Difference between revisions of "2008 NSF Proposal"

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=Physics Program=
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[[ForestNSFInterimReport_8-31-10]]
  
\hspace{0.5in}The Q$_{weak}$ experiment and the measurement of
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[[ForestNSFInterimReport_8-31-11]]
$A_1$ 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}
 
A ~=~ {{\sigma _+ -\sigma _-}\over{\sigma _+ + \sigma _-}}~=~{{G_F}\over{\sqrt{2}}}{{Q^2}\over{\pi \alpha}}{{1}\over{\sigma _p}}\{ \varepsilon G^{\gamma}_{E}
 
G^{Z}_{E} + \tau G^{\gamma}_{M} G^{Z}_{M} - {{1}\over{2}}(1-4\sin ^2 \theta _W )\varepsilon ^{\prime}
 
G^{\gamma}_{M} G^{Z}_{A}\}~\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}
 
 
 
===ISU's Role===
 
Work Package manager of the Detector and Front End electronics.
 
 
 
Inelastic PV measurements (<math>d_{\Delta}</math>)
 
 
 
==Vector Meson and Hyperon Photoproduction with Linearly Polarized Photons==
 
 
 
== Primakoff==
 
== CLAS==
 
 
 
=== Physics Program===
 
==== Polarized Structure Functions====
 
<math>\frac{\Delta d}{d}</math>
 
 
 
=== CLAS 12 DC Design and Construction ===
 
 
 
 
 
List of Currently supported students:
 
 
 
{| border="1"  |cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0
 
|-
 
|Student|| Classification || Expected Grad Yr
 
|-
 
|Julian Slamanca|| Ph. D.  || 2009
 
|-
 
|Tamar Didbarize|| Ph. D.  || 2010
 
|-
 
|Danny Martinez|| Ph. D.  || 2012
 
|-
 
|Alexi || Ph. D.  || 2012
 
|-
 
| Adrianne Spilker || M.S. ||2009
 
|-
 
|Saitiniyazi Shadike || M.S.  || 2009
 
|-
 
|Jordan Keonough || BA  || 2011
 
|-
 
|Nathan Lebaron|| BA  || 2012
 
|}
 
 
 
= 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}.
 
 
 
=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=
 
 
 
 
 
[http://www.iac.isu.edu/mediawiki/index.php/NSF Go Back]
 

Latest revision as of 22:02, 23 August 2011