A high precision measurement of the proton elastic form factor ratio
μpGEp/GMp in the range
Q2 = 0.3 - 0.7 GeV2/c2 was performed using recoil
polarimetry in Jefferson Lab Hall A.
In this region, previous data from LEDEX (G. Ron et al.,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 202002, 2007) along with many fits and calculations indicate
substantial deviations of the ratio from unity.
In this new measurement, with 80% polarized electron beam for 24 days, the proposed
statistical uncertainties were achieved (<1\%).
Preliminary results are a few percent lower than expected from previous world data and fits,
indicating a smaller GEp at this region.
Beyond the intrinsic interest in nucleon structure, the improved form
factor measurements also have implications for DVCS,
determinations of the proton Zemach radius and the strangeness
form factors through parity violation experiments.