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At least 163 records · Page 9

Cosmology and terrestrial signals of sexaquark dark matter

We investigate the hypothesis that sexaquarks, hypothetical stable six-quark states, could be a significant component of the dark matter. We expand on previous studies of sexaquark cosmology, accounting for the possibility that some relevant interaction cross sections might be strongly suppressed below expectations based on dimensional analysis. We update direct-detection constraints on stable sexaquarks comprising a subdominant fraction of the dark matter, as well as limits on the annihilation of an antisexaquark component from Super-Kamiokande. We argue that the scenario where sexaquarks comprise a O ( 1 ) fraction of the dark matter would require either a suppression of O ( 10 − 19 ) in sexaquark interactions with baryons, combined with a very high yield of net sexaquark number from the quark-hadron transition, or else a very strong suppression of the cross section for antisexaquark annihilation on nucleons ( 24 + orders of magnitude below the QCD scale). Independently, we find that a sexaquark component comprising more than O ( 10 − 3 ) of the dark matter can be excluded from direct-detection bounds, unless its scattering cross section is severely suppressed compared to the expected scale of strong and even electromagnetic interactions. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Effective field theory of Stückelberg vector bosons

We explore the effective field theory of a vector field $X^μ$ that has a Stückelberg mass. The absence of a gauge symmetry for $X^μ$ implies Lorentz-invariant operators are constructed directly from Xμ. Beyond the kinetic and mass terms, allowed interactions at the renormalizable level include $X_μX^μH^†H, (X_μX^μ)^2$, and $X_μj^μ$, where $j^μ$ is a global current of the SM or of a hidden sector. We show that all of these interactions lead to scattering amplitudes that grow with powers of $\sqrt{s}/m_X$, except for the case of $X_μj^μ$ where $j^μ$ is a nonanomalous global current. The latter is well-known when $\textit{X}$ is identified as a dark photon coupled to the electromagnetic current, often written equivalently as kinetic mixing between $\textit{X}$ and the photon. The power counting for the energy growth of the scattering amplitudes is facilitated by isolating the longitudinal enhancement. We examine in detail the interaction with an anomalous global vector current $X_μj^μ_{\text{anom}}$, carefully isolating the finite contribution to the fermion triangle diagram. We calculate the longitudinally-enhanced observables $Z → X_γ$ (when $m_X < m_Z), f\bar{f} → X_γ$, and $Z_γ → Z_γ$ when $\textit{X}$ couples to the baryon number current. Introducing a "fake" gauge-invariance by writing $X^μ = A^μ – ∂^μπ/m_X$, the would-be gauge anomaly associated with $A_μj^μ_{\text{anom}}$ is canceled by $j^μ_{\text{anom}}∂_μπ/m_X$; this is the four-dimensional Green-Schwarz anomaly-cancellation mechanism at work. Our analysis demonstrates there is a much larger set of possible interactions that an EFT with a Stückelberg vector field can have, revealing scattering amplitudes that grow with energy. The growth of these amplitudes can be tamed by a dark Higgs sector, but this requires dark Higgs boson interactions (and reintroduces fine-tuning in the dark Higgs sector) that can be separated from X interactions only in the limit $g \ll 1$ .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Performance and Commissioning of the BigBite Timing Hodoscope for Nucleon Form Factor Measurements at Jefferson Lab

The BigBite Timing Hodoscope detector is the primary subject of this thesis. The Super BigBite Spectrometer is a Jefferson Lab Hall A Collaboration project that has and will continue to measure nucleon electromagnetic form factors. This spectrometer includes the Timing Hodoscope which provides high resolution particle timing data for scattered electrons in the electron arm of BigBite. The Timing Hodoscope utilizes 90, 25 × 25 × 600 mm3 scintillator bars stacked on top of each other to form a single detector plane, and these bars are connected to 180 photo-multiplier tubes via light guides. Particles collide with the scintillating material creating a shower of optical photons and these particle events in the bars are collected to generate signals that are readout by the data acquisition (DAQ) electronics. NINO ASIC amplifier-discriminator cards output signals from the photo-multiplier tubes into analogue and logic signals, which are sent to analogue-to-digital (ADC) and time-to-digital (TDC) converter data acquisition readout modules. This data is then used for analysis of the detector. The focus of this thesis is the construction, commissioning, calibration, and performance of the BigBite Timing Hodoscope before and during the first of five nucleon electromagnetic form factor experiments at Jefferson Lab Hall A. Before the neutron magnetic form factor, G n M, experiment, cosmic ray data was collected during commissioning to confirm proper operation of the Timing Hodoscope electronics by observing the ADC and TDC data. Commissioning studies for charge normalization, gain matching, and other ADC and TDC detector data variables were performed before moving the detector into Hall A. Following installation in Hall A, several calibration studies were implemented to fine-tune the detector in preparation for use in the experiment. The calibration studies included analysis of timing cuts, TDC alignment, the time-walk effect, time difference offsets, and scintillator velocity corrections. Once the Timing Hodoscope was well-calibrated, data-taking during the experiment commenced and the beam-on-target data was used to characterize the Timing Hodoscope performance during the G n M experiment run-time. The performance analysis included studies observing energy deposit, cluster size, rates, accidentals, pile-up, tracking efficiency, position resolution, and time resolution. After application of physics cuts to ensure a data set comprised of particle tracks corresponding to elastic electrons, which is the main data of interest for measurement of G n M, the Timing Hodoscope is shown on average across all kinematic settings to have a >98% tracking efficiency, a position resolution of 4-6 cm in the non-dispersive plane and 1.5-2 cm in the dispersive plane, and a time resolution of 500-750 ps. These performance results are compared to a GEANT4 based performance simulation of the BigBite Timing Hodoscope for reference, showing to what degree the measured performance values match those taken from the simulation.

Marinaro, Ralph↗

Measurement of the Neutron Elastic Electromagnetic Form Factor Ratio at Large Momentum Transfer

Exploring nucleon structure is vital both for understanding its origin and existence as well as for the advancement of the sciences. It helps us answer key questions such as how quark and gluon dynamics create 99% of the nucleon mass. Electron- nucleon scattering has been widely used for precision studies of the nucleon and nuclear structure since the Nobel Prize winning investigations by Robert Hofstadter and collaborators in the 1950s. These studies provide information about the spatial charge and current densities of the nucleon in terms of the electromagnetic form factors. The form factors are functions of four momentum transfer squared (Q2). Extending the electromagnetic form factor measurements to higher Q2 plays a critical role in furthering the understanding of nucleon structure. This motivated the Super BigBite Spectrometer (SBS) program at Jefferson Lab. The open nature of the spectrometers and the direct line of sight from the target to the tracking detector locations in experimental setups such as SBS creates high levels of background at the detectors. This necessitates the use of tracking detectors with high rate capability and good position resolution. Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors are an excellent choice for tracking detectors in such experiments. Understanding the performance of the GEM detectors is important not just for SBS experiments but also for future high-luminosity experiments. This thesis reports the exploratory results from the measurement of the neutron elastic electromagnetic form factor ratio (Gn E/Gn M) at high momentum transfer. A longitudinally polarized electron beam was scattered off a polarized 3He target, used as an effective polarized neutron target. In this experiment, the polarized 3He target achieved a world record polarization weighted luminosity at a beam current of 45 µA. Double spin asymmetry of the scattered neutron events is used to extract the neutron form factor ratio. Measurements were taken at Q2 = 3.0, 6.8, 9.8 (GeV/c)2. The lowest Q2 measurement is in good agreement with the existing world data, and the higher-Q2 measurements extend the Q2 reach well beyond the existing world data and are expected to remain unmatched for a long time.

Gamage, Vimukthi Haththotuwa [Univ. of Virginia, C↗

Neutron Skin Measurement of208Pb Using Parity-Violating Electron Scattering

Nuclear stability requires large nuclei to have more neutrons than protons. While the central core of the nucleus is composed of symmetric nuclear matter, the extra neutrons in heavy nuclei are pushed out to the surface of the nucleus, forming a pure outer neutron skin layer. While the proton distribution inside a nucleus has been accurately measured using electromagnetic probes, previous measurements of neutron distributions in complex nuclei have suffered a lack of systematic precision. PREX-2 and CREX use Parity-Violating electron Scattering (PVeS), as an electroweak interaction probe, to measure the neutron distributions in208Pb and48Ca, respectively. Making use of elastic scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons from unpolarized (isotopically pure) targets, PREX-2 and CREX measure the asymmetry in scattering rates between opposite beam polarization states. Since both experiments share the same exact measurement concept and apparatus, much of this dissertation applies to both PREX-2 and CREX. However, the presented asymmetry analysis and neutron skin extraction are only for PREX-2. PREX-2 measures the parity-violating asymmetry, APV, for 953 MeV electrons scattered elastically from208Pb at?5°in the lab. The final result is APV= 550.00±16.09(stat.)±8.16(syst.)ppb. From this measurement, we report the neutron skin thickness in208Pb nuclei to be, Rskin= 0.278±0.078(exp.)±0.012(model) fm. This measurement has broad implications throughout the physics community, increasing our knowledge in neutron star structure, the equation of state of nuclear matter, nuclear baryon density, nuclear electric dipole polarizability, and more. Key Words: Neutron skin, electroweak interaction, PREX-2, CREX, parity-violating asymmetry, neutron star, quartz detector, weak charge radius, symmetry energy, Hall A, Jefferson Lab

Adhikari, Devi↗

Resolution of a Few Problems in the Application of Quasilinear Theory to Calculating Diffusion Coefficients in Heliophysics

A theory of quasilinear diffusion for obliquely propagating electromagnetic waves was developed in the 1960's and applied in the 1970's to model scattering of relativistic electrons by a prescribed distribution of waves. In the latter work, a transformation of variables, from wavevector space to the temporal frequency and tangent of the wave normal angle, was used so that simple Gaussian functions of frequency and tangent of the wave normal angle could be multiplied together to define the distribution of wave power, although arbitrary distributions of power in these two variables is also permitted. Finally, in 2005, previous work was consolidated and has been widely used in heliophysics studies that require computation of quasilinear diffusion coefficients. Here it is shown that this transformation is inppropriate when the precise wave vector distribution is known. The correct transformation is derived and used to produce diffusion coefficients that can differ by orders of magnitude from those computed using the inappropriate transformation. The differences are largest when the distribution of wave power extends to wave normal angles near the resonance cone. When the ratio of the plasma frequency to the gyrofrequency is large, only low energies (keV) are affected, but as the ratio decreases higher energies (MeV) also show differences. It is also shown that the derivation from the 1960's uses a notation that results in the diffusion coefficients depending on the distribution of wave power with respect to the wave azimuthal angle whereas there should be no such dependence.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Ab initio polaritonic potential-energy surfaces for excited-state nanophotonics and polaritonic chemistry

Advances in nanophotonics, quantum optics, and low-dimensional materials have enabled precise control of light–matter interactions down to the nanoscale. Combining concepts from each of these fields, there is now an opportunity to create and manipulate photonic matter via strong coupling of molecules to the electromagnetic field. Toward this goal, here we demonstrate a first principles framework to calculate polaritonic excited-state potential-energy surfaces, transition dipole moments, and transition densities for strongly coupled light–matter systems. In particular, we demonstrate the applicability of our methodology by calculating the polaritonic excited-state manifold of a formaldehyde molecule strongly coupled to an optical cavity. This proof-of-concept calculation shows how strong coupling can be exploited to alter photochemical reaction pathways by influencing avoided crossings with tuning of the cavity frequency and coupling strength. Therefore, by introducing an ab initio method to calculate excited-state potential-energy surfaces, our work opens a new avenue for the field of polaritonic chemistry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Coulomb-free 1S0 p − p scattering length from the quasi-free p + d → p + p + n reaction and its relation to universality

Abstract The Coulomb-free 1 S 0 proton-proton ( p - p ) scattering length relies heavily on numerous and distinct theoretical techniques to remove the Coulomb contribution. Here, it has been determined from the half-off-the-energy-shell p - p scattering cross section measured at center-of-mass energies below 1 MeV using the quasi-free p + d → p + p + n reaction. A Bayesian data-fitting approach using the expression of the s-wave nucleon-nucleon scattering cross section returned a p - p scattering length $${a}_{pp}=-18.1{7}_{-0.58}^{+0.52}{| }_{stat}\pm 0.0{1}_{syst}$$ a p p = − 18.1 7 − 0.58 + 0.52 ∣ s t a t ± 0.0 1 s y s t fm and effective range r 0 = 2.80 ± 0.05 s t a t ± 0.001 s y s t fm. A model based on universality concepts has been developed to interpret this result. It accounts for the short-range interaction as a whole, nuclear and residual electromagnetic, according to what the s-wave phase-shift δ does in the description of low-energy nucleon-nucleon scattering data. We conclude that our parameters are representative of the short-range physics and propose to assess the charge symmetry breaking of the short-range interaction instead of just the nuclear interaction. This is consistent with the current understanding that the charge dependence of nuclear forces is due to different masses of up-down quarks and their electromagnetic interactions. This achievement suggests that these properties have a lesser than expected impact in the context of the charge symmetry breaking.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Constraining neutrino-nucleon form factors with charged-current scattering at the Electron-Ion Collider

Next-generation neutrino oscillation experiments such as the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment require percent-level knowledge of neutrino-nucleon interaction cross sections. The nucleon axial form factor 𝐹 𝐴 ⁡(𝑄 2 ), parametrized by the axial mass 𝑀 𝐴 , is the dominant source of uncertainty in the quasielastic channel, and the parity-violating structure function 𝑥⁢𝐹 3 is poorly constrained on free nucleons. We propose using charged-current (CC) electron-proton scattering at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) to address both problems simultaneously. The measurement exploits three key features of the EIC: (1) helicity-selective electron bunches provide in situ electromagnetic background rejection; (2) a longitudinally polarized proton target enables extraction of 𝐹 𝐴 ⁡(𝑄 2 ) through the target-spin asymmetry 𝐴 𝑈⁢𝐿 ; and (3) the 𝑦-distribution leverage in CC deep inelastic scattering (DIS) separates 𝐹 2 and 𝑥⁢𝐹 3 on a free proton, without nuclear corrections. Using a Fisher information analysis at $\sqrt{𝑠}$ =141 GeV with 500 fb −1 of integrated luminosity, we project the Cramér-Rao statistical floor of 𝛿⁢𝑀 𝐴 ≈0.03 GeV (3%). Incorporating first-order realistic detector effects, such as zero-degree calorimeter acceptance, 𝑄 2 smearing (5%), and background noise from helicity subtraction, the projected sensitivity is severely background-limited due to the small signal-to-background ratio (𝑆/𝐵 ≈ 3 ×10 −4 ) in the elastic channel. Achieving competitive sensitivity (𝛿⁢𝑀 𝐴 ≈ 0.14 GeV) would require ∼10 −7 background suppression, 3 orders of magnitude beyond current projections. The CC DIS 𝑦 distribution provides subpercent extraction of 𝑥⁢𝐹$^{𝑊^{−}}_{3}$ over 0.05 < 𝑥 < 0.5, representing the most robust electroweak measurement in the near term.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Large-Area Lasing in Nanoscale Complex Media: The Critical Role of Local Dielectric Environment

Controlling how electromagnetic waves interact with complex media is critical for applications in imaging and focusing. Such lightwave interactions with complex media can lead to dramatic optical effects like lasing. While much work in random lasing focus on understanding how gain and scattering co-operatively generate lasing, little work has focused on how to manipulate the lasing threshold without modifying the structural disorder. Here, a simple, mostly unexplored, strategy is demonstrated that employs atomic layer deposition (ALD) to tune the local near-field environment while preserving the underpinning disorder—controlling lasing in a nanoscale complex medium on a large scale (>cm 2 ). The nanoscale complex medium is a quasi-2D system of coupled zinc oxide nanospheres with overall thickness deep in the sub-wavelength regime (≈λ/4). Near-ultraviolet femtosecond spectroscopy probes the broadband response of the gain nanomaterial, details how ALD process fundamentally modifies the fast-picosecond and slow-nanosecond carrier dynamics, and informs on the relevant timescales critical for lasing. Full-field electromagnetic simulations provide critical insights about how near-field dielectric environment modifies the nanostructure's scattering cross-section, which ultimately results in enhanced lasing. Importantly, these results highlight a simple path to control how electromagnetic waves interact in a complex medium, a key step toward large-scale implementation of complex lasers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High Optical-to-X-Ray Polarization Ratio Reveals Compton Scattering in BL Lacertae’s Jet

Blazars, supermassive black hole systems with highly relativistic jets aligned with the line of sight, are the most powerful long-lived emitters of electromagnetic emission in the Universe. We report here on a radio-to-gamma-ray multiwavelength campaign on the blazar BL Lacertae with unprecedented polarimetric coverage from radio to X-ray wavelengths. The observations caught an extraordinary event on 2023 November 10–18, when the degree of linear polarization of optical synchrotron radiation reached a record value of 47.5%. In stark contrast, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer found that the X-ray (Compton scattering or hadron-induced) emission was polarized at less than 7.4% (3 σ confidence level). We argue here that this observational result rules out a hadronic origin of the high-energy emission and strongly favors a leptonic (Compton scattering) origin, thereby breaking the degeneracy between hadronic and leptonic emission models for BL Lacertae and demonstrating the power of multiwavelength polarimetry to address this question. Furthermore, the multiwavelength flux and polarization variability, featuring an extremely prominent rise and decay of the optical polarization degree, is interpreted for the first time by the relaxation of a magnetic “spring” embedded in the newly injected plasma. This suggests that the plasma jet can maintain a predominant toroidal magnetic field component parsecs away from the central engine.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Scattering amplitudes for monopoles: pairwise little group and pairwise helicity

On-shell methods are particularly suited for exploring the scattering of electrically and magnetically charged objects, for which there is no local and Lorentz invariant Lagrangian description. In this paper we show how to construct a Lorentz-invariant S-matrix for the scattering of electrically and magnetically charged particles, without ever having to refer to a Dirac string. A key ingredient is a revision of our fundamental understanding of multi-particle representations of the Poincaré group. Surprisingly, the asymptotic states for electric-magnetic scattering transform with an additional little group phase, associated with pairs of electrically and magnetically charged particles. The corresponding “pairwise helicity” is identified with the quantized “cross product” of charges, e 1 g 2 - e 2 g 1 , for every charge-monopole pair, and represents the extra angular momentum stored in the asymptotic electromagnetic field. We define a new kind of pairwise spinor-helicity variable, which serves as an additional building block for electric-magnetic scattering amplitudes. We then construct the most general 3-point S-matrix elements, as well as the full partial wave decomposition for the 2 → 2 fermion-monopole S-matrix. In particular, we derive the famous helicity flip in the lowest partial wave as a simple consequence of a generalized spin-helicity selection rule, as well as the full angular dependence for the higher partial waves. Our construction provides a significant new achievement for the on-shell program, succeeding where the Lagrangian description has so far failed.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Spatially Resolved Near Field Spectroscopy of Vibrational Polaritons at the Small N Limit

Vibrational polaritons, which have been primarily studied in Fabry–Pérot cavities with a large number of molecules (N ~ 10 6 –10 10 ) coupled to the resonator mode, exhibit various experimentally observed effects on chemical reactions. However, the exact mechanism is elusively understood from the theoretical side, as the large number of molecules involved in an experimental strong coupling condition cannot be represented completely in simulations. This discrepancy between theory and experiment arises from computational descriptions of polariton systems typically being limited to only a few molecules, thus failing to represent the experimental conditions adequately. To address this mismatch, we used surface phonon polariton (SPhP) resonators as an alternative platform for vibrational strong coupling. SPhPs exhibit strong electromagnetic confinement on the surface and thus allow for coupling to a small number of molecules. As a result, this platform can enhance nonlinearity and slow down relaxation to the dark modes. In this study, we fabricated a pillar-shaped quartz resonator and then coated it with a thin layer of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc). By employing scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM), we spatially investigated the dependency of vibrational strong coupling on the spatially varying electromagnetic field strength and demonstrated strong coupling with 38,000 molecules only–reaching to the small N limit. Through s-SNOM analysis, we found that strong coupling was observed primarily on the edge of the quartz pillar and the apex of the s-SNOM tip, where the maximum field enhancement occurs. In contrast, a weak resonance signal and lack of coupling were observed closer to the center of the pillar. This work demonstrates the importance of spatially resolved polariton systems in nanophotonic platforms and lays a foundation to explore polariton chemistry and chemical dynamics at the small N limit–one step closer to reconcile with high-level quantum calculations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

London Penetration Depth Measurements Using Tunnel Diode Resonators

The London penetration depth λ is the basic length scale for electromagnetic behavior in a superconductor. Precise measurements of λ as a function of temperature, field and impurity scattering have been instrumental in revealing the nature of the order parameter and pairing interactions in a variety of superconductors discovered over the past decades. Here we recount our development of the tunnel-diode resonator technique to measure λ as function of temperature and field in small single crystal samples. Furthermore, we discuss the principles and applications of this technique to study unconventional superconductivity in the copper oxides and other materials such as iron-based superconductors. The technique has now been employed by several groups world-wide as a precision measurement tool for the exploration of new superconductors.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Effect of Density Irregularities on Radio Frequency Wave Propagation in Ionospheric Plasmas

Density irregularities play a vital role in determining how radio frequency (RF) waves travel through plasmas. In the Earth’s ionosphere, these density irregularities also impact radio communication. In this study, we conduct a detailed numerical analysis of RF wave propagation in small-scale ionospheric density irregularities using the advanced Petra-M code. We focus specifically on high-frequency (HF) waves, ranging from 3 to 30 MHz, which are essential for military, amateur radio operators, and emergency communications. By introducing density structures, such as equatorial plasma bubbles derived from fluid simulations, we demonstrate that HF waves can scatter in multiple directions when they encounter these irregularities. Additionally, we observe significant mode conversion, where incoming electromagnetic waves transform into electrostatic modes within the density gradient layer. This shows that smaller density irregularities can greatly weaken signals or cause complete signal loss for receivers, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and innovative solutions in radio communication transmission.

Kim, Eun-Hwa [Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory ↗

Cross-scale interaction between microturbulence and meso-scale reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes in DIII-D plasmas

Abstract This paper reports global nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations that couple meso-scale reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes (RSAEs) driven by energetic particles (EPs) and ion temperature gradient (ITG) microturbulence driven by thermal plasma, using equilibrium and profiles from DIII-D discharge #159243. In simulations focusing only on the ITG, electrostatic ITG drives a huge thermal ion heat transport, which is reduced by a factor of 10 to a level close to the experimental value in electromagnetic simulation due to finite β effect. In the simulations coupling the RSAE and ITG, ITG can scatter the resonant EP nonlinearly trapped by the RSAE and damp the zonal flows generated by the RSAE. The regulation of the RSAE by the ITG greatly reduces the initial saturation amplitude of the RSAE but increases the RSAE amplitude and associated EP transport to experimental levels in the quasi-steady state. The RSAE effects on the ITG, specifically the stronger zonal flows generated by the RSAE and the RSAE frequency modulation of the ITG-induced thermal ion heat transport, in turn, leads to a reduction of the thermal ion heat transport by more than a factor of 2 . For a stronger background ITG, the regulation of the RSAE by the ITG is stronger, while the RSAE effects on the ITG are weaker. This work highlights the importance of cross-scale coupling in the dynamics of the AE turbulence and EP transport.

Physics↗

Studying electroweak few-body observables in chiral effective field theory

The use of nuclei to study electroweak probes is becoming increasingly relevant experimentally. The success of dark matter and neutrino experiments strongly depends on the ability to control nuclear effects in order to extract the fundamental parameters associated with external probes. Therefore, reliable theoretical calculations of nuclear structure and reactions, with well-controlled errors, are crucial for the success of experimental efforts. Currently, chiral effective field theory ($\chi$EFT) coupled with {\it ab-initio} methods represents one of the best approaches that fulfills these requirements. To use this approach as a tool for studying fundamental physics, it is essential to validate it against experimental data for which the calculations are well under control, such as the elastic scattering of electrons on nuclei. In this proceeding, I will present recent developments in the fitting of electromagnetic currents derived using $\chi$EFT and the calculation of electromagnetic form factors of light nuclei. The results of these calculations demonstrate the strength of the theory in describing the interaction of nuclei with electromagnetic probes over a broad range of momentum transfers and highlight the robustness of $\chi$EFT for analyzing future experimental data aimed at extracting fundamental parameters.

Gnech, Alex [Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA (Unit↗