Dr. Maria Zurek
Argonne National Laboratory
Journey to Unveil Proton Spin Structure: From Current Insights to the EIC Frontier
Location: 4138 Physics Research Building
Faculty Host: Daniel Brandenburg
Abstract: Protons and neutrons, the fundamental constituents of visible matter, conceal intricate worlds of
quarks and gluons, weaving the subatomic tapestry of our universe. Modern nuclear physics
grapples with a fundamental question: how do the observed properties of nucleons emerge from
their internal structure?
In this colloquium, we will delve into the question of how the proton spin originates from its
quark and gluon constituents. I will discuss our experimental approaches, showcasing how we
study the proton's spin structure through both lepton scattering processes and purely hadronic
probes. Sharing our recent findings from the STAR and JLab experiments on gluon and quark
contributions to the proton spin, as well as on its 3D spin structure, I will illustrate the current
state of the field. Moreover, I will present the ambitious quest of the future Electron-Ion Collider,
where cutting-edge detector technologies, including the novel Barrel Imaging Calorimeter that I
am actively involved in, promise to grant us unprecedented precision in the study of proton spin.
Bio: Maria is an Assistant Physicist at Argonne National Laboratory in the Medium Energy Physics
Group, where she focuses on studying proton spin structure using data from the CLAS12 and
STAR experiments. She also co-leads the development of the Barrel Electromagnetic
Calorimeter for the ePIC collaboration at the future Electron-Ion Collider. Throughout her career,
Maria has conducted experimental research on the features of nucleons, from the source of
their mass to their spin properties, in a series of different experiments in mid- and high-energy
nuclear physics, including also CDF, WASA-at-COSY, and JEDI. She obtained her BSc and MSc
degrees from Jagiellonian University in Poland, her home country, and completed her PhD at
the University of Cologne in Germany. Maria continued her quest for understanding the internal
structure of matter during postdoctoral appointments at the Research Center Juelich in
Germany and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab before joining Argonne in her current role.
Photos from Colloquium:
