Parity-Violating Electron Scattering and Neucleon Structure

The measurement of parity violation in the helicity dependence of electron-nucleon scattering provides unique information about the basic quark structure of the nucleons. In this review, the general formalism of parity-violating electron scattering is presented, with emphasis on elastic electron-nucleon scattering. The physics issues addressed by such experiments is discussed, and the major goals of the presently envisioned experimental program are identified. %General aspects of the experimental technique are reviewed and A summary of results from a recent series of experiments is presented and the future prospects of this program are also discussed.