Collaborative Research: Kaon Monitoring Equipment for MiniBooNE

观测中微子需要大型探测器和极大的耐心。中微子能够以几乎光速的速度穿越整个宇宙，穿越太空、行星和星系，而不会留下任何痕迹。只有极其罕见的与原子核心的碰撞才能阻止中微子并揭示其存在，将其转化为带电粒子。根据中微子撞击原子的类型，碰撞中会出现电子或类似但更重的粒子。物理学家可以探测到带电粒子发出的光，从而更多地了解初始中微子的性质。迷你Boone是费米实验室的一项实验，旨在测量中微子的质量。这项提议是与普林斯顿大学团队合作研究项目的一部分，其具体目标是资助一种新型的Kaon次级束监测器的探测器设备，该监测器将约束中微子束的背景。虽然在一个大型高能物理实验中发挥了重要作用，但这一努力对学生，特别是本科生来说是一个难得的机会。这本质上是一次桌面高能实验，包括物理和技术设计、探测器的组装和测试、电子设备的布局和组装、数据分析等方方面面都在可管理的范围内。该项目的其余部分，探测器和数据采集系统的原型，组装和测试探测器，以及数据分析，每个部分都将成为优秀的研究生高级论文或项目。

Observing neutrinos requires large detectors and great patience. Neutrinos are able to cross the entire universe, traversing space, planets, galaxies at almost the speed of light, without leaving a mark. Only the extremely rare collision with the core of an atom stops a neutrino and reveals its presence, transforming it into a charged particle. Depending on the type of neutrino hitting an atom, either an electron or a similar but heavier particle emerges from the collision. Physicists can detect light emitted by the charged particle, thereby learning more about the properties of the initial neutrino. MiniBoone is an experiment at Fermilab designed to measure neutrino masses. The specific goal of this proposal that forms part of a collaborative research project with a team from Princeton University is to fund detector equipment for a novel kaon secondary beam monitor which will constrain the background in the neutrino beam. While playing an important role in a large high energy physics experiment, this effort is a rare opportunity for students, particularly undergraduates. This is essentially a table top high energy experiment bringing all aspects, including physics and technical design, assembly and testing of detectors, layout and assembly of electronics, analysis of data down to a manageable scale. The remaining parts of the project, prototyping the detectors and data acquisition system, assembling and testing detectors, and analysis of data, would each make excellent senior theses or projects for graduate students.