Tagging High Energy Photons in the H1 Detector at HERA

TL;DR

This paper describes the installation and performance of a new electromagnetic calorimeter, ET8, at HERA to improve detection of high-energy photons and electrons in photoproduction events, enabling studies at higher energies.

Contribution

Introduction of the ET8 calorimeter to extend H1 detector acceptance for high y photoproduction events and improve measurement capabilities.

Findings

Successful prototype tests near the ET8 position.

Enhanced acceptance for high y events in 1998-1999 data.

Potential for studying gamma p interactions at higher energies.

Abstract

Measures taken to extend the acceptance of the H1 detector at HERA for photoproduction events are described. These will enable the measurement of electrons scattered in events in the high y range 0.85 < y < 0.95 in the 1998 and 1999 HERA run period. The improvement is achieved by the installation of an electromagnetic calorimeter, the ET8, in the HERA tunnel close to the electron beam line 8 m downstream of the H1 interaction point in the electron direction. The ET8 will allow the study of tagged gamma p interactions at centre-of-mass energies significantly higher than those previously attainable. The calorimeter design and expected performance are discussed, as are results obtained using a prototype placed as close as possible to the position of the ET8 during the 1996 and 1997 HERA running.