Nuclear Physics Projects at Jefferson Lab

Drs. Phillip Cole, Dan Dale, and Tony Forrest
Department of Physics
Idaho State University

When compared to our precise knowledge of electricity and magnetism (via quantum electrodynamics), the fundamental nature of matter at the quark and gluon level of subatomic physics is still only partially understood.  This week's colloquium features the efforts of the ISU subatomic physics research group to improve this understanding of the strong force by using photon and electron probes at Jefferson Lab in Newport News, Virginia.

Dr. Dan Dale will describe his experiment to measure the neutral pion lifetime via the Primakoff effect.  This is a very precise test of Quantum Chromo Dynamics, the theory of the strong force.  Dr. Phil Cole will outline a research program using polarized photons to explore the excited states of the nucleon.  Using polarization sheds light on how quarks are bound within the substructure of protons.  This further gives insight into the nature of the strong force.  Dr. Tony Forest will describe his research into the quark contributions to nucleon observables using polarized electron probes and polarized nucleon targets.  A key component to the research program will be the development of an ionization-based detector system for tracking relativistic charged particles in the upgrade to Hall B at Jefferson Lab.  There will be plenty of research opportunities for ISU students.  The physics motivations of the program and the roles available to graduate students
will be the main focus of this talk.