No Arabic abstract
High-momentum configurations of nucleon pairs at short-distance are probed using measurements of the $^{12}$C$(e,ep)$ and $^{12}$C$(e,epN)$ reactions (where $N$ is either $n$ or $p$), at high-$Q^2$ and $x_B>1.1$. The data span a missing-momentum range of 300--1000 MeV/c and are predominantly sensitive to the transition region of the strong nuclear interaction from a Tensor to Scalar interaction. The data are well reproduced by theoretical calculations using the Generalized Contact Formalism with both chiral and phenomenological nucleon-nucleon ($NN$) interaction models. This agreement suggests that the measured high missing-momentum protons up to $1000$ MeV/c predominantly belong to short-ranged correlated (SRC) pairs. The measured $^{12}$C$(e,epN)$ / $^{12}$C$(e,ep)$ and $^{12}$C$(e,epp)$ / $^{12}$C$(e,epn)$ cross-section ratios are consistent with a decrease in the fraction of proton-neutron SRC pairs and increase in the fraction of proton-proton SRC pairs with increasing missing momentum. This confirms the transition from an isospin-dependent tensor $NN$ interaction at $sim 400$ MeV/c to an isospin-independent scalar interaction at high-momentum around $sim 800$ MeV/c as predicted by theoretical calculation.
We present an overview of Short-Range Correlations (SRC) studies using the inclusive measurement of the electron scattering off nuclei. A brief introduction of the origin of the SRC is given, followed by the survey of the two-nucleon SRC (2N-SRC) study and its interesting connection to the EMC effect. A discussion of the three-nucleon SRC study (3N-SRC) measured by the Jefferson Labs Hall B and Hall C experiments which showed contradictory results is given and, most importantly, we report a new result from the Hall A E08-014 experiment which was dedicated on studying 3N-SRC. Our high precision 4He/3He cross section ratios at the x > 2 region do not show a 3N-SRC plateau as predicted by the naive SRC model. To further investigate the 3N-SRC as well as the Isospin effect of the SRC, we have designed several approved experiments in Hall A and in Hall C, including the Tritium experiments using the mirror nuclei (3H and 3He) which are currently running in Hall A.
Quasielastic $^{12}$C$(e,ep)$ scattering was measured at space-like 4-momentum transfer squared $Q^2$~=~8, 9.4, 11.4, and 14.2 (GeV/c)$^2$, the highest ever achieved to date. Nuclear transparency for this reaction was extracted by comparing the measured yield to that expected from a plane-wave impulse approximation calculation without any final state interactions. The measured transparency was consistent with no $Q^2$ dependence, up to proton momenta of 8.5~GeV/c, ruling out the quantum chromodynamics effect of color transparency at the measured $Q^2$ scales in exclusive $(e,ep)$ reactions. These results impose strict constraints on models of color transparency for protons.
This paper reports on the first measurement of the ^16O(e,epn)^14N reaction. Data were measured in kinematics centred on a super-parallel geometry at energy and momentum transfers of 215 MeV and 316 MeV/c. The experimental resolution was sufficient to distinguish groups of states in the residual nucleus but not good enough to separate individual states. The data show a strong dependence on missing momentum and this dependence appears to be different for two groups of states in the residual nucleus. Theoretical calculations of the reaction using the Pavia code do not reproduce the shape or the magnitude of the data.
Cross sections for the p($e,epi^{+}$)n process on $^1$H, $^2$H, $^{12}$C, $^{27}$Al, $^{63}$Cu and $^{197}$Au targets were measured at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) in order to extract the nuclear transparencies. Data were taken for four-momentum transfers ranging from $Q^2$=1.1 to 4.8 GeV$^2$ for a fixed center of mass energy of $W$=2.14 GeV. The ratio of $sigma_L$ and $sigma_T$ was extracted from the measured cross sections for $^1$H, $^2$H, $^{12}$C and $^{63}$Cu targets at $Q^2$ = 2.15 and 4.0 GeV$^2$ allowing for additional studies of the reaction mechanism. The experimental setup and the analysis of the data are described in detail including systematic studies needed to obtain the results. The results for the nuclear transparency and the differential cross sections as a function of the pion momentum at the different values of $Q^2$ are presented. Global features of the data are discussed and the data are compared with the results of model calculations for the p($e,epi^{+}$)n reaction from nuclear targets.
Three nucleon short range correlations~(SRCs) are one of the most elusive structures in nuclei. Their observation and the subsequent study of their internal makeup will have a significant impact on our understanding of the dynamics of super-dense nuclear matter which exists at the cores of neutron stars. We discuss the kinematic conditions and observables that are most favorable for probing 3N-SRCs in inclusive electro-nuclear processes and make a prediction for a quadratic dependence of the probabilities of finding a nucleon in 2N- and 3N- SRCs. We demonstrate that this prediction is consistent with the limited high energy experimental data available, suggesting that we have observed, for the first time, 3N-SRCs in electro-nuclear processes. Our analysis enables us to extract $a_3(A,Z)$, the probability of finding 3N-SRCs in nuclei relative to the A=3 system.