Precision Small Scattering Angle Measurements of Elastic Proton-Proton Single and Double Spin Analyzing Powers at the RHIC Hydrogen Jet Polarimeter.

The Polarized Atomic Hydrogen Gas Jet Target polarimeter is employed by the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) to measure the absolute polarization of each colliding proton beam. Polarimeter detectors and data acquisition were upgraded in 2015 to increase solid angle, energy range, and energy resolution. These upgrades and advanced systematic error analysis along with improved beam intensity and polarization in RHIC runs 2015 (E_{beam}=100 GeV) and 2017 (255 GeV) allowed us to greatly reduce the statistical and systematic uncertainties for elastic spin asymmetries, A_{N}(t) and A_{NN}(t), in the Coulomb-nuclear interference momentum transfer range 0.0013<-t<0.018 GeV^{2}. For the first time hadronic single spin-flip r_{5} and double spin-flip r_{2} amplitude parameters were reliably isolated at these energies and momentum transfers. Measurements at two beam energies enable a separation of Pomeron and Regge pole contributions to r_{5}(s) and r_{2}(s), indicating that the spin component may persist at high energies.

Measurement of the Spin Tune Using the Coherent Spin Motion of Polarized Protons in a Storage Ring.

This Letter reports the first spin tune measurement at high energies (24 and 255 GeV) with a driven coherent spin motion. To maintain polarization in a polarized proton collider, it is important to know the spin tune of the polarized proton beam, which is defined as the number of full spin precessions per revolution. A nine-magnet spin flipper has demonstrated high spin-flip efficiency in the presence of two Siberian snakes [H. Huang et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 264804 (2018).10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.264804]. The spin flipper drives a spin resonance with a given frequency (or tune) and strength. When the drive tune is close to the spin tune, the proton spin direction is not vertical anymore, but precesses around the vertical direction. By measuring the precession frequency of the horizontal component, the spin tune can be precisely measured. A driven coherent spin motion and fast turn-by-turn polarization measurement are keys to the measurement. The vertical spin direction is restored after turning the spin flipper off and the polarization value is not affected by the measurement. The fact that this manipulation preserves the polarization makes it possible to measure the spin tune during the operation of a high energy accelerator.