Particle identification with aerogel Ĉerenkov detectors

Authors

Michael Carl, Florida International University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Physics

First Advisor's Name

Joerg Reinhold

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Abdelhamid Meziani

Third Advisor's Name

Pete Markovitz

Fourth Advisor's Name

Brian Raue

Date of Defense

7-23-2003

Abstract

Two detectors for charged particle identification have been built and tested. First, a test setup for a diffusion box threshold detector, using a 5 cm thick aerogel radiator has been designed and tested at the KEK PS facility in Japan. Using white Millipore paper as a diffuse reflector inside a diffusion box, the Ĉerenkov light gets scattered randomly until it hits one of the photomultipliers. On average up to 20 photoelectrons detected for pions at 1.2 GeV/c have been observed. Second, collection of Ĉerenkov light with an acrylic wavelength shifting plate was investigated. The test setup consisted of a plate, 30 cm long, 10 cm wide, and 1 cm thick placed behind a 5 cm deep stack of aerogel tiles. On the long ends the wavelength shifter was read out by two 5-inch photomultipliers. The response of the system to pions and protons at 1.2 GeV/c momentum was measured at the KEK PS facility in Japan. On average 6 photoelectrons radiated in the aerogel could be detected.

Identifier

FI14052575

Recommended Citation

Carl, Michael, "Particle identification with aerogel Ĉerenkov detectors" (2003). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2046.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2046