Symmetries and symmetry breaking

Measurements of parity-violating longitudinal analyzing powers (normalized asymmetries) in polarized proton-proton scattering and asymmetries in polarized neutron capture on the proton provide a unique window on the interplay between the weak and strong interactions of hadrons. This paper discusses a number of proton-proton parity violation experiments intended to to provide stringent constraints on the set of seven effective weak meson-nucleon coupling constants, which characterize the weak interaction between hadrons in the energy domain where meson exchange models provide a proven description of of the nucleon-nucleon interaction