The CMS Zero Degree Calorimeters, ZDCs, will measure photons and neutrons emitted with |η| ≥ 8.6 from Pb+Pb, p+Pb and p+p collisions at √ s N N = 5.5, 8.8 and 14 TeV respectively. The calorimeter consists of an electromagnetic part segmented in the horizontal direction and an hadronic part segmented into four units in depth. In addition CMS will have access to data from a segmented shower maximum detector being built for luminosity measurements. We will present detailed results from tests beam measurements taken at the CERN SPS. These data will be used to extrapolate the utility of the ZDCs to measure photons, and possibly π 0 s in p+p and ultra-peripheral heavy-ion collisions. Data from the hadronic section can be used to estimate the number of participants in heavy ion-collisions. In addition we will discuss plans to use the detector to measure the reaction plane, thereby extending the sensitivity of the central detectors in CMS.

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This paper explores using Electrostatically Inflated Membrane Structures (EIMS) in a plasma flow. In particular, experiments are presented illustrating EIMS inflation in an electron flux while studying the structural stability. EIMS consists of conducting membranes coupled with active charge emission to provide an inflationary electrostatic pressure. Of interest is how the light-weight membrane charge distribution will interact with an electron flux, and will the deflection of this charge cause a structural response. Vacuum chamber experiments are performed with electron flux energies up to 5keV, while the membranes are charged using an external power supply up to 10kV. The experiments show that EIMS will remain inflated in the presence of this low-energy electron flux, which provides critical insight into developing Low-Earth Orbit EIMS experiments. At particular EIMS voltages and electron flux energy levels, unknown membrane vibrations are observed. Studying the experimental setup, these vibrations are not due to variations in the power supply or the electron flux, nor are they due to the momentum exchange of charge deflection. Rather, it is postulated these vibrations are due to the charge flux causing local membrane charge distribution changes. As the membrane structure inflation pressure is changed, the shape responds, and causes the observed sustained vibration. Having identified this phenomena is important when considering implying EIMS in a space environment.