Unpolarized nucleon structure studies utilizing polarized electromagnetic probes

TL;DR

This paper reviews the advancements in nucleon structure studies achieved through polarized electromagnetic probes, highlighting how new polarization measurement tools revolutionized the field since the 1980s.

Contribution

It provides an overview of the significant progress in nucleon form factor measurements enabled by polarized beams and detectors over the past decade.

Findings

Improved data quality from polarization observables

Enhanced understanding of nucleon structure

Revolutionized experimental techniques in the field

Abstract

By the mid-1980s, measurements of the nucleon form factors had reached a stage where only slow, incremental progress was possible using unpolarized electron scattering. The development of high quality polarized beams, polarized targets, and recoil polarimeters led to a renaissance in the experimental program. I provide an overview of the changes in the field in the last ten years, which were driven by the dramatically improved data made possible by a new family of tools to measure polarization observables.