An Examination of STAR 2012 pi0 Data with Longitudinally Polarized Proton Collisions at 500 GeV
Faculty Sponsor
Adam Gibson-Even
College
Arts and Sciences
Discipline(s)
Physics
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 5-2-2015
Abstract
A recent global analysis of the proton spin has provided evidence for positive gluon polarization Δg(x) for the momentum fraction range of 0.05 < x < 0.20. The region x < 0.05 remains relatively poorly constrained, and may provide a significant contribution to the spin of the proton. The STAR detector can bbe used to measure the effects of quark and gluon spins in the proton through the measurement of asymmetries in neutral pion production for different polarization states. The Relativistic Heavy Ion collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory is uniquely able to collide polarized protons. Data from the proton-proton run in 2012 has significantly higher integrated luminosity at a higher center of mass energy of 500 GeV than previous datasets, allowing better access to Δg(x) at low x. The STAR endcap electromagnetic calorimeter, or EEMC, is able to detect neutral pions in the range of pseudorapidity 0.8 < η < 2.0, a region at this energy where Δg(x) for x < 0.05 can be examined. Preliminary work on 2012 data will be shown.
Recommended Citation
Place, Stephen, "An Examination of STAR 2012 pi0 Data with Longitudinally Polarized Proton Collisions at 500 GeV" (2015). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 404.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/404
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Stephen Place is a junior physics major.