Analysis of parity violation in neutron resonances

The analysis used to determine the rms parity violating matrix element M from the longitudinal asymmetries measured by the TRIPLE Collaboration is described. The likelihood method is used to analyze the limited number of experimental data points available for each target nuclide. Much spectroscopic information is required to determine M, including resonance parameters (spins, neutron widths, resonance energies) of the s- and p-wave resonances which mix to cause the parity violation, and (for targets with I≠0) p-wave neutron partial decay amplitudes. We have developed statistical techniques to determine M in situations where incomplete spectroscopic information is available. Methods are described that can be applied when different amounts of partial spectroscopic information are available. The use of the methods is illustrated by examples. © 1996 The American Physical Society.