Skip to main content
Article
Measurement of the Neutron Radius of Pb-208 through Parity Violation in Electron Scattering
Physical Review Letters
  • S. Abrahamyan
  • A. Shahinyan
  • P. E. Reimer
  • D. S. Armstrong, William & Mary
  • Todd Averett, William & Mary
  • W. Deconinck, William & Mary
  • J. Hoskins, William & Mary
  • E. Jensen, William & Mary
  • J. Leckey, William & Mary
  • J. H. Lee, William & Mary
Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Physics
Pub Date
1-1-2012
Abstract

We report the first measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry A(PV) in the elastic scattering of polarized electrons from Pb-208. APV is sensitive to the radius of the neutron distribution (R-n). The result A(PV) = 0.656 +/- 0.060(stat) +/- 0.014(syst) ppm corresponds to a difference between the radii of the neutron and proton distributions R-n - R-p = 0.33(-0.18)(+0.16) fm and provides the first electroweak observation of the neutron skin which is expected in a heavy, neutron-rich nucleus.

DOI
10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.112502
Citation Information
S. Abrahamyan, A. Shahinyan, P. E. Reimer, D. S. Armstrong, et al.. "Measurement of the Neutron Radius of Pb-208 through Parity Violation in Electron Scattering" Physical Review Letters Vol. 108 Iss. 11 (2012)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/todd-averett/23/