High density cluster jet target for storage ring experiments

TL;DR

This paper presents a new hydrogen cluster jet target system capable of achieving high target thicknesses suitable for storage ring experiments, with detailed studies on beam properties and cluster velocities.

Contribution

The development of a high-density hydrogen cluster jet target with systematic characterization for storage ring experiments is introduced as a novel achievement.

Findings

Target thickness above 10^15 atoms/cm^2 achieved at 2 meters distance.

Detailed measurements of cluster velocities and distributions conducted.

Beam density and profile optimized for future fixed target experiments.

Abstract

The design and performance of a newly developed cluster jet target installation for hadron physics experiments are presented which, for the first time, is able to generate a hydrogen cluster jet beam with a target thickness of above $10^{15}\,\mathrm{atoms/cm}^2$ at a distance of two metres behind the cluster jet nozzle. The properties of the cluster beam and of individual clusters themselves are studied at this installation. Special emphasis is placed on measurements of the target beam density as a function of the relevant parameters as well as on the cluster beam profiles. By means of a time-of-flight setup, measurements of the velocity of single clusters and velocity distributions were possible. The complete installation, which meets the requirements of future internal fixed target experiments at storage rings, and the results of the systematic studies on hydrogen cluster jets are presented and discussed.