam-beam collisions. With the installation of the proposed polarized target system, LHCb will become the first experiment to simultaneously collect data from unpolarized beam-beam collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=14 TeV and polarized and unpolarized beam-target collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}\sim$100 GeV. LHCspin has the potential to open new frontiers in physics by exploiting the capabilities of the world's most powerful collider and one of the most advanced spectrometers. This document also highlights the need to perform an R\&D campaign and the commissioning of the apparatus at the LHC Interaction Region 4 during the Run 4, before its final installation in LHCb. This opportunity could also allow to undertake preliminary physics measurements with unprecedented conditions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Updated analysis of neutron magnetic form factor and the nucleon transverse densities

We provide an updated global extraction of the neutron magnetic form factor, including new extractions from $^3$H-$^3$He comparisons at Jefferson Lab. Our new global fit addresses discrepancies between previous data sets at modest momentum transfer by separating the uncertainties from world data into normalization and uncorrelated uncertainties. We use this updated global fit, along with previous fits for the other form factors, to extract the neutron and proton transverse charge and magnetization densities and their uncertainties.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2024

Flavor Dependence of Charged Pion Fragmentation Functions

We have measured the flavor dependence of multiplicities for pi^+ and pi^- production in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering (SIDIS) on proton and deuteron targets to explore a possible charge symmetry violation in fragmentation functions. The experiment used an electron beam with energies of 10.2 and 10.6 GeV at Jefferson Lab and the Hall-C spectrometers. The electron kinematics spanned the range 0.3<x<0.6, 2<Q^2<5.5 GeV^2, and 4<W^2<11 GeV^2. The pion fractional momentum range was 0.3< z <0.7, and the transverse momentum range was 0<p_T<0.25 GeV/c. Assuming factorization at low p_T and allowing for isospin breaking, we find that the results can be described by two "favored" and two "un-favored" effective low $p_T$ fragmentation functions that are flavor-dependent. However, they converge to a common flavor-independent value at the lowest x or highest W of this experiment.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2024

The STAR Forward Silicon Tracker

The Forward Silicon Tracker (FST) is a pivotal component of the forward upgrade of the Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC (STAR), designed to discern hadron charge signs with a momentum resolution better than 30% for $0.2 < p_T < 2$ GeV/c in the $2.5 < \eta < 4$ pseudorapidity range. Its compact design features three disks along the beam direction, minimized material budget, and scattering effects. The FST uses Hamamatsu's p-in-n silicon strip sensors with a double metal layer that enables efficient signal routing to the readout electronics, enhancing overall detector performance. The flexible hybrid boards, essential for the readout system, are constructed with Kapton and copper layers to optimize signal handling and power distribution. These boards connect silicon strips to analogue pipeline ASIC APV25-S1 chips, which read up to 128 channels each. A cooling system with nonconducting, volatile NOVEC 7200 coolant at 22.2{\deg}C mitigates ASIC-generated heat. The FST enhances forward tracking performance at STAR as an integral part of the forward upgrade.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2024

Theory of paraxial optical Skyrmions

Vector light beams, characterised by a spatially varying polarisation, can exhibit localised structures reminiscent of the Skyrmions familiar from the study of magnetic media. We present a theory of such Skyrmions within paraxial optics, exploiting mathematical analogies with the study of superfluids, especially the A phase of superfluid $\textrm{He}^3$. The key feature is the Skyrmion field which, together with the underlying Skyrmion vector potential, determines the properties of the Skyrmions and, more generally, the polarisation structure of every paraxial vector beam. In addition to structures with integer Skyrmion number we find polarisation patterns with non-integer Skyrmion number; these seem to have no analogue in other fields of physics.

physics.optics↗

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.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2023

Detector R&D needs for the next generation $e^+e^-$ collider

The 2021 Snowmass Energy Frontier panel wrote in its final report "The realization of a Higgs factory will require an immediate, vigorous and targeted detector R&D program". Both linear and circular $e^+e^-$ collider efforts have developed a conceptual design for their detectors and are aggressively pursuing a path to formalize these detector concepts. The U.S. has world-class expertise in particle detectors, and is eager to play a leading role in the next generation $e^+e^-$ collider, currently slated to become operational in the 2040s. It is urgent that the U.S. organize its efforts to provide leadership and make significant contributions in detector R&D. These investments are necessary to build and retain the U.S. expertise in detector R&D and future projects, enable significant contributions during the construction phase and maintain its leadership in the Energy Frontier regardless of the choice of the collider project. In this document, we discuss areas where the U.S. can and must play a leading role in the conceptual design and R&D for detectors for $e^+e^-$ colliders.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Measurement of flavor asymmetry of light-quark sea in the proton with Drell-Yan dimuon production in $p+p$ and $p+d$ collisions at 120 GeV

Evidence for a flavor asymmetry between the $\bar u$ and $\bar d$ quark distributions in the proton has been found in deep-inelastic scattering and Drell-Yan experiments. The pronounced dependence of this flavor asymmetry on $x$ (fraction of nucleon momentum carried by partons) observed in the Fermilab E866 Drell-Yan experiment suggested a drop of the $\bar d\left(x\right) / \bar u\left(x\right)$ ratio in the $x > 0.15$ region. We report results from the SeaQuest Fermilab E906 experiment with improved statistical precision for $\bar d\left(x\right) / \bar u\left(x\right)$ in the large $x$ region up to $x=0.45$ using the 120 GeV proton beam. Two different methods for extracting the Drell-Yan cross section ratios, $\sigma^{pd} /2 \sigma^{pp}$, from the SeaQuest data give consistent results. The $\bar{d}\left(x\right) / \bar{u}\left(x\right)$ ratios and the $\bar d\left(x\right) - \bar u\left(x\right)$ differences are deduced from these cross section ratios for $0.13 < x < 0.45$. The SeaQuest and E866/NuSea $\bar{d}\left(x\right) / \bar{u}\left(x\right)$ ratios are in good agreement for the $x\lesssim 0.25$ region. The new SeaQuest data, however, show that $\bar d\left(x\right)$ continues to be greater than $\bar u\left(x\right)$ up to the highest $x$ value ($x = 0.45$). The new results on $\bar{d}\left(x\right) / \bar{u}\left(x\right)$ and $\bar{d}\left(x\right) - \bar{u}\left(x\right)$ are compared with various parton distribution functions and theoretical calculations.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Determination of the titanium spectral function from (e,e'p) data

The E12-14-012 experiment, performed in Jefferson Lab Hall A, has measured the (e,e'p) cross section in parallel kinematics using a natural titanium target. Here, we report the full results of the analysis of the data set corresponding to beam energy 2.2 GeV, and spanning the missing momentum and missing energy range 15 <= pm <= 250 MeV/c and 12 <= Em <= 80 MeV. The reduced cross section has been measured with ~7% accuracy as function of both missing momentum and missing energy. We compared our data to the results of a Monte Carlo simulations performed using a model spectral function and including the effects of final state interactions. The overall agreement between data and simulations is quite good (chi2/d.o.f. = 0.9).

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2022

Topological approach of characterizing optical Skyrmions and Skyrmion lattices

The Skyrmion number of paraxial optical Skyrmions can be defined solely via their polarization singularities and associated winding numbers, using a mathematical derivation that exploits Stokes's theorem. It is demonstrated that this definition provides a robust way to extract the Skyrmion number from experimental data, as illustrated for a variety of optical (N\'eel-type) Skyrmions and bimerons, and their corresponding lattices. This method generates not only an increase in accuracy, but also provides an intuitive geometrical approach to understanding the topology of such quasi-particles of light, and their robustness against smooth transformations.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

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 $J/\psi$ 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↗