ePIC at EIC
Main Project:
ePIC, comprising hundreds of dedicated scientists and engineers, is committed to unraveling the mysteries of matter's structure at the Electron-Ion Collider, situated at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Together, we are constructing the world's most advanced particle detector, poised to analyze collisions between electrons and protons or other nuclei, shedding light on the fundamental constituents of visible matter—quarks and gluons. Through our collaborative efforts, we aim not only to deepen our understanding of nature's fundamental forces but also to pioneer new technologies and nurture the next generation of scientific talent, driving innovation and progress in our society.
Research and Development:
pfRICH : The pfRICH, a proximity-focusing Ring Imaging CHerenkov detector, is designed for particle identification in the backward region of the ePIC detector at the Electron-Ion Collider. Comprising a tiled aerogel radiator with a refractive index of ⟨n⟩ ∼ 1.045, it features a cylindrical vessel coaxial to the electron beam line. Large-size Micro-Channel Plate Photomultiplier Tubes serve as photosensors, covering the pseudorapidity range of approximately −3.5 ≤ η ≤ −1.5. With fine time resolution (better than ∼50 ps), the pfRICH enables e/π and π/K/p identification based on ring imaging and provides a time-of-flight (ToF) measurement of ∼20 ps. This enhances low-pT PID of hadrons and electrons, offering a time reference (t0) for ToF detectors in the barrel and forward endcap. The pfRICH's expected momentum range aligns with the physics requirements outlined in the EIC Yellow Report (2022).DIRC : At the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) at Brookhaven National Labs, the Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov (DIRC) technology is being adapted for hadronic Particle Identification (PID). Originally used in the BaBar experiment at Stanford Linear Accelerator, synthetic fused silica crystalline radiator bars are being tested in a Cosmic Ray Telescope (CRT). These bars scintillate via Cherenkov radiation triggered by high-energy muons from cosmic rays. Cherenkov photons produced in the bars internally reflect towards micro-channel plate photomultiplier tubes (MCP-PMTs), allowing extraction of the Cherenkov angle. Gas Electron Multipliers and microRWELLs track muon trajectories. Efforts are focused on constructing a light-tight box to house the DIRC radiator bars, which will be placed in the barrel region of the EIC detector.
Contributors:
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Professor:
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Jan Bernauer Abhay Deshpande Axel Drees Thomas Hemmick Joanna Kiryluk |
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Research Faculty:
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Ross Corliss Esha Roli |
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Postdoc:
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Jaydeep Datta Zuhal Demiroglu Wenliang (Bill) Li Charles Joseph Naim (CFNS) Evgeny Shulga |
| Graduate students: |
Nathan Shankman |