NUFACT2014, XVIth International Workshop on Neutrino Factories and Future Neutrino Beam Facilities

The MUSE Experiment: Studying the Proton Radius Puzzle with $\mu p$ Elastic Scattering

26 Aug 2014, 11:30

30m

Western Infirmary Lecture Theatre (University of Glasgow)

WG4: Muon Physics and High Intensity applications

Speaker

Katherine MESICK (Rutgers University)

Description

The Proton Radius Puzzle refers to the disagreement between the proton charge radius as determined from muonic hydrogen and the radius determined from atomic hydrogen level transitions and $ep$ elastic scattering form factor data. The discrepancy of $\sim 7\sigma$ is not yet explained, and though numerous resolutions have been proposed there is no generally accepted resolution to the puzzle. The MUon Scattering Experiment (MUSE) Collaboration will simultaneously measure elastic $ep$ and $\mu p$ scattering at the Paul Scherrer Institute, testing the interesting possibility that $ep$ and $\mu p$ scattering cross sections are different. The experiment will also measure scattering with both polarities of $e$ and $\mu$, directly disentangling two-photon exchange effects. We plan to measure in the kinematic region of $Q^2 = 0.002 - 0.07$ GeV$^2$, and determine the relative cross sections to a few tenths of a percent. This will allow the proton radius difference to be extracted to $\sim$0.01 fm, similar to the significance of the current measurements of the discrepancy. A physics overview of the experiment and the current status of the experiment will be presented.

Presentation materials

Slides

KMesick_MUSE_NUFACT2014.pdf