MainPage:Nuclear:KaonDetector:AerogelCharacteristics

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Refractive index measurement

Example of aerogel refractive index analysis

File:Refrac index setup.png 1) Experimental setup for the measurement of the aerogel refractive index. A laser sheet is refracted by the tile and hit a target paper. The deviation of the laser can be measured for the calculation of the refractive index.	File:4491.png 2) Part of the laser sheet pass through the aerogel tile, being deflected by its refractive index. The other part pass on the top of the tile, going direct to the reference paper target.	3) Picture of the reference paper with the direct (top) and refracted (bottom) laser beam. Two lines are selected for the pixel intensity analysis, looking for the peaks identification.
4) Calibration process example: a MatLAB code identifies the horizontal line of the target paper.	5) Knowing the grid size of the previous image, the relation pixel to millimeter can be calibrated along the desired line.	6) After the calibration of the two lines (directed and refracted beams), the peaks position can be fitted for the analysis of the refracted beam deflection due to the aerogel.

Kaon Aerogel Detector prototype - Aerogel light yield comparison

In order to compare the different aerogel (refractive index) we will use in the Kaon Aerogel Detector, a set of cosmic rays data was acquired with the CUA's prototype. Details of the prototype can be found in the Prototype page.

To evaluate the relative light yield of the aerogel tiles with refractive indexes 1.030 and 1.015, the setup was run with the same configuration twice (just exchanging the aerogel).

The setup configuration was kept as follows:

• Cosmic ray configuration (two triggering PMTs with scintillator on the top and bottom of the prototype)
• 08 aerogel tiles
• Mylar covering the internal walls of the prototype
• High voltage of -1.80 kV on the PMT
• Blast PMT for all runs (model XP4500/B s/n 09650, with calibration from run 481)

Aerogel comparison under cosmic ray test - Aerogel Prototype

08 tiles of aerogel 1.030. Blast PMT model XP4500/B s/n 09650.

08 tiles of aerogel 1.015. Blast PMT model XP4500/B s/n 09650.

Summary of the aerogel evaluation - Aerogel Prototype

Aerogel relative light yield evaluation using CUA Aerogel Detector prototype. 08 tiles of aerogel with Blast (XP4500/B) PMT.

To see a similar test done for the analysis of the different PMTs options for the Kaon Aerogel Detector, click here.