Status of the Mice Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment*

Muon ionization cooling is the only solution to prepare high brilliance muon beams necessary for a Neutrino Factory or Muon Collider. The International Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment (MICE) is under development at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL). A dedicated beam line generates a range of input emittances and momenta, with time-of-flight (TOF) and Cherenkov detectors to ensure a pure muon beam. A first measurement of emittance is performed in the upstream magnetic spectrometer with a scintillating fiber tracker. A cooling channel follows, alternating energy loss in liquid hydrogen with acceleration in RF cavities. A second spectrometer and particle identification system measure the outgoing emittance. By fall of 2009, the beam and first set of detectors will be commissioned, and a first emittance measurement will be made. An extensive plan of emittance and cooling measurements will then follow.