Search for highly ionizing particles in e/sup +/e/sup -/ collisions at PEP

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5211106

Kinoshita, K

A search for highly ionizing particles produced in e/sup +/e/sup -/ collisions at 29 GeV energy in the center-of-mass found no evidence for the production of highly ionizing particles with mass less than 14 GeV/c/sup 2/, to a level two orders of magnitude below the q.e.d. point cross section. The detectors used in the search, CR-39 and Lexan plastic track detector sheets, are discussed in the context of this search. As a recently discovered track detector, the CR-39 had to be calibrated for its detector response using ion beams of known energy. This search was sensitive to particles with magnetic charge 20 approx.( g/e approx.( 200 or electric charge 3 approx.( Z approx.( 200. The charge sensitivity of the detectors was verified by the detection of background particles. A luminosity monitor was built and operated briefly in one interaction region to confirm beam collisions. The luminosity reading was found to be comparable to those obtained in other interaction regions at PEP. To provide a meaningful comparison of the various searches conducted at accelerators, the cross section limit is presented in a new way assuming single-photon pair production, the most probable production mechanism. It is demonstrated that this search has made a significant improvement on previous cross section limits for production of highly ionizing particles with masses 3-14 GeV/c/sup 2/. The capabilities of future searches at higher energy colliding beam facilities are discussed.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5211106
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ELECTRON-POSITRON INTERACTIONS
PARTICLE PRODUCTION
CROSS SECTIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GEV RANGE 10-100
LIMITING VALUES
PEP STORAGE RINGS
DATA
ENERGY RANGE
GEV RANGE
INFORMATION
INTERACTIONS
LEPTON-LEPTON INTERACTIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
STORAGE RINGS
645101* - High Energy Physics- Particle Interactions & Properties-Experimental- Electromagnetic Interactions & Properties