Changes

Overall, the GlueX experiment is designed to test the existence and effects of confinement in quantum chromodynamics. Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is a theory of the atomic strong force which also encompasses the interactions of the quarks and gluons that compose hadrons. Quarks, gluons, and hadrons are all subatomic particles, the largest of them being the hadrons, which include protons and neutrons. Gluons are also important because they are the "glue" that modern researchers believe holds the subatomic particles in place. Quarks (as well as leptons) bind to the hadrons in an atom, and because of this a quark often blends in with its hadron during spectroscopy experiments. Quarks exist in quantum states, such that they are assgned quantum numbers for J (spin), P (parity), and C (charge conjugation). The modern understanding of quarks comes from extensive research and theory on the subject of mesons, which are essentially hadrons with integer spins that make them easier to study. Because of this it was possible to find that mesons are bound to both quarks and antiquarks in different states. In a similar area of research, the idea of confinement was developed as a subtheory of QCD that is based on the idea that a quark is infinitely inseparable from its hadron, because the large amount of energy required for the separation would be impossible to generate. Experimental physics has suggested that confinement is a viable and probable theory, and GlueX seeks to furhter define and identify its existence and qualities. In the GlueX experiment, the gluonic field which binds quarks together will be excited, with the hopes of  producing a spectrum of exotic mesons, which have quantum numbers that are impossibly suited to mesons within the quark model previously described. GlueX will map these exotic mesons by probing their corresponding hadrons (protons). Ultimately, if GlueX is successful it will be the first time that such exotic mesons have been observed experimentally, and will greatly bolster the theory of confinement in QCD.

Overall, the GlueX experiment is designed to test the existence and effects of confinement in quantum chromodynamics. Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is a theory of the atomic strong force which also encompasses the interactions of the quarks and gluons that compose hadrons. Quarks, gluons, and hadrons are all subatomic particles, the largest of them being the hadrons, which include protons and neutrons. Gluons are also important because they are the "glue" that modern researchers believe holds the subatomic particles in place. Quarks (as well as leptons) bind to the hadrons in an atom, and because of this a quark often blends in with its hadron during spectroscopy experiments. Quarks exist in quantum states, such that they are assgned quantum numbers for J (spin), P (parity), and C (charge conjugation). The modern understanding of quarks comes from extensive research and theory on the subject of mesons, which are essentially hadrons with integer spins that make them easier to study. Because of this it was possible to find that mesons are bound to both quarks and antiquarks in different states. In a similar area of research, the idea of confinement was developed as a subtheory of QCD that is based on the idea that a quark is infinitely inseparable from its hadron, because the large amount of energy required for the separation would be impossible to generate. Experimental physics has suggested that confinement is a viable and probable theory, and GlueX seeks to furhter define and identify its existence and qualities. In the GlueX experiment, the gluonic field which binds quarks together will be excited, with the hopes of  producing a spectrum of exotic mesons, which have quantum numbers that are impossibly suited to mesons within the quark model previously described. GlueX will map these exotic mesons by probing their corresponding hadrons (protons). Ultimately, if GlueX is successful it will be the first time that such exotic mesons have been observed experimentally, and will greatly bolster the theory of confinement in QCD.

The final experiment will be contained in the newly-constructed Hall D at J-Lab sometime around 2014. However, the prototype tagger microscope that is being designed and constructed at UConn will be complete in 2009, and will be tested as soon as possible in another hall at J-Lab or a similar accelerator facility if J-Lab is unavailable. My work so far relates directly to this prototype.

Overall, the GlueX experiment will use the coherent bremsstrahlung technique to generate a linearly-polarized photon beam. This photon beam will pass through a solenoid-based hermetic detector which is being designed to collect data on meson production and decay. ...

During the fall 2008 semester, a huge development in the project is the finalization of a design for the “skeleton” framework that will both support and contain the electronic, optical, and mechanical components of the microscope. To do this, TurboCad drafting software was used to create ANSI-standardized renderings of the different pieces that will ultimately come together to form the skeleton. The idea for a skeleton framework for the actual microscope box was decided on as a way to conserve weight in the final design. The final design must also be light-sealed and durable, and the contents of the box must be easily accessible for routine maintenance. All of these specific considerations were taken into account when designing the tagger microscope's skeleton (and complete box), and all of the details of this work are described below.  

The final experiment will be contained in the newly-constructed Hall D at J-Lab sometime around 2014. The prototype for the tagger microscope that is being designed and constructed at UConn will be complete in 2009, and will be tested as soon as possible in another hall at J-Lab or a similar accelerator facility if J-Lab is unavailable. My work so far relates directly to this prototype.

Overall, the hope is to have the pieces of the skeleton machined and the box for the prototype microscope assembled by early 2009. The prototype is designed as a scaled-down model of the final microscope, and will be tested in a beamline at Jefferson Lab or a similar facility.

During the fall 2008 semester, a huge development in the project is the finalization of a design for the “skeleton” framework that will both support and contain the electronic, optical, and mechanical components of the microscope. To do this, TurboCad drafting software was used to create ANSI-standardized renderings of the different pieces that will ultimately come together to form the skeleton. The idea for a skeleton framework for the actual microscope box was decided on as a way to conserve weight in the final design. The final design must also be light-sealed and durable, and the contents of the box must be easily accessible for routine maintenance. All of these specific considerations were taken into account when designing the tagger microscope's skeleton (and complete box), and all of the details of this work are described below.

==Summary of Work during the Fall 2008 Semester==

==Summary of Work during the Fall 2008 Semester==