Status of the KLOE electromagnetic calorimeter: Final optimization, progress in construction and first calibration

The design and the status of construction of the KLOE electromagnetic calorimeter are described in this report. 18 out of 24 barrel modules have been fully assembled and more than 50% of the end-cap, modules are built. All experimental specifications are fulfilled as shown by the test beam results of the final size prototype. Since the quality of fibers and photomultipliers have gone through improvements, the final calorimeter performances will exceed our expectations. The main parameters of each calorimeter module (light yield, attenuation length and time resolution) are fully surveyed using cosmic rays. Extrapolating the results to electromagnetic showers, a time resolution of 55 ps/root E(GeV) and a resolution of 0.9 cm/root E(GeV) an the coordinate along the fibers are obtained. An energy resolution of 4.7%/root E(GeV) can also be quoted.