Towards the First Observation of 3N Short-Range Correlations

The existence of two-nucleon short-range correlations (2N SRCs) has been well established by a series of experiments at SLAC and Jefferson Lab. The inclusive measurements showed a universal behavior in A/D cross section ratios of quasielastic scattering at x>1 and moderate Q² yielding a constant value. In these kinematics mean field contributions fall off rapidly and 2N SRC contributions dominate. In even higher x values (x>2), it was argued that contributions from 3N SRCs might dominate. Existing experimental searches for 3N SRCs have yet to provide unambigious and significant evidence for them. A recent 12 GeV Jefferson Lab experiment, E12-06-105 measured the quasi-elastic scattering off various nuclei in the kinematic region that is sensitive to the 3N SRCs. This talk will focus on an overview of the 3N SRCs, previous searches, and the preliminary results from E12-06-105 experiment.