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At least 1,369 records · Page 76
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Auxiliary field diffusion Monte Carlo calculations of magnetic moments of light nuclei with chiral effective field theory interactions

We calculate the magnetic moments of light nuclei $( A < 20 )$ using the auxiliary field diffusion Monte Carlo method and local two- and three-nucleon forces with electromagnetic currents from chiral effective field theory. For all nuclei under consideration, we also calculate the ground-state energies and charge radii. We generally find a good agreement with experimental values for all of these observables. For the electromagnetic currents, we explore the impact of employing two different power counting schemes, and study theoretical uncertainties stemming from the truncation of the chiral expansion order by order for select nuclei within these two approaches. In conclusion, we find that it is crucial to employ consistent power counting schemes for interactions and currents to achieve a systematic order-by-order convergence.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Data-driven background model for the CUORE experiment

Here, we present the model we developed to reconstruct the CUORE radioactive background based on the analysis of an experimental exposure of 1038.4 kg yr. The data reconstruction relies on a simultaneous Bayesian fit applied to energy spectra over a broad energy range. The high granularity of the CUORE detector, together with the large exposure and extended stable operations, allow for an in-depth exploration of both spatial and time dependence of backgrounds. We achieve high sensitivity to both bulk and surface activities of the materials of the setup, detecting levels as low as 10 nBq kg −1 and 0.1 nBq cm −2 , respectively. We compare the contamination levels we extract from the background model with prior radio-assay data, which informs future background risk mitigation strategies. The results of this background model play a crucial role in constructing the background budget for the CUPID experiment as it will exploit the same CUORE infrastructure.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Observation of the B$^0_\mathrm{s}\to $X(3872)$\phi$ decay

Using a data sample of proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb-1 collected by the CMS experiment in 2016–2018, the Bs0→X(3872)ϕ decay is observed. Decays into J/ψπ+π− and K+K- are used to reconstruct, respectively, the X(3872) and ϕ. The ratio of the product of branching fractions B[Bs0→X(3872)ϕ]B[X(3872)→J/ψπ+π−] to the product B[Bs0→ψ(2S)ϕ]B[ψ(2S)→J/ψπ+π−] is measured to be [2.21±0.29(stat)±0.17(syst)]%. The ratio B[Bs0→X(3872)ϕ]/B[B0→X(3872)K0] is found to be consistent with one, while the ratio B[Bs0→X(3872)ϕ]/B[B+→X(3872)K+] is two times smaller. This suggests a difference in the production dynamics of the X(3872) in B0 and Bs0 meson decays compared to B+. The reported observation may shed new light on the nature of the X(3872) particle.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Search for Light Pseudoscalar Bosons, Pair-Produced in Higgs Boson Decays in the Four-Electron Final State in Proton-Proton Collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

A search for pairs of light neutral pseudoscalar bosons (𝐴) resulting from the decay of a Higgs boson is performed. The search is conducted using LHC proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, collected with the CMS detector in 2016–2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb −1 . The 𝐴 boson decays into a highly collimated electron-positron pair. A novel multivariate algorithm using tracks and calorimeter information is developed to identify these distinctive signatures, and events are selected with two such merged electron-positron pairs. No significant excess above the standard model background predictions is observed. Upper limits on the branching fraction for 𝐻 → 𝐴⁢𝐴 → 4⁢𝑒 are set at 95% confidence level, for masses between 10 and 100 MeV and proper decay lengths below 100 μ⁢m, reaching branching fraction sensitivities as low as 10 −5 . This is the first search for Higgs boson decays to four electrons via light pseudoscalars at the LHC. It significantly improves the experimental sensitivity to axionlike particles with masses below 100 MeV.

Hayrapetyan, A. [Yerevan Physics Institute]↗
DOE OSTI2021

Boson Fermion Nucleus Explanation for Violation of Parity in the Radioactive Decay of Cobalt-60: Monograph #12

In 1957, Chien-Shuing Wu subjected cobalt-60 to supercooled temperatures and a strong magnetic field while measuring radioactive decay. This experiment showed violation of parity— a long-held, fundamental precept in physics stating that nuclear radioactive-decay emission flux will not vary in the solid angle about the nucleus. During Wu’s experiment, beta particles (electrons) exhibited asymmetry, preferentially exiting the cobalt-60 nuclei in the polar region opposite the applied magnetic field. Gamma-ray emissions were anisotropic, preferring to exit the nucleus around the equatorial region. The boson fermion nucleus (BFN) explains the origins of these observed phenomena, where the nuclear structure is pinned in the strong magnetic field with minimal motion in supercooled conditions, while beta particles and gamma rays are emitted from specific locations within the nuclear structure.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Using Kinetic Entropy to Understand Dissipation in Re-connection and Turbulence

This report summarizes results obtained at Space Science Institute (SSI) under a collaborative project funded by the NSF-DOE partnership in Basic Plasma Physics. The overall goal of the project was to perform a study of kinetic entropy as a diagnostic of dissipation in several archetypal models, such as magnetic reconnection and decaying plasma turbulence. The specific task of the SSI group was to perform collisionless and weakly collisional Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulations modeling these systems. Overall, the project has demonstrated that, as expected, kinetic entropy carries an imprint of weakly collisional processes commonly thought to be associated with dissipation and thus provides an important diagnostic of dissipation. Specific entropy-related metrics have been proposed that could be used as quantitative measures of dissipation. These metrics have been implemented as diagnostics in PIC simulations and their utility, as well as relation to other, previously proposed, measures of dissipation have been demonstrated. Further, PIC simulations were used to investigate a general question of how energy is dissipated in magnetized weakly collisional turbulence in both non-relativistic and relativistic plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of selenium imaging detectors toward a definitive search for neutrinoless ββ decay

Imaging sensors made from an ionization target layer of amorphous selenium (aSe) coupled to a silicon complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel array for charge readout are a promising technology for neutrino physics. The high spatial resolution in a solid-state target provides unparalleled rejection of backgrounds from natural radioactivity in the search for the neutrinoless ββ decay of 82 Se. With this grant, we experimentally determined two crucial factors necessary for the realization of this novel technology: i) the intrinsic energy response of aSe to ionizing electrons, and ii) the feasibility to couple a target layer of aSe to a CMOS active pixel sensor to image electron tracks.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1973

Solar cosmic ray micro-events

To study small discrete solar particle events, it has proven useful to define a special class such that the proton flux at energies greater than 20 MeV exceed 0.0001 protons/sq cm-sec-sr-MeV. These increases are termed microevents. An arbitrary upper limit is placed at 2 X 0.02 protons/sq cm-sec-sr-MeV. By demanding a measurable flux above 20 MeV, a better separation from corotating events is achieved and onset times can in general be determined more precisely. Over an observing period extending from May 1967 through December 1971, approximately 105 events were observed. There are several different sources of these small events. Some are produced by moderate to large solar flares near the east limb or by solar flares on the nonvisible disk of the sun. Others are produced by generally minor solar activity: typically in 1N flare, a group of type 3 radio bursts and a well defined X-ray burst. A significant number of this latter type are accompanied by type 2 radio emission. A small sample of the micro-events can be classified as scatter-free events. For these the distance traveled by the particles before their initial detection at earth is on the order of 1.5 AU and observed rise and decay times are much less than normal. Examples of these general types of micro-events and their solar association are discussed.

Mcdonald, F. B.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Cosmic ray propagation and containment

The cosmic rays, an active gaseous component of the disk of the galaxy, are considered along with their propagation and containment as a part of the general dynamics of the disk. The sources of cosmic rays are a matter of speculation. The disk is inflated by the cosmic ray gas pressure comparable to the magnetic pressure, but the rate of inflation is unknown. The time spent by the individual cosmic ray particles in the disk is inversely proportional to the cosmic ray production rate. It is evident from the decay of Be(1c) that the cosmic rays circulate through a volume of space perhaps ten times the thickness of the gaseous disk, suggesting a magnetic halo extending out approximately 1 kpc from either face of the disk. The cosmic rays may be responsible for the halo by inflating the magnetic fields of the disk. Extension of the fields to 1 kpc would imply a high production rate and short life of cosmic rays in the dense gaseous disk of the galaxy.

Parker, E. N.↗
NASA NTRS1993

An alternative representation of the ice canopy for calculating microwave brightness temperatures over a thunderstorm

Passive microwave brightness temperatures (TBs) at 92 and 183 GHz from an aircraft thunderstorm overflight are compared with values calculated from radar-derived hydrometeor profiles and a modified proximity sounding. Two methods for modeling particles in the ice canopy are contrasted. The first is a 'traditional' approach employing Marshall-Palmer ice spheres. The second, or 'alternative', method partitions 20 percent of the ice water content into a Marshall-Palmer component for graupel and hail, and 80 percent into a modified gamma spherical particle size distribution function representing ice crystals. Results from the alternative approach are superior to those from the traditional method in the anvil and mature convective core. In the decaying convective region, the traditional approach yields better agreement with observed magnitudes. Neither method, however, matches the geometry of the observed TB depression associated with the decaying convective core. This is likely due to the presence of graupel, which is not detected as a special signature in radar reflectivity, but does diminish TBs through scattering. Brightness temperatures at the relatively high microwave frequencies considered are shown to be very sensitive to the ice-particle size distribution.

Muller, Bradley M.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Potential neutron-induced γ-ray background on natural tellurium relevant to 130 Te 0 ν ββ decay searches at the CUORE and SNO+ detectors

Gamma-ray production cross-section data have been obtained for the inelastic neutron scattering reactions 126,128,130 Te(n,n'γ) at five neutron energies between 3.6 and 10 MeV. We report data for the γ-ray energy region relevant to 0ν ββ decay of 130 Te with a Q ββ value of 2527.515 keV, assuming natural-abundance tellurium, as used at CUORE and SNO+. The natural abundance of 130 Te, 128 Te, and 126 Te is 34%, 32%, and 19%, respectively. For CUORE the γ-ray cascades from the excited state in 130 Te at 2527.06 keV and in 126 Te at 2533.85 keV are of concern. For SNO+, accounting for its inferior energy resolution, an additional four levels are important in 130 Te, an additional nine levels in 128 Te, and an additional eight levels in 126 Te. Of these, we report neutron-induced γ-ray production cross sections for the strongest transitions: the 2581.15 keV level in 130 Te, the 2494.20, 2508.06, and 2630.14 keV levels in 128 Te, and the 2496.83 and 2585.46 keV level in 126 Te. Here, the largest cross-section values were found for cascade γ-ray transitions to the ground state, while direct transitions to the ground state are very weak and were not observed in the present work. Both the CUORE and SNO+ detectors, however, may not be able to distinguish between cascade transitions and direct transitions to the ground state, making the neutron-induced excitation of the 2527.06 keV state of 130 Te in particular a potential problem for 0νββ decay searches of 130Te, because it matches its Q ββ value.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Search for electroweak production of supersymmetric particles in final states with two τ -leptons in $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

Three searches for the direct production of τ-sleptons or charginos and neutralinos in final states with at least two hadronically decaying τ-leptons are presented. For chargino and neutralino production, decays via intermediate τ-sleptons or W and h bosons are considered. The analysis uses a dataset of pp collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb -1 , recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. No significant deviation from the expected Standard Model background is observed and supersymmetric particle mass limits at 95% confidence level are obtained in simplified models. For direct production of $\sim\atop{\chi}$ $^+_1$ $\sim\atop{\chi}$ $^-_1$, chargino masses are excluded up to 970 GeV, while $\sim\atop{\chi}$ $^±_1$ and $\sim\atop{\chi}$ $^0_2$ masses up to 1160 GeV (330 GeV) are excluded for $\sim\atop{\chi}$ $^±_1$ $\sim\atop{\chi}$ $^0_2$ / $\sim\atop{\chi}$ $^+_1$ $\sim\atop{\chi}$ $^-_1$ production with subsequent decays via τ-sleptons (W and h bosons). Masses of τ-sleptons up to 500 GeV are excluded for mass degenerate $\sim\atop{\tau}$ L,R scenarios and up to 425 GeV for $\sim\atop{\tau}$ L-only scenarios. Sensitivity to $\sim\atop{\tau}$ R -only scenarios from the ATLAS experiment is presented here for the first time, with $\sim\atop{\tau}$ R masses excluded up to 350 GeV.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗