The weak structure of the nucleon from muon capture on 3He

TL;DR

This paper uses microscopic calculations of muon capture on helium-3 to extract nucleon weak form factors, confirming theoretical predictions and providing the tightest constraints on the CVC hypothesis.

Contribution

It presents a novel microscopic calculation that constrains nucleon weak form factors and tests fundamental symmetries with unprecedented precision.

Findings

Induced pseudo-scalar form-factor agrees with chiral perturbation theory

Provides the tightest constraint on the CVC hypothesis

Refines understanding of second-class currents

Abstract

I use a microscopic calculation of the weak capture process 3He(\mu^{-},\nu_\mu)3H, to extract and constrain the weak form factors of the nucleon, particularly the induced pseudo-scalar, and the second-class currents. The induced pseudo-scalar form-factor is found to agree with the prediction of chiral perturbation theory. The constraint found on the conservation of vector current (CVC) hypothesis is the tightest to date.