Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Physics
Journal Title
Physical Review Letters
Pub Date
2012
Volume
108
Issue
11
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.
Recommended Citation
Abrahamyan, S., Ahmed, Z., Albataineh, H., Aniol, K., Armstrong, D. S., Armstrong, W., ... & Beminiwattha, R. (2012). Measurement of the neutron radius of Pb 208 through parity violation in electron scattering. Physical review letters, 108(11), 112502.
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.112502