Blinded by the Light: Commissioning of the Hall C SHMS Heavy Gas Cherenkov Detector

Abstract

The University of Regina built a heavy gas Cherenkov (HGC) detector for use at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) as it enters a new era of 12 GeV experiments. This detector will play an important role in The University of Regina built a heavy gas Cherenkov (HGC) detector for use at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) as it enters a new era of 12 GeV experiments. This detector will play an important role in π/K separation between 3 - 11 GeV/c in experimental Hall C and is housed in the Super High Momentum Spectrometer (SHMS). Recently, the first experimental data have become available, allowing the performance of the HGC to be evaluated. The calibration procedure developed is presented, as well as the characterization of the Poisson nature of the photomultiplier tube photoelectron response. Calculation of the HGC efficiency is also performed and used as an independent confirmation of the index of refraction of the Cherenkov media. This thesis also outlines JLab’s experimental Hall C, the data acquisition, the HGC simulation, and the particle identification capabilities of the HGC in an experimental setting.