We use distorted wave electron scattering calculations to extract the weak charge form factor F W (q), the weak charge radius R W , and the point neutron radius R n of 208 Pb from the Lead Radius Experiment (PREX) parity-violating asymmetry measurement. The form factor is the Fourier transform of the weak charge density at the average momentum transferq = 0.475 fm −1 . We find F W (q) = 0.204 ± 0.028 (exp) ± 0.001 (model). We use the Helm model to infer the weak radius from F W (q). We find R W = 5.826 ± 0.181 (exp) ± 0.027 (model) fm. Here the experimental error includes PREX statistical and systematic errors, while the model error describes the uncertainty in R W from uncertainties in the surface thickness σ of the weak charge density. The weak radius is larger than the charge radius, implying a "weak charge skin" where the surface region is relatively enriched in weak charges compared to (electromagnetic) charges. We extract the point neutron radius R n = 5.751 ± 0.175 (exp) ± 0.026 (model) ± 0.005 (strange) fm from R W . Here there is only a very small error (strange) from possible strange quark contributions. We find R n to be slightly smaller than R W because of the nucleon's size. Finally, we find a neutron skin thickness of R n − R p = 0.302 ± 0.175 (exp) ± 0.026 (model) ± 0.005 (strange) fm, where R p is the point proton radius.
We have measured parity-violating asymmetries in elastic electron-proton scattering over the range of momentum transfers 0.12 < or =Q2 < or =1.0 GeV2. These asymmetries, arising from interference of the electromagnetic and neutral weak interactions, are sensitive to strange-quark contributions to the currents of the proton. The measurements were made at Jefferson Laboratory using a toroidal spectrometer to detect the recoiling protons from a liquid hydrogen target. The results indicate nonzero, Q2 dependent, strange-quark contributions and provide new information beyond that obtained in previous experiments.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.