Session T12: Weak Interactions and Physics Beyond the Standard Model
1:30 PM–2:54 PM, Monday, April 18, 2005
Marriott Tampa Waterside Room: Room 11
Sponsoring Unit:
DNP
Chair: Alexander Komives, DePauw University
Abstract ID: BAPS.2005.APR.T12.7
Abstract: T12.00007 : VLADD : An Extra Dimensions Detector
2:42 PM–2:54 PM
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Abstract
Authors:
Heather Ray
Richard Van de Water
(Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Paul Vetter
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
The existence of extra-dimensions may be detected by observing the invisible decay of orthopositronium (oPs) at a branching ratio of $10^{- 10}$. Previous experiments have searched for invisible decays at a branching ratio of $10^{-6}$ but were unable to achieve greater precision due to electron backgrounds. None of these experiments attempted to utilize a detector which would distinguish positrons from electrons. The VLADD experiment proposes to use a mini-TPC placed in a small, stable magnetic field as a means to separate $e^+$ from $e^-$. VLADD will be a demonstration experiment to verify that this technique will in fact work and will allow adequate rejection of backgrounds. Should the techniques used in VLADD reach a branching ratio sensitivity on the order of the most sensitive current measurements ($10^{-6}$), then a proposal will be made to build a larger version of VLADD for a more sensitive extra-dimensions search.
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2005.APR.T12.7