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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Constraining the Equation of State of Dense Neutron-rich Matter (Final Report)

Using a new Time Projection Chamber (TPC), called the SpiRIT (SAMURAI pion Reconstruction Ion Tracker) constructed and funded by DOE office of science (award # DE-SC0004835), we performed two experiments with the SAMURAI spectrometer at RIKEN, Japan to study the equation of state of neutron rich matter. As a result of the project, the SpiRIT collaboration, an international collaboration consisting of groups from US, Japan, Korea, Poland, China and Germany, has been formed to pursue the science opportunities provided by the SpiRIT TPC. After the experiments, we developed the software to analyze the SpiRIT experiments and extract constraints of symmetry energy at supra-saturation densities. As a result 270 TB of data have been obtained. Over 10 technical papers on the TPC and 4 science papers on the nuclear equation of state have been published. A total of six (2 US, 1 Japanese and 1 Korean) PhD students have graduated based on their research on the EOS research using the SpiRIT data. In addition, the data also stimulated theorists on transport models to form the “Transport Model Evaluation Project” collaboration to improve the transport model to compare calculations with the data.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Development of Nanocomposite Coatings for Future Large-Scale Time Projection Chambers

In the context of this award we tested the performance of thin high-resistivity coatings for their potential usage as field shaping systems in future large scale xenon Time Projection Chambers (TPC). A successful implementation of such thin coatings would likely simplify the design of potential future detectors, allowing to overcome some of the challenges observed with traditional systems constituted by massive discrete electrodes. We studied a wide range of materials and characterized their optical and electrical performances as functions of temperature and wavelength. The measurement campaign indicated that uniform coatings covering the full PTFE substrate (usually used as reflector in LXe TPCs) impact too severely on the light collection performance of such detectors when used with deep UV light. Despite tuning the composition and thicknesses of nanocomposite coatings, we were not able to identify a single coating, properly working at LXe temperature, that would simultaneously fulfill the resistance and optical requirements. Following the risk mitigation strategy identified in the proposal we moved the focus of the R&D to identify proper materials that, when coated with grid-like patterns on PTFE, would not alter meaningfully its optical properties (with respect to bare PTFE panels) but would still serve as effective field shaping systems, properly containing the drift field in TPC detectors. Among the various materials we identified germanium as the most promising one, providing a good adhesion to PTFE and the proper range of sheet resistivity. The Ge-patterned coating tested within a small scale LXe TPC showed good performance as a field shape system and, as desired, did not reduce the detector light yield. These results are encouraging and such technology should further be investigated as a potential alternative to more traditional field shaping electrodes. Incidentally, in the context of this R&D, we stumbled upon an unexpected behavior suggesting that some of the treatments performed on the PTFE panels, in preparation of the coatings, meaningfully boosted the PTFE reflectivity. The most probable candidate is the O2 plasma cleaning procedure. This hypothesis will be tested in the near future by operating the small scale TPC at UChicago first with regular PTFE panels and then with panels bombarded with O2 plasma (but no coatings). This finding, if confirmed, might open up the possibility of further boosting UV light collection in future large detectors by performing such a treatment on the PTFE surfaces.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Search for Anomalous Neutral Current Coherent-Like Single-Photon Production in MicroBooNE

MicroBooNE is a liquid argon time projection chamber (TPC) detector which offers excellent spatial and energy resolution and the ability to distinguish electrons from photons. In this note we present preliminary results from a dedicated search for neutral current (NC) single-photon production, with a focus on forward-going photons and no visible hadronic activity, both of which are key characteristics of “coherent-like” electromagnetic shower production. A total efficiency for SM-predicted NC coherent 1$\gamma$ events of 12.5% is obtained, defined relative to simulated events in the entire MicroBooNE active TPC. Relative to the Pandora-reconstructed single-shower event selection, the analysis achieves a 95% rejection of non-coherent NC 1π 0 background events and a 99.97% rejection of cosmic background events, while maintaining a signal efficiency of approximately 45%.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Search for anomalous neutral current coherent-like single-photon production in MicroBooNE

MicroBooNE is a liquid argon time projection chamber (TPC) detector which offers excellent spatial and energy resolution and the ability to distinguish electrons from photons. In this note we present preliminary results from a dedicated search for neutral current (NC) single-photon production, with a focus on forward-going photons and no visible hadronic activity, both of which are key characteristics of “coherent-like” electromagnetic shower production. A total efficiency for SM-predicted NC coherent 1γ events of 12.5% is obtained, defined relative to simulated events in the entire MicroBooNE active TPC. Relative to the Pandora-reconstructed single-shower event selection, the analysis achieves a 95% rejection of non-coherent NC 1π 0 background events and a 99.97% rejection of cosmic background events, while maintaining a signal efficiency of approximately 45%.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring the Nature of Neutrinos with the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE)

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation experimental program designed to study the behaviour of neutrino oscillation. DUNE will utilize a neutrino beam originating at Fermilab, near Chicago, and will leverage a detector at Fermilab (Near Detector) and a detector 1300 km away in South Dakota (Far Detector), south of Saskatchewan. In the first phase of DUNE, its Far Detector will comprise of two 10,000 ton (fiducial) liquid argon (LAr) time-projection chamber (TPC) modules – powerful tracking calorimeter detectors – placed nearly a mile underground. With this large, sensitive, underground detector, DUNE aims to collect a high statistics and pure sample of neutrinos at the Far Detector. This setup also offers the potential to study non-beam physical processes via e.g. neutrinos produced in the atmosphere, supernova neutrino bursts, and/or solar neutrinos, etc. A second phase will aim to add more detector mass and expand the program. The Near Detector will consist of a LAr TPC module as well: critical to constraining systematic uncertainties in the oscillation analysis. However, this LAr TPC will have a novel design using a pixel-based readout instead of the traditional wire-based readout. This and the segmentation of the LAr TPC into multiple units are crucial in mitigating the high multiplicity of neutrino interactions expected in any readout window given its proximity to the beam. The Near Detector will feature additional components and capability beyond the LAr TPC, allowing one to deeply characterize the neutrino flux. Due to the complexity of this experimental program, several smaller-scale prototype detectors have been operating to test, validate, and improve both the technical designs and software for processing and analyzing events. By operating in charged particle test beams or neutrino beams, several of the prototypes are also capable of producing valuable results. Canadian institutions are involved in the realization of the DUNE through efforts with both the Near and Far Detectors and prototypes. DUNE is anticipated to begin operating near the end of this decade/the beginning of the next. This talk will focus on the overall DUNE program, for example its ultimate plans, status, and the efforts with prototypes.

Howard, Bruce [York U., Canada; Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Studies of the trigger performance of the ICARUS T600 detector at Fermilab

In recent years, experimental neutrino anomalies were reported: if confirmed, they could hint at the existence of additional sterile neutrino states participating in the mixing phenomenon. The future Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) project at Fermilab will pursue sterile neutrino searches, by exploiting three Liquid Argon (LAr) Time Projection Chamber (TPC) detectors located on-axis along the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB). Aside from SBND and MicroBooNE, ICARUS will be the far detector and will also be interested by the NuMI beam (off-axis). The trigger system is a key component of the detector: it is based on the coincidence of prompt signals from scintillation light in the LAr-TPC (recorded by a system of PhotoMultiplier Tubes, PMTs) with the proton spill extraction of the beam. The present system exploits a majority-based logic and may be complemented by a trigger system based on adder boards, that add the analog signals of the PMTs in groups of 15. Triggering on the sum may help in identifying events closer to the TPC walls, in which there is plenty of light collected by few PMTs and for which the majority condition may not be satisfied. Many tests were carried out to characterize the adder boards, both on the hardware and software sides.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

DUNE ND-LAr 2x2 Demonstrator Tests

A modular liquid argon (LAr) Time Projection Chamber (TPC) will be part of the near-detector facility for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). Such a TPC is being developed by the ArgonCube collaboration. To demonstrate the feasibility of the LAr DUNE Near Detector, a medium size prototype has been built: the ArgonCube 2x2 Demonstrator. The detector will be placed in the MINOS-ND hall, upstream of the current MINERνA/MINOS-ND locations, at Fermilab. Currently two modules are being tested at the Liquid Argon Test Facility (LArTF), before being place on-axis in the NuMI neutrino beam. The present report will be focused on the work done within the 2x2 Demonstrator group: the first part of the project is focused on the Low Noise AC Power distribution at LArTF, whereas the second is related to the 2x2 demonstrator light readout system tests.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Understanding neutrinos with accelerator beams and liquid argon time-projection chambers: ICARUS and DUNE

A global program of experiments has worked towards characterizing neutrino oscillation over the past few decades. However, important parameters remain to be measured, and mysteries remain to be elucidated. Current and upcoming experiments are targeting the open questions and probing the consistency of the neutrino oscillation paradigm. Likewise, the liquid argon (LAr) time-projection chamber (TPC) has emerged as a sensitive particle detection technology for neutrino experiments. A current generation of LAr TPC detectors are being used to study neutrinos while also gaining important experience in operating and analyzing with this technology. SBND, MicroBooNE, and ICARUS have collected or are collecting data from beams at Fermilab (near Chicago) to explore the possibility of a sterile neutrino and/or other beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics. SBND and ICARUS will be used to conduct a two-detector analysis as part of the Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) Program. Additionally, these detectors are enabling important neutrino interaction studies necessary to prepare for the next generation of oscillation experiments. One such oscillation experiment that will come online over the next years is the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), which will install multiple 10 kiloton LAr TPCs underground in South Dakota (south of Saskatchewan) to conduct oscillation measurements with neutrinos originating in a beamline at Fermilab. A detector complex will be installed at Fermilab as well, to study the beam before the expected flavour oscillations. This “near detector” will also employ a LAr TPC, with a segmented and pixel-based design, as well as other technologies to constrain uncertainties in the oscillation measurement by characterizing the beam and neutrino interactions. This talk will discuss the ICARUS and DUNE experiments, the LAr TPC detector technology, and the efforts to realize and leverage these experiments to better understand the properties of neutrinos.

Howard, Bruce L. [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2022

Gamma Ray Source Localization for Time Projection Chamber Telescopes Using Convolutional Neural Networks

Diverse phenomena such as positron annihilation in the Milky Way, merging binary neutron stars, and dark matter can be better understood by studying their gamma ray emission. Despite their importance, MeV gamma rays have been poorly explored at sensitivities that would allow for deeper insight into the nature of the gamma emitting objects. In response, a liquid argon time projection chamber (TPC) gamma ray instrument concept called GammaTPC has been proposed and promises exploration of the entire sky with a large field of view, large effective area, and high polarization sensitivity. Optimizing the pointing capability of this instrument is crucial and can be accomplished by leveraging convolutional neural networks to reconstruct electron recoil paths from Compton scattering events within the detector. In this investigation, we develop a machine learning model architecture to accommodate a large data set of high fidelity simulated electron tracks and reconstruct paths. We create two model architectures: one to predict the electron recoil track origin and one for the initial scattering direction. We find that these models predict the true origin and direction with extremely high accuracy, thereby optimizing the observatory’s estimates of the sky location of gamma ray sources.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

A New Concept for Kilotonne Scale Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers

We develop a novel Time Projection Chamber (TPC) concept suitable for deployment in kilotonne-scale detectors, with a charge-readout system free from reconstruction ambiguities, and a robust TPC design that reduces high-voltage risks while increasing the coverage of the light-collection system and maximizing the active volume. This novel concept could be used as a far detector module in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). For the charge-readout system, we used the charge-collection pixels and associated application-specific integrated circuits currently being developed for the liquid argon (LAr) component of the DUNE Near Detector design, ArgonCube. In addition, we divided the TPC into a number of shorter drift volumes, reducing the total voltage used to drift the ionization electrons, and minimizing the stored energy per TPC. Segmenting the TPC also contains scintillation light, allowing for precise trigger localization and a more expansive light-readout system. Furthermore, the design opens the possibility of replacing or upgrading components. These augmentations could substantially improve the reliability and the sensitivity, particularly for low-energy signals, in comparison to traditional monolithic LArTPCs with projective-wire charge readouts.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

Quality assurance and quality control of the $26~\text {m}^2$ SiPM production for the DarkSide-20k dark matter experiment

DarkSide-20k is a novel liquid argon dark matter detector currently under construction at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) that will push the sensitivity for Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) detection into the neutrino fog. The core of the apparatus is a dual-phase Time Projection Chamber (TPC), filled with 50 tonnes of low radioactivity underground argon (UAr) acting as the WIMP target. NUV-HD-cryo Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM)s designed by Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) (Trento, Italy) were selected as the photon sensors covering two $10.5~\text {m}^2$ Optical Planes, one at each end of the TPC, and a total of $5~\text {m}^2$ photosensitive surface for the liquid argon veto detectors. This paper describes the Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) plan and procedures accompanying the production of FBK NUV-HD-cryo SiPM wafers manufactured by LFoundry s.r.l. (Avezzano, AQ, Italy). SiPM characteristics are measured at 77 K at the wafer level with a custom-designed probe station. As of March 2025, 1314 of the 1400 production wafers (94% of the total) for DarkSide-20k were tested. The wafer yield is $93.2\pm 2.5$%, which exceeds the 80% specification defined in the original DarkSide-20k production plan.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Search for New Physics through a Long-Lived Di-Muon Resonance in the NuMI Beam with the ICARUS Detector

Many of the unexplained phenomena in particle physics and cosmology today, such as the microphysical nature of dark matter, the strong CP problem, and the origin of the neutrino masses, can be resolved by the existence of a light (~GeV), weakly-coupled hidden sector of new physics. Such hidden sectors often predict the existence of “long-lived” particles (LLPs) that travel a far distance from production before decaying into Standard Model particles. Neutrino oscillation experiments, which combine intense particle beams with precise imaging detectors, are well equipped to probe LLP models with new sensitivity. This thesis details a search for a long-lived particle decaying to two muons with the ICARUS liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detector in the Short-Baseline Neutrino program at Fermilab. The calibration of the ICARUS time projection chamber (TPC) which enables the search is also presented. Notably, the calibration measures an angular dependence in electron-ion recombination in argon, a novel effect in the detector physics of LArTPCs. The search is performed using data taken with the Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) beam, with an exposure of 2.41e20 protons on target. No significant excess over background is observed, and we set world-leading limits on two new physics models that predict this process: the Higgs portal scalar and a heavy axion model. We also present the sensitivity in a model-independent way applicable to any new physics model predicting the process K → π + S(→μμ), for a long-lived particle S.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1990

A gamma-ray imaging telescope based on liquid xenon

A liquid-xenon time projection chamber (TPC) is discussed in terms of its utility as an imaging telescope for high energy astrophysics. The concept exploits the efficiency of xenon as an ionization and scintillation medium for imaging astrophysical gamma-ray sources. The design fundamentally follows the approach of an ionization calorimeter functioning as a TPC dedicated to 3D tracking. A schematic diagram of the instrument is presented, and the device measures the ionization signals - resulting from gamma-ray interactions with xenon - on collection electrodes. The liquid xenon instrument permits the identification of the direction of the Compton electron and thereby determines the location of the source. The energy region of 1-30 MeV is covered by the instrument, and source localization is possible for the entire range.

Aprile, Elena↗
NASA NTRS1991

Development of a high resolution liquid xenon imaging chamber for gamma-ray astronomy

The objective was to develop the technology of liquid xenon (LXe) detectors for spectroscopy and imaging of gamma rays from astrophysical sources emitting in the low to medium energy regime. In particular, the technical challenges and the physical processes relevant to the realization of the LXe detector operated as a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) were addressed and studied. Experimental results were obtained on the following topics: (1) long distance drift of free electrons in LXe (purity); (2) scintillation light yield for electrons and alphas in LXe (triggering); and (3) ionization yield for electrons and gamma rays in LXe (energy resolution). The major results from the investigations are summarized.

Aprile, Elena↗
NASA NTRS2008

Exploiting the Photoelectric effect for X-ray Polarimetry using Time Projection Chamber

The promise of photoelectric X-ray polarimetry has now been realized in laboratory demonstrations and may soon be used for astrophysical observations. Photoelectric polarimetry in gas filled proportional counters achieves high sensitivity through a combination of broad band width and good modulation. The band can be tuned by careful choice of gas composition and pressure. The measurements rely on imaging the tracks of photoelectrons. The initial direction of each track carries information about the electric field of the X-ray photon, and an ensemble of such measurements thus measures the net polarization of the source. A novel readout geometry using time projection chambers (TPC) allows deep (i.e. high efficiency) detectors, albeit without the ability to image the sky. Polarimeters which exploit the TPC geometry can be optimized for use behind telescopes, to study faint persistent sources, or as wide field of view instruments, designed to study bright transient events such as gamma-ray bursts or solar flares. We present the conceptual design of both types of TPC polarimeter. Recent laboratory results demonstrate that these polarimeters can achieve substantial gains in the polarization sensitivity achievable in experiments of modest size.

Jahoda, Keith↗
NASA NTRS2007

A Burst Chasing X-ray Polarimeter

This viewgraph presentation reviews the rationale, design, and importance of an X-Ray Polarimeter. There is a brief discussion of Gamma Ray Bursts, followed by a review of the theories of Gamma-Ray Bursts Polarization. This leads to the question of "How do we measure the polarization?" and a discussion of the GRB x-ray emission, the photoelectric effect and photoelectric polarimetry. The requirements for the work, can only be approached using a gas detector. This leads to a discussion of a Micropattern Gas Polarimeter, and the Time-Projection Chamber (TPC) X-ray Polarimeter.

Hill, Joanne↗
NASA NTRS2010

Development of a Telescope for Medium-Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy

Since the launch of AGILE and FERMI, the scientific progress in high-energy (E(sub gamma) greater than approximately 200 MeV) gamma-ray science has been, and will continue to be dramatic. Both of these telescopes cover a broad energy range from approximately 20 MeV to greater than 10 GeV. However, neither instrument is optimized for observations below approximately 200 MeV where many astrophysical objects exhibit unique, transitory behavior, such as spectral breaks, bursts, and flares. Hence, while significant progress from current observations is expected, there will nonetheless remain a significant sensitivity gap in the medium-energy (approximately 0.1-200 MeV) regime; the lower end of this range remains largely unexplored whereas the upper end will allow comparison with FERMI data. Tapping into this unexplored regime requires significant improvements in sensitivity. A major emphasis of modern detector development, with the goal of providing significant improvements in sensitivity in the medium-energy regime, focuses on high-resolution electron tracking. The Three-Dimensional Track Imager (3-DTI) technology being developed at GSFC provides high resolution tracking of the electron-positron pair from gamma-ray interactions from 5 to 200 MeV. The 3-DTI consists of a time projection chamber (TPC) and 2-D cross-strip microwell detector (MWD). The low-density and homogeneous design of the 3-DTI, offers unprecedented sensitivity by providing angular resolution near the kinematic limit. Electron tracking also enables measurement of gamma-ray polarization, a new tool to study astrophysical phenomenon. We describe the design, fabrication, and performance of a 30x30x30 cubic centimeters 3-DTI detector prototype of a medium-energy gamma-ray telescope.

Hunter, Stanley D.↗
NASA NTRS2011

X-Ray Polarimetry with GEMS

The polarization properties of cosmic X-ray sources are still largely unexplored. The Gravity and Extreme Magnetism SMEX (GEMS) will carry out the first sensitive X-ray polarization survey of a wide range of sources including; accreting compact objects (black holes and neutron stars), AGN, supernova remnants, magnetars and rotation-powered pulsars. GEMS employs grazing-incidence foil mirrors and novel time-projection chamber (TPC) polarimeters leveraging the photoelectric effect to achieve high polarization sensitivity in the 2 - 10 keV band. I will provide an update of the project status, illustrate the expected performance with several science examples, and provide a brief overview of the data analysis challenges

Strohmayer, Tod↗