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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 1,783 records · Page 99
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Missing energy and the measurement of the CP-violating phase in neutrino oscillations

In the next generation of long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments aiming to determine the charge-parity-violating phase δ CP in the appearance channel, fine-grained time-projection chambers are expected to play an important role. In this study, we analyze an influence of realistic detector capabilities on the δ CP sensitivity for a setup similar to that of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. We find that the effect of the missing energy carried out by undetected particles is sizable. Although the reconstructed neutrino energy can be corrected for the missing energy, the accuracy of such procedure has to exceed 20%, to avoid a sizable bias in the extracted δ CP value.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Results From the First Use of Low Radioactivity Argon in a Dark Matter Search

Liquid argon is a bright scintillator with potent particle identification properties, making it an attractive target for direct-detection dark matter searches. The DarkSide-50 dark matter search here reports the first WIMP search results obtained using a target of low-radioactivity argon. DarkSide-50 is a dark matter detector, using a two-phase liquid argon time projection chamber, located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. The underground argon is shown to contain Ar39 at a level reduced by a factor (1.4±0.2)×103 relative to atmospheric argon. We report a background-free null result from (2616±43) kg d of data, accumulated over 70.9 live days. When combined with our previous search using an atmospheric argon, the 90% C.L. upper limit on the WIMP-nucleon spin-independent cross section, based on zero events found in the WIMP search regions, is 2.0×10-44 cm2 (8.6×10-44 cm2, 8.0×10-43 cm2) for a WIMP mass of 100 GeV/c2 (1 TeV/c2, 10 TeV/c2).

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Search for low-mass WIMPs in a 0.6 kg day exposure of the DAMIC experiment at SNOLAB

In this paper, we present results of a dark matter search performed with a 0.6 kg d exposure of the DAMIC experiment at the SNOLAB underground laboratory. We measure the energy spectrum of ionization events in the bulk silicon of charge-coupled devices down to a signal of 60 eV electron equivalent. The data are consistent with radiogenic backgrounds, and constraints on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon elastic-scattering cross section are accordingly placed. A region of parameter space relevant to the potential signal from the CDMS-II Si experiment is excluded using the same target for the first time. This result obtained with a limited exposure demonstrates the potential to explore the low-mass WIMP region (<10 GeV c -2 ) with the upcoming DAMIC100, a 100 g detector currently being installed in SNOLAB.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Measurement of the ionization produced by sub-keV silicon nuclear recoils in a CCD dark matter detector

We report a measurement of the ionization efficiency of silicon nuclei recoiling with sub-keV kinetic energy in the bulk silicon of a charge-coupled device (CCD). Nuclear recoils are produced by low-energy neutrons (<24 keV) from a 124 Sb– 9 Be photoneutron source, and their ionization signal is measured down to 60 eV electron equivalent. This energy range, previously unexplored, is relevant for the detection of low-mass dark matter particles. The measured efficiency is found to deviate from the extrapolation to low energies of the Lindhard model. Furthermore, this measurement also demonstrates the sensitivity to nuclear recoils of CCDs employed by DAMIC, a dark matter direct detection experiment located in the SNOLAB underground laboratory.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2017

First search for a dark matter annual modulation signal with NaI(Tl) in the Southern Hemisphere by DM-Ice17

In this study, the first search for a dark matter annual modulation signal with NaI(Tl) target material in the Southern Hemisphere conducted with the DM-Ice17 experiment is presented. DM-Ice17 consists of 17 kg of NaI(Tl) scintillating crystal under 2200 m.w.e. overburden of Antarctic glacial ice. The analysis presented here utilizes a 60.8 kg yr exposure. While unable to exclude the signal reported by DAMA/LIBRA, the DM-Ice17 data are consistent with no modulation in the energy range of 4-20 keV, providing the strongest limits on WIMP candidates from a direct detection experiment located in the Southern Hemisphere. Additionally, the successful deployment and stable operation of 17 kg of NaI(Tl) crystal over 3.5 years establishes the South Pole ice as a viable location for future underground, low-background experiments.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2017

Searches for new physics at the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment

We investigate the ability of the upcoming Hyper-Kamiokande (Hyper-K) neutrino experiment to detect new physics phenomena beyond the standard, three-massive-neutrinos paradigm; namely, the existence of a fourth, sterile neutrino or weaker-than-weak, nonstandard neutrino interactions. With both beam-based neutrinos from the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) and atmospheric neutrinos, Hyper-K is capable of exploring new ranges of parameter space in these new-physics scenarios. We find that Hyper-K has comparable capability to the upcoming Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), and that combining both beam- and atmospheric-based data can clear up degeneracies in the parameter spaces of interest. We also comment on the potential improvement in searches for new physics if a combined analysis were performed using Hyper-K and DUNE data.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Low-mass dark matter search with CDMSlite

The SuperCDMS experiment is designed to directly detect WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) that may constitute the dark matter in our galaxy. During its operation at the Soudan Underground Laboratory, germanium detectors were run in the CDMSlite (Cryogenic Dark Matter Search low ionization threshold experiment) mode to gather data sets with sensitivity specifically for WIMPs with masses ${<}10$ GeV/$c^2$. In this mode, a large detector-bias voltage is applied to amplify the phonon signals produced by drifting charges. This paper presents studies of the experimental noise and its effect on the achievable energy threshold, which is demonstrated to be as low as 56 eV$_{\text{ee}}$ (electron equivalent energy). The detector biasing configuration is described in detail, with analysis corrections for voltage variations to the level of a few percent. Detailed studies of the electric-field geometry, and the resulting successful development of a fiducial parameter, eliminate poorly measured events, yielding an energy resolution ranging from ${\sim}$9 eV$_{\text{ee}}$ at 0 keV to 101 eV$_{\text{ee}}$ at ${\sim}$10 keV$_{\text{ee}}$. New results are derived for astrophysical uncertainties relevant to the WIMP-search limits, specifically examining how they are affected by variations in the most probable WIMP velocity and the galactic escape velocity. These variations become more important for WIMP masses below 10 GeV/$c^2$. Finally, new limits on spin-dependent low-mass WIMP-nucleon interactions are derived, with new parameter space excluded for WIMP masses ${\lesssim}$3 GeV/$c^2$.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

DarkSide-50 532-day dark matter search with low-radioactivity argon

The DarkSide-50 direct-detection dark matter experiment is a dual-phase argon time projection chamber operating at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. This paper reports on the blind analysis of a (16 660 ± 270) kg d exposure using a target of low-radioactivity argon extracted from underground sources. Additionally, we find no events in the dark matter selection box and set a 90% C.L. upper limit on the dark matter–nucleon spin-independent cross section of 1.14×10 -44 cm 2 (3.78 × 10 -44 cm 2 , 3.43×10 -43 cm 2 ) for a WIMP mass of 100 GeV/c 2 (1 TeV/c 2 , 10 TeV/c 2 ).

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Effective permeability of an immiscible fluid in porous media determined from its geometric state

Based on the phenomenological extension of Darcy's law, two-fluid flow is dependent on a relative permeability function of saturation only that is process or path dependent with an underlying dependency on pore structure and wettability. For applications (fuel cells to underground CO 2 storage), it is imperative to determine the effective phase permeability relationships where the traditional approach is based on the inverse modeling of time-consuming experiments. The underlying reason is that the fundamental upscaling step from pore to Darcy scale, which links the pore structure of the porous medium to the continuum hydraulic conductivities, is not solved. Herein, we develop an artificial neural network (ANN) that relies on fundamental geometrical relationships to determine the mechanical energy dissipation during creeping immiscible two-fluid flow. Finally, the developed ANN is based on a prescribed set of state variables based on physical insights that predict the effective permeability of 4500 unseen pore-scale geometrical states with R 2 = 0.98.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2014

Spectral Measurement of Electron Antineutrino Oscillation Amplitude and Frequency at Daya Bay

A measurement of the energy dependence of antineutrino disappearance at the Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment is reported. Electron antineutrinos ( ν ¯ e ) from six 2.9 GW th reactors were detected with six detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 and 561 m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls. Using 217 days of data, 41 589 (203 809 and 92 912) antineutrino candidates were detected in the far hall (near halls). An improved measurement of the oscillation amplitude sin 2 2 θ 13 = 0.09 0 - 0.009 + 0.008 and the first direct measurement of the ν ¯ e mass-squared difference | Δ m e e 2 | = ( 2.5 9 - 0.20 + 0.19 ) × 10 - 3 e V 2 is obtained using the observed ν ¯ e rates and energy spectra in a three-neutrino framework. This value of | Δ m e e 2 | is consistent with | Δ m μ μ 2 | measured by muon neutrino disappearance, supporting the three-flavor oscillation model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Search for a Light Sterile Neutrino at Daya Bay

In this study, a search for light sterile neutrino mixing was performed with the first 217 days of data from the Daya Bay Reactor Antineutrino Experiment. The experiment’s unique configuration of multiple baselines from six 2.9 GW th nuclear reactors to six antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 m and 561 m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls makes it possible to test for oscillations to a fourth (sterile) neutrino in the 10 - 3 eV 2 < | Δ m 41 2 | < 0.3 eV 2 range. The relative spectral distortion due to the disappearance of electron antineutrinos was found to be consistent with that of the three-flavor oscillation model. The derived limits on sin 2 2 θ 14 cover the 10 - 3 eV 2 ≲ | Δ m 41 2 | ≲ 0.1 eV 2 region, which was largely unexplored.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Measurement of the reactor antineutrino flux and spectrum at Daya Bay

This Letter reports a measurement of the flux and energy spectrum of electron antineutrinos from six 2.9~GW th nuclear reactors with six detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512~m and 561~m) and one far (1,579 m) underground experimental halls in the Daya Bay experiment. Using 217 days of data, 296,721 and 41,589 inverse beta decay (IBD) candidates were detected in the near and far halls, respectively. The measured IBD yield is (1.55 ± 0.04) × 10 –18 cm 2 /GW/day or (5.92 ± 0.14) × 10 –43 cm 2 /fission. This flux measurement is consistent with previous short-baseline reactor antineutrino experiments and is 0.946 ± 0.022 (0.991 ± 0.023) relative to the flux predicted with the Huber+Mueller (ILL+Vogel) fissile antineutrino model. The measured IBD positron energy spectrum deviates from both spectral predictions by more than 2σ over the full energy range with a local significance of up to ~4σ between 4-6 MeV. Furthermore, a reactor antineutrino spectrum of IBD reactions is extracted from the measured positron energy spectrum for model-independent predictions.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Improved limits on scattering of weakly interacting massive particles from reanalysis of 2013 LUX data

Here, we present constraints on weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP)-nucleus scattering from the 2013 data of the Large Underground Xenon dark matter experiment, including 1.4 × 10 4 kg day of search exposure. This new analysis incorporates several advances: single-photon calibration at the scintillation wavelength, improved event-reconstruction algorithms, a revised background model including events originating on the detector walls in an enlarged fiducial volume, and new calibrations from decays of an injected tritium β source and from kinematically constrained nuclear recoils down to 1.1 keV. Sensitivity, especially to low-mass WIMPs, is enhanced compared to our previous results which modeled the signal only above a 3 keV minimum energy. Under standard dark matter halo assumptions and in the mass range above 4 GeV c –2 , these new results give the most stringent direct limits on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section. The 90% C.L. upper limit has a minimum of 0.6 zb at 33 GeV c –2 WIMP mass.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Results on the spin-dependent scattering of weakly interacting massive particles on nucleons from the Run 3 Data of the LUX Experiment

Here, we present experimental constraints on the spin-dependent WIMP (weakly interacting massive particle)-nucleon elastic cross sections from LUX data acquired in 2013. LUX is a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Lead, South Dakota), which is designed to observe the recoil signature of galactic WIMPs scattering from xenon nuclei. A profile likelihood ratio analysis of 1.4 × 10 4 kg day of fiducial exposure allows 90% C.L. upper limits to be set on the WIMP-neutron (WIMP-proton) cross section of σ n = 9.4 × 10 –41 cm 2 (σ p = 2.9 × 10 –39 cm 2 ) at 33 GeV/c 2 . The spin-dependent WIMP-neutron limit is the most sensitive constraint to date.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2017

First Searches for Axions and Axionlike Particles with the LUX Experiment

The first searches for axions and axionlike particles with the Large Underground Xenon experiment are presented. Under the assumption of an axioelectric interaction in xenon, the coupling constant between axions and electrons g Ae is tested using data collected in 2013 with an exposure totaling 95 live days ×118 kg. A double-sided, profile likelihood ratio statistic test excludes g Ae larger than 3.5 × 10 –12 (90% C.L.) for solar axions. Assuming the Dine-Fischler-Srednicki-Zhitnitsky theoretical description, the upper limit in coupling corresponds to an upper limit on axion mass of 0.12 eV/c 2 , while for the Kim-Shifman-Vainshtein-Zhakharov description masses above 36.6 eV/c 2 are excluded. For galactic axionlike particles, values of g Ae larger than 4.2 × 10 –13 are excluded for particle masses in the range 1–16 keV/c 2 . As a result, these are the most stringent constraints to date for these interactions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Results of a Search for Sub-GeV Dark Matter Using 2013 LUX Data

The scattering of dark matter (DM) particles with sub-GeV masses off nuclei is difficult to detect using liquid xenon-based DM search instruments because the energy transfer during nuclear recoils is smaller than the typical detector threshold. However, the tree-level DM-nucleus scattering diagram can be accompanied by simultaneous emission of a Bremsstrahlung photon or a so-called "Migdal" electron. These provide an electron recoil component to the experimental signature at higher energies than the corresponding nuclear recoil. The presence of this signature allows liquid xenon detectors to use both the scintillation and the ionization signals in the analysis where the nuclear recoil signal would not be otherwise visible. In this work, we report constraints on spin-independent DM-nucleon scattering for DM particles with masses of 0.4-5 GeV/c$^2$ using 1.4$\times10^4$ kg$\cdot$day of search exposure from the 2013 data from the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment for four different classes of mediators. Finally, this analysis extends the reach of liquid xenon-based DM search instruments to lower DM masses than has been achieved previously.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Results on low-mass weakly interacting massive particles from an 11 kg d target exposure of DAMIC at SNOLAB

We present constraints on the existence of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) from a 11 kg-day target exposure of the DAMIC experiment at the SNOLAB underground laboratory. The observed energy spectrum and spatial distribution of ionization events with electron-equivalent energies $>$200 eV$_{\rm ee}$ in the DAMIC CCDs are consistent with backgrounds from natural radioactivity. An excess of ionization events is observed above the analysis threshold of 50 eV$_{\rm ee}$. While the origin of this low-energy excess requires further investigation, our data exclude spin-independent WIMP-nucleon scattering cross sections $\sigma_{\chi-n}$ as low as $3\times 10^{-41}$ cm$^2$ for WIMPs with masses $m_{\chi}$ from 7 to 10 GeV$c^{-2}$ . These results are the strongest constraints from a silicon target on the existence of WIMPs with $m_{\chi}$$<$9 GeV$c^{-2}$ and are directly relevant to any dark matter interpretation of the excess of nuclear-recoil events observed by the CDMS silicon experiment in 2013.

WIMP search, Dark Matter, DAMIC, SNOLAB↗