View source for NSF Proposal 2007 AwardNum0653570

=Physics Program=


\hspace{0.5in}The Q$_{weak}$ experiment and the measurement of
$A_1$ at large $x$ in Jefferson Lab's Hall B represent the 
main components of the principal investigator's physics program.
Both components are the continuation of the PI's previous work 
in parity violating electron scattering as a Ph.D. student and
polarized structure functions as a postdoctoral researcher
based at Jefferson Lab.   
While the main goal of the Q$_{weak}$ experiment is to measure
the weak mixing angle sin$^2$($\theta_W$), the PI has found an 
opportunity to use the same apparatus to measure a new low energy
fundamental constant known as $d_{\Delta}$ described below.  Such
an experiment using the Q$_{weak}$ apparatus would require 1 week
to measure an inelastic parity-violating asymmetry which is an
order of magnitude larger than the Q$_{weak}$ asymmetry.  While a
postdoctoral researcher based at Jefferson Lab, the
PI began developing a program to measure the
polarized to unpolarized down quark distribution ($\frac{\Delta
  d}{d}$) in the nucleon.  The program was recently awarded 
80 days of beam time by Jefferson Lab's PAC 30.  Further details
of the physics program are given in the subsections below.

==Q$_{weak}$==

\hspace{0.5in}The Q$_{weak}$ experiment (E05-008) will use parity violating (PV) 
electron-proton scattering
at very low momentum transfers $(Q^2 \sim 0.03$~GeV$^2$) to measure 
the weak mixing 
angle sin$^2$($\theta_W$).
The dominant contribution to the PV 
asymmetry measured by Q$_{weak}$ is given by the weak charge of
the proton, $Q_W^p = 1-4\sin ^2 \theta _W$,
with small corrections at order $Q^4$ from nucleon
electromagnetic form factors. 
This measurement will provide a precision
standard model test 
of the running of the electroweak coupling constant sin$^2$($\theta_W$).
Any significant deviation of $\sin ^2 \theta _W$ from the
standard model prediction at 
low $Q^2$ would be a signal of new physics, whereas agreement
would place new and significant 
constraints on possible standard model extensions including new
physics.  
The experiment is considered a new initiative
for the future of Jefferson Lab, about which the JLab Program Advisory
Committee (PAC) wrote ``The PAC is very impressed with the
discovery potential 
of this experiment and regards it as an important addition to the 
Jefferson Lab program.'' 
The role of the principal investigator in this program is
described in section~\ref{section:QweakDetector}.  A brief
description of the physics is given below.

The PV asymmetry measured by inclusive electron scattering
reactions is driven by the exchange of a neutral weak Z$^0$
boson.  The asymmetry is amplified by the interference between
the weak and electromagnetic interactions, a feature that has been
exploited as a means for 
determining the strange quark contribution 
to ground state nucleon properties~\cite{Be01}.  
The asymmetry may be expressed as 
\begin{eqnarray}
<math>
A ~\equiv~ {{\sigma _+ -\sigma _-}\over{\sigma _+ + \sigma _-}}~ =~\frac{G_F}{\sqrt{2}}\frac{Q^2}{\pi \alpha}\frac{1}{\sigma _p} \{ \varepsilon G^{\gamma}_{E}G^{Z}_{E} + \tau G^{\gamma}_{M} G^{Z}_{M} - {\frac{1}{2}}(1-4\sin ^2\theta _W )\varepsilon ^{\prime} G^{\gamma}_{M} G^{Z}_{A}\}
</math>
~\cite{ReyaSchilcher74},
\label{eq:PVelasticAsym}
\end{eqnarray}
where $\sigma _+(\sigma_-)$ is the cross section for the elastic
scattering of electrons of positive (negative) 
helicity, $\tau$, $\varepsilon$, and $\varepsilon ^{\prime}$ are
kinematic factors depending on 
$Q^2$,
$M$ is the mass of the proton, $G_F$ is the Fermi coupling
constant, $\alpha$ is the electromagnetic 
coupling constant, $Q^2$ is the square of the four momentum
transfer, $\sin ^2 \theta _W$ is the weak 
mixing angle, $\theta _e$ is the electron laboratory scattering
angle, and $\sigma _p$ 
is the Mott cross section.  The Sachs electromagnetic and
neutral weak electric and magnetic form factors $G^{\gamma
  ,Z}_{E}$ and $G^{\gamma ,Z}_{M}$, respectively, 
as well as the nucleon axial vector form factor $G^{Z}_{A}$, can
each be expressed in terms 
of individual quark distribution functions. A system of
equations is constructed within this framework which describes
the extraction of
the strange quark contribution to the electric and magnetic form
factors of the nucleon, 
$G^{s}_{E}$ and $G^{s}_{M}$, 
as well as the axial form factor $G_A^Z$~\cite{Kap88} from the
asymmetry measurements made.


The limit $\theta
\rightarrow 0$, $\epsilon \rightarrow 1$,  
and $\tau \ll 1$, in Eq.~\ref{eq:PVelasticAsym} is taken in order
to see how a measurement of the PV asymmetry in elastic  
electron-proton 
scattering at very low $Q^2$ and very small electron scattering
angles can be used to test the 
Standard Model.
The resulting asymmetry becomes:
\begin{eqnarray}
A = -{{G_F}\over{4\pi \alpha \sqrt{2}}}[Q^2 Q_W^p + F^p (Q^2 ,\theta )] \rightarrow
-{{G_F}\over{4\pi \alpha \sqrt{2}}}[Q^2 Q_W^p + Q^4 B(Q^2 )],
\end{eqnarray}
where $F^p$ is a form factor. Neglecting radiative corrections,
the leading term in this equation 
is simply $Q_W^p = 1-4\sin ^2 \theta _W$. The $B(Q^2 )$ is the
leading term in the nucleon 
structure defined in terms of neutron and proton electromagnetic
and weak form factors. 
The contributions contained in $B(Q^2 )$
(which enters to order $Q^4$)
can be reduced by going to lower $Q^2$ values; however, this also
reduces the sensitivity 
to $Q_W^p$ (which enters to leading order in $Q^2$) making it
statistically more difficult 
to measure. 
The value of $B(Q^2 )$ can be determined
experimentally by extrapolating measurements made by 
the ongoing program of forward angle PV experiments at higher
$Q^2$~\cite{HAPEX,G0,A4}. 
The optimum value of $Q^2$ to minimize hadron structure
uncertainties and at the same 
time maximize our sensitivity to $Q_W^p$ is estimated to be near
$Q^2 = 0.03$~(GeV/c)$^2$  
\cite{Qweak}.

\begin{figure}[htbp]
%\vspace{-1in}
\centerline{
\scalebox{0.5} [0.5]{\includegraphics{Graphs/s2w_2004_4_new_2.eps}}}
\caption{The dependence of $\sin^2 \theta_W$ as a function of
$Q^2$ cast in the MS bar scheme by reference~\cite{Erler}.  The
solid line represents the Standard Model prediction. 
The results from three experiments
(APV~\cite{APV}, $Q_W(e)$~\cite{E158}, $\nu$-DIS~\cite{NuTeV} ,Z-pole~\cite{Zpole} are shown together with the expected
precision from the Q$_{weak}$ experiment (Q$_W(p)$~\cite{Qweak}. }
\label{fig:newphysics}
\end{figure}

An essential prediction of the Standard Model is the variation of
$\sin ^2 \theta _W$ 
with $Q^2$, often referred to as the ``running of $\sin ^2 \theta
_W$.'' Testing this prediction requires 
a set of precision measurements at a variety of $Q^2$ points,
with sufficiently small and well 
understood theoretical uncertainties associated with the
extraction of $\sin ^2 \theta _W$. 
It also requires a careful evaluation of the radiative
corrections to $\sin ^2 \theta _W$ in 
the context of the renormalization group evolution (RGE) of the
gauge couplings. Such tests 
have been crucial in establishing QCD as the correct theory of
strong interactions \cite{Hin00}, 
and the RGE evolution of the QED coupling has also been
demonstrated experimentally \cite{TOP97,VEN98,OPAL00,L300}. 
The gauge coupling of the weak interaction, however, represented at low energies by the weak mixing angle
$\sin ^2 \theta _W$, has not yet been studied successfully in this respect.

Shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:newphysics} is the Standard Model prediction in a particular scheme \cite{QweakAp} for $\sin ^2 \theta _W$
versus $Q^2$ along with existing and proposed world data. As seen in this figure, the very
precise measurements near the $Z^0$ pole merely set the overall magnitude of the curve; to test
its shape one needs precise off-peak measurements. To date, there
are only three off-peak measurements 
of $\sin ^2 \theta _W$ which test the running at a significant
level: one from APV~\cite{APV}, one from high energy neutrino-nucleus
scattering~\cite{NuTeV}, and the recently completed SLAC
experiment E-158(Q$_w$(e))~\cite{E158}. The measurement of $Q_W^p$ described here  
will be performed with smaller statistical and systematic errors and has a much cleaner
theoretical interpretation than existing low $Q^2$ data. In addition, this measurement resides in the
semi-leptonic sector, and is therefore complimentary to experiment E-158 at SLAC, which
has determined $\sin ^2 \theta _W$ from PV $\vec e e$ (Moller) scattering (which
resides in the pure leptonic sector) to roughly a factor of two less precision at low $Q^2$ \cite{E158}.
The total statistical and systematic error anticipated
on $Q_W^p$ from these measurements is around 4\% \cite{Qweak},
corresponding to an uncertainty in 
$\sin ^2 \theta _W$ of $\pm$0.0007, and would establish the
difference in radiative corrections 
between $\sin ^2 \theta _W (Q^2 \approx 0)$ and $\sin ^2 \theta
_W (M_Z )$ as a 10 standard 
deviation effect.

==Measuring $d_{\Delta}$ using the PV $N\rightarrow \Delta$ Transition  at Low $Q^2$ ==

Interest in inelastic PV physics has been bolstered by the
discovery of a 
new 
radiative correction for the PV $N\rightarrow
\Delta$ transition~\cite{Zhu012} resulting in a $Q^2$
independent asymmetry   
that does not contribute to elastic PV electron scattering.
The result is a non-vanishing PV asymmetry at $Q^2 = 0$ . 
The new correction is the result of a photon coupling to a PV
hadron vertex and is referred to as the so called ``anapole''
contribution  which has no analog in the elastic channel. 
The authors in Ref.~\cite{Zhu012} use Siegert's
theorem to show that the 
$Q^2$ independence is the result of a cancellation of the 1/$Q^2$ term
from the photon propagator and the leading $Q^2$ dependence from
the anapole term.
The leading component from the contribution of this transition amplitude
is proportional to $\omega ~(\omega = E_f -E_i )$
times the PV electric dipole matrix element and is characterized
by a low energy constant $d_{\Delta}$.  A measurement of the PV
asymmetry in the $N\rightarrow \Delta$ transition at the photon point,
or at very low $Q^2$, henceforth called the Siegert contribution,
would provide a direct measurement of the low
energy constant  $d_{\Delta}$. 

The low energy constant $d_{\Delta}$ is a fundamental constant
which has implications to other long standing physics questions.
The same PV electric dipole matrix element which results in
$d_{\Delta}$ also drives the asymmetry
parameter ($\alpha_{\gamma}$) in radiative hyperon decays, e.g. $\Sigma ^+ \rightarrow p\gamma$.
Although Hara's theorem \cite{Hara64} predicts that the asymmetry
parameter ( $\alpha_{\gamma}(\Sigma ^+ \rightarrow p\gamma$)) should
vanish in the exact SU(3) limit,  the Particle Data
Group~\cite{PDGAlphaSigma} reports a measured value of
$\alpha_{\gamma}(\Sigma ^+ \rightarrow p\gamma) =$-0.72$\pm$ 0.08.
While typical SU(3) breaking effects are of order $(m_s - m_u )/1$GeV $\sim$ 15\%,
the above asymmetry parameter is experimentally 
found to be more than four times larger. 
A solution proposed by the authors of Ref.~\cite{Bor99}
involves including high mass intermediate state resonances $(1/2 ^- )$,
where the weak Lagrangian allows the coupling of both the hyperon and daughter
nucleon to the intermediate state resonances, driving the asymmetry parameter
to large negative values. 
This same reaction mechanism was also shown to
simultaneously reproduce the $s-$ and $p-$ wave amplitudes in non-leptonic
hyperon decays, which has also been a long standing puzzle in hyperon decay
physics. If the same underlying dynamics is present in the
non-strange sector ($\Delta S = 0$) as in the
strangeness changing sector ($\Delta S = 1$), one would expect
$d_{\Delta}$ to be enhanced over its natural scale ($g_{\pi}$ =
3.8$\times 10^{-8}$, corresponding to the scale of charged
current hadronic PV effects \cite{Des80,Zhu00}). 
The authors of Reference\cite{Zhu012} estimate that this enhancement may
be as large as a factor of 100, corresponding to an asymmetry of
$\sim$ 4 ppm, comparable to the size of the effects due to the
axial response and therefore easily measurable. Thus, a
measurement of this quantity could provide a window into the
underlying dynamics of the unexpectedly large QCD symmetry
breaking effects seen in hyperon decays. 

The PI submitted a Letter of Intent 
(LOI-03-105) to JLab PAC24 which outlined an experiment to measure $d_{\Delta}$ using the 
$Q_{weak}$ apparatus \cite{Qweak}.
As shown in Figure~\ref{fig:N2Delta_Asym}, a statistical precision of $<$ 0.1 ppm can be achieved at a $Q^2$
value of 0.028 GeV$^2$ in less than a week.
The favorable reviews received have encouraged the PI to submit 
a full proposal once
the Q$_{weak}$ run schedule has become firm.


\begin{figure}[htbp]
\begin{center}{
%\scalebox{0.4}[0.3]{\rotatebox{-90}{\includegraphics{Graphs/N2Delta_Asym.eps}}}
\scalebox{0.4} [0.4]{\includegraphics{Graphs/A_d_Delta_Prec.xfig.eps}}
}
\caption{Expected precision of the measured asymmetry using the
Q$_{weak}$ apparatus  compared
with the expected asymmetry for several values of the low energy
constant $d_{\Delta}$.  The rectangular box indicates both the
Q$^2$ bin and the asymmetry uncertainty.} 
\label{fig:N2Delta_Asym}
\end{center}
\end{figure}


== The Longitudinal Spin Structure of the Nucleon==

\hspace{0.5in}Spin structure functions of the nucleon have been measured in deep inelastic (DIS)
 lepton scattering for nearly 30 years since the first
experiments at SLAC.  Interest increased substantially in the 80's when 
the EMC collaboration reported that the 
quark helicities made a small contribution to the overall
helicity of the proton, according to their data.  This ``spin
crisis'' led to a vigorous 
theoretical and experimental   
effort over the next 20 years, with a large data set collected at CERN, SLAC, DESY and
Jefferson Lab. 
As of today, the data
indicate that between 25\% - 35\% of the nucleon spin is carried
by the quark spins, with the remainder 
being attributed to gluon polarization and orbital angular
momentum. The world data set however, has yet to resolve 
whether the three valence quark spins ($uud$ in the
proton) follow the ``naive'' expectation 
of relativistic quark models that 60\% -- 70\% of the nucleon spin
carried by quark helicities. 

The interest in this field continues unabated as new experiments
(COMPASS
%~\cite{COMPASS} 
at CERN  
and the nucleon spin program at RHIC
%~\cite{RHIC}
) are attempting to measure
the low-$x$ gluon and sea quark 
polarization in a polarized nucleon with high precision. At large-$x$, new
data from JLab address for the first time the question of the
helicity structure of the nucleon in a kinematic realm 
where sea quark and gluon contributions are minimal thereby making
one mostly sensitive to valence quarks. Examples of these results
are shown in Fig.~\ref{delqJLab}. 
To extend this region to higher $x$ and moderate
$Q^2$, one needs higher beam  
energies than presently available at JLab. In particular, to test
various models of the 
asymptotic value of the virtual photon asymmetry $A_1(x)$ as $x
\rightarrow 1$, one needs 
the upgraded CEBAF with 12 GeV beam energy. 

\begin{figure} [!hbp]
\begin{center}{
\scalebox{0.4} [0.5]{\includegraphics{Graphs/delq_new1.eps}}
\scalebox{0.4} [0.5]{\includegraphics{Graphs/deltad_CLAS12.eps}}
}
\caption{The polarized to unpolarized up and down quark
distribution ratio. The left figure shows the results 
from recent JLab experiments on the virtual photon asymmetry $A_1$ for
the proton, Deuteron~\cite{EG2DeltaD} and neutron
($^3$He)~\cite{HallADeltaD}.  The right figure represents the
proposed measurements.  The expected data have been draw along
the pQCD and CQM prediction. } 
\label{delqJLab}
\end{center}
\end{figure}


The comprehensive data set to be
collected by experiment PR12-06-109 will contribute
substantially to our knowledge of polarized parton distribution
functions for all quark flavors and even the polarized 
gluon distribution $\Delta g$. Through Next-to-Leading Order (NLO) analysis
of the world data on inclusive DIS (using the DGLAP
evolution equations), one can constrain these
distribution functions and their integrals. Existing CLAS data
from 6 GeV have already made an impact on these fits. The
expected data from the proposed experiment at 11 GeV will yield
further dramatic reductions in the errors on these distributions.
In addition, semi-inclusive DIS (SIDIS)
data will also be collected, where in addition 
to the scattered electron we will detect some of the leading
hadrons produced when 
the struck quark hadronizes. These data will further constrain
the NLO fits and improve the 
separation of the various quark flavors' contribution to the nucleon spin.



==Detector Development==\label{section:QweakDetector}




\hspace{0.5in}Support from this proposal will be used to 
develop the Region 1 Tracking system for the Q$_{weak}$ experiment
at Jefferson Lab.  Dr. Forest was
awarded a grant under the Major 
Research Instrumentation (MRI) program ( Proposal \#PHYS-0321197)
to develop this tracking system.  
A prototype detector and a
detector positioning system have already been built using support
from a previous NSF grant in combination with the instrumentation
support from the MRI grant. 
As a result of this work, the final design has been completed
which will 
construct ionization chambers
equipped
with Gas Electron Multipliers (GEM)~\cite{Sauli} 
as the first tracking 
element in the Qweak tracking system.  The use of GEM
preamplifiers increases the rate capabilities of the chambers
allowing them to be used close to the target.  As 
work package manager of the Region 1 tracking system, Dr. Forest
is responsible for the construction, testing and installation of
this tracking system. 

A prototype detector was built and calibrated by Dr. Forest
and his physics student Jeremy Dobbins in
early 2004.  The detector, shown in
Figure~\ref{fig:QweakProducts} was a 2cm thick ionization chamber
equipped with three gas electron multiplier preamplification
stages~\cite{Sauli} and having an active area of 10cm x 10cm.
The  detector gain of 10$^5$ and a response uniformity
less than 1\% was observed which is consistent with the findings
of other groups.  The detectors output signal was observed to have
a 25ns rise time making it ideal for use in the high rate
environment expected in the Q$_{weak}$ experiment.  The effect of
gas pressure on the detector's gain 
and quantum efficiency was then quantified by Louisiana Tech graduate
student Jena Kraft in her
M.S. physics thesis of Nov. 2004.  It was discovered during
operation of the first prototype that the wire bonds used to
connect the charge collection strips to 24 pin output connectors
were unreliable and too fragile.
As a result, the detector was redesigned to eliminate the need
for these wire bonds.
Preliminary testing of the new design has shown no degradation of
detector performance.

\begin{figure}[htbp]
\centerline{
\scalebox{0.3} [0.49]{\rotatebox{0}{\includegraphics{Graphs/Glue2DchargeCollectr_1stPrototype.eps}}}
\scalebox{0.7} [0.7]{\rotatebox{0}{\includegraphics{Graphs/QweakRotatorPicture.eps}}}
}
\caption{A prototype Region 1 ionization chamber (left) and the support
structure (right) to be used to position the tracking system for
Qweak.  The left image shows an ionization chamber and
readout board only.  Rows of black 20 pin connectors are now wave
soldered directly to the readout board replacing fragile wire
bonds used previously.  The right image shows the detector
rotation system composed of a main aluminum rotation ring upon
which two liner bi-slide systems are mounted.  A oil impregnated
brass worm gear, underneath the main aluminum ring, is remotely
controlled to turn the ring to a desired octant.}
\label{fig:QweakProducts}
\end{figure}

Dr. Forest assembled a team of 5 
undergraduate engineering students, listed in
Table~\ref{table:paststudents}, to design and construct the 
positioning system for the Region 1 tracking system detectors
The device, shown in Figure~\ref{fig:QweakProducts}, will
remotely move a pair of detectors into position as well as rotate
the detectors 180 degrees.  
The detectors are mounted 180 degrees apart in order to position
tracking elements in two octants on opposite sides of the beam.   
The system can rotate the detectors to a given angle with an
accuracy of 1 mrad.  The Bi-slide linear positioning system can
move the detectors into position remotely to an accuracy of 1/2
mm and have the range to remotely move the detectors out of the
Q$_{weak}$ acceptance when not needed for calibration.  Pins will
be used to ensure that the detectors are consistently positioned
at precise locations for calibration runs.

\hspace{0.5in}Despite the above successes, continuing the research project at
Louisiana Tech became problematic when the Physics graduate
program was cancelled by the Louisiana Board of Regents due to the
small number of graduates.  The
remaining work on the tracking system will involve digital
readout of the detector and commissioning.  The complexity of
these tasks are more aligned with the typical role taken by
graduate students.  As a result it would have been 
be a real challenge to complete the project with no graduate
student manpower. My new position at Idaho State University is
in a Physics department which has an annual influx of over 10 graduate
students per year and an average population of over 50
students.  In addition to this large potential workforce, the Idaho
Accelerator Center, described below under facilities, houses an
electron accelerator which may be used to test the Qweak detector
as well as a staffed machine and electronics shop for detector
construction and instrumentation.  This infrastructure will be
instrumental in completing the construction and testing of the
Q$_{weak}$ Region 1 tracking system.

Funds from this proposal will be used to continue the development
of the detector readout system, construct the final detector, and
continue testing detector performance.  We are currently
working to upgrade our readout system to accommodate the high rate
capabilities of the detector.  The VFAT chip, designed for use in
the TOTEM experiment, will be used to readout the GEM detector.
The VFAT board has been successfully tested on the bench and will
be tested with beam this Fall.
Dr. Forest will use startup funds from his new position to travel
to CERN for a beam test of the TOTEM GEM based
detector using the VFAT electronics.  
The final Q$_{weak}$ readout board will be designed to
accept the standard VFAT readout cards used in TOTEM.  
The Idaho Accelerator Center has agreed to provide beamtime to
measure the high rate capabilities of the final Q$_{weak}$ Region 1
tracking system.   
Graduate students as well as undergraduate students
supported by this grant will receive hands on experience from the
starting phase of detector construction to the operation phase at
the Idaho Accelerator Center.


=Prior and Future use of NSF Funds=

\hspace{0.5in}While at Louisiana Tech University, the PI 
received three prior NSF
awards as a member of the Louisiana Tech Particle Physics Group. 
The first proposal entitled ``Parity Violating Electron
Scattering at Jefferson Lab,'' 
was awarded in 2002 for three years in the amount of \$670,230
(NSF Award \#0244998) to Louisiana Tech University.  The
award supported the groups efforts building triggering
electronics for the G0 backward angle measurements and for the
initial development of the $Q_{weak}$ experiment.  The second
proposal, ``Precision Electroweak Measurements at Jefferson
Lab'', was awarded \$204,594 in 2006 (NSF Award \#0555390) with
similar support for the next two years to continuing the Lousiana
Group's efforts.  Dr. Forest's MRI 
Proposal (\#PHYS-0321197) entitled {\small ``Collaborative
Research:Development of a Particle Tracking System for the Qweak
Experiment''} was awarded \$131,770 on July 26, 2003 to develop
the Region 1 tracking system for the Q$_{weak}$ experiment.  The
status of the work supported by the above awards which the PI was
responsible for is given in section~\ref{section:QweakDetector}
and shown in Figure~\ref{fig:QweakProducts}. 



In making the transition to Idaho State University, Dr. Forest
now has a pool of over 50 Ph.D. students as well as
a support staff of machinists and electricians to draw upon.  Funds from
this proposal will be used to support a Ph.D. student and the
PI's work to complete the Region 1 tracking system for Q$_{weak}$.
A Ph.D. student joining this project in 
the Summer of 2007 will be well timed with just three years
remaining until the Q$_{weak}$ experiment is scheduled to run in
Hall C at Jefferson Lab.  The Ph.D. student's thesis  would 
report on the construction and instrumentation of the detector
system.  The 
student's thesis would also report on the detector performance
measurements made using the Idaho Accelerator Center's high
current electron accelerator.  Tracking software will be put in
place by the student for these studies which can be transitioned
into the Q$_{weak}$ tracking software.


\begin{figure}[htbp]
\centerline{
\scalebox{0.5} [0.5]{\rotatebox{0}{\includegraphics{Graphs/RII_DC.xfig.eps}}}
}
\caption{The Region II drift chamber basic design concept 
  for Hall B.  The horizontal wires have a pitch of 6 degrees to
  the horizon.  }
\label{fig:RIIhallB}
\end{figure}

As the Q$_{weak}$ tracking system nears completion, focus will
shift to the development of other detector systems needed by
Jefferson Lab.  Our present interest involves the development and
proto-typing of the Region II drift chamber for the Hall-B 12 GeV
upgrade.  The strategic plan of the physics department at Idaho
State University wishes to maintain its focus on Nuclear Physics by
investing in a detector development lab.  This strategy is
meant to enhance the capabilities of the Idaho Accelerator Center
as well as support initiatives to develop an Advanced Imaging
Center.  The design and prototyping the Region II drift chambers
for Hall B can be easily accomplished in such an environment.
Phil Cole and Dan Dale, each experienced in drift chamber
construction, will also take an active role developing the Hall B
chambers.  The group is currently participating in the Hall B
tracking meetings and has created the basic design concept shown
in Figure~\ref{fig:RIIhallB}.  Our expectations are that a group
of undergraduates would be involved in the renovation of our lab
space to a clean room environment and that future graduate
students would take on the task of designing and constructing the
first proto-type drift chamber as part of their thesis project.

=Facilities=

\hspace{0.5in}The Idaho State University Department of Physics Strategic Plan
identifies the use of experimental nuclear physics techniques as
its focus area to addressing problems in both fundamental and
applied science.  The major efforts of the department include
fundamental nuclear and particle physics, nuclear reactor fuel
cycle physics, nuclear non-proliferation and homeland security,
accelerator applications, radiation effects in materials and
devices, biology and health physics.  Because of this focus, the
department has been characterized as one of the largest nuclear
physics graduate programs in the nation with an average of over
50 graduate students.  One of the key
ingredients to the department's success has been the completion
of the Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC) on April 30, 1999.  A substantial
amount of lab space (4000 sq. ft.) within the department has
become available due to a combination of the IAC and a remodeling
of the physics building.  A detector lab with the potential to
construct proto-type drift chambers in a clean room environment
is currently planned as part of the lab space renovation.

The Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC) is located less than a mile
away from campus and will provide a machining facility for
detector construction, an electronics shop for installation of
instrumentation, and beam time for detector performance studies. 
The IAC houses ten operating accelerators as well as a machine and
electronics shop with a permanent staff of 8 Ph.D.'s and 6
engineers.  Among its many accelerator systems, the Center 
houses a Linac capable of delivering 20 ns to 2 $\mu$s electron
pulses with an instantaneous current of 80 mA up to an energy of 25
MeV at pulse rates up to 1kHz.  The IAC has donated beam time to
the Q$_{weak}$ project for the purpose of testing detector
performance.  One of the goals of these tests will be to evaluate
the Q$_{weak}$ detector at high rates.  The IAC is well suited
for these rate tests as the Q$_{weak}$ calibration rates will be
much lower than the electron and photon rates the IAC is capable of
generating. A full description of the facility is available at
the web site (www.iac.isu.edu).   

The Beowulf REsource for Monte-carlo Simulations (BREMS) is
a 12 node, 64 bit cluster housed in the ISU physics department
which can support the high performance computing needs of 
the physics research program.  This facility is the result of an
investment made by NSF award PHYS-987453.  This infrastructure
will be an effective means for performing GEANT4 simulations of
the Q$_{weak}$ experiment as well as Garfield simulations of the
Region II drift chamber design.  Simulation speed is increased on
BREMS by running the simulation in parallel on many CPUs.
A version of GEANT4 known as ParGeant4~\cite{ParGeant4} has recently been
distributed which will allow these simulations to be run in parallel. 



=The Broader Impact of the Idaho State University Nuclear Physics Research Program=

==Undergraduates in Research==

\hspace{0.5in}The PI has a history of successfully
involving undergraduates in research. 
Table~\ref{table:paststudents} shows a list of students
and their role in previous research projects.  I found that
students given 
well defined and focused task are able 
to gain experiences and have a positive impact on research.  
While my first experience involved only one physics student and
resulted in a prototype detector,  my most recent experience
involved an interdisciplinary team of undergraduate students
given the task of constructing a system to remotely rotate the
Q$_{weak}$ detectors.  The team of students accepted the task as
part of their senior engineering project.  The result, shown in
Figure~\ref{fig:QweakProducts}, was a 
system capable of remotely rotating the Q$_{weak}$ detectors 180 degrees
and position the detectors in or out of the acceptance.  
Each member of the team was able list the skill sets used on
the project as an experience in engineering on their resumes for perspective
employers to see improving their marketability as a result.  
The projects
supported by this proposal will continue to encourage the
involvement of 
undergraduates in research.  Undergraduates involved in this work
over the 
summer can expect to gain experience testing the Q$_{weak}$
detector in the IAC beam line.

\begin{table}[h]
\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{lll}
\multicolumn{1}{r}{Student}&
\multicolumn{1}{c}{Major (Year of Degree)}&
\multicolumn{1}{c}{Project}\\
\hline\hline
Josh Anderson & B.S. EE (2005)& Qweak Rotator Controller \\
Adam Barham & B.S. ME (2005) & Qweak Rotator  Mechanical Design\\
Justin Mitchell & B.S. ME (2005) & Qweak Rotator Design\\
William Stanton Martin  & B.S. ME (2005) & Qweak Rotator Construction\\
Jessica Tucker & B.S. EE (2005) & Qweak Rotator Control Motors\\
Jena Kraft & M.S. Physics (2004) &  GEM Detector Performance Tests\\
Jeremy Dobbins & B.S. Physics (2004) & Qweak Protoype Detector Construction\\
Maria Novovic  & M.S. Physics (2003) &  Qweak lucite detector tests\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{center}
\caption{A list of the PI's previous students and their projects.}
\label{table:paststudents}
\end{table}

==Graduate Student Training and Marketability==

\hspace{0.5in}Despite the small graduate student population, the PI was able
to mentor two graduate students, Maria
Novovic and Jena Kraft, prior to joining the
Intermediate Energy Nuclear Physics Group at Idaho State University.  Maria Novovic
was trained in data 
acquisition, scintillator construction, and data analysis.  She
is currently a staff  
physicist at the University of Southern Alabama and is
responsible for the undergraduate physics laboratories in
addition to her undergraduate instructor role.  The graduate 
training and experiences in Dr. Forest's lab were instrumental in
securing her current position.  Jena Kraft, who found a position
in industry, reported that her design skills acquired while
making a high pressure gas chamber for the GEM detector during
her thesis were a key ingredient to her current position.  The
detector construction and instrumentation 
projects described in this proposal will continue to be effective
in training graduate students for the market place.

The Intermediate Energy Nuclear Physics Group at Idaho State University currently has
three graduate students, listed in
table~\ref{table:currentstudents}, working on JLAB physics.  This is an
impressive accomplishment given that Phil Cole's current NSF grant is
nearing the end of its first fiscal year.  Our expectation is 
that this number will increase with this years
addition of two faculty with JLAB projects and the annual influx
of more than 10 incoming graduate students per year.


\begin{table}[h]
\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{lll}
\multicolumn{1}{r}{Student}&
\multicolumn{1}{c}{Major }&
\multicolumn{1}{c}{Project}\\
\hline\hline
Julian Salamanca  & Ph.D. &  g8b\\
Davit Abrahamyan  & Ph.D. &  g8b\\
Oleksiy Kosinov & Ph.D. &  PRIMEX \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{center}
\caption{A current list of the Intermediate Energy Nuclear Physics Group's students
and their projects.} 
\label{table:currentstudents}
\end{table}

==Students from the Americas==

\hspace{0.5in}The group has an established history of strengthening ties with
Latin an South America which spans 6 years and 5 modest NSF
grants totaling \$100,000~\cite{PhilsNSFAward}.  Three nuclear
physics symposium were 
held in Columbia, Mexico, and Brazil designed to attract bright
young talent from the Americas into the nuclear physics program.
More than five students have been 
recruited to pursue advanced physics degrees so far.  
These students are able to help satisfy the demands of research
institutions which have already invested in collecting
experimental data that possess an abundance of thesis topics
but a limited number of students.  
As a result, one is able to reap
returns on past investments in beam time with a small investment
in manpower.  
These bridges of cooperation, while providing a
means for recruiting high-caliber advanced students and
researchers, also create an avenue for collaboration.  


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