Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “COMMISSIONING”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 757 records · Page 42

The nylon balloon for xenon loaded liquid scintillator in KamLAND-Zen 800 neutrinoless double-beta decay search experiment

The KamLAND-Zen 800 experiment is searching for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of 136 Xe by using 136 Xe-loaded liquid scintillator. The liquid scintillator is enclosed inside a balloon made of thin, transparent, low-radioactivity film that we call Inner Balloon (IB). The IB, apart from guaranteeing the liquid containment, also allows to minimize the background from cosmogenic muon-spallation products and 8B solar neutrinos. Indeed these events could contribute to the total counts in the region of interest around the Q-value of the double-beta decay of 136 Xe. In this paper, we present an overview of the IB and describe the various steps of its commissioning minimizing the radioactive contaminations, from the material selection, to the fabrication of the balloon and its installation inside the KamLAND detector. Finally, we show the impact of the IB on the KamLAND background as measured by the KamLAND detector itself.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

EIC Detector Overview

The Electron Ion Collider will have two interaction regions that can be instrumented with detectors. Here, the first region will be instrumented as part of the project and needs to be capable of delivering the physics that has been outlined by the National Academy of Sciences and ready at the start of beam commissioning near the end of this decade. Plans for a second complementary detector to be located at a second interaction region are already in progress and will hopefully come to fruition just few years after the first detector comes online. While the basic parameters of these detectors are being selected using conventional approaches, the optimization of the detectors is already being enhanced by making use of advanced optimization techniques.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The straw tracking detector for the Fermilab Muon g-2 Experiment

The Muon g-2 Experiment at Fermilab uses a gaseous straw tracking detector to make detailed measurements of the stored muon beam profile, which are essential for the experiment to achieve its uncertainty goals. Positrons from muon decays spiral inward and pass through the tracking detector before striking an electromagnetic calorimeter. The tracking detector is therefore located inside the vacuum chamber in a region where the magnetic field is large and non-uniform. As such, the tracking detector must have a low leak rate to maintain a high-quality vacuum, must be non-magnetic so as not to perturb the magnetic field and, to minimize energy loss, must have a low radiation length. The performance of the tracking detector has met or surpassed the design requirements, with adequate electronic noise levels, an average straw hit resolution of (110 ± 20) μm, a detection efficiency of 97% or higher, and no performance degradation or signs of aging. The tracking detector's measurements result in an otherwise unachievable understanding of the muon's beam motion, particularly at early times in the experiment's measurement period when there are a significantly greater number of muons decaying. This is vital to the statistical power of the experiment, as well as facilitating the precise extraction of several systematic corrections and uncertainties. This paper describes the design, construction, testing, commissioning, and performance of the tracking detector.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Results of the first implementation of RF phase signature matching at LANSCE

The LINAC at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) has been utilizing the Delta-t method to match the RF cavities to the design acceleration parameters since its commissioning in 1972. The differences in time-of-flight between two subsequent Beam Position and Phase Monitors (BPPMs) are measured with both accelerated and drifting beams, depending on the whether the module is set to on or off. The algorithm optimizes the module amplitude and phase via iterative measurements if the initial phase is in the vicinity of the design value. With an upgrade to a faster readout system, a scan over the whole RF cavity phase range requires relatively less time than the classical optimization procedure. The Phase Scan Signature Matching (PSSM) method provides a time-efficient method that ensures the phase selection lands on the bunching side and empowers future analyses to build module-specific models. The PSSM also utilizes a direct model to determine the correct amplitude to sub-percent level instead of using linearized matrices. Furthermore, lacking a reliable energy measurement method in the LINAC, we measure the beam phases at two downstream locations to increase the precision of energy measurements. In this letter, we also discuss the sensitivities of PSSM, error propagation, and the implementation results for the 2019 and 2020 beam cycles.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

TriWaSp: a multi-faceted visible spectroscopy diagnostic on the ST40 tokamak

Here, we present a new state-of-the-art Triple Wavelength Spectrometer (TriWaSp), recently deployed on ST40, a high field low aspect ratio spherical tokamak. The TriWaSp has a range of possible applications due to its flexible design; the current configuration focuses on charge exchange recombination spectroscopy from carbon and neon impurities in the ST40 plasma. This paper discusses the detailed setup of the system and presents initial charge exchange ion temperature measurements using a single line of sight, which show good agreement with other ion temperature diagnostics. Building on these commissioning results and forward modelling of the system, a new observation geometry has been implemented for the next experimental campaign which will considerably improve the localisation of ion temperature and velocity profile measurements.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Exploring cesium properties internal to the LANSCE H - ion source using resonant absorption spectroscopy

The Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) H - ion source has provided stable output for decades of LANL mission needs, but its maximum beam output has remained the same at ~15 mA. A roadblock to improving beam output has been a lack of thorough understanding of the internal mechanisms of LANSCE H - ion source. The LANSCE H - Ion Source Laser Diagnostic Stand (HLDS) was recently built and commissioned to explore these internal mechanisms using laser absorption techniques, to measure and diagnose dynamic H - and cesium densities. The cesium density probe is based on resonant absorption of a continuous wave diode laser tuned though the D 2 line of cesium (~852 nm). The diagnostic capabilities of HLDS will be reviewed, and measurements using the cesium laser diagnostic will be presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Laser calibration of the ATLAS Tile Calorimeter during LHC Run 2

This article reports the laser calibration of the hadronic Tile Calorimeter of the ATLAS experiment in the LHC Run 2 data campaign. The upgraded Laser II calibration system is described. The system was commissioned during the first LHC Long Shutdown, exhibiting a stability better than 0.8% for the laser light monitoring. The methods employed to derive the detector calibration factors with data from the laser calibration runs are also detailed. These allowed to correct for the response fluctuations of the 9852 photomultiplier tubes of the Tile Calorimeter with a total uncertainty of 0.5% plus a luminosity-dependent sub-dominant term. Finally, we report the regular monitoring and performance studies using laser events in both standalone runs and during proton collisions. These studies include channel timing and quality inspection, and photomultiplier linearity and response dependence on anode current.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Ultra low background Micromegas detectors for BabyIAXO solar axion search

Abstract The International AXion Observatory (IAXO) is a large scale axion helioscope that will look for axions and axion-like particles produced in the Sun with unprecedented sensitivity. BabyIAXO is an intermediate experimental stage that will be hosted at DESY (Germany) and that will test all IAXO subsystems serving as a prototype for IAXO but at the same time as a fully-fledged helioscope with potential for discovery.One of the crucial components of the project is the ultra-low background X-ray detectors that will image the X-ray photons produced by axion conversion in the experiment. The baseline detection technology for this purpose are Micromegas (Microbulk) detectors. We will show the quest and the strategy to attain the very challenging levels of background targeted for BabyIAXO that need a multi-approach strategy coming from ground measurements, screening campaigns of components of the detector, underground measurements, background models, in-situ background measurements as well as powerful rejection algorithms. First results from the commissioning of the BabyIAXO prototype will be shown.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗

AugerPrime surface detector electronics

Operating since 2004, the Pierre Auger Observatory has led to major advances in our understanding of the ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. The latest findings have revealed new insights that led to the upgrade of the Observatory, with the primary goal of obtaining information on the primary mass of the most energetic cosmic rays on a shower-by-shower basis. In the framework of the upgrade, called AugerPrime, the 1660 water-Cherenkov detectors of the surface array are equipped with plastic scintillators and radio antennas, allowing us to enhance the composition sensitivity. To accommodate new detectors and to increase experimental capabilities, the electronics is also upgraded. This includes better timing with up-to-date GPS receivers, higher sampling frequency, increased dynamic range, and more powerful local processing of the data. In this paper, the design characteristics of the new electronics and the enhanced dynamic range will be described. The manufacturing and test processes will be outlined and the test results will be discussed. The calibration of the SD detector and various performance parameters obtained from the analysis of the first commissioning data will also be presented.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Towards a fiber barrel detector for next-generation high-pressure gaseous xenon TPCs

Abstract The NEXT (Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC) project is an international collaboration aimed at finding evidence of neutrinoless double beta decay using gaseous xenon. The current phase of the project involves the construction and operation of NEXT-100, which is designed to hold 100 kg of xenon at 15 bar and is expected to start commissioning in the first quarter of 2024. NEXT-HD will be a tonne scale experiment following NEXT-100 and will incorporate a symmetric design, with one cathode and two anodes. For this detector, the collaboration is considering to implement a barrel of wavelength-shifting fibers read-out by silicon photomultipliers to measure the energy of the particles interacting in the gaseous xenon. In this document, we will discuss the characteristics of this approach and provide an update on the related R&D efforts.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗

Development of a new CEDAR for kaon identification at the NA62 experiment at CERN

The NA62 experiment at CERN utilises a differential Cherenkov counter with achromatic ring focus (CEDAR) for tagging kaons within an unseparated monochromatic beam of charged hadrons. The CEDAR-H detector was developed to minimise the amount of material in the path of the beam by using hydrogen gas as the radiator medium. The detector was shown to satisfy the kaon tagging requirements in a test-beam before installation and commissioning at the experiment. The CEDAR-H performance was measured using NA62 data collected in 2023.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

The ATLAS trigger system for LHC Run 3 and trigger performance in 2022

The ATLAS trigger system is a crucial component of the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. It is responsible for selecting events in line with the ATLAS physics programme. This paper presents an overview of the changes to the trigger and data acquisition system during the second long shutdown of the LHC, and shows the performance of the trigger system and its components in the proton-proton collisions during the 2022 commissioning period as well as its expected performance in proton-proton and heavy-ion collisions for the remainder of the third LHC data-taking period (2022–2025).

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Design, construction, and operation of a 1-ton Water-based Liquid scintillator detector at Brookhaven National Laboratory

Water-based liquid scintillators (WbLS) are a new class of detector materials that provide efficient and tunable detection of both Cherenkov and scintillation light. A massive WbLS neutrino detector with suitable photosensor coverage for low intensity light detection could therefore reconstruct the momentum of an energetic charged particle and also have enhanced low-energy sensitivity. These materials are also better suited for metal doping broadening the potential scientific utility. Here, we recently constructed and commissioned a 1-ton WbLS detector with good photosensor coverage and a capable data acquisition and calibration system. We intend to use this flexible detector system as a testbed for WbLS R&D. In this paper we give an overview of the 1-ton system and provide some early results.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The Linac Extension Area at the Advanced Photon Source

The Linac Extension Area has been developed into a beamline area for testing accelerator components and techniques. Beginning commissioning activities in February 2023, we have delivered the first electron beam to the Linac Extension Area at the Advanced Photon Source at 425 MeV. In the present work, we summarise the principal accelerator components and review safety controls of the Linac Extension Area.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Design and implementation of the cosmic ray tagger system for the ICARUS detector at FNAL

The ICARUS-T600 Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber is operating at Fermilab at shallow depth and thus exposed to a high flux of cosmic rays that can fake neutrino interactions. A cosmic ray tagging (CRT) system (∼ 1100 m 2 ), surrounding the cryostat with two layers of fiber embedded plastic scintillators, was developed to mitigate the cosmic ray induced background. Using nanosecond-level timing information, the CRT can distinguish incoming cosmic rays from outgoing particles from neutrino interactions in the TPC. In this paper an overview of the CRT system, its installation and commissioning at Fermilab, and its performance are discussed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

First-ever deployment of a SiPM-on-tile calorimeter in a collider: a parasitic test with 200 GeV p p collisions at RHIC.

We describe the testing of a prototype SiPM-on-tile iron-scintillator calorimeter at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) during its 200 GeV p p run in 2024. The prototype, measuring 20 × 20 cm 2 and 24 radiation lengths in depth, was positioned in the STAR experimental hall, approximately 8 m from the interaction point and 65 cm from the beam line, covering a pseudorapidity range of about 3.1 < η < 3.4. By using the dark current of a reference SiPM as a radiation monitor, we estimate that the prototype was exposed to a fluence of about 10 10 1-MeV n eq /cm 2 . Channel-by-channel calibration was performed in a data-driven way with the signature from minimum-ionizing particles during beam-on conditions. AGeant4 detector simulation, with inputs from thePythia8 event generator, describes measurements of energy spectra and hit multiplicities reasonably well. These results mark the first deployment, commissioning, calibration, and long-term operation of a SiPM-on-tile calorimeter in a collider environment. This experimental campaign will guide detector designs and operational strategies for the ePIC detector at the future EIC, as well as other applications.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Operation and performance of the CMS silicon strip tracker with proton-proton collisions at the CERN LHC

Salient aspects of the commissioning, calibration, and performance of the CMS silicon strip tracker are discussed, drawing on experience during operation with proton-proton collisions delivered by the CERN LHC. The data were obtained with a variety of luminosities. The operating temperature of the strip tracker was changed several times during this period and results are shown as a function of temperature in several cases. Details of the system performance are presented, including occupancy, signal-to-noise ratio, Lorentz angle, and single-hit spatial resolution. Saturation effects in the APV25 readout chip preamplifier observed during early Run 2 are presented, showing the effect on various observables and the subsequent remedy. Studies of radiation effects on the strip tracker are presented both for the optical readout links and the silicon sensors. The observed effects are compared to simulation, where available, and they generally agree well with expectations.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

First light from beam neutrinos on an LAPPD in ANNIE

The Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment (ANNIE) is both a physics experiment and a technology testbed for next-generation light-based neutrino detection. In this paper, we report the first demonstration of a fully integrated Large Area Picosecond Photodetector (LAPPD) operating in a running neutrino beam experiment. Particular focus is given to the design, commissioning, and successful deployment of the Packaged ANNIE LAPPD (PAL), a waterproof, self-triggering module incorporating fast waveform digitization and precision timing synchronized to the ANNIE detector subsystems. We identify beam-correlated LAPPD data frames consistent with charged-current neutrino interactions observed in multiple detector subsystems, establishing the first detection of neutrino-induced Cherenkov light with an LAPPD. These results validate the system-level performance of LAPPDs under realistic experimental conditions — including long-term stability, timing synchronization, and event matching with conventional PMT and muon detector systems — marking a critical step toward their deployment in future large-scale neutrino and particle detectors.

Cherenkov detectors↗