Research Log- Summer 2002
Week 1: We spent most of the week getting our work room set-up and organized, and getting computer accounts set up. We attended the first weekly meeting of the High Energy Physics Staff and Students. We began discussions about our 6x6 cosmic ray detector. We began learning more about PMT's, wavelength shifters, and scintillators. We used a monochronometer to get data on the peak wavelength of light emitted by our scintillator material (410 nm) and wavelength shifter (500 nm) using both natural and uv light, and compared these values to the absorption efficiency curve of the PMT.
Week 2: We completed our wavelength analysis by checking the calibration of the monochronometer with hydrogen and mercury gas discharge tubes. It is reading accurately. We designed a wood housing for our 6 x 6 detector, purchased materials and began building the box. We discussed ideas for next summer's institute, developed our web page, and began working with PAW and ROOT analysis software.
Week 3: We began construction of our 6 x 6 "quacknet" detector. Jeff and Bill designed and built a wood holder for the detector (Fig.1). A 6 inch by 6 inch piece of scintillator was cut, milled on the edges (Fig. 2&3), and fire polished (Fig. 4). We then connected this piece (Fig. 5) to our photomultiplier with optical grease, attached the pmt to the base, and wrapped our detector in black plastic and electrician's tape (Fig. 6). We then hooked up an oscilloscope, discriminator, and counter (Fig. 7& 8)and began taking pre-liminary data on voltage and counts/30 sec. on the quacknet detector and another detector from the high energy physics department. On Friday we used a Co-60 gamma source to determine the optimum voltage level for the quacknet detector, and had a presentation from Jim Brau on the next linear collider.
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Fig. 1
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Fig. 2
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Fig. 3
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Fig. 4
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Fig. 5
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Fig. 6
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Fig. 7
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Fig. 8
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Week 4: We began the week by repeating our voltage measurements at a much lower discriminator level. Tuesday we gave a brief presentation on our results thus far at the weekly High Energy Physics department meeting. Wednesday we hooked the quacknet detector into the RPC set-up upstairs (Fig. 9)and took both ADC and TDC data in 7 minute increments. After analyzing the data using PAW we decided we needed to conduct runs over a longer period of time, and that we needed more data on the effectiveness of the detector at different voltages. Thursday we set up the RPC system to take data overnight and Friday morning we completed voltage testing, this time in 15 minute increments.
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Fig. 9
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