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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.

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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Search for heavy neutral leptons in decays of W bosons using leptonic and semi-leptonic displaced vertices in $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search is performed for long-lived heavy neutral leptons (HNLs), produced through the decay of a W boson along with a muon or electron. Two channels are explored: a leptonic channel, in which the HNL decays into two leptons and a neutrino, and a semi-leptonic channel, in which the HNL decays into a lepton and a charged pion. The search is performed with 140 fb −1 of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV proton-proton collision data collected by ATLAS during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider. No excess of events is observed; Dirac-like and Majorana-like HNLs with masses below 14.5 GeV and mixing coefficients as small as 10 −7 are excluded at the 95% confidence level. The results are interpreted under different assumptions on the flavour of the leptons from the HNL decays.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Multiplicity-dependent inclusive J/ ψ production at forward rapidity in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

This paper presents a study of the inclusive forward J/ψ yield as a function of forward charged-particle multiplicity in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV using data collected by the ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC. The results are presented in terms of relative J/ψ yields and relative charged-particle multiplicities with respect to these quantities obtained in inelastic collisions having at least one charged particle in the pseudorapidity range |η| < 1. The J/ψ mesons are reconstructed via their decay into μ + μ − pairs in the forward rapidity region (2.5 < y < 4). The relative multiplicity is estimated in the forward pseudorapidity range which overlaps with the J/ψ rapidity region. The results show a steeper-than-linear increase of the J/ψ yields versus the multiplicity. They are compared with previous measurements and theoretical model calculations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Dark matter and baryon asymmetry from monopole-axion interactions

We introduce a novel mechanism where the kinetic energy of a rotating axion can be dissipated by the interactions with dark magnetic monopoles. This mechanism leads to a framework where the QCD axion and dark monopoles account for the dark matter density, and the observed baryon asymmetry is generated through the rotating QCD axion via axiogenesis. The monopoles acquire masses from a nonzero axion field, and they can transition between different quantized dyonic levels in the presence of a rotating axion field. The axion kinetic energy is dissipated by the transition, and thus the axion abundance is depleted to the observed dark matter abundance. We predict that the axion decay constant should be below 10 9 GeV to explain the observed dark matter and baryon densities.

Axions and ALPs↗
DOE OSTI2025

Lepto-axiogenesis with light right-handed neutrinos

We study lepto-axiogenesis in theories where the right-handed neutrino is light enough that its dynamics affect the determination of the baryon asymmetry. When compared with theories of high-scale lepto-axiogenesis where the Majorana neutrino mass may be treated as an effective dimension-five operator, we find that the predicted saxion mass is lower. Two distinct scenarios emerge. In the first, processes that generate the baryon asymmetry are in equilibrium down to the mass of the right-handed neutrino. In the second, the relevant processes never reach equilibrium; the baryon number freezes in. We comment on implications for supersymmetric spectra and discuss constraints on late decays of supersymmetric relics and from dark radiation. In contrast to high-scale lepto-axiogenesis, which predicts superpartners with masses of 10–100 TeV or more, we find this scenario is consistent with a wider range of superpartner masses, all the way down to current direct search bounds.

Axions and ALPs↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measurements of the production cross-sections of a Higgs boson in association with a vector boson and decaying into WW * with the ATLAS detector at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

Measurements of the total and differential Higgs boson production cross-sections, via WH and ZH associated production using H → WW* → ℓνℓν and H → WW* → ℓνjj decays, are presented. The analysis uses proton-proton events delivered by the Large Hadron Collider at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and recorded by the ATLAS detector between 2015 and 2018. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb −1 . The sum of the WH and ZH cross-sections times the H → WW* branching fraction is measured to be ${0.44}_{-0.09}^{+0.10}$ (stat.)$_{-0.05}^{+0.06}$ (syst.) pb, in agreement with the Standard Model prediction. Higgs boson production is further characterised through measurements of the differential cross-section as a function of the transverse momentum of the vector boson and in the framework of Simplified Template Cross-Sections.

hadron-hadron scattering↗
DOE OSTI2025

Light neutral-meson production in pp collisions at $\sqrt{\text{s}}$ = 13 TeV

The momentum-differential invariant cross sections of π 0 and η mesons are reported for pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV at midrapidity (|y| < 0.8). The measurement is performed in a broad transverse-momentum range of 0.2 < p T < 200 GeV/c and 0.4 < p T < 60 GeV/c for the π 0 and η, respectively, extending the p T coverage of previous measurements. Transverse-mass-scaling violation of up to 60% at low transverse momentum has been observed, agreeing with measurements at lower collision energies. Transverse Bjorken x (x T ) scaling of the π 0 cross sections at LHC energies is fulfilled with a power-law exponent of n = 5.01 ± 0.05, consistent with values obtained for charged pions at similar collision energies. The data are compared to predictions from next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations, where the π 0 spectrum is best described using the CT18 parton distribution function and the NNFF1.0 or BDSS fragmentation function. Expectations from PYTHIA8 and EPOS LHC overestimate the spectrum for the π 0 and are not able to describe the shape and magnitude of the η spectrum. The charged-particle multiplicity dependent π 0 and η p T spectra show the expected change of the spectral shape, characterized by a flatter slope with increasing multiplicity. This is demonstrated across a broad transverse-momentum range and up to events with a charged-particle multiplicity exceeding five times the mean value in minimum bias collisions. The η/π 0 ratio depends on the charged-particle multiplicity for p T < 4 GeV/c. PYTHIA8 and EPOS LHC qualitatively explain this behavior with an increasing contribution from the feed-down of heavier particles to the π 0 spectrum.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

What can solve the strong CP problem?

Three possible strategies have been advocated to solve the strong CP problem. The first is the axion, a dynamical mechanism that relaxes any initial value of the CP violating angle $\overline{θ}$ to zero. The second is the imposition of new symmetries that are believed to set $\overline{θ}$ to zero in the UV. The third is the acceptance of the fine tuning of parameters. We argue that the latter two solutions do not solve the strong CP problem. The θ term of QCD is not a parameter — it does not exist in the Hamiltonian. Rather, it is a property of the quantum state that our universe finds itself in, arising from the fact that there are CP violating states of a CP preserving Hamiltonian. It is not eliminated by imposing parity as a symmetry since the underlying theory is already parity symmetric and that does not preclude the existence of CP violating states. Moreover, since the value of θ realized in our universe is a consequence of measurement, it is inherently random and cannot be fine tuned by choice of parameters. Rather any fine tuning would require a tuning between parameters in the theory and the random outcome of measurement. Our results considerably strengthen the case for the existence of the axion and axion dark matter. The confusion around θ arises from the fact that unlike classical mechanics, the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian are not equivalent in quantum mechanics. The Hamiltonian defines the differential time evolution, whereas the Lagrangian is a solution to this evolution. Consequently, initial conditions could in principle appear in the Lagrangian but not in the Hamiltonian. This results in aspects of the initial condition such as θ misleadingly appearing in the Lagrangian as parameters. We comment on the similarity between the θ vacua and the violations of the constraint equations of classical gauge theories in quantum mechanics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Searches for direct slepton production in the compressed-mass corridor in $\sqrt{\textrm{s}}$ = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents searches for the direct pair production of charged light-flavour sleptons, each decaying into a stable neutralino and an associated Standard Model lepton. The analyses focus on the challenging ``corridor'' region, where the mass difference, $Δm$, between the slepton ($\tilde{e}$ or $\tildeμ$) and the lightest neutralino ($\tildeχ^{0}_{1}$) is less or similar to the mass of the $W$ boson, $m(W)$, with the aim to close a persistent gap in sensitivity to models with $Δm \lesssim m(W)$. Events are required to contain a high-energy jet, significant missing transverse momentum, and two same-flavour opposite-sign leptons ($e$ or $μ$). The analysis uses $pp$ collision data at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$. Several kinematic selections are applied, including a set of boosted decision trees. These are each optimised for different $Δm$ to provide expected sensitivity for the first time across the full $Δm$ corridor. The results are generally consistent with the Standard Model, with the most significant deviations observed with a local significance of 2.0 $σ$ in the selectron search, and 2.4 $σ$ in the smuon search. While these deviations weaken the observed exclusion reach in some parts of the signal parameter space, the previously present sensitivity gap to this corridor is largely reduced. Constraints at the 95% confidence level are set on simplified models of selectron and smuon pair production, where selectrons (smuons) with masses up to 300 (350) GeV can be excluded for $Δm$ between 2 GeV and 100 GeV.

hadron-hadron scattering↗
DOE OSTI2025

Acoustic misalignment mechanism for axion dark matter

A rotation in the field space of a complex scalar field corresponds to a Bose-Einstein condensation of U(1) charges. We point out that fluctuations in this rotating condensate exhibit sound-wave modes, which can be excited by cosmic perturbations and identified with axion fluctuations once the U(1) charge condensate has been sufficiently diluted by cosmic expansion. We consider the possibility that these axion fluctuations constitute dark matter and develop a formalism to compute its abundance. We carefully account for the growth of fluctuations during the epoch where the complex scalar field rotates on the body of the potential and possible nonlinear evolution when the fluctuations become non-relativistic. We find that the resultant dark matter abundance can exceed the conventional and kinetic misalignment contributions if the radial direction of the complex scalar field is sufficiently heavy. The axion dark matter may also be warm enough to leave imprints on structure formation. We discuss the implications of this novel dark matter production mechanism — acoustic misalignment mechanism — for the axion rotation cosmology, including kination domination and baryogenesis from axion rotation, as well as for axion searches.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measurements of W + W − production cross-sections in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

Measurements of W + W − → e ± νμ ∓ ν production cross-sections are presented, providing a test of the predictions of perturbative quantum chromodynamics and the electroweak theory. The measurements are based on data from pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2015–2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb −1 . The number of events due to top-quark pair production, the largest background, is reduced by rejecting events containing jets with b-hadron decays. An improved methodology for estimating the remaining top-quark background enables a precise measurement of W + W − cross-sections with no additional requirements on jets. The fiducial W + W − cross-section is determined in a maximum-likelihood fit with an uncertainty of 3.1%. The measurement is extrapolated to the full phase space, resulting in a total W + W − cross-section of 127 ± 4 pb. Differential cross-sections are measured as a function of twelve observables that comprehensively describe the kinematics of W + W − events. The measurements are compared with state-of-the-art theory calculations and excellent agreement with predictions is observed. A charge asymmetry in the lepton rapidity is observed as a function of the dilepton invariant mass, in agreement with the Standard Model expectation. A CP-odd observable is measured to be consistent with no CP violation. Limits on Standard Model effective field theory Wilson coefficients in the Warsaw basis are obtained from the differential cross-sections.

Accelerator Physics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measurement of correlations among net-charge, net-proton, and net-kaon multiplicity distributions in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV

Correlations among conserved quantum numbers, such as the net-electric charge, the net-baryon, and the net-strangeness in heavy-ion collisions, are crucial for exploring the QCD phase diagram. In this paper, these correlations are investigated using net-proton number (as a proxy for the net-baryon), net-kaon number (for the net-strangeness), and net-charged particle number in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector. The observed correlations deviate from the Poissonian baseline, with a more pronounced deviation at LHC energies than at RHIC. Theoretical calculations of the Thermal-FIST hadron resonance gas model, HIJING, and EPOS LHC event generators are compared with experimental results, where a significant impact of resonance decays is observed. Thermal-FIST calculations under the grand canonical and canonical ensembles highlight significant differences, underscoring the role of local charge conservation in explaining the data. Recent lattice QCD studies have demonstrated that the magnetic field generated by spectator protons in heavy-ion collisions affects susceptibility ratios, in particular those related to the net-electric charge and the net-baryon numbers. The experimental findings are in qualitative agreement with the expectations of lattice QCD.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

A light QCD axion with hilltop misalignment

We study the cosmological evolution of a light QCD axion and identify the parameter space to obtain the correct relic dark matter abundance. The axion potential is flattened at the origin, corresponding to the only minimum, while it is unsuppressed at π. These potential features arise by assuming a mirror sector with the strong CP phase $\overline{θ}$ shifted by π compared to the SM sector, which allows the mirror axion potential to be tuned against the usual QCD axion potential. Before the QCD phase transition, assuming the mirror sector is decoupled and much colder than the SM thermal bath, the mirror sector potential dominates, causing the axion to initially roll to a temporary minimum at π. However, after the QCD phase transition, the potential minimum changes, and the axion relaxes from the newly created “hilltop” near π to the CP-conserving minimum at the origin. As the axion adiabatically tracks this shift in the potential minimum through the QCD phase transition, with non-adiabatic evolution near π and 0, it alters the usual prediction of the dark matter abundance. Consequently, this “hilltop” misalignment mechanism opens new regions of axion parameter space, with the correct relic abundance while still solving the strong CP problem, that could be explored in future experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Axion detection via superfluid 3 He ferromagnetic phase and quantum measurement techniques

We propose to use the nuclear spin excitation in the ferromagnetic A 1 phase of the superfluid 3 He for the axion dark matter detection. This approach is striking in that it is sensitive to the axion-nucleon coupling, one of the most important features of the QCD axion introduced to solve the strong CP problem. We review a quantum mechanical description of the nuclear spin excitation and apply it to the estimation of the axion-induced spin excitation rate. We also describe a possible detection method of the spin excitation in detail and show that the combination of the squeezing of the final state with the Josephson parametric amplifier and the homodyne measurement can enhance the sensitivity. It turns out that this approach gives good sensitivity to the axion dark matter with the mass of $\mathcal{O}$(1) μeV depending on the size of the external magnetic field. We estimate the parameters of experimental setups, e.g., the detector volume and the amplitude of squeezing, required to reach the QCD axion parameter space.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

A search for dark matter produced in association with a dark Higgs boson decaying into a Higgs boson pair in 3b or 4b final states using pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search is performed for dark matter particles produced in association with a resonant pair of Higgs bosons using 140 fb −1 of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. This signature is expected in some extensions of the Standard Model predicting the production of dark matter particles, and is interpreted in terms of a dark Higgs model containing a Z′ mediator in which the dark Higgs boson s decays into a pair of Higgs bosons. The dark Higgs boson is reconstructed through final states with at least three b-tagged jets, produced by the pair of Higgs boson decays, in events with significant missing transverse momentum consistent with the presence of dark matter. The observed data are found to be in good agreement with Standard Model predictions, constraining scenarios with dark Higgs boson masses within the range of 250 to 400 GeV and Z′ mediators up to 2.3 TeV.

Dark Energy and Dark Matter↗
DOE OSTI2025

A measurement of the high-mass $\tau \overline{\tau}$ production cross-section at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector and constraints on new particles and couplings

The production cross-section of high-mass τ-lepton pairs is measured as a function of the dilepton visible invariant mass, using 140 fb −1 of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV proton-proton collision data recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The measurement agrees with the predictions of the Standard Model. A fit to the invariant mass distribution is performed as a function of b-jet multiplicity, to constrain the non-resonant production of new particles described by an effective field theory or in models containing leptoquarks or Z′ bosons that couple preferentially to third-generation fermions. The constraints on new particles improve on previous results, and the constraints on effective operators include those affecting the anomalous magnetic moment of the τ-lepton.

beyond Standard Model↗
DOE OSTI2025

Probing the Higgs boson CP properties in vector-boson fusion production in the H → τ + τ − channel with the ATLAS detector

The CP properties of the Higgs boson are studied in the vector-boson fusion production mode. The analysis exploits the decay mode of the Higgs boson into two τ-leptons using 140 fb −1 of proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. Results are obtained using the Optimal Observable method. CP-violating interactions between the Higgs boson and electroweak gauge bosons are considered in the effective field theory framework, with the interaction strength described in the HISZ basis by $\tilde{d}$, and in the Warsaw basis by c H$\tilde{W}$ , c H$\tilde{B}$ , and c H$\tilde{W}$B . No deviations relative to the Standard Model are observed, and limits are obtained on the strength parameters. The $\tilde{d}$ parameter is constrained to the interval [−0.012, 0.044] at the 95% confidence level while c H$\tilde{W}$ is constrained to [−0.24, 0.83], when considering both linear and quadratic effects of physics beyond the Standard Model.

Hadron-Hadron Scattering↗
DOE OSTI2025

Search for the production of a Higgs boson in association with a single top quark in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for the production of a Higgs boson in association with a single top quark, tH, is presented. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb −1 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The search targets Higgs-boson decays into $b\bar{b}$, WW * , ZZ * , and ττ, accompanied by an isolated lepton (electron or muon) from the top-quark decay. Multivariate techniques are employed to enhance the separation between signal and background processes. The observed signal strength, μ tH , defined as the ratio between the measured cross-section and the predicted Standard Model value, is μ tH = 8.1 ± 2.6 (stat.) ± 2.0 (syst.). The significance of the observed (expected) signal above the background-only expectation is 2.8 (0.4) standard deviations. The corresponding observed (expected) upper limit at the 95% confidence level on the tH cross-section is found to be 13.9 (6.1) times the value predicted by the Standard Model. An interpretation with an inverted sign of the top-quark Yukawa coupling is performed, and the signal strength and corresponding limit are reported.

Hadron-Hadron Scattering↗
DOE OSTI2025

First measurement of D* + vector meson spin alignment in Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{\text{NN}}}={5}.0{2}$ TeV

The first measurement of prompt D *+ -meson spin alignment in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions with respect to the direction orthogonal to the reaction plane is presented. The spin alignment is quantified by measuring the element ρ 00 of the diagonal spin-density matrix for prompt D *+ mesons with 4 < p T < 30 GeV/c in two rapidity intervals, |y| < 0.3 and 0.3 < |y| < 0.8, in central (0–10%) and midcentral (30–50%) Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{\text{NN}}}={5}.0{2}$ TeV. Evidence of spin alignment ρ 00 > 1/3 has been found for p T > 15 GeV/c and 0.3 < |y| < 0.8 with a significance of 3.1σ. The measured spin alignment of prompt D *+ mesons is compared with the one of inclusive J/ψ mesons measured at forward rapidity (2.5 < y < 4).

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗