The discovery of the b quark at Fermilab in 1977: The experiment coordinator's story
Abstract
I present the history of the discovery of the Upsilon (Υ) particle (the first member of the b-quark family to be observed) at Fermilab in 1977 by the CFS (Columbia-Fermilab-Stony Brook collaboration) E288 experiment headed by Leon Lederman. We found the first evidence of the Υ in November 1976 in an early phase of E288. The subsequent discovery in the spring of 1977 resulted from an upgraded E288-the μμII phase, optimized for dimuons, with about 100 times the sensitivity of the previous investigatory dimuon phase (which had been optimized for dielectrons). The events leading to the discovery, the planning of μμII and the running, including a misadventure (the infamous Shunt Fire of May 1977), are described. Some discussions of the aftermath, a summary, and an acknowledgment list end this brief historical note.
- Publication:
-
Twenty Beautiful Years of Bottom Physics
- Pub Date:
- February 1998
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 1998AIPC..424...29Y
- Keywords:
-
- 14.65.Fy;
- 14.40.Gx;
- Bottom quarks;
- Mesons with S=C=B=0 mass>2.5 GeV