1. SHMS Aerogel Detector Construction is complete
SHMS Aerogel Cherenkov detector: 1 diffusion box, 4 exchangeable aerogel trays of indices 1.03, 1.02, 1.015, 1.011
Built with support of NSF MRI PHY by a consortium led by CUA
Consortium: CUA, University of South Carolina, Florida International University, Yerevan, JLab
Construction is complete
and detector has been installed in the SHMS
Installed between Heavy Gas Cherenkov and 2nd scintillator plane
Covers momentum range from GeV/c
The four aerogel refractive indices cover the momentum range required by the experiments

2. SHMS Hodoscope Trigger Signal: (S1).AND.(S2X)
SHMS Aerogel detector readiness
Detector has been tested with cosmics using the SHMS hodoscope arrays as trigger
Signals time distribution in fADC: Channel for reals,
Channel for accidentals
Pedestal and Single Electron Peak distributions (Fit values were used to calculate number of PE)
SHMS Hodoscope Trigger Signal: (S1).AND.(S2X)
S1 = (S!X).AND.(S1Y)
S1X = (S!XL).AND.(S!XR)
S2X = (S2XL).AND.(S2XR)
All PMT channels are counting – hardware is ready

3. SHMS Hodoscope Trigger Signal: (S1).AND.(S2X)
SHMS Aerogel detector performance
Detector has been tested with cosmics using the SHMS hodoscope arrays as trigger
Reflector material is different for the two indices shown (higher reflectivity for n=1.015)
n=1.030
n=1.015
Inserts show accidentals
Matsushita aerogel previously used in BLAST experiment
JFCC new aerogel
GORE reflector
Millipore reflector
SHMS Hodoscope Trigger Signal: (S1).AND.(S2X)
S1 = (S!X).AND.(S1Y)
S1X = (S!XL).AND.(S!XR)
S2X = (S2XL).AND.(S2XR)
Summed number of photoelectrons
Summed number of photoelectrons
Aerogel trays perform as expected – detector is ready for beam

4. SHMS Aerogel Detector Performance – prior to beam operations
Lines denote expected light output
Details available in: arXiv:
Signal position dependence also as expected

5. SHMS Aerogel Detector – Final preparations
Readout: plug into full SHMS system when ready – support from Hall C required
Currently using smaller scale system similar to full SHMS readout
Analysis software: test with full analysis framework - collaboration
Analysis code has been adapted to SHMS
Final preparation for operation with beam: install SP-30 aerogel tray – support from Hall C required
initial refractive index needed by early experiment run group

6. SHMS Aerogel Detector Operations
Operations Manual has been written to specify detector operations. Includes for example,
Tray Exchange
Servicing PMTs
Configuration changes require coordination with Hall C work coordinator
Responsible Personnel: CUA and Yerevan will be responsible for maintenance and control
CUA: S. Ali, M. Carmignotto, A. Mkrtchyan, T. Horn
Yerevan: A. Asaturyan, H. Mkrtchyan, V. Tadevosyan