Strange-quark contributions to parity-violating asymmetries in the forward G0 electron-proton scattering experiment

We have measured parity-violating asymmetries in elastic electron-proton scattering over the range of momentum transfers 0.12≤Q2≤1.0GeV2. These asymmetries, arising from interference of the electromagnetic and neutral weak interactions, are sensitive to strange-quark contributions to the currents of the proton. The measurements were made at Jefferson Laboratory using a toroidal spectrometer to detect the recoiling protons from a liquid hydrogen target. The results indicate nonzero, Q2 dependent, strange-quark contributions and provide new information beyond that obtained in previous experiments. © 2005 The American Physical Society.