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Breuer, H.

Publications and source records attributed to Breuer, H..

Measurement of R = σ L / σ T and the separated longitudinal and transverse structure functions in the nucleon-resonance region

Here we report on a detailed study of longitudinal strength in the nucleon resonance region, presenting new results from inclusive electron-proton cross sections measured at Jefferson Lab Hall C in the four-momentum transfer range 0.2 < Q 2 < 5.5 GeV 2 . The data have been used to accurately perform over 170 Rosenbluth-type longitudinal/transverse separations. The precision R = $\sigma_{L} /\sigma _{T}$ data are presented here, along with the first separate values of the inelastic structure functions F 1 and F L in this regime. The resonance longitudinal component is found to be significant. With the new data, quark-hadron duality is observed above Q 2 = 1 GeV 2 in the separated structure functions independently.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Exclusive π + electroproduction off the proton from low to high - t

Background: Measurements of exclusive meson production are a valuable tool in the study of hadronic structure. Specifically, one can discern the relevant degrees of freedom at different distance scales through these studies. Purpose: To study the transition between non-perturbative and perturbative Quantum Chromodyanmics as the square of four momentum transfer to the struck proton, –t, is increased. Method: Cross sections for the 1 H(e,e'π + )n reaction were measured over the –t range of 0.272 to 2.127 GeV 2 with limited azimuthal coverage at fixed beam energy of 4.709 GeV, Q 2 of 2.4 GeV 2 and W of 2.0 GeV at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) Hall C. Results: The –t dependence of the measured π + electroproduction cross section generally agrees with prior data from JLab Halls B and C. The data are consistent with a Regge amplitude based theoretical model, but show poor agreement with a Generalized Parton Distribution (GPD) based model. Conclusion: The agreement of cross sections with prior data suggests small contribution from the interference terms, and the confirmation of the change in t-slopes between the low- and high -–t regions previously observed in photoproduction indicates the changing nature of the electroproduction reaction in our kinematic regime.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Unique Access to u -Channel Physics: Exclusive Backward-Angle Omega Meson Electroproduction

Backward-angle meson electroproduction above the resonance region, which was previously ignored, is anticipated to offer unique access to the three quark plus sea component of the nucleon wave function. In this Letter, we present the first complete separation of the four electromagnetic structure functions above the resonance region in exclusive ω electroproduction off the proton, ep → e'pω, at central Q 2 values of 1.60, 2.45 GeV 2 , at W = 2.21 GeV. Here, the results of our pioneering –u ≈ –u min study demonstrate the existence of a unanticipated backward-angle cross section peak and the feasibility of full L/T/LT/TT separations in this never explored kinematic territory. At Q 2 = 2.45 GeV 2 , the observed dominance of σ T over σ L , is qualitatively consistent with the collinear QCD description in the near-backward regime, in which the scattering amplitude factorizes into a hard subprocess amplitude and baryon to meson transition distribution amplitudes: universal nonperturbative objects only accessible through backward-angle kinematics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

High-resolution hypernuclear spectroscopy at Jefferson Lab, Hall A

The experiment E94-107 in Hall A at Jefferson Lab started a systematic study of high resolution hypernuclear spectroscopy in the 0 p -shell region of nuclei such as the hypernuclei produced in electroproduction on 9 Be, 12 C and 16 O targets. In order to increase counting rates and provide unambiguous kaon identification two superconducting septum magnets and a ring-imaging Cherenkov detector were added to the Hall A standard equipment. The high-quality beam, the good spectrometers and the new experimental devices allowed us to obtain very good results. Here, measurable strength with sub-MeV energy resolution was recorded for the core-excited states of $^{12}_{Λ}$B. A high-quality$^{16}_{Λ}N hypernuclear spectrum was likewise obtained. A first measurement of the Λ binding energy for Lambda 16N, calibrated against the elementary reaction on hydrogen, was obtained with high precision, 13.76 ± 0.16 MeV. Similarly, the first$^{9}_{Λ}Li hypernuclear spectrum shows general agreement with theory (distorted-wave impulse approximation with the SLA and BS3 electroproduction models and shell-model wave functions). Some disagreement exists with respect to the relative strength of the states making up the first multiplet. A Λ separation energy of 8.36 MeV was obtained, in agreement with previous results. It has been observed that the electroproduction of hypernuclei can provide information complementary to that obtained with hadronic probes and the γ-ray spectroscopy technique.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Measurements of the separated longitudinal structure function F L from hydrogen and deuterium targets at low Q 2

Structure functions, as measured in lepton-nucleon scattering, have proven to be very useful in studying the partonic dynamics within the nucleon. Furthermore, it is experimentally difficult to separately determine the longitudinal and transverse structure functions, and consequently there are substantially less data available in particular for the longitudinal structure function. Here, we present separated structure functions for hydrogen and deuterium at low four-momentum transfer squared, Q 2 < 1 GeV 2 , and compare them with parton distribution parametrization and k T factorization approaches. While differences are found, the parametrizations generally agree with the data, even at the very low-Q 2 scale of the data. The deuterium data show a smaller longitudinal structure function and a smaller ratio of longitudinal to transverse cross section, R, than the proton. This suggests either an unexpected difference in R for the proton and the neutron or a suppression of the gluonic distribution in nuclei.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Separated kaon electroproduction cross section and the kaon form factor from 6 GeV JLab data

The 1 H(e,e ' K + )Λ reaction was studied as a function of the Mandelstam variable -t using data from the E01-004 (FPI-2) and E93-018 experiments that were carried out in Hall C at the 6 GeV Jefferson Laboratory. The cross section was fully separated into longitudinal and transverse components, and two interference terms at four-momentum transfers Q 2 of 1.00, 1.36, and 2.07 GeV 2 . The kaon form factor was extracted from the longitudinal cross section using the Regge model by Vanderhaeghen et al. [Phys. Rev. C 57, 1454 (1998)]. Here, the results establish the method, previously used successfully for pion analyses, for extracting the kaon form factor. Data from 12 GeV Jefferson Laboratory experiments are expected to have sufficient precision to distinguish between theoretical predictions, for example, recent perturbative QCD calculations with modern parton distribution amplitudes. The leading-twist behavior for light mesons is predicted to set in for values of Q 2 between 5 and 10 GeV 2 , which makes data in the few-GeV regime particularly interesting. Finally, the Q 2 dependence at fixed x and -t of the longitudinal cross section that we extracted seems consistent with the QCD factorization prediction within the experimental uncertainty.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Spectroscopy of Li Λ 9 by electroproduction

Background: In the absence of accurate data on the free two-body hyperon-nucleon interaction, the spectra of hypernuclei can provide information on the details of the effective hyperon-nucleon interaction. Purpose: To obtain a high-resolution spectrum for the 9 Be(e,e'K + ) 9 Λ Li reaction. Method: Electroproduction of the hypernucleus 9 Λ Li has been studied for the first time with sub-MeV energy resolution in Hall A at Jefferson Lab on a 9 Be target. In order to increase the counting rate and to provide unambiguous kaon identification, two superconducting septum magnets and a Ring Imaging CHerenkov detector (RICH) were added to the Hall A standard equipment. Results: The cross section to low-lying states of 9 Λ Li is concentrated within 3 MeV of the ground state and can be fitted with four peaks. The positions of the doublets agree with theory while a disagreement could exist with respect to the relative strengths of the peaks in the doublets. A Λ separation energy, B Λ , of 8.36±0.08 (stat.) ±0.08 (syst.) MeV was measured, in agreement with an earlier experiment.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Separated response functions in exclusive, forward π ± electroproduction on deuterium

Background: Measurements of forward exclusive meson production at different squared four-momenta of the exchanged virtual photon, Q 2 , and at different four-momentum transfer, t, can be used to probe QCD's transition from meson-nucleon degrees of freedom at long distances to quark-gluon degrees of freedom at short scales. Ratios of separated response functions in π⁻ and π⁺ electroproduction are particularly informative. Ratio for transverse photons may allow this transition to be more easily observed, while the ratio for longitudinal photons provides a crucial verification of the assumed pole dominance, needed for reliable extraction of the pion form factor from electroproduction data. Method: Data were acquired with 2.6-5.2 GeV electron beams and the HMS+SOS spectrometers in Jefferson Lab Hall C, at central Q 2 values of 0.6, 1.0, 1.6 GeV 2 at W=1.95 GeV, and Q 2 =2.45 GeV 2 at W=2.22 GeV. There was significant coverage in Φ And ϵ, which allowed separation of σ L,T,LT,TT . Results: σL shows a clear signature of the pion pole, with a sharp rise at small -t. In contrast, σ T is much flatter versus t. The longitudinal/transverse ratios evolve with Q 2 and t, and at the highest Q 2 =2.45 GeV 2 show a slight enhancement for π⁻ Production compared to π⁺. The π⁻/π⁺+ ratio for transverse photons exhibits only a small Q 2 -dependence, following a nearly universal curve with t, with a steep transition to a value of about 0.25, consistent with s-channel quark knockout. The σ TT /σ T ratio also drops rapidly with Q 2 , qualitatively consistent with s-channel helicity conservation. The π⁻/π⁺ ratio for longitudinal photons indicates a small isoscalar contamination at W=1.95 GeV, consistent with what was observed in our earlier determination of the pion form factor at these kinematics.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Separated Response Function Ratios in Exclusive, Forward π ± Electroproduction

The study of exclusive π{sup ±} electroproduction on the nucleon, including separation of the various structure functions, is of interest for a number of reasons. The ratio R{sub L}=σ{sup π{sup -}}{sub L}/σ{sup π{sup +}}{sub L} is sensitive to isoscalar contamination to the dominant isovector pion exchange amplitude, which is the basis for the determination of the charged pion form factor from electroproduction data. A change in the value of R{sub T}=σ{sup π{sup -}}{sub T}/σ{sup π{sup +}}{sub T} from unity at small -t, to 1/4 at large -t, would suggest a transition from coupling to a (virtual) pion to coupling to individual quarks. Furthermore, the mentioned ratios may show an earlier approach to pQCD than the individual cross sections. We have performed the first complete separation of the four unpolarized electromagnetic structure functions above the dominant resonances in forward, exclusive π± electroproduction on the deuteron at central Q{sup 2} values of 0.6, 1.0, 1.6 GeV{sup 2} at W=1.95 GeV, and Q{sup 2}=2.45 GeV{sup 2} at W=2.22 GeV. Here, we present the L and T cross sections, with emphasis on R{sub L} and R{sub T}, and compare them with theoretical calculations. Results for the separated ratio RL indicate dominance of the pion-pole diagram at low -t, while results for R{sub T} are consistent with a transition between pion knockout and quark knockout mechanisms.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗