Neutron Detector Poised to Unlock Nucleon Spin Mysteries

A new central neutron detector at the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility has successfully detected neutrons in deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) reactions, a breakthrough that was previously unattainable. This advancement, achieved with the aid of machine learning tools to filter out proton contamination, allows for a deeper understanding of nucleon structure, particularly the distribution of quarks and gluons, and provides insights into the spin structure of nucleons. The findings are published in Physical Review Letters.