## Physics & Astronomy ETDs

7-5-2012

#### Abstract

Several particle detector technologies were studied. These include measurements of the leakage current and capacitance of irradiated planar and 3D sensors. The inter-electrode capacitance of proton irradiated 3D sensors was measured using two methods and compared to simulation. Planar n-type MCz diodes were exposed to neutron and gamma radiation and the effects on defects characterized. A set of n- and p-type Fz and MCz diodes were irradiated with protons and their annealing properties extracted using the Hamburg Model. A measurement of the fraction of D$^{*+}$ mesons originating from a $b$-quark compared to those directly produced from a charm is presented. The charm mesons were fully reconstructed in the mode D$^{*+}\rightarrow$D$^{0}\pi^{+}$ where D$^{0}\rightarrow$K$^{-}\pi^{+}$. The analysis was based on data collected from the minimum bias trigger of the ATLAS detector at $\sqrt{s}=7~\rm{TeV}$ proton-proton collisions produced by the LHC. The distribution of the impact parameter of the D$^{0}$ meson with respect to the primary vertex was studied to distinguish charm mesons produced promptly from those through $b$-quark decays.

Physics

Doctoral

#### Department Name

Physics & Astronomy

Seidel, Sally

Gorelov, Igor

#### Second Committee Member

Allahverdi, Rouzbeh

Bean, Alice

English

#### Keywords

Nuclear track detectors, Mesons--Measurement, Quarks--Decay--Measurement, Silicon diodes--Effect of radiation on, Charmonium.

Dissertation

COinS