我们描述了一种新的气凝胶阈值切伦科夫探测器安装在HMS光谱仪在大厅C在杰斐逊实验室。2003年的Hall C实验计划需要一个改进的粒子识别系统来更好地识别π/K/P，这是通过安装额外的阈值切伦科夫计数器来实现的。n=1.03和n=1.015的两种气凝胶在1-5 GeV/c动量范围内对质子和K介子的截留率分别达到10^{-3}和10^{-2}，π介子探测效率优于99%（97%）。由于漫射光收集技术，检测器响应没有显示出显著的位置依赖性。扩散箱配备有16个Photonis XP 4572 PMT。饱和光电子的平均数分别为~16和~8。在阈值附近，适度的颗粒识别是可行的。
英文摘要：
We describe a new aerogel threshold Cherenkov detector installed in the HMS spectrometer in Hall C at Jefferson Lab. The Hall C experimental program in 2003 required an improved particle identification system for better identification of pi/K/P, which was achieved by installing an additional threshold Cherenkov counter. Two types of aerogel with n=1.03 and n=1.015 allow one to reach 10^{-3} proton and 10^{-2} kaon rejection in the 1-5 GeV/c momentum range with pion detection efficiency better than 99% (97%). The detector response shows no significant position dependence due to a diffuse light collection technique. The diffusion box was equipped with 16 Photonis XP4572 PMT's. The mean number of photoelectrons in saturation was ~16 and ~8, respectively. Moderate particle identification is feasible near threshold.
We have designed a threshold Cherenkov detector at the Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory to identify muons with momenta between 230 and 350 MeV/c. We investigated the properties of three aerogels for the design. The nominal indexes of refraction were n = 1.03, 1.07, 1.12, respectively. Two of the samples are of high density aerogel not commonly used for Cherenkov light detection. We present results of an examination of some optical properties of the aerogel samples and present basic test beam results.
In this paper, we present recent progress in the development of hydrophobic silica aerogel as a Cherenkov radiator. In addition to the conventional method, the recently developed pin-drying method for producing high-refractive-index aerogels with high transparency was studied in detail. Optical qualities and large tile handling for crack-free aerogels were investigated. Sufficient photons were detected from high-performance aerogels in a beam test.
We present optical and X-ray radiographical characterization of silica aerogels with refractive index from 1.05 to 1.07 for a Cherenkov radiator. A novel pin-drying method enables us to produce highly transparent hydrophobic aerogels with high refractive index by shrinking wet-gels. In order to investigate the uniformity in the density (i.e., refractive index) of an individual aerogel monolith, we use the laser Fraunhofer method, an X-ray absorption technique, and Cherenkov imaging by a ring imaging Cherenkov detector in a beam test. We observed an increase in density at the edge of the aeroge…
This study presents the development of large-area (18 $\times $ 18 $\times $ 2 cm$^3$), high refractive index ($n \sim $1.05) hydrophobic silica aerogel tiles for use as Cherenkov radiators. These transparent aerogel tiles will be installed in a Cherenkov detector for the next-generation accelerator-based particle physics experiment Belle II, to be performed at the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) in Japan. Cracking has been eliminated from the prototype aerogel tiles by improving the supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO$_2$) extraction procedure when drying the wet gel tiles.…
On peculiarities of the annealing process for highly transparent silica-based aerogel tiles manufactured in Novosibirsk
Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics（布德克尔核物理研究所）；Novosibirsk State Technical University（新西伯利亚国立技术大学）；Boreskov Institute of Catalysis（博列斯科夫催化研究所）；Novosibirsk State University（新西伯利亚国立大学）
Hadronic reactions producing strange quarks such as exclusive or semi-inclusive kaon production, play an important role in studies of hadron structure and the dynamics that bind the most basic elements of nuclear physics. The small-angle capability of the new Super High Momentum Spectrometer (SHMS) in Hall C, coupled with its high momentum reach - up to the anticipated 11-GeV beam energy in Hall C - and coincidence capability with the well-understood High Momentum Spectrometer, will allow for probes of such hadron structure involving strangeness down to the smallest distance scales to date. To…
This study presents the development of hydrophobic silica aerogel for use as a radiator in threshold-type Cherenkov counters. These counters are to be used for separating positrons and positive muons produced by kaon decay in the J-PARC TREK/E36 experiment. We chose to employ aerogel with a refractive index of 1.08 to identify charged particles with momenta of approximately 240 MeV/$c$, and the radiator block shape was designed with a trapezoidal cross-section to fit the barrel region surrounding the kaon stopping target in the center of the TREK/E36 detector system. Including spares, we obtai…
We describe a novel photon detector which operates under an intense flux of neutrons. It is composed of lead-aerogel sandwich counter modules. Its salient features are high photon detection efficiency and blindness to neutrons. As a result of Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, the efficiency for photons with the energy larger than 1 GeV is expected to be higher than 99.5% and that for 2 GeV/$c$ neutrons less than 1%. The performance on the photon detection under such a large flux of neutrons was measured for a part of the detector. It was confirmed that the efficiency to photons with the energy $>$…
This paper reports the successful fabrication of silica aerogel Cherenkov radiators produced in the first batches from a 96-tile mass production performed using pin-drying technique in our laboratory. The aerogels are to be used in a ring-imaging Cherenkov detector in the spectrometer of a planned balloon-borne cosmic-ray observation program, HELIX (High Energy Light Isotope eXperiment). A total of 36 transparent, hydrophobic aerogel tiles with a high refractive index of 1.16 and dimensions of 10 cm $\times $ 10 cm $\times $ 1 cm will be chosen as the flight radiators. Thus far, 40 out of the …
We have succeeded in developing hydrophobic silica aerogels over a wide range of densities (i.e. refractive indices). A pinhole drying method was invented to make possible producing highly transparent aerogels with entirely new region of refractive indices of 1.06-1.26. Obtained aerogels are more transparent than conventional ones, and the refractive index is well controlled in the pinhole drying process. A test beam experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the performance of the pinhole-dried aerogels as a Cherenkov radiator. A clear Cherenkov ring was successfully observed by a ring i…
We have developed a new type of particle identification device, called an Aerogel Ring Imaging Cherenkov (ARICH) counter, for the Belle II experiment. It uses silica aerogel tiles as Cherenkov radiators. For detection of Cherenkov photons, Hybrid Avalanche Photo-Detectors (HAPDs) are used. The designed HAPD has a high sensitivity to single photons under a strong magnetic field. We have confirmed that the HAPD provides high efficiency for single-photon detection even after exposure to neutron and gamma-ray radiation that exceeds the levels expected in the 10-year Belle II operation. In order to…
This paper presents recent progress in the development and mass production of large-area hydrophobic silica aerogels for use as radiators in the aerogel-based ring-imaging Cherenkov (A-RICH) counter, which will be installed in the forward end cap of the Belle II detector. The proximity-focusing A-RICH system is especially designed to identify charged kaons and pions. The refractive index of the installed aerogel Cherenkov radiators is approximately 1.05, and we aim for a separation capability exceeding 4$σ$ at momenta up to 4 GeV/$c$. Large-area aerogel tiles (over 18 $\times $ 18 $\times $ 2 …
The Aerogel Ring Imaging Cherenkov (ARICH) counter serves as a particle identification device in the forward end-cap region of the Belle II spectrometer. It is capable of identifying pions and kaons with momenta up to $4 \, {\rm GeV}/c$ by detecting Cherenkov photons emitted in the silica aerogel radiator. After the detector alignment and calibration of the probability density function, we evaluate the performance of the ARICH counter using early beam collision data. Event samples of $D^{\ast +} \to D^0 π^+ (D^0 \to K^-π^+)$ were used to determine the $π(K)$ efficiency and the $K(π)$ misidenti…
This study presents the advancement in hydrophobic silica aerogel development for use as Cherenkov radiators and muonium production targets. These devices are scheduled for use in several particle- and nuclear-physics experiments that are planned in the near future at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex. Our conventional method to produce aerogel tiles with an intermediate index of refraction of approximately 1.05 is extended so that we can now produce aerogel tiles with lower indices of refraction (i.e., 1.03-1.04) and higher indices of refraction (i.e., 1.075-1.08); each with excel…
The solenoidal large intensity device (SoLID) at Jefferson Lab will push the boundaries of luminosity for a large-acceptance detector, which necessitates the use of a light-gas threshold Cherenkov counter for online event selection. Due to the high luminosity, the single-photon background rate in this counter can exceed 160 kHz/cm$^2$ at the photosensors. Therefore, it is essential to validate the high-rate limits of the planned photosensors and readout electronics in order to mitigate the risk of failure. We report on the design and an early set of studies carried out using a small telescopic…
Particle identification at the Belle II experiment will be provided by two ring imaging Cherenkov devices, the time of propagation counters in the central region and the proximity focusing RICH with aerogel radiator in the forward end-cap region. The key features of these two detectors, the performance studies, and the construction progress is presented.
We report on the charged particle identification (PID) systems for the upcoming Belle II experiment. The time of propagation counter in the central region and the proximity focusing ring imaging Cherenkov counters with aerogel radiator in the forward region will be used as the PID devices. They are expected to provide a kaon identification efficiency of more than 94% at a low pion misidentification probability of 4%. The motivation for the upgrade, method, and status of both systems are discussed.
We have investigated the response of a significant sample of Hamamatsu H8500 MultiAnode PhotoMultiplier Tubes (MAPMTs) as single photon detectors, in view of their use in a ring imaging Cherenkov counter for the CLAS12 spectrometer at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. For this, a laser working at 407.2nm wavelength was employed. The sample is divided equally into standard window type, with a spectral response in the visible light region, and UV-enhanced window type MAPMTs. The studies confirm the suitability of these MAPMTs for single photon detection in such a Cherenkov imag…
Beam test studies for a SiPM-based RICH detector prototype for the future ALICE~3 experiment
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Bari（意大利国家核物理研究所巴里分部）；Dipartimento di Fisica dell’Università e del Politecnico di Bari（巴里大学与理工大学物理系）；CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research（欧洲核子研究中心）；Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México（墨西哥国立自治大学核科学研究所）
A large area ring-imaging Cherenkov detector has been designed to provide clean hadron identification capability in the momentum range from 3 GeV/c up to 8 GeV/c for the CLAS12 experiments at the upgraded 12 GeV continuous electron beam accelerator facility of Jefferson Laboratory. The adopted solution foresees a novel hybrid optics design based on aerogel radiator, composite mirrors and high-packed and high-segmented photon detectors. Cherenkov light will either be imaged directly (forward tracks) or after two mirror reflections (large angle tracks). We report here the results of the tests of…
We present results of the detailed study of several hundred Hamamatsu H12700 Multianode Photomultiplier Tubes (MaPMTs), characterizing their response to the Cherenkov light photons in the second Ring Imaging Cherenkov detector, a part of the CLAS12 upgrade at Jefferson Lab. The total number of pixels studied was 25536. The single photoelectron spectra were measured for each pixel at different high voltages and light intensities of the laser test setup. Using the same dedicated front-end electronics as in the first RICH detector, the setup allowed us to characterize each pixel's properties such…
The GlueX experiment at Jefferson Laboratory aims to perform quantitative tests of non-perturbative QCD by studying the spectrum of light-quark mesons and baryons. A Detector of Internally Reflected Cherenkov light (DIRC) was installed to enhance the particle identification (PID) capability of the GlueX experiment by providing clean $π$/K separation up to 3.7 GeV/$c$ momentum in the forward region ($θ<11^{\circ}$), which will allow the study of hybrid mesons decaying into kaon final states with significantly higher efficiency and purity. The new PID system is constructed with radiators from th…
Simulation Study for Particle Identification with the dRICH of the ePIC Experiment at the EIC
INFN Sezione di Trieste（意大利国家核物理研究所的里雅斯特分部）；University of Trieste（的里雅斯特大学）；INFN Sezione di Ferrara（意大利国家核物理研究所费拉拉分部）；INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Gruppo Collegato di Cosenza（意大利国家核物理研究所弗拉斯卡蒂实验室科森扎协作组）；University of Cosenza（科森扎大学）；University of Salerno（萨莱诺大学）；INFN Sezione di Napoli, Gruppo Collegato di Salerno（意大利国家核物理研究所那不勒斯分部萨莱诺协作组）；INFN Sezione di Genova（意大利国家核物理研究所热那亚分部）；INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud（意大利国家核物理研究所南部实验室）；Brookheav National Laboratory（布鲁克海文国家实验室）；Ramaiah University（拉马西亚大学）；Duke University（杜克大学）
The MOLLER experiment proposed at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility plans a precision low energy determination of the weak mixing angle via the measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry in the scattering of high energy longitudinally polarized electrons from electrons bound in a liquid hydrogen target (Møller scattering). A relative measure of the scattering rate is planned to be obtained by intercepting the Møller scattered electrons with a circular array of thin fused silica tiles attached to air light guides, which facilitate the transport of Cherenkov photons generated…
The Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) will be the next frontier project of nuclear physics in the United States. It is planned to be built in the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in close collaboration with Jefferson Lab. One of the key requirement for the EIC central detector is excellent particle identification (PID). A detector using the Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov light (DIRC) principle, with a radial size of only 7-8~cm, is a very attractive solution for identification of the hadrons in the final state. The R$\&$D program performed by the EIC PID collaboration (eRD14) is foc…
In the G0 experiment, performed at Jefferson Lab, the parity-violating elastic scattering of electrons from protons and quasi-elastic scattering from deuterons is measured in order to determine the neutral weak currents of the nucleon. Asymmetries as small as 1 part per million in the scattering of a polarized electron beam are determined using a dedicated apparatus. It consists of specialized beam-monitoring and control systems, a cryogenic hydrogen (or deuterium) target, and a superconducting, toroidal magnetic spectrometer equipped with plastic scintillation and aerogel Cerenkov detectors, …
