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Matthew Miller
James Madison University

Subject Listing - Physics/Astronomy
Advisor: Dr. Kevin Giovanetti

Thursday, Oral Session 1, Presentation 2, Robinson Hall 217

INSTALLATION OF THE MULAN CALIBRATION SYSTEM

The purpose of the MULAN project is to measure the muon decay rate to an accuracy of better than one PPM and use this data to calculate the Fermi constant. To do this a target is placed in the muon beam of Paul Scherrer Institute of Villligen, Switzerland. Decays are detected via photomultiplier tubes. Members of the JMU physics department built the calibration system. This system utilizes LEDs to simulate an event in scintillation detectors complete data run. Installation began in the summer of 2004 and was completed by August of 2005. After the full installation was successful, further tests demonstrated the viability of the system. The detector is now capable of being fully calibrated.

Advisor: Dr. Kevin Giovanetti, Professor, Physics, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA