Development of a High Resolution Detection System for the Precision Measurement of the Neutral Pion Lifetime at JLab

Hampton University, Hampton VA

Investigators

Abstract

0079840 Gasparian This award will support the construction and operation of experimental detection equipment to perform the most fundamental prediction of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) at low energy. Since the quality of existing measurements is not commensurate with the precision of the theoretical prediction, a modern measurement at the 1.5% accuracy level would fill this important experimental gap, and would test the prediction of the so-called axial anomaly at the level of the theoretical precision. The experiment will measure the decay width of the neutron pi meson via coherent photoproduction in the Coulomb field of the nucleus, i.e., the Primakoff effect. The experiment has been approved to run at Jefferson Laboratory with high priority. The project involves approximately 14 senior researchers from 12 institutions, seven postdoctoral fellows, and eight graduate students, and represents an excellent educational opportunity.