Rotor electrometer: New instrument for bulk matter quark search experiments

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1139079· OSTI ID:5154110

Price, J C; Innes, W; Klein, S; Perl, M

The rotor electrometer is a new instrument which we hope will make possible searches for rare fractionally charged impurities in very large quantities of matter. The ultimate goal of the project is to be able to measure the net charge of 10 mg samples of any material to an accuracy of 0.05 q/sub e/ in a few minutes (q/sub e/ is the electron's charge). This paper reports the achievement of subelectron (0.3 q/sub e/) charge resolution with the new device. We discuss effects which limit the resolution and consider prospects for improving the performance to the point where a fractional charge search may be attempted.

• Research Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00515
• OSTI ID: 5154110
• Journal Information: Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States), Journal Name: Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States) Vol. 57:11; ISSN RSINA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
645100 -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Interactions & Properties-Experimental
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ACCURACY
BEAM MONITORS
DESIGN
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRIC MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMETERS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUIPMENT
FARADAY CUPS
IMPURITIES
MATTER
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORS
PERFORMANCE
POSTULATED PARTICLES
QUARK MATTER
QUARKONIUM
QUARKS
RESOLUTION
SENSITIVITY
SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO