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There is an unsettled problem in choosing the correct expressions for the local momentum density and angular momentum density of electromagnetic fields (or indeed, of any non-scalar field). If one only examines plane waves, the problem is moot, as the known possible expressions all give the same result. The momentum and angular momentum density expressions are generally obtained from the energy-momentum tensor, in turn obtained from a Lagrangian. The electrodynamic expressions obtained by the canonical procedure are not the same as the symmetric Belinfante reworking. For the interaction of matter with structured light, for example, twisted photons, this is important; there are drastically different predictions for forces and angular momenta induced on small test objects. We show situations where the two predictions can be checked, with numerical estimates of the size of the effects., Proceedings version of talk by CEC at the conference on Optical Trapping and Optical Manipulation, SPIE Optics and Photonics, San Diego, 21-25 August 2022. 6 pages, 5 figures

We address a problem of proper definition of momentum density for spatially structured electromagnetic fields. We show that the expressions for the momentum and angular momentum obtained locally are not the same when one uses the canonical energy-momentum tensor instead of the symmetric Belinfante energy-momentum tensor in electrodynamics. This has important consequences for interaction of matter with structured light, for example, twisted photons; and would give drastically different results for forces and angular momenta induced on small test objects. We show, with numerical estimates of the size of the effects, situations where the canonical and symmetrized forms induce very different torques or (superkick) recoil momenta on small objects or atomic rotors, over a broad range of circumstances., 5 pages, 4 figures

A future gamma factory at CERN or accelerator-based gamma sources elsewhere can include the possibility of energetic twisted photons, which are photons with a structured wave front that can allow a pre-defined large angular momentum along the beam direction. Twisted photons are potentially a new tool in hadronic physics, and we consider here one possibility, namely the photoproduction of $\Delta$(1232) baryons using twisted photons. We show that particular polarization amplitudes isolate the smaller partial wave amplitudes and they are measurable without interference from the terms that are otherwise dominant., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures

We propose a new way to experimentally determine the subleading low-energy structure constant of doubly virtual Compton scattering on a proton. Such empirical determination will reduce the theoretical model error in estimates of the hadronic correction to the muonic hydrogen Lamb shift. We demonstrate that the dilepton forward-backward asymmetry in the e−p→e−pe−e+ process, which can be accessed at electron scattering facilities, yields a large sensitivity to this so far unknown low-energy constant.

We consider physical processes caused by the twisted photons for a wide range of energy scales, from optical (eV) to nuclear (MeV) to high-energy gamma-rays (TeV). We demonstrate that in order to satisfy angular momentum conservation, absorption of a twisted photon leads to a transverse recoil of the final particle or a system of particles leading to increased threshold energy required for the reaction to proceed. Modification of the threshold energy is predicted for (a) Photo-absorption on colds trapped ions of $^{40}$Ca, along with emerging new transverse-motion sidebands, (b) photo-disintegration of deuterium and (c) photo-production of electron-positron pairs in astrophysics environment., 9 pages, 8 figures

When polarized light is absorbed by an atom, the excited atomic system carries information about the initial polarization of light. For the light that carries an orbital angular momentum, or the twisted light, the polarization states are described by eight independent parameters, as opposed to three Stokes parameters for plane waves. We use a parameterization of the spin-density matrix of the twisted light in terms of vector and tensor polarization, in analogy with massive spin-1 particles, and derive formulae that define atom's response to specific polarization components of the twisted light. It is shown that for dipole ($S\to P$) atomic transitions, the atom's polarization is in one-to-one correspondence with polarization of the incident light; this relation is violated, however, for the transitions of higher multipolarity ($S\to D$, $S\to F$, etc.) We pay special attention to contributions of the longitudinal electric field into the matrix elements of atomic transitions., Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures; one figure added. Version accepted in J. Opt

Photons carrying a well-defined orbital angular momentum have been proven to modify spectroscopic selection rules in atomic matter. Excitation profiles of electric quadrupole transitions have been measured with single trapped $^{40}$Ca$^+$ ions for varying polarizations. We further develop the photo-absorption formalism to study the case of arbitrary alignment of the beam's optical axis with respect to the ion's quantization axis and mixed multipolarity. Thus, predictions for M1-dominated $^{40}Ar^{13+}$, E3-driven $^{171}Yb^+$ and $^{172}Yb^+$, and B-like $^{20}Ne^{5+}$ are presented. The latter case displays novel effects, coming from the presence of a strong photon -- magnetic dipole coupling., 10 pages, 5 figures, 1 table

We investigate the sensitivity of the cross section for lepton pair production off a deuteron target, $\gamma d \to l^+ l^- d$, to the deuteron charge radius. We show that for small momentum transfers the Bethe-Heitler process dominates, and that it is sensitive to the charge radius such that a cross section ratio measurement of about $0.1 \%$ relative accuracy could give a deuteron charge radius more accurate that the current electron scattering value and sufficiently accurate to distinguish between the electronic and muonic atomic values., Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures

We analyze atomic photoexcitation into the discrete states by twisted photons, or photons carrying extra orbital angular momentum along their direction of propagation. From the angular momentum and parity considerations, we are able to relate twisted-photon photoexcitation amplitudes to their plane-wave analogues, independently of the details of the atomic wave functions. We analyzed the photo-absorption cross sections of mixed-multipolarity $E2-M1$ transitions in ionized atoms and found fundamental differences coming from the photon topology. Our theoretical analysis demonstrates that it is possible to extract the relative transition rates of different multipolar contributions by measuring the photo-excitation rate as a function of the atom's position (or the impact parameter) with respect to the optical vortex center. The proposed technique for separation of multipoles can be implemented if the target's atom position is resolved with sub-wavelength accuracy, for example, with Paul traps. Numerical examples are presented for Boron-like highly-charged ions (HCI)., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures

We analyze the multipole excitation of atoms with twisted light, i.e., by a vortex light field that carries orbital angular momentum. A single trapped $^{40}$Ca$^+$ ion serves as a localized and positioned probe of the exciting field. We drive the $S_{1/2} \to D_{5/2}$ transition and observe the relative strengths of different transitions, depending on the ion's transversal position with respect to the center of the vortex light field. On the other hand, transition amplitudes are calculated for a twisted light field in form of a Bessel beam, a Bessel-Gauss and a Gauss-Laguerre mode. Analyzing experimental obtained transition amplitudes we find agreement with the theoretical predictions at a level of better than 3\%. Finally, we propose measurement schemes with two-ion crystals to enhance the sensing accuracy of vortex modes in future experiments., Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures

Twisted photons, or photons with additional angular momentum along their propagation direction were predicted to defy conventional quantum selection rules for photo-absorption by atoms [1], with the relative strengths of quantum transitions that are strongly dependent on atom’s position with respect to the optical vortex center.

We calculate the single spin asymmetry for the $e p \to e \Delta(1232)$ process, for an electron beam polarized normal to the scattering plane. Such single spin asymmetries vanish in the one-photon exchange approximation, and are directly proportional to the absorptive part of a two-photon exchange amplitude. As the intermediate state in such two-photon exchange process is on its mass shell, the asymmetry allows one to access for the first time the on-shell $\Delta \to \Delta$ as well as $N^\ast \to \Delta$ electromagnetic transitions. We present the general formalism to describe the $e p \to e \Delta$ beam normal spin asymmetry, and provide a numerical estimate of its value using the nucleon, $\Delta(1232)$, $S_{11}(1535)$, and $D_{13}(1520)$ intermediate states. We compare our results with the first data from the Qweak@JLab experiment and give predictions for the A4@MAMI experiment.

We calculate radiative corrections to the quark quasidistribution in lattice perturbation theory at one loop to leading orders in the lattice spacing. We also consider one-loop corrections in continuum Euclidean space. We find the infrared behavior of the corrections in Euclidean and Minkowski space are different. We explore features of momentum loop integrals and demonstrate why loop corrections from the lattice perturbation theory and Euclidean continuum do not correspond with their Minkowski brethren, and comment on a recent suggestion for transcending the differences in the results. Further, we examine the role of the lattice spacing $a$ and of the $r$ parameter in the Wilson action in these radiative corrections., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, v2 has added references, v3 has discussion of a recent paper

We calculate the two-photon exchange correction to the Lamb shift in muonic $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ ions within the dispersion relations framework. Part of the effort entailed making analytic fits to the electron-$^{3}\mathrm{He}$ quasielastic scattering data set, for purposes of doing the dispersion integrals. Our result is that the energy of the $2S$ state is shifted downwards by two-photon exchange effects by 15.14(49) meV, in good accord with the result obtained from a potential model and effective field theory calculation.

We calculate the circular dichroism (CD) for absorption of the twisted photons, or optical vortices, by atoms, caused by atomic excitation into discrete energy levels. The effects of photon spin on the rates and cross sections of atomic photo-excitation are considered. It is demonstrated that although for electric dipole transitions the atomic excitation rates depend on the relative orientation of photon spin and orbital angular momentum (OAM), the resulting CD is zero. However, CD is nonzero for atomic transitions of higher multipolarity, peaking in the optical vortex center, resulting in preferred absorption of the photons with their spins aligned with OAM. The effects remain large in a paraxial limit, where analytic expressions are provided. The predicted spin asymmetries are equivalent to OAM dichroism for the fixed photon spin., Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures; typos fixed

We calculate transition amplitudes and cross sections for excitation of hydrogen-like atoms by the twisted photon states, or photon states with more than one unit of angular momentum projection along the direction of propagation. If the target atom is located at distances of the order of atomic size near the vortex center, the transitions rates into $l_f>1$ states become comparable with the rates for standard electric dipole transitions. It is shown that when the transition rates are normalized to the local photon flux, the resulting cross sections for $l_f>1$ are singular near the optical vortex center, i.e., high-multipole excitations take place in the region of zero field intensity near phase singularity. Relation to the "quantum core" concept introduced by Berry and Dennis is discussed.

We determine the charge radius of the proton by analyzing the published low momentum transfer electron-proton scattering data from Mainz. We note that polynomial expansions of the form factor converge for momentum transfers squared below $4{m}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{2}$, where ${m}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ is the pion mass. Expansions with enough terms to fit the data, but few enough not to overfit, yield proton radii smaller than the CODATA or Mainz values and in accord with the muonic atom results. We also comment on analyses using a wider range of data, and overall obtain a proton radius ${R}_{E}=0.840(16$) fm.

Using the recent empirical information on the deuteron electromagnetic form factors we map out the transverse charge density in the deuteron as viewed from a light front moving towards the deuteron. The charge densities for a transversely polarized deuteron are characterized by monopole, dipole and quadrupole patterns., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures

We study beam-transverse and normal single-spin asymmetry for electron-proton inelastic scattering in the resonance region for the case where a pion is observed in the final state. There is no beam single-spin asymmetry if the observed particle has single-photon exchange as its only interaction, but this is naturally circumvented when one observes a strongly interacting final state particle. The asymmetries are not large as there is an electron mass divided by momentum transfer suppression. We present results for the cases where the final electron and a pion are both observed, with asymmetries of order tens of ppm, and where only a final pion is observed, with asymmetries of order one ppm., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures

Two-photon exchange contributions to elastic electron-scattering are reviewed. The apparent discrepancy in the extraction of elastic nucleon form factors between unpolarized Rosenbluth and polarization transfer experiments is discussed, as well as the understanding of this puzzle in terms of two-photon exchange corrections. Calculations of such corrections both within partonic and hadronic frameworks are reviewed. In view of recent spin-dependent electron scattering data, the relation of the two-photon exchange process to the hyperfine splitting in hydrogen is critically examined. The imaginary part of the two-photon exchange amplitude as can be accessed from the beam normal spin asymmetry in elastic electron-nucleon scattering is reviewed. Further extensions and open issues in this field are outlined., Review prepared for Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science; 41 pages, 21 figures

Precise proton and neutron form factor measurements at Jefferson Lab, using spin observables, have recently made a significant contribution to the unraveling of the internal structure of the nucleon. Accurate experimental measurements of the nucleon form factors are a test-bed for understanding how the nucleon’s static properties and dynamical behavior emerge from QCD, the theory of the strong interactions between quarks. There has been enormous theoretical progress, since the publication of the Jefferson Lab proton form factor ratio data, aiming at reevaluating the picture of the nucleon. We will review the experimental and theoretical developments in this field and discuss the outlook for the future.

The proton size, specifically its charge radius, was thought known to about 1% accuracy. Now a new method probing the proton with muons instead of electrons finds a radius about 4% smaller, and to boot gives an uncertainty limit of about 0.1%. We review the different measurements, some of the calculations that underlie them, some of the suggestions that have been made to resolve the conflict, and give a brief overview new related experimental initiatives. At present, however, the resolution to the problem remains unknown., Accepted invited review for Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics. 28 pages, 15 figures

Even at moderate energy machines, there is a regime where hard pion electroproduction proceeds by a perturbatively calculable process. The process, they claim, is not the leading twist fragmentation one but rather a higher twist process that produces kinematically isolated pions. Semiexclusive data may teach us more about parton distribution functions of the target and the pion distribution amplitude. In addition, there is a connection to generalized parton distribution calculations of exclusive processes in that the perturbative kernel is the same. The subject of this report is semiexclusive photoproduction of hard pions, and the semiexclusive deep inelastic scattering version of the same, e + p {yields} e + {pi} + X, which we can also write as p(e,e{prime}{prime})X. The authors are interested in pions with large transverse momentum (that is what ''hard'' means), and particularly in pions that are kinematically isolated, rather than pions that are part of a jet. And further, they shall hope to isolate processes that can be calculated perturbatively using Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD).

Quantum Chromodynamics, the microscopic theory of strong interactions, has not yet been applied to the calculation of nuclear wave functions. However, it certainly provokes a number of specific questions and suggests the existence of novel phenomena in nuclear physics which are not part of the the traditional framework of the meson-nucleon description of nuclei. Many of these phenomena are related to high nuclear densities and the role of color in nucleonic interactions. Quantum fluctuations in the spatial separation between nucleons may lead to local high density configurations of cold nuclear matter in nuclei, up to four times larger than typical nuclear densities. We argue here that experiments utilizing the higher energies available upon completion of the Jefferson Laboratory energy upgrade will be able to probe the quark-gluon structure of such high density configurations and therefore elucidate the fundamental nature of nuclear matter. We review three key experimental programs: quasi-elastic electro-disintegration of light nuclei, deep inelastic scattering from nuclei at $x>1$, and the measurement of tagged structure functions. These interrelated programs are all aimed at the exploration of the quark structure of high density nuclear configurations. The study of the QCD dynamics of elementary hard processes is another important research direction and nuclei provide a unique avenue to explore these dynamics. We argue that the use of nuclear targets and large values of momentum transfer at would allow us to determine whether the physics of the nucleon form factors is dominated by spatially small configurations of three quarks., 52 pages IOP style LaTex file and 20 eps figures

The proton radius puzzle, the discrepancy between the proton radius measured in muonic hydrogen and electronic hydrogen, has yet to be resolved. There are suggestions that beyond the standard model (BSM) physics could resolve both this puzzle and the muon anomalous magnetic moment discrepancy. Karshenboim et al. point out that simple, nonrenormalizable, models in this direction involving new vector bosons have serious problems when confronting high energy data. The prime example is radiative corrections to W to mu nu decay which exceed experimental bounds. We show how embedding the model in a larger and arguably renormalizable theory restores gauge invariance of the vector particle interactions and controls the high energy behavior of decay and scattering amplitudes. Thus BSM explanations of the proton radius puzzle can still be viable., Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures; v2 added some statements in the conclusion section, and repaired some of the figures, v3 made minor changes in the Figures

A possible explanation for the discrepancy between electronic and muonic hydrogen measurements of the proton charge radius are new, lepton-universality violating interactions. Several new couplings and particles have been suggested that account for this discrepancy. At present, these explanations are poorly constrained. Experiments such as the upcoming kaon decay experiment at JPARC may constrain or eliminate some explanations by sensitivity to the decay channel $K^+ \rightarrow \mu^+ +\nu + e^- + e^+$. We calculate the predicted contributions of the various explanations to this channel. The predicted signals, if present, should be large enough to be resolved in the experiment.

Jurco, Moller, Schraml, Schupp, and Wess have shown how to construct noncommutative SU(N) gauge theories from a consistency relation. Within this framework, we present the Feynman rules for noncommutative QCD and compute explicitly the most dangerous Lorentz-violating operator generated through radiative corrections. We find that interesting effects appear at the one-loop level, in contrast to conventional noncommutative U(N) gauge theories, leading to a stringent bound. Our results are consistent with others appearing recently in the literature that suggest collider limits are not competitive with low-energy tests of Lorentz violation for bounding the scale of spacetime noncommutativity., 13 pages RevTeX, 2 eps figures, comment on gauge invariance and one reference added

We consider the strong decays of the lowest-lying radially excited baryons, in SU(6) language the states comprising the first excited 56-plet. Assuming a single-quark decay approximation, and negligible configuration mixing, we make model-independent predictions for the partial decay widths to final states with a single meson. Masses of unobserved states are predicted using results from large-N_c QCD, and the momentum dependence of the one-body decay amplitude is determined phenomenologically by fitting to observed decays, so that the baryon spatial wave functions are not assumed. We point out that comparison of these predictions to experiment may shed light on whether the Roper resonance can be consistently interpreted as a three-quark state., 11 pages RevTeX, 1 eps figure. One minor revision

Motivated by analogous applications to sonoluminescence, neutron stars mergers are examined in the context of Schwinger's dynamical Casimir effect. When the dielectric properties of the QED vacuum are altered through the introduction of dense matter, energy shifts in the zero-point fluctuations can appear as photon bursts at gamma-ray frequencies. The amount of radiation depends upon the properties and amount of matter in motion and the suddenness of the transition. It is shown that the dynamical Casimir effect can convert sufficient energy of neutron star mergers into gamma rays. Using information extracted from simulations of matter flow in neutron star mergers by Ruffert and Janka, we estimate that the total Casimir energy released can exceed 10 53 ergs in gamma-ray frequencies. The Casimir energy approach is capable of explaining the most energetic gamma-ray bursts.

Recently we considered the electromagnetic decays of the orbitally-excited SU(6) 70-plet baryons in large-N_c QCD, fitting to the helicity amplitudes measured in photoproduction experiments. Using the results of this analysis, we predict the helicity amplitudes for the decays N^* \to \Delta\gamma and \Delta^* \to \Delta\gamma. These decays can be studied at a number of new experimental facilities, and thus provide another nontrivial test of the lowest order large-N_c predictions.

We present the first phenomenological study of the masses of orbitally excited baryons in large N_c QCD. Restricting here to the nonstrange sector of the L=1 baryons, the 1/N_c expansion is used to order and select a basis of effective operators that spans the nine observables (seven masses and two mixing angles). Fits are performed using subsets of the complete set of nine operators, including corrections up to O(1/N_c) where leading order is N_c^1. This study shows that the 1/N_c expansion provides an excellent framework for analyzing the mass spectrum, and uncovers a new hierarchy of operator contributions., 15 pages, revtex

We show that constraints from perturbative QCD (PQCD) calculations play a role in the nucleon to {Delta} (1232) electromagnetic transition even at moderate momentum transfer scales. The PQCD constraints, tied to real photoproduction data and unseparated resonance response functions, lead to explicit forms for the helicity amplitudes wherein the E2/M1 ratio remains small at moderately large momentum transfer. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society }

▪ Abstract The length scales for QCD and for nuclear physics are about the same, both about 1 fermi, and this directly motivates a search for a QCD explanation of nuclear phenomena, beginning with the deuteron. We first review the theoretical tools and results relevant to nuclear QCD, and then discuss data for several reactions. In particular, the remarkable data on deuteron photodisintegration agree with the naive perturbative QCD predictions for their scaling behavior and disagree with predictions from traditional approaches. This may be the first distinctive signature wherein considering the quark substructure in a nucleus is crucial in explaining some phenomenon.

In a recent series of papers, Schwinger discussed a process that he called the Dynamical Casimir Effect. The key essence of this effect is the change in zero-point energy associated with any change in a dielectric medium. (In particular, if the change in the dielectric medium is taken to be the growth or collapse of a bubble, this effect may have relevance to sonoluminescence.) The kernel of Schwinger's result is that the change in Casimir energy is proportional to the change in volume of the dielectric, plus finite-volume corrections. Other papers have called into question this result, claiming that the volume term should actually be discarded, and that the dominant term remaining is proportional to the surface area of the dielectric. In this communication, which is an expansion of an earlier letter on the same topic, we present a careful and critical review of the relevant analyses. We find that the Casimir energy, defined as the change in zero-point energy due to a change in the medium, has at leading order a bulk volume dependence. This is in full agreement with Schwinger's result, once the correct physical question is asked. We have nothing new to say about sonoluminescence itself., 20 pages in double-column format; uses ReV_TeX 3.0; 8 encapsulated postscript figures; uses epsf.sty

Polarization asymmetries in photoproduction of high transverse momentum mesons are a flavor sensitive way to measure the polarized quark distributions. We calculate the expected asymmetries in several models, and find that the asymmetries are significant and also significantly different from model to model. Suitable data may come as a by-product of deep inelastic experiments to measure $g_1$ or from dedicated experiments., Comment: RevTeX, 5 pages, 5 postscript figures; minor corrections made, references added

Schwinger's Dynamical Casimir Effect is one of several candidate explanations for sonoluminescence. Recently, several papers have claimed that Schwinger's estimate of the Casimir energy involved is grossly inaccurate. In this letter, we show that these calculations omit the crucial volume term. When the missing term is correctly included one finds full agreement with Schwinger's result for the Dynamical Casimir Effect. We have nothing new to say about sonoluminescence itself except to affirm that the Casimir effect is energetically adequate as a candidate explanation., 6 pages. Uses LaTeX with RevTeX package in two-column format

We show that the twisted photon states, or photon states with large ($> \hbar$) angular momentum projection ($m_\gamma$) in the direction of motion, can photoexcite atomic levels for a hydrogen-like atom that are novel and distinct and are not restricted by $m_\gamma$, when the symmetry axis of the twisted-photon beam does not coincide with the center of the atomic target. Selection rules are given and interesting implications and observables for the above process are pointed out., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures; Version to appear in Physical Review A. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1304.0115

The $\gamma Z$-box diagram for parity violating elastic $e$-$p$ scattering has recently undergone a thorough analysis by several research groups. Though all now agree on the analytic form of the diagram, the numerical results differ due to the treatment of the structure functions, $F_{1,2,3}^{\gamma Z}(x,Q^2)$. Currently, $F_{1,2,3}^{\gamma Z}(x,Q^2)$ at low $Q^2$ and $W^2$ must be approximated through the modification of existing fits to electromagnetic structure function data. We motivate and describe the modification used to obtain $F_{1,2}^{\gamma Z}(x,Q^2)$ in our previous work. We also describe an alternative modification and compare the result to our original calculation. Finally, we present a new modification procedure to acquire $F_3^{\gamma Z}(x,Q^2)$ in the resonance region and calculate the axial contribution to the $\gamma Z$-box diagram. Details of these modifications will illuminate where discrepancies between the groups arise and where future improvements can be made., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures. Version 2 contains a more thorough analysis of the corrective prefactors

We consider the two-photon exchange contribution to the $2P-2S$ Lamb shift in muonic deuterium in the framework of forward dispersion relations. The dispersion integrals are evaluated using experimental data on elastic deuteron form factors and inelastic electron-deuteron scattering, both in the quasielastic and hadronic range. The subtraction constant that is required to ensure convergence of the dispersion relation for the forward Compton amplitude $T_1(\nu,Q^2)$ is related to the deuteron magnetic polarizability $\beta(Q^2)$. Based on phenomenological information, we obtain for the Lamb shift $\Delta E_{2P-2S}=2.01\pm0.74$ meV. The main source of the uncertainty of the dispersion analysis is due to lack of quasielastic data at low energies and forward angles. We show that a targeted measurement of the deuteron electrodesintegration in the kinematics of upcoming experiments A1 and MESA at Mainz can help quenching this uncertainty significantly., Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, 4 tables; acknowledgements and references updated; accepted to publication in Phys. Rev. A

We consider the two-photon exchange contribution to the 2P-2S Lamb shift in muonic deuterium in the framework of forward dispersion relations. The dispersion integrals are evaluated with minimal model dependence using experimental data on elastic deuteron form factors and inelastic electron-deuteron scattering, both in the quasielastic and hadronic range. The subtraction constant that is required to ensure convergence of the dispersion relation for the forward Compton amplitude T1 (ν,Q2) is related to the deuteron magnetic polarizability β(Q2) and represents the main source of uncertainty in our analysis. We obtain for the Lamb shift ΔE2P-2S = 1.620±0.190 meV and discuss ways to further reduce this uncertainty.

We comment on nucleon measurements at the precision frontier. As examples of what can be learned, we concentrate on three topics, which are parity violating scattering experiments, the proton radius puzzle, and the symbiosis between nuclear and atomic physics.

Background: The recent disagreement between the proton charge radius extracted from Lamb shift measurements of muonic and electronic hydrogen invites speculation that new physics may be to blame. Several proposals have been made for new particles that account for both the Lamb shift and the muon anomalous moment discrepancies. Purpose: We explore the possibility that new particles' couplings to the muon can be fine-tuned to account for all experimental constraints. Method: We consider two fine-tuned models, the first involving new particles with scalar and pseudoscalar couplings, and the second involving new particles with vector and axial couplings. The couplings are constrained by the Lamb shift and muon magnetic moments measurements while mass constraints are obtained by kaon decay rate data. Results: For the scalar-pseudoscalar model, masses between 100 to 200 MeV are not allowed. For the vector model, masses below about 200 MeV are not allowed. The strength of the couplings for both models approach that of electrodynamics for particle masses of about 2 GeV. Conclusions: New physics with fine tuned couplings may be entertained as a possible explanation for the Lamb shift discrepancy., 6 pages, 6 figures, v2 contains revised comment on competing model of Lamb Shift discrepancy

We update the determination of the isovector nucleon electromagnetic self-energy, valid to leading order in QED. A technical oversight in the literature concerning the elastic contribution to Cottingham’s formula is corrected and modern knowledge of the structure functions is used to precisely

We update the determination of the isovector nucleon electromagnetic self-energy, valid to leading order in QED. A technical oversight in the literature concerning the elastic contribution to Cottingham's formula is corrected, and modern knowledge of the structure functions is used to precisely determine the inelastic contribution. We find δM(p-n)(γ) = 1.30(03)(47) MeV. The largest uncertainty arises from a subtraction term required in the dispersive analysis, which can be related to the isovector magnetic polarizability. With plausible model assumptions, we can combine our calculation with additional input from lattice QCD to constrain this polarizability as: β(p-n) = -0.87(85)×10(-4) fm3.