NSF Reviewer 2014

What is the potential for the proposed activity to

advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and

A measurement of the down to up quark distribution ratio (d/u) is identified in the 2007 NSAC long range plan as being an "especially important" goal.

benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?

This is the weakest part of the proposal. The authors describe impacts which a narrowly focused on their specific subfield within nuclear physics. Either they do not take this requirement seriously or they are unable to find impacts that go beyond their sub-discipline.

To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?

The main thrust of the proposal is a measurement of the d/u quark distribution ration. The authors did not compare the expected precision of their measurements to many available fits/predictions at large x. The lack of this comparison left the question of the impact of their work un-answered.

How well qualified is the individual, team, or institution to conduct the proposed activities?

The investigators have undertaken the work that was left undone by the departure of their graduate student. They have also taken it upon themselves to resolve the discrepancy between the SLAC and JLab data sets. They are now having a graduate student work on a e Monte Carlo Model of th

Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home institution or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?

The investigators are part of collaborations that perform their experiments at world class nuclear physics laboratories.