Geometry optimization of a muon-electron scattering detector

Abstract

A high-statistics determination of the differential cross section of elastic muon-electron scattering as a function of the transferred four-momentum squared, dσel(μe→μe)/dq2, has been argued to provide an effective constraint to the hadronic contribution to the running of the fine-structure constant, Δαhad, a crucial input for precise theoretical predictions of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. An experiment called ‘‘MUonE’’ is being planned at the north area of CERN for that purpose. We consider the geometry of the detector proposed by the MUonE collaboration and offer a few suggestions on the layout of the passive target material and on the placement of silicon strip sensors, based on a fast simulation of elastic muon-electron scattering events and the investigation of a number of possible solutions for the detector geometry. The employed methodology for detector optimization is of general interest as it may be applied to the design of task-specific detectors for high-energy physics, nuclear physics, and astro-particle physics applications.