Richard Nickerson

Abstract:

ATLAS is the largest particle detector under construction at CERN Geneva. Frequency scanning interferometry (FSI), also known as absolute distance interferometry, will be used to monitor shape changes of the SCT (semiconductor tracker), a particle tracker in the inaccessible, high radiation environment at the centre of ATLAS. Geodetic grids with several hundred fibre-coupled interferometers (30 mm to 1.5 m long) will be measured simultaneously. These lengths will be measured by tuning two lasers and comparing the resulting phase shifts in grid line interferometers, (GLIs) with phase shifts in a reference interferometer. The novel inexpensive GLI design uses diverging beams to reduce sensitivity to misalignment, albeit with weaker signals. One micrometre precision length measurements of grid lines will allow 10 μm precision tracker shape corrections to be fed into ATLAS particle tracking analysis. The technique was demonstrated by measuring a 400 mm interferometer to better than 400 nm and a 1195 mm interferometer to better than 250 nm. Precise measurements were possible, even with poor quality signals, using numerical analysis of thousands of intensity samples. Errors due to drifts in interferometer length were substantially reduced using two lasers tuned in opposite directions and the precision was further improved by linking measurements made at widely separated laser frequencies. © 2004 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Abstract:

A prototype optical data and Timing, Trigger and Control transmission system based on LEDs and PIN-diodes has been constructed. The system would be suitable in terms of radiation hardness and radiation length for use in the ATLAS SemiConductor Tracker. Bit error rate measurements were performed for the data links and for the links distributing the Timing, Trigger and Control data from the counting room to the front-end modules. The effects of cross-talk between the emitters and receivers were investigated. The advantages of using Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) instead of LEDs are discussed.

Abstract:

We report results of the first measurements of Λ and Λ̄ polarization produced in deep inelastic polarized muon scattering on the nucleon. The results are consistent with an expected trend towards positive polarization with increasing cursive Greek chiF. The polarizations of Λ and Λ̄ appear to have opposite signs. A large negative polarization for Λ at low positive cursive Greek chiF is observed and is not explained by existing models. A possible interpretation is presented.