We have measured the parity-violating electroweak asymmetry in the elastic scattering of polarized electrons from the proton. The kinematic point (theta_lab = 12.3 degrees and Q^2=0.48 (GeV/c)^2) is chosen to provide sensitivity, at a level that is of theoretical interest, to the strange electric form factor G_E^s. The result, A=-14.5 +- 2.2 ppm, is consistent with the electroweak Standard Model and no additional contributions from strange quarks. In particular, the measurement implies G_E^s + 0.39G_M^s = 0.023 +- 0.034 (stat) +- 0.022 (syst) +- 0.026 (delta G_E^n), where the last uncertainty arises from the estimated uncertainty in the neutron electric form factor.
Longitudinally polarized beam. C=L and C=R means left- and right polarization. The second systematic uncertainty arises from the estimated uncertainty inthe neutron electromagnetic from factor.
The proton elastic form factors GEp(Q2) and GMp(Q2) have been extracted for Q2=1.75 to 8.83 (GeV/c)2 via a Rosenbluth separation to ep elastic cross section measurements in the angular range 13°≤θ≤90°. The Q2 range covered more than doubles that of the existing data. For Q2<4 (GeV/c)2, where the data overlap with previous measurements, the total uncertainties have been reduced to < 14% in GEp and < 1.5% in GMp. Results for GEp(Q2) are consistent with the dipole fit GD(Q2)=(1+Q2/0.71)−2, while those for GMp(Q2)/μpGD(Q2) decrease smoothly from 1.05 to 0.92. Deviations from form factor scaling are observed up to 20%. The ratio Q2F2/F1 is observed to approach a constant value for Q2>3 (GeV/c)2. Comparisons are made to vector meson dominance, dimensional scaling, QCD sum rule, diquark, and constituent quark models, none of which fully characterize all the new data.
Axis error includes +- 1.6/1.6 contribution (Point-to-point systematic error. The quadrature sum of the point-to-point uncertainties in all quantities which defined the cross section).
Axis error includes +- 1.6/1.6 contribution (Point-to-point systematic error. The quadrature sum of the point-to-point uncertainties in all quantities which defined the cross section).
Axis error includes +- 1.6/1.6 contribution (Point-to-point systematic error. The quadrature sum of the point-to-point uncertainties in all quantities which defined the cross section).