High pt project at RHIC-PHENIX

What's New

• Revised on 05-Nov-2003.
• Photos of Aerogel Counter. Insalled ! (by M. Konno) 4-Nov-03,
• Photos of Aerogel Counter. Transported to RHIC. (by M. Konno) 3-Nov-03,
• Photos of Counter Assembly 2 (by S. Takagi) 3-Sep-03,
• Photos of Counter Assembly (by M. Inaba) 2-Sep-03,
• Arrival of parts from Japan and Russia (Sent by M. Inaba)28-Aug-03,
• Photos of pre-production of the box. (Sent by M. Konno) 18-Aug-03,
• Aerogel CDR and Review on July 28, 2003 at BNL
• CDR overview presentation, July 2003,
• Parts List
• Box production at Dubna.
• Video Conference on Apr. 24.
• Additional Photos of Aerogel Box by Serguei
• Photos of Aerogel Box and Mockup by Serguei
• Summary of T531 results, compiled by M. Konno
• Upgrade meeting at Tsukuba during Test Exp at KEK.
• Purchase order of 320 PMT(R6233-01HA) has been submitted. Dec.,02.
• Letter of Intent has been submitted on Oct.2,2002.

Definition of the project

ŠT—ª(Introduction in Japanese)

Detector R&D

In December 2001, test experiment (T496) for the Aerogel Cherenkov have been carried out at KEK with Dr. Vladimir Ladyguine, Dr. Valeri Peressedov from Dubna. (Photos;part1, part2) Both Belle type (aerogel w. 2 PMT's on the side) and Mirror type (mirror followed by 1 PMT behind the aerogel) have been tested. So far, best results (>20 p.e.) obtained from Belle type with 3" PMT's and Goretex as reflector, which is our backup solution now. Position dependences of both counters are found to be acceptable. More detailed stories can be found here. We will continue R&D and test experiments for both mirror and Belle type. (Next test beam will be before the summer.) For the deltailed analysis of optical properties of the Aerogel, such as wavelength dependences of absorption length & scattering length, study with a laser and spectrometer is also in progress. Comparison of Aerogel from Matsushita and Novosibirsk gives interesting results; while similar results obtained when non-UV PMT was used, Novosibirsk Aerogel provides 20 - 30 % larger signal than that of Matsushita with UV PMT (Quartz window). As is reported in literature, Novosibirsk aerogel seems to have better optical transmission in UV. (According to Sumiyoshi at KEK, master of aerogel, more complicated process is adopted for production of aerogel at Novosibirsk.)

PISA simulation

PISA simulation activity has started at Tsukuba. ~300 aerogel counters of Belle type (12 cm x 12 cm x 12 cm) have been installed to the West Arm. Occupancy and background studies have been studied as a first step.

Participation of Dubna Group

Y.Miake has visited Dubna in March 10 - 12, 2002. We have agreed to work together for this upgrade project. We will exchange official document of Agreement between JINR-LHE and Inst. of Physics, Univ. of Tsukuba for this upgrade project. Their participation will be detector r&d, mechanical/engineering design of the system, mechanical construction of counters. Details are under discussions.

Issues and concerns

• We hope 2 TOF panels can be removed from the East. However, there are strong objections against such action, which is due to a) difficulty to remove the panel, b) risk to damage other detectors, c) requirement of technician's man power for procedures, risk evaluation etc, d) emotional inertia. Mostlikely, we may have to build 3 TOF panels. One spare panel exists already at BNL and one panel can be newly build without much hassle.
• Readout electronics. We assume readout electronics based on those for RICH. Needs to be studied in detail.
• We hope to start the purchase of aerogel and PMT's with US-J budget in 2002 and finish in 2003. However, due to funding problem of US-J budget, completion of the project may be delayed.
• Possibilities to request DOE fund for RHIC upgrades in general are under considerations.

Further Information;

• Report at plenary session of June core week, June, 2002, BNL.
• Photo's of KEK test experiment (T514, May 14 - 23, 2002), T514 End-of-run party
• Report at PWG during PHENIX core week, April, 2002, BNL.
• Report at Dubna, March 11-12, 2002.
• Status Report at upgrade DC mtg. of Feb., 2002.
• Status Report of Sep., 2001.
• Upgrade Mtg. on 10/09/2001. (PDF, ppt)
• Upgrade Mtg. on 10/10/2001. (PDF, ppt)
• Photo's of KEK test experiment (T496, Dec. 12 - 21, 2002)
• Susumu's page
• Hubert's Aerogel page
• The high pt email archive