The CDFII Time-Of-Flight Detector and Impact on Beauty Flavor Tagging

TL;DR

The CDFII Time-of-Flight detector enhances particle identification and flavor tagging in high-energy physics experiments by providing precise timing measurements to distinguish between kaons and pions, thereby improving B meson studies.

Contribution

This paper introduces the design, calibration, and initial performance of the CDFII TOF detector, highlighting its role in improving flavor tagging of neutral B_S mesons.

Findings

Achieved near 100 ps timing resolution

Provided effective K/π separation for p<1.6 GeV/c

Enhanced B_S meson flavor tagging capabilities

Abstract

The new CDFII detector incorporates a Time-of-Flight detector (TOF), employing plastic scintillator bars and fine-mesh photomultipliers. Since August 2001 the TOF system has been fully instrumented and integrated into the CDFII data acquisition system. With a design goal of $100 ps$ resolution the TOF system will provide at least two standard deviations separation between $K^{\pm}$ and $\pi^{\pm}$ for momenta $p<1.6 GeV/c$, complementing low momentum particle identification by means of the specific ionization energy loss measured in the drift chamber. We describe the design of the TOF detector and discuss the current status of its calibration and initial performances. Finally we review the expected impact of the TOF detector in the flavor tagging of neutral $B_S$ meson.