
My research is focused on the experimental program at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Laboratory to explore the quark nature of matter with a recent excursion into nuclear arms policy. I have also developed inquiry-based laboratories for introductory physics and undergraduate quantum mechanics.
We now know that particles called quarks are the basis for the atoms, molecules, and atomic nuclei that form us and our world. Nevertheless, how these quarks actually combine to form that matter is still a mystery. I used the unique capabilities of the CLAS detector at Jefferson Lab to make some of the first measurements of little-known electric and magnetic properties of the deuteron. In the past, scattering experiments were confined to reactions where the debris from the collision was in the same plane (usually horizontal) as the incoming and outgoing projectile. With CLAS we can measure particles that are scattered out of that plane and are sensitive to effects that have been often ignored up to now. These measurements will open a new window into the atomic nucleus.
Since 1999 I have been actively involved in science policy. I have worked on methods to secure fissile material in Russia for the US Department of Defense and on identifying new technologies for homeland security with the American Physical Society's Task Force on Countering Terrorism. I am now developing a course on science and security with the Political Science Department.
More information is available on my personal website.
Gyurjyan, V., Abbott, D., Carbonneau, J., Gilfoyle, G., Heddle, D., Heyes, G., Paul, S., Timmer, C., Weygand, D. & Wolin, E. CLARA: A contemporary approach to physics data processing. J.Phys.Conf.Ser. 331 (2011) 032013.
Gillfoyle, G.P. Few-body physics with CLAS. Few Body Syst. 50 (2011) 15-22.
Daniel, A. et al. CLAS Collaboration. Measurement of the nuclear multiplicity ratio for K0s hadronization at CLAS. Phys.Lett. B706 (2011) 26-31.
Wood, M. et al. (CLAS Collaboration). Absorption of the omega and phi Mesons in Nuclei. Phys. Rev. Lett. 105 (2010) 112301.
Baghdasaryan, H. et al. (CLAS Collaboration). Tensor Correlations Measured in 3He(e,e′pp)n. Phys. Rev. Lett. 105 (2010) 222501.
Lachniet, J., Afanasev, A., Arenhövel, H., Brooks, W.K., Gilfoyle, G.P., Higinbotham, D., Jeschonnek, S., Quinn, B., Vineyard, M.F., et al. (The CLAS Collaboration). Precise Measurement of the Neutron Magnetic Form Factor in the Few-GeV
Region. Phys. Rev. Lett. 102 (2009) 192001.
Girod, F.X., Gilfoyle, G.P., et al. Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering Beam-Spin Asymmetries. Physical Review Letters, 100 (2008) 162002.
Ireland, D.G., Gillfoyle, G.P., et al. A Bayesian analysis of pentaquark signals from CLAS data. Physical Review Letters, 100 (2008) 052001.
Park, K., Gillfoyle, G.P., et. al. (2008) Cross sections and bean asymmetries for ep→enpi+ in the Nucleon Resonance Region of 1.7 < Q² < 4.5 GeV². Physical Review C, 77 (2008) 015208.
Computational methods
Nuclear non-proliferation and science policy
Active learning strategies in introductory and advanced physics courses