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A new precision measurement of the proton’s electric polarizability performed at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility has revealed a bump in the data in probes of the proton’s structure. Though widely thought to be a fluke when seen in earlier measurements, this new, more precise measurement has confirmed the presence of the anomaly and raises questions about its origin. The research has just been published in the journal Nature.
According to Ruonan Li, first author on the new paper and a graduate student at Temple University, measurements of the proton’s electric polarizability reveal how susceptible the proton is to deformation, or stretching, in an electric field. Like size or charge, the electric polarizability is a fundamental property of proton structure.
. . . measurements of the proton’s electric polarizability reveal how susceptible the proton is to deformation, or stretching, in an electric field. Like size or charge, the electric polarizability is a fundamental property of proton structure.
. . . , nuclear physicists used a process called virtual Compton scattering. It starts with a carefully controlled beam of energetic electrons from Jefferson Lab’s Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility, a DOE Office of Science user facility. The electrons are sent crashing into protons.
Jefferson Lab is a major partner in the EIC Project and is providing significant contributions to the overall project management as well as the design and construction of RF systems, cryogenics systems, electron injector and storage ring electro-magnets, and experimental detector systems. Jefferson Lab is actively hiring engineers and designers for the initial phase of the EIC Project.
Proton electric polarizability refers to the ability of a proton to be distorted by an external electric field. It is an important quantity in understanding the structure and properties of the proton, which is one of the fundamental building blocks of matter.
Proton electric polarizability can be measured through experiments such as electron-proton scattering or spectroscopy of atoms containing a proton. These experiments involve studying the interaction between the proton and an external electric field.
Recent measurements have shown that the proton electric polarizability is a small but non-zero value, indicating that the proton has a slightly distorted shape. However, there is still ongoing research to further refine our understanding of this quantity.
The proton electric polarizability is closely related to the internal structure of the proton. It provides information about the distribution of charge and mass within the proton, which is important in understanding its overall structure and behavior.
Recent measurements of proton electric polarizability have provided valuable insights into the structure and properties of the proton. This information can help us better understand the fundamental forces that govern the behavior of matter and the universe as a whole.