Collaborative Research: MRI-Consortium for the Development and Construction of a Longitudinally Polarized Proton and Deuteron Target for CLAS12 at Jefferson Lab

Christopher Newport University, Newport News VA

Investigators

Abstract

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). This award is for a collaborative effort of researchers from Christopher Newport University (CNU), Old Dominion University (ODU), and the University of Virginia (UVA) to develop and construct a longitudinally polarized proton and deuteron target. This target is intended to be used with the CLAS12 detector as an essential part of the high-priority PAC approved electron scattering experiments to study the internal structure of the nucleon as part of the 12 GeV program at Jefferson Lab (JLab). This will expand the spin structure program at JLab and be used to determine the contribution of the valance quarks to the properties of the nucleon. The target will use standard solid materials (15NH3, 15ND3, and possibly LiD) at ~1K and will be dynamically polarized in the 5 T field of the CLAS12 central solenoid. The design and construction of this target will have positive impacts on the training of future scientists because undergraduate and graduate students will be deeply involved in the process. This award will enable the knowledge transfer from experts at UVA to other researchers. A polarized target with the proposed specifications will have a strong impact on the research program at Jefferson Lab.