We have measured the neutron spin asymmetry $A_1^n$ with high precision at three kinematics in the deep inelastic region at $x=0.33$, 0.47 and 0.60, and $Q^2=2.7$, 3.5 and 4.8 (GeV/c)$^2$, respectively. Our results unambiguously show, for the first time, that $A_1^n$ crosses zero around $x=0.47$ and becomes significantly positive at $x=0.60$. Combined with the world proton data, polarized quark distributions were extracted. Our results, in general, agree with relativistic constituent quark models and with perturbative quantum chromodynamics (pQCD) analyses based on the earlier data. However they deviate from pQCD predictions based on hadron helicity conservation.
Measured values of A1 and G1/F1.
Results are reported from the HERMES experiment at HERA on a measurement of the neutron spin structure function $g_1~n(x,Q~2)$ in deep inelastic scattering using 27.5 GeV longitudinally polarized positrons incident on a polarized $~3$He internal gas target. The data cover the kinematic range $0.023<x<0.6$ and $1 (GeV/c)~2 < Q~2 <15 (GeV/c)~2$. The integral $\int_{0.023}~{0.6} g_1~n(x) dx$ evaluated at a fixed $Q~2$ of $2.5 (GeV/c)~2$ is $-0.034\pm 0.013(stat.)\pm 0.005(syst.)$. Assuming Regge behavior at low $x$, the first moment $\Gamma_1~n=\int_0~1 g_1~n(x) dx$ is $-0.037\pm 0.013(stat.)\pm 0.005(syst.)\pm 0.006(extrapol.)$.
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Data extrapolated to full x region. Second systematic error is the error on this extrapolation.
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