Lanterna Rally

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

Experiments on parity violation in electron scattering measure the asymmetry A = [sigma][sub R] - [sigma][sub L]/[sigma][sub R] + [sigma][sub L] where [sigma][sub R(L)] is the cross section for Right(Left) handed longitudinally polarized electrons. This asymmetry arises, in first order, from the interference between photon and Z-boson exchange amplitudes. Experiments make two basic uses of the Z-boson as a probe in electron-quark or electron-nucleon scattering. Historically the first usage was to test the electroweak theory in regions of kinematics where the hadronic structure is sufficiently understood. They discuss the application of higher energies at Jefferson Lab to repeat the SLAC e-D deep inelastic parity violation experiment [1] at a level of precision [approx] 0.5% in sin[sup 2][theta][sub W] which would be a useful constrain on extensions of the Standard Model [2]. The second, more recent usage of the Z-boson probe is to assume the Standard Model is correct at about the 1% level and use this as a unique method to address fundamental issues of nucleon structure, such as: (1) are the strange quarks an important component of the nucleon [3]; (2) In deep inelastic scattering, are the high momentum quarks u or d quarks? To address the first question, they discuss the feasibility of extending the HAPPEX experiment to higher Q[sup 2]. For the second question, they discuss a possible measurement of the ratio of valence quarks d/u in the proton using deep inelastic parity violation.