Thursday, April 3, 2025

4:00pm-5:00pm 

Probing Neutron spin using polarized 3He target at JLab and EIC

Abstract: Understanding the origin of nucleon spin is a central challenge in nuclear physics. A fundamental question is how the total spin of the nucleon arises from the contributions of quark spin, gluon spin, and orbital angular momentum. To separate the contribution of different quark flavors, both proton and neutron spin structure information is required. However, neutron spin measurements remain limited due to the absence of free neutron targets. Polarized ³He serves as an effective neutron target, enabling precision studies of neutron spin structure. A comprehensive program at Jefferson Lab, utilizing the CLAS12 detector and a polarized ³He target, aims to provide high-precision measurements that shed new light on the spin composition of the nucleon. Additionally, I will discuss future opportunities for neutron spin studies using polarized ³He at the upcoming Electron-Ion Collider