Hadron Structure in Electroweak Precision Measurements

• Main Author: Hall, Nathan L. (Author)
• Corporate Author: SpringerLink (Online service)
• Format: Electronic eBook
• Language: English
• Published: Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint: Springer, 2016.
• Series: Springer Theses, Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research,
• Subjects: Physics.; Elementary particles (Physics).; Quantum field theory.; Elementary Particles, Quantum Field Theory.; Theoretical, Mathematical and Computational Physics.

 This thesis examines the γZ box contribution to the weak charge of the proton. Here, by combining recent parity-violating electron-deuteron scattering data with our current understanding of parton distribution functions, the author shows that one can limit this model dependence. The resulting construction is a robust model of the γγ and γZ structure functions that can also be used to study a variety of low-energy phenomena. Two such cases are discussed in this work, namely, the nucleon’s electromagnetic polarizabilities and quark-hadron duality.          By using phenomenological information to constrain the input structure functions, this important but previously poorly understood radiative correction is determined at the kinematics of the parity-violating experiment, QWEAK, to a degree of precision more than twice that of the previous best estimate.   A detailed investigation into available parametrizations of the electromagnetic and interference cross-sections indicates that earlier analyses suffered from the inability to correctly quantify their model dependence. 

 Introduction -- The Standard Model and beyond -- Precision tests of the SM -- Structure functions -- Adelaide-Jefferson Lab-Manitoba model -- The γZ box corrections -- Electric and magnetic polarizabilities of the proton -- Quark-hadron duality -- Summary and conclusion.