Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Walsh, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Walsh, N..

18 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Measurement of the neutron cross section on argon between 95 and 720 MeV

We report an extended measurement of the neutron cross section on argon in the energy range of 95-720 MeV. The measurement was obtained with a 4.3-hour exposure of the Mini-CAPTAIN detector to the WNR/LANSCE beam at LANL. Compared to an earlier analysis of the same data, this extended analysis includes a reassessment of systematic uncertainties, in particular related to unused wires in the upstream part of the detector. Using this information we doubled the fiducial volume in the experiment and increased the statistics by a factor of 2.4. Here we also shifted the analysis from energy bins to time-of-flight bins. This change reduced the overall considered energy range, but improved the understanding of the energy spectrum of incoming neutrons in each bin. Overall, the new measurements are extracted from a fit to the attenuation of the neutron flux in five time-of-flight regions: 140ns-180ns, 120ns-140ns, 112ns-120ns, 104ns-112ns, 96ns-104ns. The final cross sections are given for the flux-averaged energy in each time-of-flight bin with statistical and systematic (syst) uncertainties: σ(146 MeV) = 0.60 $^{+0.14}_{-0.14}$ ±0.08(syst) b, σ(236 MeV) = 0.72 $^{+0.10}_{-0.10}$ ± 0.04(syst) b, σ(319 MeV) = 0.80 $^{+0.13}_{-0.12}$ ±0.040(syst) b, σ(404 MeV) = 0.74 $^{+0.14}_{-0.09}$ ±0.04(syst) b, σ(543 MeV) = 0.74 $^{±0.09}_{-0.09}$ ± 0.04(syst) b.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Measurement of the 239 Pu(n,f)/ 235 U(n,f) Cross-Section Ratio with the NIFFTE fission Time Projection Chamber

In this work, the 239 Pu(n,f)/ 235 U(n,f) cross-section ratio has been measured with the fission Time Projection Chamber (fissionTPC) from 100 keV to 100 MeV. The fissionTPC provides three-dimensional reconstruction of fission-fragment ionization profiles, allowing for a precise quantification of measurement uncertainties. The measurement was performed at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center which provides a pulsed white source of neutrons. The data are recommended to be used as a cross-section ratio shape. A discussion of the status of the absolute normalization and comparisons to ENDF evaluations and previous measurements is included.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Measurement of material isotopics and atom number ratio with α-particle spectroscopy for a NIFFTE fission Time Projection Chamber actinide target

In this work, we present the results of a measurement of isotopic concentrations and atomic number ratio of a double-sided actinide target using α-spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The double-sided actinide target, with predominantly 239 Pu on one side and 235 U on the other, was used in the fission Time Projection Chamber (fissionTPC) for a measurement of the neutron-induced fission cross-section ratio between the two isotopes. The measured atomic number ratio is needed to extract an absolute measurement fission cross-section ratio. The 239 Pu/ 235 U atom number ratio was measured with a combination of mass spectrometry and α-spectroscopy with a planar silicon detector achieving uncertainties of less than 1%. Different strategies for estimating isotopic concentration from the α-spectrum are presented to demonstrate the potential of these methods for non-destructive target assay. We found that a combination of fitting spectra with constraints from mass spectrometry, and summing counts in a region of the spectrum provided the most consistent results with the lowest uncertainty.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Mini-CAPTAIN liquid argon time projection chamber

This manuscript describes the commissioning of the Mini-CAPTAIN liquid argon detector in a neutron beam at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), which led to a first measurement of high-energy neutron interactions in argon. The Mini-CAPTAIN detector consists of a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) with an accompanying photomultiplier tube (PMT) array sealed inside a liquid-argon-filled cryostat. The liquid argon is constantly purified and recirculated in a closed-loop cycle during operation. The specifications and assembly of the detector subsystems and an overview of their performance in a neutron beam are reported.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Neutron-induced fission fragment angular distributions, anisotropy, and linear momentum transfer measured with the NIFFTE fission time projection chamber

The Neutron Induced Fission Fragment Tracking Experiment (NIFFTE) collaboration has performed measurements with a fission time projection chamber (fissionTPC) to study the fission process by reconstructing full three-dimensional tracks of fission fragments and other ionizing radiation. The amount of linear momentum imparted to the fissioning nucleus by the incident neutron can be inferred by measuring the opening angle between the fission fragments. Using this measured linear momentum, fission fragment angular distributions can be converted to the center-of-mass frame for anisotropy measurements. Angular anisotropy is an important experimental observable for understanding the quantum mechanical state of the fissioning nucleus and vital to determining detection efficiency for cross section measurements. Neutron linear momentum transfer to fissioning 235 U, 238 U, and 239Pu and fission fragment angular anisotropy of 235 U and 238 U as a function of neutron energies in the range 130 keV–250 MeV are presented.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Fission fragment angular anisotropy in neutron-induced fission of U 235 measured with a time projection chamber

Fission fragment angular distributions can provide an important constraint on fission theory, improving predictive fission codes, and are a prerequisite for a precise ratio cross section measurement. Available anisotropy data are sparse, especially at neutron energies above 5 MeV. For the first time, a three-dimensional tracking detector is employed to study fragment emission angles and provide a direct measurement of angular anisotropy. The Neutron Induced Fission Fragment Tracking Experiment (NIFFTE) collaboration has deployed the fission time projection chamber to measure nuclear data with unprecedented precision. The fission fragment anisotropy of 235 U has been measured over a wide range of incident neutron energies from 180 keV to 200 MeV; a careful study of the systematic uncertainties complement the data.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2018

Measurement of the normalized U 238 ( n , f ) / U 235 ( n , f ) cross section ratio from threshold to 30 MeV with the NIFFTE fission Time Projection Chamber

We present that the normalized 238 U(n,f)/ 235 U(n,f) cross section ratio has been measured using the NIFFTE fission Time Projection Chamber (fissionTPC) from the reaction threshold to 30 MeV . The fissionTPC is a two-volume MICROMEGAS time projection chamber that allows for full three-dimensional reconstruction of fission-fragment ionization profiles from neutron-induced fission. The measurement was performed at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, where the neutron energy is determined from neutron time of-flight. The 238 U(n,f)/ 235 U(n,f) ratio reported here is the first cross section measurement made with the fissionTPC, and will provide new experimental data for evaluation of the 238 U(n,f) cross section, an important standard used in neutron-flux measurements. Use of a development target in this work prevented the determination of an absolute normalization, to be addressed in future measurements. Instead, the measured cross section ratio has been normalized to ENDF/B-VIII.β5 at 14.5 MeV.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Performance of a MICROMEGAS-based TPC in a high-energy neutron beam

The MICROMEGAS (MICRO-MEsh GAseous Structure) charge amplification structure has found wide use in many detection applications, especially as a gain stage for the charge readout of Time Projection Chambers (TPCs). We report on the behavior of a MICROMEGAS TPC when operated in a high-energy (up to 800 MeV) neutron beam. It is found that neutron-induced reactions can cause discharges in some drift gas mixtures that are stable in the absence of the neutron beam. The discharges result from recoil ions close to the MICROMEGAS that deposit high specific ionization density and have a limited diffusion time. And for a binary drift gas, increasing the percentage of the molecular component (quench gas) relative to the noble component and operating at lower pressures generally improves stability.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

First Results of the LUX Dark Matter Experiment

LUX (Large Underground Xenon) is a dark matter direct detection experiment deployed at the 4850' level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD, operating a 370 kg dual-phase xenon TPC. Results of the first WIMP search run were presented in late 2013, for the analysis of 85.3 live-days with a fiducial volume of 118 kg, taken during the period of April to August 2013. The experiment exhibited a sensitivity to spin-independent WIMP-nucleon elastic scattering with a minimum upper limit on the cross section of 7.6×10 -46 cm 2 at a WIMP mass of 33 GeV/c 2 , thus becoming the world's leading WIMP search result, in conflict with several previous claimed hints of discovery.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Target geometrical effects on the stagnation layer formed by colliding a pair of laser produced copper plasmas

We present the results of a time and space resolved optical-spectroscopic study of colliding plasmas formed at the front surfaces of flat and inclined Cu slab targets as a function of both the distance and the wedge angle between them for angles ranging from 100° to 180° (laterally colliding plasmas). The key parameters studied are stagnation layer density, temperature, duration, and kinetics of atomic/ionic spatial distributions and all have been found to vary significantly with wedge angle. It is found that the density and temperature of the stagnation layer decrease with increasing wedge angle. It is also found that the larger the wedge angle, the tighter and more well defined the stagnation layer formed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Results from the LUX dark matter experiment

© 2014 Elsevier B.V. The LUX (Large Underground Xenon) experiment aims at the direct detection of dark matter particles via their collisions with xenon nuclei. The 370. kg two-phase liquid xenon time projection chamber measures simultaneously the scintillation and ionization from interactions in the target. The ratio of these two signals provides very good discrimination between potential nuclear recoil and electronic recoil signals to search for WIMP-nucleon scattering. The LUX detector operates at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Lead, South Dakota, USA) since February 2013. First results were presented in late 2013 setting the world's most stringent limits on WIMP-nucleon scattering cross-sections over a wide range of WIMP masses. A 300 day run beginning in 2014 will further improve the sensitivity and new calibration techniques will reduce systematics for the WIMP signal search.

Horn, Markus↗
DOE OSTI2015

Sensitivity of nonlinear photoionization to resonance substructure in collective excitation

Collective behaviour is a characteristic feature in many-body systems, important for developments in fields such as magnetism, superconductivity, photonics and electronics. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the optically nonlinear response of collective excitations. Here we demonstrate how the nonlinear interaction of a many-body system with intense XUV radiation can be used as an effective probe for characterizing otherwise unresolved features of its collective response. Resonant photoionization of atomic xenon was chosen as a case study. The excellent agreement between experiment and theory strongly supports the prediction that two distinct poles underlie the giant dipole resonance. Our results pave the way towards a deeper understanding of collective behaviour in atoms, molecules and solid-state systems using nonlinear spectroscopic techniques enabled by modern short-wavelength light sources.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

The LUX experiment

We present the status and prospects of the LUX experiment, which employs approximately 300 kg of two-phase xenon to search for WIMP dark matter interactions. The LUX detector was commissioned at the surface laboratory of the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, SD, between December 2011 and February 2012 and the detector has been operating underground since January, 2013. These proceedings review the results of the commissioning run as well as the status of underground data-taking.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Radon-related backgrounds in the LUX dark matter search

The LUX detector is currently in operation at the Davis Campus at the 4850’ level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD to directly search for WIMP dark matter. Knowing the type and rate of backgrounds is critical in a rare, low energy event search, and LUX was designed, constructed, and deployed to mitigate backgrounds, both internal and external. An important internal background are decays of radon and its daughters. These consist of alpha decays, which are easily tagged and are a tracer of certain backgrounds, and beta decays, some of which are not as readily tagged and present a background for the WIMP search. We report on studies of alpha decay and discuss implications for the WIMP search.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

Radiogenic and muon-induced backgrounds in the LUX dark matter detector

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) dark matter experiment aims to detect rare low-energy interactions from Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). The radiogenic backgrounds in the LUX detector have been measured and compared with Monte Carlo simulation. Measurements of LUX high-energy data have provided direct constraints on all background sources contributing to the background model. The expected background rate from the background model for the 85.3 day WIMP search run is (2.6±0.2 stat ±0.4 sys ) ×10 -3 events keV$ ee\atop{-1}$ kg -1 day -1 in a 118 kg fiducial volume. The observed background rate is (3.6±0.4 stat )×10 -3 events keV$ ee\atop{-1}$ kg -1 day -1 , consistent with model projections. The expectation for the radiogenic background in a subsequent one-year run is presented.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Modeling pulse characteristics in Xenon with NEST

In this paper, a comprehensive model for describing the characteristics of pulsed signals, generated by particle interactions in xenon detectors, is presented. An emphasis is laid on two-phase time projection chambers, but the models presented are also applicable to single phase detectors. In order to simulate the pulse shape due to primary scintillation light, the effects of the ratio of singlet and triplet dimer state populations, as well as their corresponding decay times, and the recombination time are incorporated into the model. In a two phase time projection chamber, when simulating the pulse caused by electroluminescence light, the ionization electron mean free path in gas, the drift velocity, singlet and triplet decay times, diffusion constants, and the electron trapping time, have been implemented. Finally, this modeling has been incorporated into a complete software package, which realistically simulates the expected pulse shapes for these types of detectors.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

First Results from the LUX Dark Matter Experiment at the Sanford Underground Research Facility

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment is a dual-phase xenon time-projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Lead, South Dakota). The LUX cryostat was filled for the first time in the underground laboratory in February 2013. We report here results of the first WIMP search data set, taken during the period from April to August 2013, presenting the analysis of 85.3 live days of data with a fiducial volume of 118 kg. A profile-likelihood analysis technique shows our data to be consistent with the background-only hypothesis, allowing 90% confidence limits to be set on spin-independent WIMP-nucleon elastic scattering with a minimum upper limit on the cross section of 7.6 × 1 0 - 46 cm 2 at a WIMP mass of 33 GeV / c 2 . We find that the LUX data are in disagreement with low-mass WIMP signal interpretations of the results from several recent direct detection experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗