Probing Nucleon Structure and the Nucleon-Nucleon Force

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0072226HicksThe general goal of our research is to study the structure of the nucleon and the nucleon resonances in terms of quarks and gluons. The fundamental interaction between quarks and gluons is the theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), which is generally accepted to be the correct underlying theory of the strong force. However, practical calculations using QCD are extremely difficult at energies near the mass of the nucleon. Hence, experimental data is needed to guide theoretical models of nucleon structure. In addition, we are interested in experimental tests of charge symmetry in the strong interaction between two nucleons.Our research is centered on experimental work at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) and the Laser-Electron Gamma Source (LEGS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Both of these facilities provide electron or photon beams of sufficient energy to excite the nucleon into intermediate resonances which then decay. In Hall B at TJNAF, our group is focussed on measurements of kaons which are largely due to decay of various nucleon resonances. In Hall C at TJNAF, one member of our group is working on a measurement of the electric and magnetic form factor of the neutron. At LEGS, two members of our group are working on measurements of pions produced with polarized beams and targets, which test theoretical sum rules (related to static properties of the nucleon). All three experiments will provide guidance to QCD-inspired theoretical work.