Improved Quantum Interference Imaging of Atomic Nuclei
Physicists at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider have developed a new imaging technique using particle spin to map the distribution of gluons within atomic nuclei. By analyzing the interference patterns of decaying particles in near-miss collisions, researchers can achieve higher resolution than previously possible.
Why it matters
This advancement provides a foundational method for future experiments at the Electron-Ion Collider, offering deeper insights into the fundamental structure of matter.
Kent State University postdoctoral research scientist Ashik Ikbal and Brookhaven Lab physicist Prithwish Tribedy stand in front of the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The two were on a team that tracked the decay "daughters" of J/psi particles created in not-quite-colliding interactions of gold ions at RHIC. Their goal: Establish the foundation for using J/psi particles and their spin to map out the distribution of gluons within the ions.
The article is a technical report on scientific research with no political or social framing.
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