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Aulenbacher, Kurt

Publications and source records attributed to Aulenbacher, Kurt.

The P2 experiment: A future high-precision measurement of the weak mixing angle at low momentum transfer

Here we describe the research and development work for the P 2 experiment which aims for a high precision determination of the weak mixing angle sin 2 θ W to a precision of 0.15% at a four-momentum transfer of 4.5×10 –3 GeV 2 . This accuracy, comparable to existing measurements at the Z pole, allows for a sensitive test of the Standard Model up to a mass scale of 50 TeV, extendable to 60 TeV. The weak mixing angle is connected to the weak charge of the proton which will be extracted from a measurement of the parity violating cross section asymmetry –39.94×10 –9 in elastic electron-proton scattering. A total accuracy of 0.57×10 –9 is achievable in a measurement time of 11000 h using a 150μA polarized electron beam impinging on a 60 cm liquid hydrogen target. The P 2 asymmetry is smaller than any asymmetry measured so far in electron scattering with an unprecedented goal for the accuracy. The use of a solenoid spectrometer with 100% Φ-acceptance as well as an atomic hydrogen trap polarimeter are new features, which have never before been used in parity-violation experiments. In order to collect the enormous statistics required for this measurement, the new Mainz Energy-Recovering Superconducting Accelerator (MESA) is under construction. Plans for the associated beam control system and the polarimetry are described in this article as well. A liquid hydrogen high-power target with an extremely low noise level of 10 ppm needs to be designed and constructed. We report in addition on the conceptual design of the P 2 spectrometer, its Cherenkov detectors, the integrating read-out electronics as well as the ultra-thin, fast tracking detectors. The physics program of the MESA facility comprises indirect, high precision search for physics beyond the Standard Model, measurement of the neutron distribution in nuclear physics, single-spin asymmetries, and a possible future extension to the measurement of hadronic parity violation.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Precision Electron Beam Polarimetry for Next Generation Nuclear Physics Experiments

Polarized electron beams have played an important role in scattering experiments at moderate to high beam energies. Historically, these experiments have been primarily targeted at studying hadronic structure - from the quark contribution to the spin structure of protons and neutrons, to nucleon elastic form factors, as well as contributions to these elastic form factors from (strange) sea quarks. Other experiments have aimed to place constraints on new physics beyond the Standard Model. For most experiments, knowledge of the magnitude of the electron beam polarization has not been a limiting systematic uncertainty, with only moderately precise beam polarimetry requirements. However, a new generation of experiments will require extremely precise measurements of the beam polarization, significantly better than 1%. This article will review standard electron beam polarimetry techniques and possible future technologies, with an emphasis on the ever-improving precision that is being driven by the requirements of electron scattering experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Plans for an ERL Test Facility at CERN

The baseline electron accelerator for LHeC and one option for FCC-he is an Energy Recovery Linac. To prepare and study the necessary key technologies, CERNhas started – in collaboration with JLAB and Mainz University – the conceptual design of an ERL Test Facility (ERL-TF). Staged construction will allow the study under different conditions with up to 3 passes, beam energies of up to about 1 GeV and currents of up to 50 mA. The design and development of superconducting cavity modules, including coupler and HOM damper designs, are also of central importance for other existing and future accelerators and their tests are at the heart of the current ERL-TF goals. However, the ERL-TF could also provide a unique infrastructure for several applications that go beyond developing and testing the ERL technology at CERN. In addition to experimental studies of beam dynamics, operational and reliability issues in an ERL, it could equally serve for quench tests of superconducting magnets, as physics experimental facility on its own right or as test stand for detector developments. This contribution will describe the goals and the concept of the facility and the status of the R&D.

Jensen, Erik↗

The MESA accelerator

The MESA accelerator will operate for particle and nuclear physics experiments in two different modes. A first option is conventional c.w. acceleration yielding 150-200MeV spin-polarized external beam. Second, MESA will be operated as a superconducting multi-turn energy recovery linac (ERL), opening the opportunity to perform experiments with a windowless target with beam current of up to 10 mA. The perspectives for innovative experiments with such a machine are discussed together with a sketch of the accelerator physics issues that have to be solved.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗