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At least 1,423 records · Page 79
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Delayed charge recovery discrimination of passivated surface alpha events in P-type point-contact detectors

The Majorana Demonstrator searches for neutrinoless double-beta decay of 76 Ge using arrays of high-purity germanium detectors. If observed, this process would demonstrate that lepton number is not a conserved quantity in nature, with implications for grand-unification and for explaining the predominance of matter over antimatter in the universe. A problematic background in such large granular detector arrays is posed by alpha particles. In the Majorana Demonstrator, events have been observed that are consistent with energy- degraded alphas originating on the passivated surface, leading to a potential background contribution in the region-of-interest for neutrinoless double-beta decay. However, it is also observed that when energy deposition occurs very close to the passivated surface, charges drift through the bulk onto that surface, and then drift along it with greatly reduced mobility. This leads to both a reduced prompt signal and a measurable change in slope of the tail of a recorded pulse. In this contribution we discuss the characteristics of these events and the development of a filter that can identify the occurrence of this delayed charge recovery, allowing for the efficient rejection of passivated surface alpha events in analysis.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Synthesis, phase composition modification, and optical properties of Ce{sup 3+}/Tb{sup 3+} activated KGdF{sub 4} and GdF{sub 3} submicrocrystals

Ce{sup 3+}/Tb{sup 3+} co-doped series of samples have been synthesized based on a citric acid assisted hydrothermal method. By controlling the hydrothermal treating time, the samples evolve from the Ce{sup 3+}/Tb{sup 3+} co-doped cubic phase KGdF{sub 4} with spherical morphology into the Ce{sup 3+}/Tb{sup 3+} co-doped orthorhombic phase GdF{sub 3} with rhombic shape finally. The X-ray diffraction data illustrate the phase composition modification process of the samples. The field emission scanning electron microscopy and the transmission electron microscopy images suggest the transformation in the morphology of final products. The spectra of the energy-dispersive spectroscopy reveal the constituents of the samples. And the selected area electronic diffraction patterns prove the crystalline phases of the samples. Based on previous studies and the experimental data, one possible phase composition modification process has been summarized. The photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra and the luminescent dynamic decay curves demonstrate the variations in optical properties of the Ce{sup 3+}/Tb{sup 3+} co-doped final products. - Graphical abstract: Schematic illustration for the phase composition modification from the Ce{sup 3+}/Tb{sup 3+} doped KGdF{sub 4} to the Ce{sup 3+}/Tb{sup 3+}doped GdF{sub 3} with multiform morphologies and different sizes. (C presents cubic phase, H presents hexagonal phase, and O presents orthorhombic phase.) Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The samples were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The samples evolved from the cubic phase KGdF{sub 4} into the orthorhombic phase GdF{sub 3}. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The morphology evolved from the spherical shape into the rhombic shape finally. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A possible phase composition modification process was summarized. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The optical properties of final products were compared and studied.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Thermalization of the Kerr index of refraction in acetone and methanol using femtosecond pump-probe scattering spectroscopy

Femtosecond time-resolved pump-probe scattering is used to temporally investigate the index thermalization Δn(t) of the molecular motions associated with the Kerr nonlinear index n 2 . This is done using an intense 300 fs 1034 nm pump pulse and temporally probed by a 517 nm and supercontinuum pulse in acetone and methanol. The optically pumped molecular states change the index of refraction and through the processes of Raman and Rayleigh scattering are shown to engage in a 4-step energy relaxation process. Here, the pump first initiates the Kerr effect as well as populate resonant vibrational molecular motions, which act as a “mother” energy state. The electronic component of the Kerr effect is shown to couple with these vibrational modes through the process of Born-Oppenheimer coupling, which can be measured through the Raman scattering of the probe. The “mother” coupled state then decays into “daughter” anharmonic non-resonant states, which then further decay into “granddaughter” and thermal bath states. The population of these states alter the index of refraction in time, Δn(t), and can be measured through the changing in the probe beam’s Rayleigh scattering. This thermalization process takes ~5.5 ps in acetone and ~3.7 ps in methanol. The scattering signals from each Δn(t) thermalization stage in the localized region, (“mother”, to “daughter”, to “granddaughter”, to the bath states, to the ground state), are fitted to theoretical decay equations that show the rise and fall times of the energy decay routes.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2017

Pulse shape discrimination of Cs 2 LiYCl 6 :Ce 3+ detectors at high count rate based on triangular and trapezoidal filters

Cs 2 LiYCl 6 :Ce 3+ (CLYC) detectors have demonstrated the capability to simultaneously detect γ-rays and thermal and fast neutrons with medium energy resolution, reasonable detection efficiency, and substantially high pulse shape discrimination performance. In this work, a disadvantage of CLYC detectors is the long scintillation decay times, which causes pulse pile-up at moderate input count rate. Pulse processing algorithms were developed based on triangular and trapezoidal filters to discriminate between neutrons and γ-rays at high count rate. The algorithms were first tested using low-rate data. They exhibit a pulse-shape discrimination performance comparable to that of the charge comparison method, at low rate. Then, they were evaluated at high count rate. Neutrons and γ-rays were adequately identified with high throughput at rates of up to 375 kcps. The algorithm developed using the triangular filter exhibits discrimination capability marginally higher than that of the trapezoidal filter based algorithm irrespective of low or high rate. The algorithms exhibit low computational complexity and are executable on an FPGA in real-time. Finally, they are also suitable for application to other radiation detectors whose pulses are piled-up at high rate owing to long scintillation decay times.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Measurement of the VH,H → ττ process with the ATLAS detector at 13 TeV

A measurement of the Standard Model Higgs boson produced in association with a W or Z boson and decaying into a pair of τ-leptons is presented. This search is based on proton-proton collision data collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb -1 . For the Higgs boson candidate, only final states with at least one τ-lepton decaying hadronically (τ→hadrons+ν τ ) are considered. For the vector bosons, only leptonic decay channels are considered: Z→ℓℓ and W→ℓν ℓ , with ℓ=e,μ. An excess of events over the expected background is found with an observed (expected) significance of 4.2 (3.6) standard deviations, providing evidence of the Higgs boson produced in association with a vector boson and decaying into a pair of τ-leptons. The ratio of the measured cross-section to the Standard Model prediction is μ$_{VH}^{ττ}$=1.28$_{-0.29}^{+0.30}$(stat.)$_{-0.21}^{+0.25}$(syst.). This result represents the most accurate measurement of the VH(ττ) process achieved to date.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Non-thermal production of minimal dark matter via right-handed neutrino decay

Minimal Dark Matter (MDM) stands as one of the simplest dark matter scenarios. In MDM models, annihilation and co-annihilation processes among the members of the MDM multiplet are usually very efficient, pushing the dark matter mass above O(10) TeV in order to reproduce the observed dark matter relic density. Motivated by this little drawback, in this paper we consider an extension of the MDM scenario by three right-handed neutrinos. Two specific choices for the MDM multiplet are studied: a fermionic SU(2){sub L} quintuplet and a scalar SU(2){sub L} septuplet. The lightest right-handed neutrino, with tiny Yukawa couplings, never reaches thermal equilibrium in the early universe and is produced by freeze-in. This creates a link between dark matter and neutrino physics: dark matter can be non-thermally produced by the decay of the lightest right-handed neutrino after freeze-out, allowing to lower significantly the dark matter mass. We discuss the phenomenology of the non-thermally produced MDM and, taking into account significant Sommerfeld corrections, we find that the dark matter mass must have some specific values in order not to be in conflict with the current bounds from gamma-ray observations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Interatomic Coulombic decay following resonant core excitation of Ar in argon dimer

A scheme utilizing excitation of core electrons followed by the resonant-Auger – interatomic Coulombic decay (RA-ICD) cascade was recently proposed as a means of controlling the generation site and energies of slow ICD electrons. This control mechanism was verified in a series of experiments in rare gas dimers. In this article, we present fully ab initio computed ICD electron and kinetic energy release spectra produced following 2p{sub 3/2} → 4s, 2p{sub 1/2} → 4s, and 2p{sub 3/2} → 3d core excitations of Ar in Ar{sub 2}. We demonstrate that the manifold of ICD states populated in the resonant Auger process comprises two groups. One consists of lower energy ionization satellites characterized by fast interatomic decay, while the other consists of slow decaying higher energy ionization satellites. We show that accurate description of nuclear dynamics in the latter ICD states is crucial for obtaining theoretical electron and kinetic energy release spectra in good agreement with the experiment.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Search for new hadronic decays of $h_c$ and observation of $h_c$ → $p\overline{p}η$

A search for the hadronic decays of the $h_c$ meson to the final states $p\overline{p}π^+π^-π^o$, $p\overline{p}η$, and $p\overline{p}π^o$ via the process $\psi$(3686) → $π^oh_c$ is performed using (4.48 ± 0.03) x 10 8 $\psi$(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector. The decay channel $h_c$ → $p\overline{p}η$ is observed for the first time with a significance greater than 5σ and a branching fraction of (6.41 ± 1.74 ± 0.53 ± 1.00) x 10 -4 , where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and that from the branching fraction of $\psi$(3686) → $π^oh_c$. Strong evidence for the decay $h_c$ → $p\overline{p}π^+π^-π^o$ is found with a significance of 4.9σ and a branching fraction of (3.84 ± 0.83 ± 0.69 ± 0.58) x 10 -3 . The significances include systematic uncertainties. No clear signal of the decay $h_c$ → $p\overline{p}π^o$ is found, and an upper limit of 6.59 x 10 -4 on its branching fraction is set at the 90% confidence level.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Sensitivity Coefficients Calculated for the Prompt Neutron Decay Constant at or Near Delayed Critical [Abstract]

Experimenters at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) measure the prompt neutron decay constant for many experiments at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) to infer reactivity and the effective neutron multiplication factor. These quantities are very important for nuclear criticality safety and validating nuclear data. Uncertainty in measures of criticality of an experimental configuration can be determined prior to physically performing the experiment by applying first order perturbation theory to Monte Carlo codes, such as MCNP®. The first order perturbation theory produces first derivatives of some nuclear parameter to nuclear data (e.g., cross section data). This first derivative is commonly referred to as a sensitivity coefficient. Currently, the MCNP® software has the capability of computing effective neutron multiplication factor sensitivity coefficients to cross section data. This work builds off of this MCNP® capability and the first order perturbation theory to provide a method of calculating sensitivity coefficients for the prompt neutron decay constant at or near delayed critical to cross section data. The prompt neutron decay constant sensitivity coefficient calculated in this work does not depend on any modification of the MCNP® source code. Prompt neutron decay constant sensitivity coefficient calculations can be used to infer reactivity and effective neutron multiplication factor sensitivity coefficient values as well. By investigating the trends of prompt neutron decay constant sensitivity coefficients for nuclide-reaction pairs across energy spectra, experiments can be designed to maximize or minimize the uncertainty in the prompt neutron decay constant in a particular energy region, which can lead to further optimization studies. Prompt neutron decay constant sensitivity coefficients will be calculated for the Jezebel benchmark. Subsequently, these sensitivity coefficients will be used in a data assimilation process to determine if there is or are optimal experiments that can be performed to provide insight into adjustments of uncertain/inaccurate cross section data. Specifically, the effect of the prompt neutron decay constant sensitivity coefficients on the nuclear data-induced uncertainty in the effective neutron multiplication factor will be examined

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Relativistic corrections to the exclusive decays of C-even bottomonia into S-wave charmonium pairs

Within the nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics (NRQCD) factorization formalism, we compute the relativistic corrections to the exclusive decays of bottomonia with even charge conjugation parity into S-wave charmonium pairs at leading order in the strong coupling constant. Relativistic corrections are resummed for a class of color-singlet contributions to all orders in the charm-quark velocity v{sub c} in the charmonium rest frame. Almost every process that we consider in this work has negative relativistic corrections ranging from -20 to -35%. Among the various processes, the relativistic corrections of the next-to-leading order in v{sub c} to the decay rate for {chi}{sub b2}{yields}{eta}{sub c}(mS)+{eta}{sub c}(nS) with m, n=1 or 2 are very large. In every case, the resummation of the relativistic corrections enhances the rate in comparison with the next-to-leading-order results. We compare our results with available predictions based on the NRQCD factorization formalism. The NRQCD predictions are significantly smaller than those based on the light-cone formalism by 1 or 2 orders of magnitude.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring 𝛽 decay and 𝛽-delayed neutron emission in exotic 46,47 Cl isotopes

In this paper, 𝛽 − and 𝛽-delayed neutron decays of 46,47 Cl are reported from an experiment carried out at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory using the Beta Counting System. The half-lives of both 46 Cl and 47 Cl were extracted. Based on the delayed 𝛾-ray transitions observed, the level structure of 𝑁=28 46 Ar was determined. Completely different sets of excited states above the first 2 + state in 46 Ar were populated in the 46 Cl 𝛽⁢0⁢𝑛 and 47 Cl 𝛽⁢1⁢𝑛 decay channels. Two new 𝛾-ray transitions in 47 Ar were identified from the very weak 47 Cl 𝛽⁢0⁢𝑛 decay. Furthermore, 46 Cl 𝛽⁢1⁢𝑛 and 47 Cl 𝛽⁢2⁢𝑛 were also observed to yield different population patterns for levels in 45 Ar, including states of different parities. Here, the experimental results allow us to address some of the open questions related to the delayed neutron emission process. For isotopes with large neutron excess and high 𝑄 𝛽 values, delayed neutron emission remains an important decay mode and can be utilized as a powerful spectroscopic tool. Experimental results were compared with shell-model calculations using the FSU and 𝑉 MU effective interactions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Milestone Report - M4FT-15OR03120218 - A Literature Search on the Effects of the Decay of 85 Kr to 85 Rb on Long-term Storage Options

Reprocessing of UNF that has been out of the reactor for less than about 50 y requires the removal of 85 Kr from the process off-gas streams. This is needed despite the relatively small amount of that isotope in the combined Xe and Kr inventory (Table 1). The decay of 85 Kr to 85 Rb presents challenges to the materials that will potentially be used to remove and store the Kr recovered from the off-gas. To address some of these problems, a thorough literature survey was completed, and the results of that analysis are summarized in this document.

Bruffey, Stephanie H.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Measurement of the inclusive W-+/- and Z/gamma* cross sections in the e and mu decay channels in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The production cross sections of the inclusive Drell-Yan processes W{sup {+-}} {yields} {ell}{nu} and Z/{gamma}* {yields} {ell}{ell} ({ell} = e, {mu}) are measured in proton-proton collisions at {radical}s = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector. The cross sections are reported integrated over a fiducial kinematic range, extrapolated to the full range, and also evaluated differentially as a function of the W decay lepton pseudorapidity and the Z boson rapidity, respectively. Based on an integrated luminosity of about 35 pb{sup -1} collected in 2010, the precision of these measurements reaches a few percent. The integrated and the differential W{sup {+-}} and Z/{gamma}* cross sections in the e and {mu} channels are combined, and compared with perturbative QCD calculations, based on a number of different parton distribution sets available at next-to-next-to-leading order.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
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 OSTI2016

Development of Holmium-163 electron-capture spectroscopy with transition-edge sensors

Calorimetric decay energy spectroscopy of electron-capture-decaying isotopes is a promising method to achieve the sensitivity required for electron neutrino mass measurement. The very low total nuclear decay energy (Q EC < 3 keV) and short half-life (4570 years) of 163 Ho make it attractive for high-precision electron-capture spectroscopy (ECS) near the kinematic endpoint, where the neutrino momentum goes to zero. In the ECS approach, an electron-capture-decaying isotope is embedded inside a microcalorimeter designed to capture and measure the energy of all the decay radiation except that of the escaping neutrino. We have developed a complete process for proton irradiation-based isotope production, isolation, and purification of 163 Ho. We have developed transition-edge sensors for this measurement and methods for incorporating 163 Ho into high-resolution microcalorimeters, and have measured the electron-capture spectrum of 163 Ho. Finally, we present our work in these areas and discuss the measured spectrum and its comparison to current theory.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

A new method to retrieve the diurnal variability of planetary boundary layer height from lidar under different thermodynamic stability conditions

The planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) is an important parameter for understanding the accumulation of pollutants and the dynamics of the lower atmosphere. Lidar has been used for tracking the evolution of PBLH by using aerosol backscatter as a tracer, assuming aerosol is generally well-mixed in the PBL; however, the validity of this assumption actually varies with atmospheric stability. This is demonstrated here for stable boundary layers (SBL), neutral boundary layers (NBL), and convective boundary layers (CBL) using an 8-year dataset of micropulse lidar (MPL) and radiosonde (RS) measurements at the ARM Southern Great Plains, and MPL at the GSFC site. Due to weak thermal convection and complex aerosol stratification, traditional gradient and wavelet methods can have difficulty capturing the diurnal PBLH variations in the morning and forenoon, as well as under stable conditions generally. Here a new method is developed that combines lidar-measured aerosol backscatter with a stability dependent model of PBLH temporal variation (DTDS). The latter helps “recalibrate” the PBLH in the presence of a residual aerosol layer that does not change in harmony with PBL diurnal variation. The hybrid method offers significantly improved PBLH detection, with better correlation and smaller biases, under most thermodynamic conditions, especially for SBL and CBL. Relying on the physical process of PBL diurnal development, different schemes are developed for growing, maintenance, and decaying periods. Comprehensive evaluation of this new method shows much better tracking of diurnal PBLH variation and significantly smaller biases under various pollution levels.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

U(VI) bioreduction with emulsified vegetable oil as the electron donor-- Microcosm tests and model development

Microcosm tests were conducted to study U(VI) bioreduction in contaminated sediments with emulsified vegetable oil (EVO) as the electron donor. In the microcosms, EVO was degraded by indigenous microorganisms and stimulated Fe, U, and sulfate bioreduction, and methanogenesis. Removal of aqueous U occurred concurrently with sulfate reduction, with more reduction of total U in the case of higher initial sulfate concentrations. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) analysis confirmed U(VI) reduction to U(IV). As the acetate concentration peaked in 10~20 days in oleate microcosms, the maximum was reached in 100~120 days in the EVO microcosms, indicating that EVO hydrolysis was rate-limiting. The acetate accumulation was sustained over 50 days longer in the oleate and EVO than in the ethanol microcosms, suggesting that acetate-utilizing methanogenesis was slower in the cases of oleate and EVO. Both slow hydrolysis and methanogenesis could contribute to potential sustained bioreduction in field application. Biogeochemical models were developed to couple degradation of EVO, production and oxidation of long-chain fatty acids, glycerol, acetate, and hydrogen, reduction of Fe(III), U(VI) and sulfate, and methanogenesis with growth and decay of microbial functional groups. The models were used to simulate the coupled processes in a field test in a companion article.

Tang, Guoping↗
DOE OSTI2020

Direct evidence for low-energy electron emission following O LVV Auger transitions at oxide surfaces

Abstract Oxygen, the third most abundant element in the universe, plays a key role in the chemistry of condensed matter and biological systems. Here, we report evidence for a hitherto unexplored Auger transition in oxides, where a valence band electron fills a vacancy in the 2s state of oxygen, transferring sufficient energy to allow electron emission. We used a beam of positrons with kinetic energies of $$\sim 1$$ ∼ 1 eV to create O 2s holes via matter-antimatter annihilation. This made possible the elimination of the large secondary electron background that has precluded definitive measurements of the low-energy electrons emitted through this process. Our experiments indicate that low-energy electron emission following the Auger decay of O 2s holes from adsorbed oxygen and oxide surfaces are very efficient. Specifically, our results indicate that the low energy electron emission following the Auger decay of O 2s hole is nearly as efficient as electron emission following the relaxation of O 1s holes in $$\hbox {TiO}_2$$ TiO 2 . This has important implications for the understanding of Auger-stimulated ion desorption, Coulombic decay, photodynamic cancer therapies, and may yield important insights into the radiation-induced reactive sites for corrosion and catalysis.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗