Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
8-2016
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Department
Physics and Astronomy
Degree Program
Physics, MS
Committee Chair
Brown, David
Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)
Davis, Christopher
Committee Member
Davis, Christopher
Committee Member
Wildstrom, Jacob
Committee Member
Smadici, Serban
Author's Keywords
particle physics; experimental particle physics; high energy physics; experimental high energy physics; backgrounds; Mu2e
Abstract
This thesis will introduce radiative pion capture (RPC), a process which can produce a fake signal in a search for the coherent conversion of a muon to an electron in the presence of a nucleus. There will be a brief introduction to standard model (SM) physics, as well as some more in-depth discussion of the relevant high energy physics at the Mu2e experiment. We will discuss charged lepton flavor violation (CLFV), as well as Supersymmetry, which predicts CLFV at higher intensities than the SM prediction. A description of the RPC process follows, including the external and internal conversions in pion captures, and these processes' contributions to background at Mu2e. We will conclude with an estimate of the background contributions as obtained with analysis of Monte Carlo simulations.
Recommended Citation
Colston, Jacob, "A study of the radiative pion capture process as a background to the search for muon to electron conversion with the mu2e experiment." (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2509.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/2509
