J.A. Rubio

Experimental determination of the energy generated in nuclear cascades by a high energy beam

An already existing, sub-critical arrangement made of natural uranium and water moderator has been exposed to a low intensity (≈ 109 ppp) proton beam from CERN-PS at several kinetic energies from 600 MeV to 2.75 GeV. The energy delivered by the hadronic cascade induced by the beam in the device has been measured by the temperature rise of small sampling blocks of uranium located in several different positions inside the device and counting the fissions in thin probe foils of natural uranium. We find typically G ≈ 30 in reasonable agreement with calculations, where G is the ratio of the energy produced in the device to the energy delivered by the beam. This result opens the way to the realisation of the so-called Energy Amplifier, a practical device to produce energy from thorium or depleted uranium targets exposed to an intense high energy proton beam. Results show that the optimal kinetic is ≥ 1 GeV, below which G decreases but is still acceptable in the energy range explored

New particle searches

Abstract PETRA, the e + e − collider, has operated at a maximum CM energy of 46.78 GeV. We update our previous results on new particle searches and set significantly better mass limits on some.

A high resolution muon detector

Abstract The design and operation of precision drift chambers with multisampling as well as the concepts and methods for reaching an extraordinary degree of precision in mechanics and calibration are described. Specific instruments were developed for this purpose. The concept of reproducible positioning and the implementation to 30 μm accuracy, showing stability over three years, is given. Calibration and analysis with UV-laser and cosmic test measurements are outlined with the critical results. The experience of calibration and reliability of the large system in an actual L3 running experiment is analyzed. The resolution under “battle conditions” at LEP resulted in Δp p = (2.50±0.04)% at 45.6 GeV and will be presented in detail. The concept is well suited for future TeV energies.

Experimental verification of neutron phenomenology in lead and transmutation by adiabatic resonance crossing in accelerator driven systems

Energy and space distributions of spallation neutrons (from 2.5 and 3.57 GeV/c CERN proton beams) slowing down in a 3.3 x 3.3 x 3 m3 lead volume and neutron capture rates on long-lived fission fragments 99 Tc and 129 I demonstrate that Adiabatic Resonance Crossing (ARC) can be used to eliminate efficiently such nuclear waste and validate innovative simulation.

Experimental Study of Inclusive Muon Spectra at PETRA

The results of a high-statistics study of inclusive muon spectra at PETRA are reported. Improved mass limits have been obtained for heavy quarks, heavy leptons, and charged Higgs particles. It is shown that the fragmentation properties of b quarks and c quarks are different, with the mean fragmentation variables = 0.75 +- 0.03 +- 0.06, = 0.46 +- 0.02 +- 0.05 and the average semileptonic branching ratio for the B and C hadrons BR(B) = (10.5 +- 1.5 +- 1.3)%, BR(C) = (11.5 +- 1.0 +- 1.7)%.

Neutron driven nuclear transmutation by adiabatic resonance crossing

The use of accelerator driven system (ADS) like for instance the Energy Amplifier concept (EA) proposed by C. Rubbia and his group might be one of the solutions to solve the energy problem and in particular to answer the question: what could we do with the nuclear waste produced by the present nuclear reactors? We present in this paper the EA concept, which is illustrated by two experiments performed at the CERN-PS facility. One of them is the TARC (Transmutation by Adiabatic Resonance crossing) experiment which is designed to demonstrate the high efficiency offered by the EA to destroy the long-lived fission fragments.

Search for Charged Higgs, Scalar Taus, and a Test of Technicolor Models

Abstract We have used our measurements of final states from e+e− containing an isolated muon and a hadronic or electron shower to search for new spin 0 charged particles. We exclude (95% CL) a supersymmetric partner of the τ with a mass less than 14 GeV/c2. We obtain upper limits on the branching ratio to τvτ for charged Higgs particles or technipions with masses up to 14 GeV/c2. This disagrees with some technicolor model predictions.

Test results of the L3 precision muon detector

Abstract The L3 detector is designed to measure the muon momentum with a 2% resolution at p = 45 GeV/c. We discuss here the systems we developed to reach the required accuracy and control the mechanical alignment at running time. We also report on the test done on the muon spectrometer with UV lasers and cosmic rays.

Muon detection in the L3 experiment at LEP

The L3 muon spectrometer is presented. Characteristics, useful for experiments at future accelerators, are highlighted. Particular emphasis is given to the systems envisaged to keep the error on the relative alignment of detectors below 30 μm and so reach a momentum resolution Δpp = 2% at p = 45 GeV/c.

A measurement of the strong coupling constant αs to complete second order

The strong interaction coupling constant αs has been measured with a new method, the planar triple energy correlation in the reaction e+e- → hadrons at center-of-mass energies ranging from 14 GeV to 46.78 GeV. A complete second-order perturbative QCD calculation was used. ΛMS = 110 ± 30 −55+70 MeV is found.