Experimental Test of Time-Reversal Invariance in Strong Interactions

Abstract

A comparison of the polarization (P) and the asymmetry (A) in the scattering of protons by nuclei can be used as a lest of invariance under Wigner time reversal in the nuclear interaction. P and A were independently measured in p-p scattering at 210 Mev and 3O deg c.m. A liquid hydrogen target of thickness 0.8 g/cm/sup 2/ was used, and carbon was employed both as a polarizer in the A measurement and as an analyzer in the P measurement. Results yield values of A = 0.305 plus or minus 0.005 and P = 0.279 plus or minus 0.017. (W.D.M.)