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At least 559 records · Page 31

Radiometric Performance Model for AVIRIS

This slide presentation reviews the radiometric performance model for Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS). This model allows for an estimation of the signal throughput and noise properties of AVIRIS for the components. This understanding can point to areas for improvements of the components.. The signal to noise ratio properties may be estimated. An accurate radiometric performance model is essential for the use of existing instruments and the design of new instruments. Included in the presentation is a design view and a picture of the AVIRIS instrument. There is discussion of the signal, the signal area solid angle product, aspects of area solid angle time, the idealized radiometer photon calculation and noise both instrument read and photon counting noise. Graphs of signal throughput efficiency, input radiance, photons at the detector, signal e-, noise e- and the signal to noise ratio are presented.

imaging spectroscopy↗

Derivation of a Relation for the Steepening of TeV Selected Blazar Gamma-Ray Spectra with Energy and Redshift

We derive a relation for the steepening of blazar gamma-ray spectra between the multi-GeV Fermi energy range and the TeV energy range observed by atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes. The change in spectral index is produced by two effects: (1) an intrinsic steepening, independent of redshift, owing to the properties of emission and absorption in the source, and (2) a redshift-dependent steepening produced by intergalactic pair production interactions of blazar gamma-rays with low energy photons of the "intergalactic background light" (IBL). Given this relation, with good enough data on the mean gamma-ray SED of TeV Selected BL Lacs, the redshift evolution of the IBL can, in principle, be determined independently of stellar evolution models. We apply our relation to the results of new Fermi observations of TeV selected blazars.

Stecker, F.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, March 1999

Topics include: special coverage sections on CAD/CAE/PDM, industrial controls and sections on electronic components systems, materials, software, mechanics, machinery/automation, manufacturing/fabrication, physical sciences, book and reports, and a special section of Photonics Tech Briefs and a seconds special section of Rapid Product Development.

Source record↗

Lightweight and High-Resolution Single Crystal Silicon Optics for X-ray Astronomy

We describe an approach to building mirror assemblies for next generation X-ray telescopes. It incorporates knowledge and lessons learned from building existing telescopes, including Chandra, XMM-Newton, Suzaku, and NuSTAR, as well as from our direct experience of the last 15 years developing mirror technology for the Constellation-X and International X-ray Observatory mission concepts. This approach combines single crystal silicon and precision polishing, thus has the potential of achieving the highest possible angular resolution with the least possible mass. Moreover, it is simple, consisting of several technical elements that can be developed independently in parallel. Lastly, it is highly amenable to mass production, therefore enabling the making of telescopes of very large photon collecting areas.

X-ray optics↗

A Leptonic Model for Neutrino Emission From Active Galactic Nuclei

It is often stated that the observation of high-energy neutrinos from an astrophysical source would constitute a smoking gun for the acceleration of hadronic cosmic rays. Here, we point out that there exists a purely leptonic mechanism to produce TeV-scale neutrinos in astrophysical environments. In particular, very high-energy synchrotron photons can scatter with X-rays, exceeding the threshold for muon-antimuon pair production. When these muons decay, they produce neutrinos without any cosmic-ray protons or nuclei being involved. In order for this mechanism to be efficient, the source in question must produce very high-energy photons which interact in an environment that is dominated by keV-scale radiation. As an example, we consider the active galaxy NGC 1068, which IceCube has recently detected as a source of TeV-scale neutrinos. We find that the neutrino emission observed from this source could potentially be generated through muon pair production for reasonable choices of physical parameters.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Time-dependent behavior of active galactic nuclei with pair production

We study the properties of coupled partial differential equations describing the time-dependent behavior of the photon and electron occupation numbers for conditions likely to be found near active galactic nuclei (AGN). The processes governing electron acceleration are modeled by a stochastic accelerator, and we include acceleration by Alfvenic and whistler turbulence. The acceleration of electrons is limited by Compton and synchrotron losses, and the number density of electrons depends on pair production and annihilation processes. We also treat particle escape from the system. We examine the steady, (possibly) oscillatory, and unstable solutions that arise for various choices of parameters. We examine instabilities related to pair production and trapping and consider the formation of pair jets.

Li, H.↗

Search for a resonance decaying into a scalar particle and a Higgs boson in the final state with two bottom quarks and two photons with 199 fb −1 of data collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 and 13.6 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for the resonant production of a heavy scalar X decaying into a lighter scalar S and a Higgs boson, through the process X → S (→ $b\bar{b}$) H (→ γγ) , where the two photons are consistent with the Higgs boson decay, is performed. The search is conducted using integrated luminosities of 140 and 59 fb −1 of proton–proton collision data at centre-of-mass energies of 13 and 13.6 TeV, respectively, recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The search is performed over the mass ranges of 170 ≤ m X ≤ 1000 GeV and 15 ≤ m S ≤ 500 GeV. No significant excess over the Standard Model background predictions is observed and limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of cross section and branching fraction for the process X → S (→ $b\bar{b}$) H (→ γγ) at 13 TeV, ranging from 9 fb to 0.06 fb.

Aad, G. (ORCID:0000000266654934)↗

Measurement of photonuclear jet production in ultraperipheral Pb + Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ATLAS detector

In ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions at the LHC, each nucleus acts a sources of high-energy real photons that can scatter off the opposing nucleus in ultraperipheral photonuclear (𝛾 + 𝐴) collisions. Hard scattering processes initiated by the photons in such collisions provide a novel method for probing nuclear parton distributions in a kinematic region not easily accessible to other measurements. ATLAS has measured production of dijet and multijet final states in ultraperipheral Pb + Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV using a dataset recorded in 2018 with an integrated luminosity of 1.72 nb −1 . Photonuclear final states are selected by requiring a rapidity gap in the photon direction; this selects events where one of the outgoing nuclei remains intact. Jets are reconstructed using the anti-𝑘 t algorithm with radius parameter, 𝑅 = 0.4. Triple-differential cross sections, unfolded for detector response, are measured and presented using two sets of kinematic variables. The first set consists of the total transverse momentum (𝐻 T ), rapidity, and mass of the jet system. The second set uses 𝐻 T and particle-level nuclear and photon parton momentum fractions, 𝑥 A and 𝑧 𝛾 , respectively. The results are compared with leading-order perturbative QCD calculations of photonuclear jet production cross sections, where all leading order predictions using existing fits fall below the data in the shadowing region. More detailed theoretical comparisons will allow these results to strongly constrain nuclear parton distributions, and these data provide results from the LHC directly comparable to early physics results at the planned Electron-Ion Collider.

Parton distribution functions↗

The DREAM Endstation at the Linac Coherent Light Source

Free-electron lasers (FEL), with their ultrashort pulses, ultrahigh intensities, and high repetition rates at short wavelength, have provided new approaches to Atomic and Molecular Optical Science. One such approach is following the birth of a photo electron to observe ion dynamics on an ultrafast timescale. Such an approach presents the opportunity to decipher the photon-initiated structural dynamics of an isolated atomic and molecular species. It is a fundamental step towards understanding single- and non-linear multi-photon processes and coherent electron dynamics in atoms and molecules, ultimately leading to coherent control following FEL research breakthroughs in pulse shaping and polarization control. A key aspect for exploring photoinduced quantum phenomena is visualizing the collective motion of electrons and nuclei in a single reaction process, as dynamics in atoms/ions proceed at femtosecond (10 –15 s) timescales while electronic dynamics take place in the attosecond timescale (10 –18 s). Here, we report on the design of a Dynamic Reaction Microscope (DREAM) endstation located at the second interaction point of the Time-Resolved Molecular and Optical (TMO) instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) capable of following the photon–matter interactions by detecting ions and electrons in coincidence. The DREAM endstation takes advantage of the pulse properties and high repetition rate of LCLS-II to perform gas-phase soft X-ray experiments in a wide spectrum of scientific domains. With its design ability to detect multi-ions and electrons in coincidence while operating in step with the high repetition rate of LCLS-II, the DREAM endstation takes advantage of the inherent momentum conservation of reaction product ions with participating electrons to reconstruct the original X-ray photon–matter interactions. In this report, we outline in detail the design of the DREAM endstation and its functionality, with scientific opportunities enabled by this state-of-the-art instrument.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

First on-line detection of radioactive fission isotopes produced by laser-accelerated protons

Abstract The on-going developments in laser acceleration of protons and light ions, as well as the production of strong bursts of neutrons and multi- $$\hbox {MeV}$$ MeV photons by secondary processes now provide a basis for novel high-flux nuclear physics experiments. While the maximum energy of protons resulting from Target Normal Sheath Acceleration is presently still limited to around $$100 \, \hbox {MeV}$$ 100 MeV , the generated proton peak flux within the short laser-accelerated bunches can already today exceed the values achievable at the most advanced conventional accelerators by orders of magnitude. This paper consists of two parts covering the scientific motivation and relevance of such experiments and a first proof-of-principle demonstration. In the presented experiment pulses of $$200 \, \hbox {J}$$ 200 J at $$\approx \, 500 \, \hbox {fs}$$ ≈ 500 fs duration from the PHELIX laser produced more than $$10^{12}$$ 10 12 protons with energies above $$15 \, \hbox {MeV}$$ 15 MeV in a bunch of sub-nanosecond duration. They were used to induce fission in foil targets made of natural uranium. To make use of the nonpareil flux, these targets have to be very close to the laser acceleration source, since the particle density within the bunch is strongly affected by Coulomb explosion and the velocity differences between ions of different energy. The main challenge for nuclear detection with high-purity germanium detectors is given by the strong electromagnetic pulse caused by the laser-matter interaction close to the laser acceleration source. This was mitigated by utilizing fast transport of the fission products by a gas flow to a carbon filter, where the $$\upgamma$$ γ -rays were registered. The identified nuclides include those that have half-lives down to $$39 \, \hbox {s}$$ 39 s . These results demonstrate the capability to produce, extract, and detect short-lived reaction products under the demanding experimental condition imposed by the high-power laser interaction. The approach promotes research towards relevant nuclear astrophysical studies at conditions currently only accessible at nuclear high energy density laser facilities.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Measurement of the Pion Exclusive Electro-Production Cross-Section in the E12-19-006 Experiment in Hall-C at Jefferson Lab

One of the most effective methods for exploring the transition from hadronic degrees of freedom to quark-gluon degrees of freedom in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) is through the investigation of \exclusive" pion and kaon electro-production reactions at various Q2 and ?t values. The E12-19-006 experiment is conducted within the confi?nes of experimental Hall C at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, USA, for such studies. The primary aim of the experiment is to ?first enhance our comprehension of the pion electro-production cross-section and its form factor at Q2 = 0.38 and 0.42 GeV2. This is the fi?rst run period of the E12-19-006 experiment which ran in summer 2019. A more profound understanding of the pion electro-production reaction, 1H(e,e'?+)n, at low Q2 is deemed essential to employ this electro-production reaction (an indirect technique) for the high Q2 studies, thereby delving deeper into the realm of QCD. Consequently, this dissertation presents a thorough analysis of the experimental data acquired in the ?first run period of the E12-19-006 experiment. In pursuit of precision, a series of systematic studies (target boiling correction study, the elastic reaction cross-section measurements, study for determining vari- ous kinematics o?sets, etc.) are conducted to discern the accuracy of the analyzed data, a prerequisite for the use of Rosenbluth separation technique to separate the pion electro-production cross-section terms in t bins. The separated pion electro-production cross-section through the Rosenbluth separation technique is then used to extract the pion electromagnetic form factor. In this dissertation, the pion electro-production cross-section is carefully dissected into its four constituent components: longitudinal (?L), transverse (?T ), longitudinal-transverse (?LT ), and transverse-transverse (?TT ), using the full version of Rosenbluth separation technique for the Q2 = 0.38 GeV2. The technique is simultaneously fi?tted to the unseparated pion electro-production cross-sections at the three values of polarization of the virtual photon (?), i.e., ? = 0.286, 0.629 and 0.781. An iterative process is applied to re?ne the parameters of the model cross-sections until the yield ratio of experimental and Monte Carlo simulation converges. In this study, 21 iterations are conducted to re?ne the model cross-section parameters. The fi?nal pion electro-production cross-section terms are then determined for 7 t bins using the optimized parameters of the model cross-sections.

Kumar, Vijay↗

Studying 𝜋 + ⁢𝜋 − photoproduction beyond Pomeron exchange

Forward photoproduction of 𝜋 + ⁢𝜋 − pairs with invariant mass of the order of 𝑚 𝜌 ∼770 MeV is traditionally attributed to Pomeron exchange. Based on a detailed analysis of the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer photoproduction data collected at photon energies below 4 GeV, it is shown from a study of the angular moments that the dynamics of two-pion photoproduction for |𝑡| ≳ 0.5 GeV 2 cannot be explained by Pomeron exchange alone. This motivates the development of a new theoretical model of two-pion photoproduction which incorporates both two-pion and pion-nucleon resonant contributions. After fitting free parameters, the model provides an excellent description of the low moments of the angular distribution measured at CLAS and enables an assessment of the relative contributions of particular production mechanisms and an interpretation of the various features of the data in terms of these mechanisms.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Radio to Gamma-Ray Emission from Shell-Type Supernova Remnants: Predictions from Non-Linear Shock Acceleration Models

Supernova remnants (SNRs) are widely believed to be the principal source of galactic cosmic rays, produced by diffusive shock acceleration in the environs of the remnant's expanding blast wave. Such energetic particles can produce gamma-rays and lower energy photons via interactions with the ambient plasma. The recently reported observation of TeV gamma-rays from SN1006 by the CANGAROO Collaboration, combined with the fact that several unidentified EGRET sources have been associated with known radio/optical/X-ray-emitting remnants, provides powerful motivation for studying gamma-ray emission from SNRs. In this paper, we present results from a Monte Carlo simulation of non-linear shock structure and acceleration coupled with photon emission in shell-like SNRs. These non-linearities are a by-product of the dynamical influence of the accelerated cosmic rays on the shocked plasma and result in distributions of cosmic rays which deviate from pure power-laws. Such deviations are crucial to acceleration efficiency considerations and impact photon intensities and spectral shapes at all energies, producing GeV/TeV intensity ratios that are quite different from test particle predictions.

Baring, Matthew G.↗

Variation of lunar sodium emission intensity with phase angle

We report new measurements of the sodium emission intensity seen in a line of sight just above the surface of the Moon. These data show a strong dependence on lunar phase. The emission intensity decreases from a maximum around first quarter (phase angle 90 deg) to very small values near full Moon (phase angle 0 deg). This suggests that the rate of sodium vapor production from the lunar surface is largest at the subsolar point and becomes small near the terminator. However, the sodium emission near full Moon falls below that which would be expected for solar photon-driven processes. Since the solar wind flux decreases substantially when the Moon enters the Earth's magnetotail near full Moon, while the global solar photon flux is undiminished, we suggest that solar wind sputtering is the dominant process for sodium production.

Potter, A. E.↗

Search for pair-produced higgsinos decaying via Higgs or Z bosons to final states containing a pair of photons and a pair of b -jets with the ATLAS detector

A search is presented for the pair production of higgsinos $\tilde{X}$ in gauge-mediated supersymmetry models, where the lightest neutralinos $\tilde{X}^{0}_{1}$ decay into a light gravitino $\tilde{G}$ in association with either a Higgs h or a Z boson. The search is performed with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider using 139 fb -1 of proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13TeV. It targets final states in which a Higgs boson decays into a photon pair, while the other Higgs or Z boson decays into a $b\overline{b}$ pair, with missing transverse momentum associated with the two gravitinos. Search regions dependent on the amount of missing transverse momentum are defined by the requirements that the diphoton mass should be consistent with the mass of the Higgs boson, and the $b\overline{b}$ mass with the mass of the Higgs or Z boson. The main backgrounds are estimated with data-driven methods using the sidebands of the diphoton mass distribution. No excesses beyond Standard Model expectations are observed and higgsinos with masses up to 320 GeV are excluded, assuming a branching fraction of 100% for $\tilde{X}^{0}_{1}$ → h$\tilde{G}$. This analysis excludes higgsinos with masses of 130GeV for branching fractions to h$\tilde{G}$ as low as 36%, thus providing complementarity to previous ATLAS searches in final states with multiple leptons or multiple b-jets, targeting different decays of the electroweak bosons.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Monocrystalline Silicon and the Meta-Shell Approach to Building X-Ray Astronomical Optics

Angular resolution and photon-collecting area are the two most important factors that determine the power of an X-ray astronomical telescope. The grazing incidence nature of X-ray optics means that even a modest photon-collecting area requires an extraordinarily large mirror area. This requirement for a large mirror area is compounded by the fact that X-ray telescopes must be launched into, and operated in, outer space, which means that the mirror must be both lightweight and thin. Meanwhile the production and integration cost of a large mirror area determines the economical feasibility of a telescope. In this paper we report on a technology development program whose objective is to meet this three-fold requirement of making astronomical X-ray optics: (1) angular resolution, (2) photon-collecting area, and (3) production cost. This technology is based on precision polishing of monocrystalline silicon for making a large number of mirror segments and on the meta-shell approach to integrate these mirror segments into a mirror assembly. The meta-shell approach takes advantage of the axial or rotational symmetry of an X-ray telescope to align and bond a large number of small, lightweight mirrors into a large mirror assembly. The most important features of this technology include: (1) potential to achieve the highest possible angular resolution dictated by optical design and diffraction; and (2) capable of implementing every conceivable optical design, such as Wolter-I, Wolter-Schwarzschild, as well as other variations to one or another aspect of a telescope. The simplicity and modular nature of the process makes it highly amenable to mass production, thereby making it possible to produce very large X-ray telescopes in a reasonable amount of time and at a reasonable cost. As of June 2017, the basic validity of this approach has been demonstrated by finite element analysis of its structural, thermal, and gravity release characteristics, and by the fabrication, alignment, bonding, and X-ray testing of mirror modules. Continued work in the coming years will raise the technical readiness of this technology for use by SMEX, MIDEX, Probe, as well as major flagship missions.

Zhang, William W.↗

Measuring the Beam-Spin Asymmetry of Hard Exclusive ¿0 Production off the Neutron with CLAS12

Over the course of the last couple of decades, Generalised Parton Distributions (GPDs) have become a compelling area of focus in both theoretical and experimental research in the ?eld of hadronic structure. GPDs can be indirectly accessed via observables in hard exclusive reactions such as Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) and Deeply Virtual Meson Production (DVMP). In these reactions, an incident lepton scatters o? an individual quark within the target nucleon via the exchange of a virtual photon, and a real photon (DVCS) or a meson (DVMP) are emitted as a result. This thesis presents an analysis of Deeply Virtual ?0 Meson Production o? the neutron in the deuteron (nDV?0P). The data were taken with the CLAS12 detector, which is housed in the experimental Hall B at the Je?erson National Laboratory (JLab) in Virginia, USA. A longitudinally polarised electron beam delivered by JLab?s Continuous Electron Beam accelerator Facility (CEBAF), at an energy of 10.2 and 10.6 GeV, was incident on a liquid deuterium target housed within the CLAS12 detector assembly. The nDV?0P channel is sensitive to the lesser-studied chiral-odd transversity GPDs. GPDs are accessed indirectly via observables related to the cross-sections of hard exclusive processes. One such example is the beam-spin asymmetry (?LU) as a function of Trento-?, the angle between the leptonic plane and the hadronic plane which are de?ned with the beam and scattered electron, and with the recoiling neutron and reconstructed ?0, respectively. Despite the limited statistics, the observable ?LU was successfully extracted for eight kinematic bins (four in Mandelstam ?, and two in ??). This is a ?rst measurement for nDV?0P in the phase-space which is now available with CLAS12 in the 12 GeV era of JLab.

Naidoo, Paul↗

Measurement of the Zγ production cross section and search for anomalous neutral triple gauge couplings in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV

A measurement of the fiducial cross section of the associated production of a Z boson and a high-p$_{T}$ photon, where the Z decays to two neutrinos, and a search for anomalous triple gauge couplings are reported. The results are based on data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV during 2016-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$. The fiducial Zγ cross section, where a photon with a p$_{T}$ greater than 225 GeV is produced in association with a Z, and the Z decays to a $ \upnu \overline{\upnu} $ pair $ \left(\mathrm{Z}\left(\upnu \overline{\upnu}\right)\upgamma \right) $, is measured to be $ {23.3}_{-1.3}^{+1.4} $ fb, in agreement, within uncertainties, with the standard model prediction. The differential cross section as a function of the photon p$_{T}$ has been measured and compared with standard model predictions computed at next-to-leading and at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. Constraints have been placed on the presence of anomalous couplings that affect the ZZγ and Zγγ vertex using the p$_{T}$ spectrum of the photons. The observed 95% confidence level intervals for CP-conserving $ {h}_3^{\upgamma} $ and $ {h}_4^{\upgamma} $ are determined to be (−3.4, 3.5)×10$^{−4}$ and (−6.8, 6.8)×10$^{−7}$, and for $ {h}_3^{\mathrm{Z}} $ and $ {h}_4^{\mathrm{Z}} $ they are (−2.2, 2.2)×10$^{−4}$ and (−4.1, 4.2)×10$^{−7}$, respectively. These are the strictest limits to date on $ {h}_3^{\upgamma} $, $ {h}_3^{\mathrm{Z}} $ and $ {h}_4^{\mathrm{Z}} $.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

Hayrapetyan, Aram [Yerevan Phys. Inst.]↗