An effective-field-theory analysis of low-energy parity-violation in nucleon-nucleon scattering

TL;DR

This paper employs effective field theory to analyze low-energy parity-violating nucleon-nucleon scattering, establishing relationships between observable asymmetries and theoretical interaction coefficients.

Contribution

It formulates a minimal Lagrangian for short-range parity-violating NN interactions and derives leading-order relationships with measurable asymmetries.

Findings

Derived leading-order relationships between asymmetries and Lagrangian coefficients

Identified the dominant partial-wave transitions at low energies

Discussed sub-leading correction sizes and additional observables needed

Abstract

We analyze parity-violating nucleon-nucleon scattering at energies E<m_\pi^2/M using the effective field theory appropriate for this regime. The minimal Lagrangian for short-range parity-violating NN interactions is written in an operator basis that encodes the five partial-wave transitions that dominate at these energies. We calculate the leading-order relationships between parity-violating NN asymmetries and the coefficients in the Lagrangian and also discuss the size of sub-leading corrections. We conclude with a discussion of further observables needed to completely determine the leading-order Lagrangian.