Separation of Proton Polarizabilities with the Beam Asymmetry of Compton Scattering

We propose to determine the magnetic dipole polarizability of the proton from the beam asymmetry of low-energy Compton scattering based on the fact that the leading non-Born contribution to the asymmetry is given by the magnetic polarizability alone; the electric polarizability cancels out. The beam asymmetry thus provides a simple and clean separation of the magnetic polarizability from the electric one. Introducing polarizabilities in a Lorentz-invariant fashion, we compute the higher-order (recoil) effects of polarizabilities on beam asymmetry and show that these effects are suppressed in forward kinematics. With the prospects of precision Compton experiments at the Mainz Microtron and High Intensity Gamma Source facilities in mind, we argue why the beam asymmetry could be the best way to measure the elusive magnetic polarizability of the proton.