Limit on Parity Nonconservation in<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mi>p</mml:mi></mml:math>-Nucleus Scattering at 6 GeV/<i>c</i>

Abstract

We measure a limit on a parity-nonconserving asymmetry in the $p$-Be cross section at 6 GeV/c. The result is $\frac{({\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{+}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{-}})}{({\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{+}+{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{-}})}=(5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}9)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ where ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{+}({\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{-}})$ is approximately the $p$-Be total cross section for positive (negative) beam helicity. Systematic errors are determined to be 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$.