Bulletin of the American Physical Society
APS April Meeting 2010
Volume 55, Number 1
Saturday–Tuesday, February 13–16, 2010; Washington, DC
Session G11: SPS Undergraduate Research III |
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Chair: Kendra Rand, American Institute of Physics Room: Maryland C |
Sunday, February 14, 2010 8:30AM - 8:42AM |
G11.00001: Elastic Photon Scattering from $^{12}$C Nuclei John Capone, Gerald Feldman Data were collected at MAX-lab in Lund, Sweden from tagged photons (E$_{\gamma}$ = 82 \textendash{} 116 MeV) which were elastically scattered from a graphite target and detected by three large-volume NaI(Tl) detectors. Scattered events were analyzed to determine the cross sections of these interactions at 60$^{\circ}$, 120$^{\circ}$, and 150$^{\circ}$ relative to the beam axis. The elastic Compton scattering peak was identified by using energy and timing information from the NaI detectors and the tagger focal plane. A time window on \textquotedblleft{}true\textquotedblright{} coincidences between the NaI detectors and tagger detectors was used to generate an energy spectrum; a second time window outside the \textquotedblleft{}true\textquotedblright{} window was used to generate an energy spectrum of \textquotedblleft{}random\textquotedblright{} events, which was subtracted from the \textquotedblleft{}true\textquotedblright{} spectrum. The residual background was fit using a second degree polynomial to determine the integral of the elastic scattering peak. Uncertainties in the yield were carefully determined by improving the propagation of statistical errors in the analysis procedure. As a final step, a Monte Carlo simulation was run using GEANT4 to determine the detector response functions and efficiencies, the yield corrections for photon absorption in the target, and the effects of detector solid angles and finite target size. The preliminary results for the differential cross section of Compton scattering from $^{12}$C will be compared to published data as a function of energy and angle. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, February 14, 2010 8:42AM - 8:54AM |
G11.00002: Design and Implementation of a GRID Simulator William Boyd, Martin Barisits, Mario Lassnig As the LHC begins operation, CERN will soon become one the of the planet's largest data-producing entities. To manage and process the data produced at CERN, a worldwide cloud computing network called the GRID has been constructed. Presently, data distribution from CERN across the GRID is largely static. There is a need to optimize data distribution across the GRID through dynamic data algorithms that can evolve according to past and present conditions on the GRID. In order to evaluate such data allocation algorithms, it is necessary to test them within a simulation environment before employing them across the GRID. In this presentation, the development strategy, implementation and features of the first GRID simulator, MartinWillSim, will be discussed. In addition, results which validate the simulator against the present-day GRID, as well as results from some dynamic data allocation algorithms implemented in MartinWillSim, will be presented. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, February 14, 2010 8:54AM - 9:06AM |
G11.00003: Undergraduate Experiences in Cutting-edge Research Experiments Autumn Haagsma, Kaitlynne Rethman A collaboration of 10 institutions, including a large number of undergraduate schools, proposed, constructed, and now conducts experiments with a highly efficient large-area neutron detector located at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The Modular Neutron Array (MoNA) is designed to detect high-energy neutrons in experiments that explore the neutron dripline using rare isotope beams. The MoNA collaboration serves as a model for involving undergraduates from small colleges and universities in large-scale experimental nuclear physics research at a national user facility. The experiences and accomplishments of the undergraduates in this ``Mongol Horde'' will be presented by two of the student participants. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, February 14, 2010 9:06AM - 9:18AM |
G11.00004: The Design of a Detector for the Electron Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider Anders Kirleis The proposed construction of the Electron Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (eRHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) will begin a new experimental quest to study the gluons that bind all matter. The main goal is to design a detector for eRHIC that is able to cover a large acceptance and separate the different particle types expected to be seen. To do this, it was first necessary to perform computerized simulations using Monte Carlo event generators which allow scientists to model the interactions during a collision to reveal the inner structure of the hadrons. Software programs such as PYTHIA and ROOT were used to determine the properties of the events and the individual particles. After analysis of this data, we were able to construct a three-dimensional image of a preliminary detector design using GEANT software. In this talk, I will present preliminary designs of an eRHIC detector. This is an important step in calculating the capabilities for measuring identified particles (such as pions, kaons, electrons, charm) and their resolutions. We are working closely with the collider-accelerator department as the size of the interaction regions places constraints on the size and makeup of the detector. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, February 14, 2010 9:18AM - 9:30AM |
G11.00005: Testing a Divergence Free Nonrenormalizable Model James Stankowicz, John R. Klauder By adding carefully constructed counter terms to the Lagrangian of $\phi^E_n$ scalar fields ($n > 4$, $n$ the number of dimensions, $E =$ 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12), it is possible to exactly cancel divergences that appear in calculating physical observables, such as the renormalized coupling constant ($g_R$). One method that should support the effectiveness of this method is a Monte Carlo calculation of $g_R$, computed by approximating spacetime as a multi-dimensional `hypercubic' lattice, then looking at the continuum limit where the number of lattice points goes to infinity, and the spacing between lattice points goes to zero. For $\phi^6_4$ theories, with the new counter terms added to the Lagrangian, $g_R$ should approach a finite, non-zero value in the continuum limit, whereas $g_R$ is known to approach zero in the continuum limit when the counter terms are not present. While qualitative agreement with results in literature has been obtained, statistical fluctuations in the current rendition of the algorithm make obtaining new results difficult. One work-around currently under investigation is to develop a base distribution for selecting new values of the field using only the derivative and quadratic terms of the lattice action, then perturbing that distribution with the quadratic terms of the lattice action for various $g_0$. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, February 14, 2010 9:30AM - 9:42AM |
G11.00006: Mapping Gluon PDFs with Diffractive Vector Meson Leptoproduction at eRHIC Michael Savastio Here we compare predictions for diffractive vector meson production from two different non-perturbative saturating dipole models both with each other and with perturbative QCD for both $e+p$ and $e+A$ and study their sensitivity to the gluon PDF $g(x,Q^{2})$. We also discuss opportunities for studying gluon PDFs with diffractive physics at a future Electron Ion Collider. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, February 14, 2010 9:42AM - 9:54AM |
G11.00007: Implementing Hardy's Test of Local Realism Zachary Carson, David Jackson, Brett Pearson We perform a test of local realism based on Hardy's proposed method and its implementation by Carlson, Olmstead and Beck. The test uses spontaneous parametric downconversion to produce polarization-entangled photon pairs (twins). The twins are sent down spatially separate paths, through polarizing beam splitters, and into one of four channels of a Single Photon Counting Module (SPCM). Correlation rates are then measured in a manner capable of distinguishing between photon behavior predicted by quantum mechanics and that predicted by local realism. Preliminary results will be given. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, February 14, 2010 9:54AM - 10:06AM |
G11.00008: Quantum Interference of Two Independent Sources Justin Dove An experiment performed by Pfleegor and Mandel demonstrated temporal interference between two attenuated lasers. This study explores the possibility of producing double-slit interference in a similar manner using two lasers of equal wavelength and polarization. Each is focused and aligned such that at the double-slit one is directed through one slit and the other through the other slit, with effectively no overlap. The lasers are then attenuated greatly such that in a given detector time window the probability of more than one photon being transmitted is negligible. Classically, one would expect interference from independent sources to wash out due to lack of coherence. We explore the possibility of quantum interference if we can erase any information that distinguishes the sources. If it is possible to achieve indistinguishability, a superposition state generating identical results as from a single broad, coherent source may be achieved. Alternatively, if a distinguishable mixture is formed, no interference should result. Ultimately, this experiment will address questions of knowledge of a state versus reality of a state. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, February 14, 2010 10:06AM - 10:18AM |
G11.00009: Experimental Study of Backwards-Wave Solitons in an Electrical Lattice S.G. Wheeler, L.Q. English Discrete solitons are generated in an electrical lattice consisting of capacitive and inductive elements in which the group velocity of a wave-packet is always opposite to the phase velocity. Furthermore, the lattice is nonlinear by virtue of using diodes (pn junctions) for which the effective capacitance varies with voltage, instead of regular capacitors. We find experimentally that backwards-wave solitons can be produced in this system, and we study (among other things) the profile and propagation of this novel type of soliton as a function of experimental parameters. [Preview Abstract] |
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