Chao Peng

Chao Peng is an experimental physicist in the Physics Division at Argonne National Laboratory, where he serves as an Assistant Physicist since 2021, following a postdoctoral appointment from 2019 to 2021. His research is centered on probing the internal structure of nucleons and their emergent properties within the framework of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), with a focus on spin, mass, size, and polarizabilities. He is actively involved in major electron scattering experiments at Jefferson Lab, including PRad-II, X17, and SoLID, and is preparing for future research using the ePIC detector at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC).

Education:

• Ph.D. in Experimental Nuclear Physics, Duke University, 2018
• B.E. in Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, China, 2009

Chao Peng’s research interests lie at the intersection of nuclear physics, particle physics, and advanced instrumentation. He specializes in understanding how quark and gluon distributions change when nucleons are embedded in light nuclei such as Deuterium, Helium-3, and Lithium-6. His work combines precision electron scattering with cutting-edge detector development, particularly in calorimetry, Cherenkov detectors, and polarized lithium sources. He leads an Argonne LDRD project focused on polarized ⁶Li and ⁷Li sources, highlighting his leadership in experimental innovation.

The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on nucleon structure, precision measurements, and detector R&D. Key themes include the proton radius puzzle, spin structure functions (g₂, d₂), searches for new bosons (X17), and instrumentation for the EIC. The articles span subfields such as transverse momentum dependent parton distributions (TMDs), generalized parton distributions (GPDs), dark photon searches, and Monte Carlo simulation frameworks, indicating a broad and impactful research portfolio.

Scientific Awards:

• Argonne Impact Award (2023): Development of a Novel Imaging Calorimeter for EIC
• Argonne Impact Award (2023): Experimental Determination of the Proton Mass Density
• JSA Graduate Fellowship (2014–2015): Hardware Preparation of the PRad Experiment
• JSA 2014 Poster Competition – 1st Place
• JSA Graduate Fellowship (2013–2014): Simulation/Analysis Development for the PRad Experiment
• Nuclear Power Award, Tsinghua University (2008)

Chao Peng has played a significant role in advising and leading research projects, serving as Lead PI on an Argonne LDRD project and as Co-spokesperson for multiple high-profile experiments (SoLID-SIDIS, Neutron g₂/d₂, PRad-II, X17). While no formal students are listed, his leadership in collaborative teams suggests mentorship roles within large experimental groups. He has secured competitive fellowships and internal funding, demonstrating strong grant acquisition capabilities. His work is supported by national user facilities such as Jefferson Lab and Argonne’s own advanced research infrastructure.

Labs and Teams: He is deeply integrated into major experimental collaborations including the SoLID, PRad, and future ePIC collaborations. His work leverages national user facilities such as the Jefferson Lab Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) and is aligned with the scientific goals of the Electron-Ion Collider. At Argonne, he contributes to the Physics Division's mission in discovery science and detector innovation, working within multidisciplinary teams focused on advancing the frontiers of nuclear and particle physics.