Studies of the Proton Structure with Electron Beams

半个世纪以来对质子内部结构的实验研究，让我们对组成质子的夸克和胶子的动力学有了深刻的了解。然而，仍有许多悬而未决的问题。即使是最基本的方面，原子核质量的起源，也是不确定的。迄今为止，宇宙中最可见的质量，以及夸克如何被限制成复合粒子的完整描述，仍然超出了我们目前的理解。PI和她的杜肯大学本科生将在托马斯·杰斐逊国家加速器设施使用电子束，通过质子的基本成分来研究质子自旋的起源。该奖项旨在支持PI和杜肯大学本科生在杰斐逊实验室B厅的深非弹性散射区利用极化电子散射通过其部分子分布研究质子结构。这些测量将有助于理解质子内部单强子形成的起源。结合对氘靶的额外测量，PI将能够利用带电的介子和介子探测，通过其部分子分布来探测奇异性对核子结构的贡献。Duquesne小组将参与监测和维护两个混合环成像切伦科夫探测器的软件，这对粒子识别很重要。软件开发和物理数据分析将在Duquesne实验室进行，而电子测试和其他硬件项目将在Jefferson实验室进行。这个项目将为本科生提供在课堂之外进一步接受培训和教育的机会。这包括在现代粒子物理探测器，高科技快速电子和科学数据分析的设计，组装和测试方面获得经验。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Half a century of experimental investigations into the proton's internal structure have provided remarkable insight into the dynamics of the quarks and gluons making up the particle. However, many outstanding questions remain. Even the most fundamental aspect, the origin of the mass of nuclei, is uncertain. To date, the most visible mass of the universe, as well as a complete description of how quarks are confined into composite particles remain outside our current understanding. The PI and her Duquesne undergraduate students will investigate the origin of the spin of the proton through its fundamental constituents, using electron beams at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. This award supports the PI and Duquesne undergraduate students in research aiming to study the structure of the proton through its partonic distributions using polarized electron scattering in the deep inelastic scattering regime in Hall B at Jefferson lab. These measurements will help understand the origin of single hadron formation inside the proton. Combined with additional measurements on deuterium targets, the PI will be able to probe the strangeness contribution to the structure of the nucleon through its partonic distribution using charged kaon and pion detection. The Duquesne group will participate in monitoring and maintaining the software for two hybrid Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detectors that are important for particle identification. Software development and Physics data analysis will be performed at Duquesne, while electronics testing and other hardware projects will be performed at Jefferson lab. This project will provide undergraduate students with opportunities to further their training and education outside of the classroom. This includes gaining experience in the design, assembly, and testing of modern particle Physics detectors, high tech fast electronics, and scientific data analysis.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.