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Investigating neutron polarizabilities through Compton scattering on 3He.
Deepshikha Choudhury1, Andreas Nogga, Daniel R Phillips
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA. choudhur@phy.ohiou.edu
We studied neutron electromagnetic polarizabilities using helium-3 and coherent Compton scattering. The results show how to measure these properties using scattering data.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Physics
- Quantum Chromodynamics
Background:
- Neutron electromagnetic polarizabilities probe the internal structure of the neutron.
- Coherent Compton scattering off nuclei offers a unique probe of these properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sensitivity of coherent Compton scattering observables on helium-3 to neutron electromagnetic polarizabilities.
- To determine which observables can isolate specific polarizabilities.
Main Methods:
- Calculations performed using chiral perturbation theory to next-to-leading order.
- Analysis of gamma3He elastic scattering observables.
Main Results:
- The unpolarized differential cross section is sensitive to neutron electric and magnetic polarizabilities.
- Two double-polarization observables are sensitive to combinations of neutron spin polarizabilities.
Conclusions:
- Coherent Compton scattering on helium-3 provides a viable method for measuring neutron electric and magnetic polarizabilities.
- Specific polarization observables can be used to constrain neutron spin polarizabilities.
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