SLAC's polarized electron source laser system for the E-158 parity violation experiment

Abstract

SLAC E158 is an experiment to make the first measurement of parity violation in Moller scattering. The left-right cross-section asymmetry in the elastic scattering of a 45-GeV polarized electron beam off unpolarized electrons in a liquid hydrogen target will be measured to an accuracy of better than 10-8, with the expected Standard Model asymmetry being approximately 10-7. An intense circularly polarized laser beam for the polarized electron source is required with the ability to quickly switch between left and right polarization states with minimal left-right asymmetries in the parameters of the electron beam. This laser beam is produced by a unique SLAC-designed, flash-lamp pumped, Ti:Sapphire laser. We present this laser system design and initial results from recent commissioning runs.

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