TY - JOUR
T1 - Weak polarized electron scattering
AU - Erler, Jens
AU - Horowitz, Charles J.
AU - Mantry, Sonny
AU - Souder, Paul A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2014 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/10/1
Y1 - 2014/10/1
N2 - Scattering polarized electrons provides an important probe of the weak interactions. Precisely measuring the parity-violating left-right cross-section asymmetry (ALR) is the goal of a number of experiments that have recently been completed or are in progress. The experiments are challenging, given that ALR is small, typically between 10-4 and 10-8. By carefully choosing appropriate targets and kinematics, one can isolate various pieces of the weak Lagrangian, providing a search for physics beyond the Standard Model. For other choices, unique features of the strong interaction are being studied, including the radius of the neutron density in heavy nuclei, charge symmetry violation, and higher-twist terms. This article reviews the theory behind the experiments, as well as the general techniques used in the experimental program.
AB - Scattering polarized electrons provides an important probe of the weak interactions. Precisely measuring the parity-violating left-right cross-section asymmetry (ALR) is the goal of a number of experiments that have recently been completed or are in progress. The experiments are challenging, given that ALR is small, typically between 10-4 and 10-8. By carefully choosing appropriate targets and kinematics, one can isolate various pieces of the weak Lagrangian, providing a search for physics beyond the Standard Model. For other choices, unique features of the strong interaction are being studied, including the radius of the neutron density in heavy nuclei, charge symmetry violation, and higher-twist terms. This article reviews the theory behind the experiments, as well as the general techniques used in the experimental program.
KW - Neutron stars
KW - Parton distributions
KW - Physics beyond the standard model
KW - Weak neutral currents
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U2 - 10.1146/annurev-nucl-102313-025520
DO - 10.1146/annurev-nucl-102313-025520
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84908476782
SN - 0163-8998
VL - 64
SP - 269
EP - 298
JO - Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science
JF - Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science
ER -