23 research outputs found
Light response of pure CsI calorimeter crystals painted with wavelength-shifting lacquer
We have measured scintillation properties of pure CsI crystals used in the
shower calorimeter built for a precise determination of the pi+ -> pi0 e+ nu
decay rate at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). All 240 individual crystals
painted with a special wavelength-shifting solution were examined in a
custom-build detection apparatus (RASTA=radioactive source tomography
apparatus) that uses a 137Cs radioactive gamma source, cosmic muons and a light
emitting diode as complementary probes of the scintillator light response. We
have extracted the total light output, axial light collection nonuniformities
and timing responses of the individual CsI crystals. These results predict
improved performance of the 3 pi sr PIBETA calorimeter due to the painted
lateral surfaces of 240 CsI crystals. The wavelength-shifting paint treatment
did not affect appreciably the total light output and timing resolution of our
crystal sample. The predicted energy resolution for positrons and photons in
the energy range of 10-100 MeV was nevertheless improved due to the more
favorable axial light collection probability variation. We have compared
simulated calorimeter ADC spectra due to 70 MeV positrons and photons with a
Monte Carlo calculation of an ideal detector light response.Comment: Elsevier LaTeX, 35 pages in e-print format, 15 Postscript Figures and
4 Tables, also available at
http://pibeta.phys.virginia.edu/~pibeta/subprojects/csipro/tomo/rasta.p
Design, Commissioning and Performance of the PIBETA Detector at PSI
We describe the design, construction and performance of the PIBETA detector
built for the precise measurement of the branching ratio of pion beta decay,
pi+ -> pi0 e+ nu, at the Paul Scherrer Institute. The central part of the
detector is a 240-module spherical pure CsI calorimeter covering 3*pi sr solid
angle. The calorimeter is supplemented with an active collimator/beam degrader
system, an active segmented plastic target, a pair of low-mass cylindrical wire
chambers and a 20-element cylindrical plastic scintillator hodoscope. The whole
detector system is housed inside a temperature-controlled lead brick enclosure
which in turn is lined with cosmic muon plastic veto counters. Commissioning
and calibration data were taken during two three-month beam periods in
1999/2000 with pi+ stopping rates between 1.3*E3 pi+/s and 1.3*E6 pi+/s. We
examine the timing, energy and angular detector resolution for photons,
positrons and protons in the energy range of 5-150 MeV, as well as the response
of the detector to cosmic muons. We illustrate the detector signatures for the
assorted rare pion and muon decays and their associated backgrounds.Comment: 117 pages, 48 Postscript figures, 5 tables, Elsevier LaTeX, submitted
to Nucl. Instrum. Meth.
Precise Measurement of the Pi+ -> Pi0 e+ nu Branching Ratio
Using a large acceptance calorimeter and a stopped pion beam we have made a
precise measurement of the rare Pi+ -> Pi0 e+ Nu,(pi_beta) decay branching
ratio. We have evaluated the branching ratio by normalizing the number of
observed pi_beta decays to the number of observed Pi+ -> e+ Nu, (pi_{e2})
decays. We find the value of Gamma(Pi+ -> Pi0 e+ Nu)/Gamma(total) = [1.036 +/-
0.004(stat.) +/- 0.004(syst.) +/- 0.003(pi_{e2})] x 10^{-8}$, where the first
uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third is the pi_{e2}
branching ratio uncertainty. Our result agrees well with the Standard Model
prediction.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, revtex4; changed content; updated
analysi