This research focuses on a collaborative experiment amongst eight institutions, Fermilab fixed target experiment, E687. This experiment studies the production of c and b quarks by gamma rays on nuclei. The initial data collection run for E687 was completed in February 1988 and a second run will begin at the end of 1989. E687 is considered to be one of the most important experiments now at Fermilab and the proposers play a major roles in all aspects of E687. The proposers will continue to take the leadership role in the scintillating fiber target (active target) for E687, a new method for measuring heavy quark decays. Limited work will also be carried out in light quark/gluon spectroscopy at Brookhaven National Laboratory and in initial preparations for experiments at the Superconducting Super Collider, SSC. The field of research is that of experimental elementary particle physics. This research studies the basic building blocks of matter (e.g., electrons, positrons, quarks and weak bosons) at very high energies. The experiments use accelerators and colliders which provide the highest energy particles made in the laboratory. The data is collected and analyzed using highly complex and sophisticated apparatus and techniques.
