RUI: Norfolk State University's Nuclear and Particle Physics Research Participation at Jefferson Lab

Norfolk State University, Norfolk VA

Investigators

Abstract

This RUI program focuses on the development of a new detector facility, the Forward Electron Tagger (FET), in Hall B at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The main thrust of the research, using the FET, involves studies of the structure of mesons (meson spectroscopy) and the electromagnetic polarizabilities of charged pions. Our goal is a better understanding of the behavior of QCD (specifically, confinement), investigating the properties of gluons and simple arrangements of quarks (mesons). The FET, in conjunction with the large acceptance spectrometer (CLAS) in Hall B, will allow the study of "photoproduction" using "almost real" virtual photons via electron scattering at very small forward angles. The proposed work will enhance the existing research program of the Nuclear and Particle Physics group at Norfolk State University and will provide an excellent opportunity for undergraduate student involvement at the forefront of research in nuclear and particle physics.