HARP

Collaboration:

- INFN: Bari, Legnaro, Milano, Ferrara, Napoli, Padova, Roma I , Roma III, Trieste
- CERN. Geneva, Switzerland
- Belgium: Louvain-la-Neuve UCL
- Bulgaria: Sofia Academy of Sciences; Sofia University ,
- France: Paris VI-VII University
- Germany: Dortmund University
- Russia: JINR, Dubna; P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute; INR, Moskow; IHEP, Protvino
- Spain: Valencia University
- Switzerland: Geneve University
- United Kingdom: Oxford University; RAL; Sheffield University

Laboratory and Beam: CERN, CPS proton and pion

National Responsible: V. Palladino (Na)

1 Goal of the Experiment

The HARP experiment is a measurement of hadroproduction, the first phase of a wide ranging campaign meant to reduce the uncertainties induced by hadroproduction in the field of neutrino physics.

The HARP experiment will carry out, at the CERN PS, a programme of precise measurements of secondary hadrons,over the full solid angle, produced on thin and thick nuclear targets by beams of protons and pions with momentum in the range 2 to 15 GeV/c.

More on the experiment...

2

Activities during 2001

The activity of the Collaboration was focussed on the completion of the experimental apparatus, on its full installation in the beam line, on its debugging using cosmic rays and particle beams and on the setup of the software for the monitoring of the performances and for the efficiency evaluation and finally on physics datataking in the second half of the year.

All the planned milestones have been fulfilled by the end of the Year 2001:

- Completion of the installation of the apparatus [except Time Projection Chamber (TPC)]
- Begin/End 2nd Technical Run
- Completion of installation of the apparatus, including TPC
- Begin Datataking Run
- Completion of preliminary monitor and analysis software
- First complete evaluation of efficiencies & acceptances

exception made for completion of physics data taking, as this started, with a few months of delay, in the middle of August.

The entitre apparatus, except TPC and Cerenkov, complete of preliminary sofware, has been ready on the planned date (May 1st). The beginning of datataking was delayed because 1) the Cerenkov, installed mid-April, was to be removed from the beam area for repairs 2) the installation of the TPC, planned on May 1st, also registered a delay.
A sizeable amount of data have been taken in 2001 on a large number of targets and several beam energies. Analysis of these data is in progress. The additional accelerator time (20 weeks and possibly more) in 2002 necessary for completion of the measurement was granted in October by the PS Program Committee (SPSC) that congratulated the Collaboration for the tremendous effort carried out almost within its very strict time scale.

Milestones 2002

Completion of maintenance and repair work for the run in 2002 | 28-02-2002
First pass analysis of 2001 data, first results | 1-03-2002
Completion of setting up for the run with the help of cosmic ray data | 31-3-2002
Beginning datataking 2002 in the beam | 1-04-2002
New semifinal evaluation of efficiencies & acceptances | 15-06-2002
Progress of analysis of 2001 data, first publication? | 15-07-2002
Completion of datataking on the beam | 15-08-2002
Completion of final calibrations and alignements | 31-08-2002
Completion of dismantling. Repatriation of the instrumentation end October | 30-09-2002
Quasi final analysis of 2001 data and preliminary analysis of 2002 data | 31-12-2002

3 INFN contribution to the experiment

Manpower:

INFN contributes to the experiment about 1/3 of is manpower, with 38 researchers (17.7 FTE) supported by their mechanical and electronics workshops.

Budget for the Year 2002: 263 kEuro

4 Number of publications in refereed journals: 1

5 Conference talks: 3

6 Number of thesis on HARP:

- 8 undergraduate thesis ongoing
- 1 doctoral thesis ongoing

7 Leadership roles in the experiment

A. Guglielmi(PD), V. Palladino(NA) and E. Radicioni(BA) are respectively project leader of TOF (PD+MI), E-identifier (FE,NA,Roma I and III) and DAQ(BA). P. Zucchelli, CERN staff on leave from INFN-Ferrara is project leader of the TPC, where LNL collaborates. TS collaborates to the Cerenkov . INFN groups have large responsabilities in all aspects of software. G. Catanesi is responsible for Analysis Tools and Event Display.

8 Innovative instruments

The TPC , including its electronics , is a first class modern device, thriving on the experience of the ALEPH and ALICE TPC’s, among many others. All subdetectors are state of the art devices.

9 Competitive experiments: none, at the moment, of comparable promise.

10 International reviews

HARP was reviewed and approved by the CERN SPSC and Research Board and later by INFN Commissione II. It is kept under close scrutiny by both CERN and INFN by means of very frequent status reports.