CREX: Precision Measurement of the Neutral Weak Form Factor in Elastic Electron-48Ca Scattering

A measurement of the neutron skin of the modestly sized, neutron rich 48Ca nucleus can provide an important benchmark for nuclear theory. The RMS radius of the neutron distribution in the nucleus is measured via the parity violating asymmetry in longitudinally polarized elastic electron-nucleus scattering. While the electroweak nature of this parity violating interaction lends itself to cleanly interpretable results it also presents considerable experimental challenges. The CREX collaboration successfully completed data collection in 2020 at Jefferson Lab employing the CEBAF accelerator. Precise measurement of the neutron skin of 48Ca provides unique experimental input to help bridge ab-initio theoretical approaches and the nuclear density functional theory. Analysis of the experimental result and our understanding of its impact regarding nuclear structure will be presented.