Single particle detection system for strong-field QED experiments. (31st December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Salgado, F C; Cavanagh, N; Tamburini, M; Storey, D W; Beyer, R; Bucksbaum, P H; Chen, Z; Di Piazza, A; Gerstmayr, E; Harsh, ; Isele, E; Junghans, A R; Keitel, C H; Kuschel, S; Nielsen, C F; Reis, D A; Roedel, C; Sarri, G; Seidel, A; Schneider, C; Uggerhøj, U I; Wulff, J; Yakimenko, V; Zepter, C; Meuren, S; Zepf, M
• Is Part Of: New journal of physics. Volume 24:Number 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2021-12-31
• Subjects: strong-field QED -- pair-creation -- single-particle detection -- Cherenkov calorimeter -- Breit–Wheeler process; Physics -- Periodicals; Physics; Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/ac4283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-2630

Abstract

Abstract: Measuring signatures of strong-field quantum electrodynamics (SF-QED) processes in an intense laser field is an experimental challenge: it requires detectors to be highly sensitive to single electrons and positrons in the presence of the typically very strong x-ray and γ -photon background levels. In this paper, we describe a particle detector capable of diagnosing single leptons from SF-QED interactions and discuss the background level simulations for the upcoming Experiment-320 at FACET-II (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory). The single particle detection system described here combines pixelated scintillation LYSO screens and a Cherenkov calorimeter. We detail the performance of the system using simulations and a calibration of the Cherenkov detector at the ELBE accelerator. Single 3 GeV leptons are expected to produce approximately 537 detectable photons in a single calorimeter channel. This signal is compared to Monte-Carlo simulations of the experiment. A signal-to-noise ratio of 18 in a single Cherenkov calorimeter detector is expected and a spectral resolution of 2% is achieved using the pixelated LYSO screens.