Production and Quality Tests of Carbon Strip Targets for RHIC Polarimetery

Spin physics at BNL involves the study of polarized proton-proton collisions in order to better understand proton spin structure. The RHIC accelerator complex is capable of producing a longitudinal or transversely polarized proton beam with a maximum polarization of 70\% and up to a beam energy of 250 GeV. Since research depends heavily on the degree of polarization of the proton beam, it is necessary to check the polarization of the beam after it has left its source by using a polarimeter. There are two polarimeters at RHIC, the Hydrogen-Jet and proton-Carbon (pC) polarimeters. The pC polarimeters measure the polarization of the protons by colliding the beam with a carbon strip target and then measuring the angle of deflection. The targets used in pC polarimeters are manufactured at BNL through an evaporation technique and must have a width of less than 10 $\mu$m. After production, quality checks must be made to ensure that the carbon targets are suitable for use. This poster will focus on the production and quality control of the targets to be used in pC polarimeters.