Geometry Optimization of a Muon-Electron Scattering Experiment

Abstract

A high-statistics determination of the differential cross section of elastic muon-electron scattering as a function of the transferred four-momentum squared, $d \sigma_{el}(\mu e \to \mu e)/dq^2$, has been argued to provide an effective constraint to the hadronic contribution to the running of the fine-structure constant, $\Delta \alpha_{had}$, a crucial input for precise theoretical predictions of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. An experiment called ``MUonE'' is being planned at the north area of CERN for that purpose. We consider the geometry of the detector proposed by the MUonE collaboration and offer a few suggestions on the layout of the passive target material and on the placement of silicon strip sensors, based on a fast simulation of elastic muon-electron scattering events and the investigation of a number of possible solutions for the detector geometry.