Compton Scattering from the Deuteron above Pion-Production Threshold

TL;DR

This paper reports the first measurement of Compton scattering on the deuteron above the pion-production threshold, aiming to improve neutron polarizability determinations by exploring higher energy interactions.

Contribution

It provides new experimental data on deuteron Compton scattering above the pion threshold, extending previous measurements and potentially refining neutron polarizability estimates.

Findings

First measurement of cross section above pion threshold

Data suggests increased sensitivity to neutron polarizabilities at higher energies

Potential for improved neutron polarizability determination

Abstract

The electromagnetic polarizabilities of the nucleon are fundamental nucleon-structure observables that characterize its response to external electromagnetic fields. The neutron polarizabilities can be accessed from Compton-scattering data on light nuclear targets. Recent measurements of the differential cross section for Compton scattering on the deuteron below the pion-production threshold have decreased the uncertainties in the neutron polarizabilities, yet the proton polarizabilities remain known substantially more accurately. As the sensitivity of the cross section to the polarizabilities increases with incident photon energy, measurements above the pion threshold may offer a way for an improved determination of the neutron polarizabilities. In this article, the first measurement of the cross section for Compton scattering on the deuteron above the pion-production threshold is presented.