CLAS12 and its initial Science Program at the Jefferson Lab Upgrade

TL;DR

The paper describes the CLAS12 detector and initial physics program at Jefferson Lab following the 12 GeV upgrade, focusing on nucleon structure, distribution functions, and hadronization studies.

Contribution

It presents the design, capabilities, and initial scientific objectives of the CLAS12 detector post-upgrade, highlighting new experimental opportunities.

Findings

Construction of the 12 GeV upgrade started in October 2008

Developed a broad physics program for nucleon structure studies

CLAS12's large acceptance enables advanced hadronization research

Abstract

An overview of the CLAS12 detector is presented and the initial physics program after the energy-doubling of the Jefferson Lab electron accelerator. Construction of the 12 GeV upgrade project has started October 2008. A broad program has been developed to map the nucleon's 3-dimensional spin and flavor content through the measurement of deeply exclusive and semi-inclusive processes. Other programs include forward distribution function to large $x_{B} \le 0.85$ and of the quark and gluon polarized distribution functions, as well as nucleon ground state and transition form factors at high $Q^2$. The 12 GeV electron beam and the large acceptance of CLAS12 are also well suited to explore hadronization properties using the nucleus as a laboratory