R. Cizeron

TEST OF A LARGE SCALE PROTOTYPE OF THE DIRC, A CHERENKOV IMAGING DETECTOR BASED ON TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION FOR BABAR AT PEP-II

Abstract The principles of the DiRC ring imaging Cherenkov technique are briefly explained and its choice for the B a B ar detector particle identification system is motivated. A large scale prototype of the DIRC for the B a B ar experiment is then described. Details of the design of this prototype and its test in a hadronic particle beam at the CERN-PS are presented, and results from various prototype and test configurations are given. For example, after correcting for geometrical acceptance and estimated collection effects, the number of photoelectrons was measured to be 146 ± 1.8 ± 9 cm −1 , for a track angle of 20° at zero photon transmission distance. The effective attenuation loss was measured to be 4.1 ± 0.7% per meter of bar length, and the observed single photon resolution was 10.0 ± 0.2 mrad. This performance is consistent with what was expected from earlier tests and Monte Carlo simulations, and will be fully adequate for the physics demands of the B a B ar experiment.

Non-planar four-mirror optical cavity for high intensity gamma ray flux production by pulsed laser beam Compton scattering off GeV-electrons

As part of the R&D toward the production of high flux of polarised Gamma-rays we have designed and built a non-planar four-mirror optical cavity with a high finesse and operated it at a particle accelerator. We report on the main challenges of such cavity, such as the design of a suitable laser based on fiber technology, the mechanical difficulties of having a high tunability and a high mechanical stability in an accelerator environment and the active stabilization of such cavity by implementing a double feedback loop in a FPGA.

DIRC, the internally reflecting ring imaging Cherenkov detector for BABAR

The DIRC is a new type of Cherenkov imaging device that will be used for the first time in the BABAR detector at the asymmetric B-factory, PEP-II. It is based on total internal reflection and uses long, rectangular bars made from synthetic fused silica as Cherenkov radiator and light guide. The principles of the DIRC ring imaging Cherenkov technique are explained and results from the prototype program are presented. Its choice for the BABAR detector particle identification system is motivated, followed by a discussion of the quartz radiator properties and the detector design.

An internally reflecting Cherenkov detector (DIRC): properties of the fused silica radiators

The DIRC, a new type of ring-imaging Cherenkov detector that images internally reflected Cherenkov light, is being constructed as the main hadronic particle identification component of the BABAR detector at SLAC. The device makes use of 5 meter long fused silica (colloquially called quartz) bars, which serve both as the Cherenkov radiators and as light pipes for transmitting the light to an array of photo-multiplier tubes. This paper describes a program of research and development aimed at determining whether bars that meet the stringent requirements of the DIRC can be obtained from commercial sources. The results of studies of bulk absorption of fused silica, surface finish, radiation damage and bulk inhomogeneities are discussed.

Background measurements during PEP-II commissioning

A variety of background detectors were installed at the interaction point of PEP-II for measurements of machine backgrounds during commissioning. Results from these detectors, machine experiments, and simulations have been used to reduce the backgrounds at PEP-II before the installation of the BaBar physics detector.

First year operational experience with the Cherenkov detector (DIRC) of BaBar

The DIRC (acronym for Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov (light)) is a new type of Cherenkov ring imaging detector based on total internal reflection that is used for the first time in the BaBar detector at the PEP-II ring of SLAC. The Cherenkov radiators are long rectangular bars made of synthetic fused silica, the photon detector is a water tank equipped with an array of 10,752 conventional photomultipliers. The first year operational experience in the BaBar detector is presented using cosmic data and collision data in the energy region of the /spl Upsi/(4S) resonance.