Construction of silica aerogel radiator system for Belle II RICH Counter

• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2017.02.036
• Publication Date: 2017-02-20T21:47:27Z
• Authors: I. Adachi; R. Dolenec; K. Hataya; S. Iori; S. Iwata; H. Kakuno; R. Kataura; H. Kawai; H. Kindo; T. Kobayashi; S. Korpar; P. Križan; T. Kumita; M. Mrvar; S. Nishida; K. Ogawa; S. Ogawa; R. Pestotnik; L. Šantelj; T. Sumiyoshi; M. Tabata; M. Yonenaga; Y. Yusa
• Keywords: Radiator (engine cooling); Particle counter; Particle identification; Particle (ecology)

Abstract We have developed a RICH counter as a new forward particle identification device for the Belle II experiment. As a Cherenkov radiator in this counter, a dual aerogel layer combination consisting of two refractive indicies, n =1.045 and 1.055, is employed. Mass production of these aerogel tiles has been done during 2013–2014 with new method improved by Chiba group. Optical qualities for them have been examined. The refractive indices of the obtained tiles were found to be in good agreement with our expectations, and the transparencies were high enough to be used for the RICH radiator.