The power of two: Assessing the impact of a second measurement of the   weak-charge form factor of 208Pb
  [Background] Besides its intrinsic value as a fundamental nuclear-structure observable, the weak-charge density of 208Pb - a quantity that is closely related to its neutron distribution - is of fundamental importance in constraining the equation of state of neutron-rich matter.   [Purpose] To assess the impact that a second electroweak measurement of the weak-charge form factor of 208Pb may have on the determination of its overall weak-charge density.   [Methods] Using the two putative experimental values of the form factor, together with a simple implementation of Bayes' theorem, we calibrate a theoretically sound - yet surprisingly little known - symmetrized Fermi function, that is characterized by a density and form factor that are both known exactly in closed form.   [Results] Using the charge form factor of 208Pb as a proxy for its weak-charge form factor, we demonstrate that using only two experimental points to calibrate the symmetrized Fermi function is sufficient to accurately reproduce the experimental charge form factor over a significant range of momentum transfers.   [Conclusions] It is demonstrated that a second measurement of the weak-charge form factor of 208Pb supplemented by a robust theoretical input in the form of the symmetrized Fermi function, would place significant constraints on the neutron distribution of 208Pb and, ultimately, on the equation of state of neutron-rich matter. 
J. Piekarewicz, A. Linero, P. Giuliani, E. Chicken
nucl-th nucl-ex