Collaborative Research: Development of a Particle Tracking System for the Qweak Experiment

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The intermediate-energy nuclear physics group atLouisiana Tech consists of four faculty members: Tony Forest,Kathleen Johnston, Neven Simicevic and Steve Wells. As part ofits commitment to the Qweak experiment in Hall C atJefferson Lab, the group will construct the Region 1 component tothe particle tracking system. The Region 1 detector will utilize gaselectron multiplication as a preamplifier to the ionizationchamber signal, which facilitates a measurement of the elasticallyscattered electron's position with respect to the face of thechamber. Based on the performance of these chambers in theCOMPASS experiment, the devices should be well suited to thelower rates expected during the calibration runs for theQweak experiment. Two chambers will be constructed, based onthe COMPASS design, which will be less that half the surface areaas the original 30cm x 30cm COMPASS chambers. We will usesimilar multiplexing electronics to read out the chambers. TheAS-7 Helix chip boards are presently being tested with ourprototype ionization chamber. Graduate student Jena Kraft will base her thesis on thedesign, construction, and performance evaluation of the region 1tracking system. Two undergraduates, Justin Beam and JeremyDobbins, will gain experience instrumenting and testing theprototype detector this summer. We anticipate a similar numberof undergraduates will be involved over the course of theproject.