Cherenkov Detectors for Precision Parity Experiments

Fused silica Cherenkov detectors are ideal for measuring high-rate fluxes of charged particles. The parity program at Jefferson Lab relies on these detectors to measure cross section asymmetries, some of which are predicted to be on the order of tens of parts per billion. Given the required precision of such experiments, it is important that the resolution of these detectors is minimized. Detectors must be optimized while conforming to the physics and engineering constraints of a specific experiment. Two upcoming JLab experiments that will utilize Cherenkov detectors are the Lead (Pb) Radius EXperiment (PREX) and Measurement Of a Lepton-Lepton Electroweak Reaction (MOLLER). PREX will constrain the neutron equation of state by measuring the neutron skin thickness of $^{208}$Pb. MOLLER will test the Standard Model by providing the most precise low-energy measurement of the weak mixing angle. Several detector prototypes have been designed, tested, and simulated to meet the demands of PREX and MOLLER. Presented here is a summary of ongoing work to design state-of-the-art Cherenkov detectors for precision parity experiments.