Research Opportunities for Students

• Measurement of Kaon (K⁺) Transparency in Nuclei

  
  

  Nuclear Transparency is a measure of the average probability that a struck hadron (proton, pion, kaon) escapes from the target nucleus without interaction. Jefferson Lab (JLab) experiment E01107 (which ran in 2004) has collected data on the (e,e') reaction on a number of nuclear targets. The aim of this experiment was to search for color transparency with pions. Color Transparency (CT) refers to the vanishing of final and initial state interactions for hadrons that are produced in exclusive processes (on nuclei) with a large momentum transfer to the hadron. CT a natural consequence of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and thus is used to search for signatures of QCD in Nuclei (please read the proposal for detailed physics motivation of this experiment). In addition to pions we also have a large number of kaons in this data set (they were discarded during the pion analysis). This will allow us to measure the transparency of kaons in nuclei for the first time. We are looking for motivated undergraduate students who want to get a taste of research. This analysis project is an ideal Master's thesis topic. Doctoral students interested in participating in future JLab experiments can also use this project as an opportunity to get familiar with data analysis.

  Graduate student working on project: Nuruzzaman

  Slides from his presentation at the APS April meeting in St. Louis

• A Recoil Electron Detector for the Hall C Compton Polarimeter

  
  

  The The QWeak experiment at JLab Hall C will use parity violating electron scattering from the proton to perform a precision measurement of the weak charge of the proton (Q^P_Weak). This experiment will test the Standard Model prediction and is a high precision search for "New physics" beyond the SM. A Compton Polarimeter is being built for this experiment to measure the electron beam polarization during the QWeak experiment. The recoil electron detector is a integral part of this apparatus. We propose to build the recoil electron detector in collaboration with University of Winnipeg, Tri-University Meson Facility, and University of Manitoba. We want to build a diamond strip based electron detector using diamonds produced by Chemical Vapor Deposition. This is the state-of-the-art in solid-state detection technology and will be the first such detector to be used at JLab. A brand new detector lab is being set up at MSU where we will characterize the diamond strips and build several detector planes. This is a unique project that will expose students to cutting edge technology and allow them to participate in a high impact experiment.

  Graduate student on this project: Amrendra Narayan

  Slides from his presentation at the APS April meeting in St. Louis

• Geant Simulation of the Transport and Injection of Polarized ³He.

  
  

  Recently, a new experiment was proposed to search for the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) which will have a factor of 100 improvement over the current experimental limit of the neutron. This search for a non-zero value of the neutron EDM is a direct search for violation of the time reversal symmetry (T). Furthermore, this experiment offers an unique opportunity to measure a non-zero value of the neutron EDM, which would imply new sources of CP violation in nature that go beyond the mechanism in the Standard Model (SM). New sources of CP violation have profound implications for theories of ``New Physics'' beyond the SM and for understanding the preponderance of matter over antimatter in the universe (Baryon Asymmetry of the Universe). The proposed neutron EDM experiment relies on the spin dependence of the nuclear absorption cross section for neutrons and ³He to make a comparative measurement of the ultracold neutrons and ³He precession frequencies. Therefore, polarized ³He is a key component of this experiment, and understanding the transport and relaxation of polarized ³He nuclei when it is injected into the experimental cell and maintaining their polarization at the EDM experimental conditions is essential to the success to the entire EDM experiment. This project involves building a Geant-4 based simulation of the nEDM experimental volume and studying the behavior of polarized ³He under the experimental conditions. This is an exciting project for any motivated student with a basic knowledge of programming.

  Graduate student on this project: Edward Leggett (former honors college summer research fellowship winner)

Mississippi State University * Physics & Astronomy * Directory