Measurement of transverse spin asymmetries in polarized proton-proton collisions, and the realization of new electromagnetic calorimeters for forward physics

Single transverse spin asymmetries in polarized proton-proton collisions, AN , are extracted at mid-rapidity and at forward-rapidity. The forward-rapidity data is acquired with a pair of electromagnetic calorimeters which were built as part of the thesis. All aspects of the calorimeters from design to data analysis are dis-cussed. The calorimeters are used to measure non-zero asymmetries at forward-rapidity. The measurements extend to higher pT than previously measured. The data for pT >3 GeV/c are consistent with a 1/pT falloff. A constant asymmetry at high pT is excluded at the two sigma level. At mid-rapidity, precision asymmetries for neutral pions and η mesons are measured. These asymmetries are consistent with zero, and are expected to place bounds on the gluon Sivers function. Lastly, an exploratory double transverse spin asymmetry, AT T , measurement is carried out using coincidences between the two forward calorimeters.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Koster, John, IV

Contributors dc:contributor

• Peng, Jen-Chieh
• Grosse Perdekamp, Matthias
• Greene, Laura H.
• Stack, John D.

• transverse-spin physics
• electromagnetic calorimeter

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 John Koster IV

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/18308

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/18308