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At least 631 records · Page 35
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Kinematic Variables and Feature Engineering for Particle Phenomenology

Kinematic variables have been playing an important role in collider phenomenology, as they expedite discoveries of new particles by separating signal events from unwanted background events and allow for measurements of particle properties such as masses, couplings, spins, etc. For the past 10 years, an enormous number of kinematic variables have been designed and proposed, primarily for the experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, allowing for a drastic reduction of high-dimensional experimental data to lower-dimensional observables, from which one can readily extract underlying features of phase space and develop better-optimized data-analysis strategies. We review these recent developments in the area of phase space kinematics, summarizing the new kinematic variables with important phenomenological implications and physics applications. We also review recently proposed analysis methods and techniques specifically designed to leverage the new kinematic variables. As machine learning is nowadays percolating through many fields of particle physics including collider phenomenology, we discuss the interconnection and mutual complementarity of kinematic variables and machine learning techniques. We finally discuss how the utilization of kinematic variables originally developed for colliders can be extended to other high-energy physics experiments including neutrino experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1975

Cosmic ray intensity variations during 0200-0700 UT, August 5, 1972

The cosmic ray intensity variations over the energy range of about 0.5 MeV to 1 GeV during the early part of August 5 are discussed in relation to the intensity changes during the entire period of activity (August 2 to 11). Measurements of the interplanetary magnetic field and particle data from ground-based neutron monitors, lunar sensors, and detectors in board Explorers 41 and 43 are used in the investigation. Analysis is made of intensity changes during the period from 0200 to 0700 UT on August 5, the north-south asymmetry in neutron monitor intensities, changes in the alpha particle/proton flux ratios, the lag in onset times as recorded by the two Explorers, and observations of flux enhancement by the lunar detectors. The results indicate that the enhanced particle fluxes (about 1 GeV) were due to a leakage of galactic cosmic rays into a low-intensity region of the interplanetary magnetic field bounded by tangential discontinuities, which connected to different particle sources both near the sun and in the outer solar system.

Venkatesan, D.↗
DOE OSTI2022

The REDTOP experiment: Rare $\eta/\eta^{\prime}$ Decays To Probe New Physics

The $\eta$ and $\eta^{\prime}$ mesons are nearly unique in the particle universe since they are almost Goldstone bosons and the dynamics of their decays are strongly constrained. The integrated $\eta$-meson samples collected in earlier experiments amount to $\sim10^{9}$ events. A new experiment, REDTOP (Rare Eta Decays To Probe New Physics), is being proposed, with the intent of collecting a data sample of order 10$^{14}$ $\eta$ (10$^{12}$ $\eta^{\prime}$) for studying very rare decays. Such statistics are sufficient for investigating several symmetry violations, and for searching for particles and fields beyond the Standard Model. In this work we present several studies evaluating REDTOP sensitivity to processes that couple the Standard Model to New Physics through all four of the so-called \emph{portals}: the Vector, the Scalar, the Axion and the Heavy Lepton portal. The sensitivity of the experiment is also adequate for probing several conservation laws, in particular $CP$, $T$ and Lepton Universality, and for the determination of the $\eta$ form factors, which is crucial for the interpretation of the recent measurement of muon $g-2$.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS2018

Computational Model Prediction and Biological Validation Using Simplified Mixed Field Exposures for the Development of a GCR Reference Field

The yield of chromosomal aberrations has been shown to increase in the lymphocytes of astronauts after long-duration missions of several months in space. Chromosome exchanges, especially translocations, are positively correlated with many cancers and are therefore a potential biomarker of cancer risk associated with radiation exposure. Although extensive studies have been carried out on the induction of chromosomal aberrations by low- and high-LET radiation in human lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells exposed in vitro, there is a lack of data on chromosome aberrations induced by low dose-rate chronic exposure and mixed field beams such as those expected in space. Chromosome aberration studies at NSRL will provide the biological validation needed to extend the computational models over a broader range of experimental conditions (more complicated mixed fields leading up to the galactic cosmic rays (GCR) simulator), helping to reduce uncertainties in radiation quality effects and dose-rate dependence in cancer risk models. These models can then be used to answer some of the open questions regarding requirements for a full GCR reference field, including particle type and number, energy, dose rate, and delivery order. In this study, we designed a simplified mixed field beam with a combination of proton, helium, oxygen, and iron ions with shielding or proton, helium, oxygen, and titanium without shielding. Human fibroblasts cells were irradiated with these mixed field beam as well as each single beam with acute and chronic dose rate, and chromosome aberrations (CA) were measured with 3-color fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) chromosome painting methods. Frequency and type of CA induced with acute dose rate and chronic dose rates with single and mixed field beam will be discussed. A computational chromosome and radiation-induced DNA damage model, BDSTRACKS (Biological Damage by Stochastic Tracks), was updated to simulate various types of CA induced by acute exposures of the mixed field beams used for the experiments. The chromosomes were simulated by a polymer random walk algorithm with restrictions to their respective domains in the nucleus [1]. The stochastic dose to the nucleus was calculated with the code RITRACKS [2]. Irradiation of a target volume by a mixed field of ions was implemented within RITRACKs, and the fields of ions can be delivered over specific periods of time, allowing the simulation of dose-rate effects. Similarly, particles of various types and energies extracted from a pre-calculated spectra of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) can be used in RITRACKS. The number and spatial location of DSBs (DNA double-strand breaks) were calculated in BDSTRACKS using the simulated chromosomes and local (voxel) dose. Assuming that DSBs led to chromosome breaks, and simulating the rejoining of damaged chromosomes occurring during repair, BDSTRACKS produces the yield of various types of chromosome aberrations as a function of time (only final yields are presented). A comparison between experimental and simulation results will be shown.

Hada, M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

An Eulerian/Lagrangian coupling procedure for three-dimensional vortical flows

A coupled Eulerian/Lagrangian method is presented for the reduction of numerical diffusion observed in solutions of 3D vortical flows using standard Eulerian finite-volume time-marching procedures. A Lagrangian particle tracking method, added to the Eulerian time-marching procedure, provides a correction of the Eulerian solution. In turn, the Eulerian solution is used to integrate the Lagrangian state-vector along the particles trajectories. While the Eulerian solution ensures the conservation of mass and sets the pressure field, the particle markers describe accurately the convection properties and enhance the vorticity and entropy capturing capabilities of the Eulerian solver. The Eulerian/Lagrangian coupling strategies are discussed and the combined scheme is tested on a constant stagnation pressure flow in a 90 deg bend and on a swirling pipe flow. As the numerical diffusion is reduced when using the Lagrangian correction, a vorticity gradient augmentation is identified as a basic problem of this inviscid calculation.

Felici, Helene M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Numerical simulation of the interaction of the plasma sheet with the lobes of the Earth's magnetotail

Codes involving one and two spatial dimensions and three velocity dimensions were used to model the Earth's magnetotail. It was shown that the magnetotail can become inflated as a consequence of low energy plasma convection toward the neutral plane. The computer study exhibits a conversion of both magnetic field energy and of energy supplied by the convection electric field into particle energy. The numerical simulations suggest that much of the magnetotail substorm morphology may be a simple consequence of an increase, followed by a decrease, in the convection electric field, without the requirement of any magnetospheric size scale plasma instability or other disruptive processes. It is also concluded that the presence of the convection electric field and a continuing replenishment of low energy particles in the magnetotail are both necessary for maintenance of the magnetotail.

Swift, D. W.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Radiative corrections to superallowed beta decays at $\mathcal{O}\left({\alpha}^2Z\right)$

We compute $\mathcal{O}\left({\alpha}^2Z\right)$ radiative corrections to superallowed β decays with a heavy-particle effective field theory that systematically describes the interactions of low-energy ultrasoft photons with nuclei. We calculate two-loop virtual and one-loop real-virtual amplitudes by reducing the Feynman integrals to a set of master integrals, which we solve analytically using a variety of techniques. These techniques can be applied to other phenomenologically interesting observables. The ultrasoft corrections can then be combined with contributions arising from the exchange of potential photons to obtain the complete $\mathcal{O}\left({\alpha}^2Z\right)$ correction to the decay rate, with resummation of large logarithms of the electron energy times the nuclear radius. We find that $\mathcal{O}\left({\alpha}^2Z\right)$ ultrasoft loops induce a relative correction to the decay rate that ranges from 0.7 ∙ 10 −3 in the decay of 10 C to 3.6 ∙ 10 −3 in the decay of 54 Co, and will thus impact the extraction of V ud at the permille level. We show that the inclusion of these corrections reduces the residual renormalization scale dependence of the decay rate to a negligible level, making missing ultrasoft perturbative corrections a subdominant source of theoretical uncertainty.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1992

Absence of upstream energetic ions under turbulent radial interplanetary magnetic field

Two cases of observations on board the IMP 8 spacecraft of upstream energetic ions were used to test the viability of the Fermi mechanism as an efficient accelerator of particles with E not less than 50 keV at the earth's bow shock, under conditions which are more constrained than those applied in all previously published detailed analyses of upstream ion events. In addition to the nearly radial IMF, the following particle and field conditions were present: (1) in situ cyclotron-resonant wave activity, (2) a seed energetic particle population, and (3) small (not above 25 deg) theta(Bn) at the points of connection of the spacecraft to the bow shock. The analysis of data from days 67, 1979 and 303, 1980 showed that, despite these conditions, no ion enhancements attributable to the Fermi process could be detected.

Sarris, E. T.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Active spacecraft potential control system selection for the Jupiter orbiter with probe mission

It is shown that the high flux of energetic plasma electrons and the reduced photoemission rate in the Jovian environment can result in the spacecraft developing a large negative potential. The effects of the electric fields produced by this charging phenomenon are discussed in terms of spacecraft integrity as well as charged particle and fields measurements. The primary area of concern is shown to be the interaction of the electric fields with the measuring devices on the spacecraft. The need for controlling the potential of the spacecraft is identified, and a system capable of active control of the spacecraft potential in the Jupiter environment is proposed. The desirability of using this system to vary the spacecraft potential relative to the ambient plasma potential is also discussed. Various charged particle release devices are identified as potential candidates for use with the spacecraft potential control system. These devices are evaluated and compared on the basis of system mass, power consumption, and system complexity and reliability.

Beattie, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Radio and X-ray observations of the radio halo source in A1367

Radio and X-ray observations of the 'radio halo' in A1367 are presented. The radio spectral index distribution is derived combining data at 610 and 1415 MHz taken with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT). A high-resolution Very Large Array (VLA) map allows us to discriminate between the extended cluster emission and a triple radio source associated with a background stellar object (most probably a QSO) which appears projected onto it. X-ray observations taken with the high-resolution imager on board the Einstein satellite reveal an X-ray source associated with this background object. A second weak X-ray enhancement is found projected onto the extended radio component. Inverse Compton scattering of the synchrotron-emitting particles provides a possible interpretation of such a source. The presence of large-scale magnetic fields and particle acceleration due to the turbulent motion of galaxies through the intergalactic medium is discussed in relationship to the observed peculiarities of the galaxies found in this region.

Gavazzi, G.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Spatial and Temporal Extrapolation of Disdrometer Size Distributions Based on a Lagrangian Trajectory Model of Falling Rain

Methodologies to improve disdrometer processing, loosely based on mathematical techniques common to the field of particle flow and fluid mechanics, are examined and tested. The inclusion of advection and vertical wind field estimates appear to produce significantly improved results in a Lagrangian hydrometeor trajectory model, in spite of very strict assumptions of noninteracting hydrometeors, constant vertical air velocity, and time independent advection during the scan time interval. Wind field data can be extracted from each radar elevation scan by plotting and analyzing reflectivity contours over the disdrometer site and by collecting the radar radial velocity data to obtain estimates of advection. Specific regions of disdrometer spectra (drop size versus time) often exhibit strong gravitational sorting signatures, from which estimates of vertical velocity can be extracted. These independent wind field estimates become inputs and initial conditions to the Lagrangian trajectory simulation of falling hydrometeors.

Lane, John E.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Magnetic Reconnection on Dayside Crustal Magnetic Fields at Mars: MAVEN Observations

The identification of magnetic reconnection on the dayside of Mars has been elusive owing to the lack of comprehensive plasma and field measurements. Here we present direct measurements of dayside in situ reconnection signatures by the comprehensive particles and fields package on board the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft over strong crustal magnetic fields in the southern hemisphere of Mars. During a crossing of a bifurcated current sheet consisting of northward and southward magnetic fields, MAVEN recorded (i) ionospheric photoelectrons trapped on closed magneticfield lines, (ii) Hall magnetic fields and a nonzero normal field with polarity consistent with a crossing northward of the X line, and (iii) northward Alfvenic ion jets. Dayside magnetic reconnection on crustal magnetic fields could control the global configuration and topology of the Martian magnetosphere and alter the ion escape pattern from the dayside ionosphere.

Magnetic↗