Speaker
Description
The study of the mechanical properties of the proton has been made possible through first measurement of the protons gravitational form factors (GFFs). This has been made possible due to remarkable progress over the past two decades driven by advances in the development of a theoretical framework based on the generalized parton distributions and the development of experimental techniques making use of large acceptance detectors operating at unprecedented high luminosities. These GFFs provide unique insights into the spatial distributions and mechanical properties of the proton, for both its quark content and its gluon content. There are 3 GFF for the quark part and 3 GFF for the gluon part, covering their respective mass and angular momentum distribution as well as the internal distribution of pressure and shear forces. The GFFs therefore offer a much deeper understanding of the proton’s internal dynamics much beyond the measurement of the traditional charge and magnetic form factors.
This talk will review key theoretical and experimental developments, with a focus on ongoing and future studies enabled by the 12 GeV upgrade at Jefferson Lab. on its mechanical structure.
Looking ahead, planned upgrades at Jefferson Lab, along with the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), promise further breakthroughs. Enhanced luminosity and detector capabilities will enable more precise extractions of the GFFs, advancing our understanding of the QCD dynamics that shape nucleon structure.
