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At least 19 records

Transition radiation in astrophysics.

Transition radiation produced by relativistic electrons traversing cosmic grains is investigated as a possible source of celestial X rays. The detailed theory of transition radiation including the formation-zone effect is used to calculate the X-ray emissivity in interstellar space. It is found that the largest contribution of transition radiation to the observed X-ray emission from the galactic disk is at about 2 keV, where less than about 0.3% of the observed emissivity is due to transition radiation. At higher energies transition radiation is strongly suppressed by the formation-zone effect, while at lower energies the observed emissivity increases much faster with decreasing energy than does transition radiation. Transition radiation is also compared with bremsstrahlung, synchrotron emission, and Compton scattering. The comparison with synchrotron emission and bremsstrahlung relates X-ray production by transition radiation to radio emission and to approximately 100-MeV gamma-ray production, respectively.

Yodh, G. B.↗

A Potential Method for Diagnostics of Subfemtosecond Electron Beams Using Coherent Optical Transition Radiation

Coherent transition radiation (CTR) is widely used in determining the longitudinal e-beam dimensions in the accelerator technology applications. In this study, the CTR process is investigated in a real Au-target for the sake of measuring the size characteristics of the electron bunches with lengths from 100 to 300 nm, and possible applications of such targets is demonstrated.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Laser pulse driven terahertz generation via resonant transition radiation in inhomogeneous plasmas

An intense, short laser pulse propagating across a plasma boundary ponderomotively drives THz radiation. Full format PIC simulations and theoretical analysis are conducted to investigate the properties of this radiation. Simulation results which show the THz emission originates in regions of varying density and covers a broad spectrum with maximum frequency close to the maximum plasma frequency. In the case of a sharp vacuum-plasma boundary, the radiation is generated symmetrically at the plasma entrance and exit, and its properties are independent of plasma density when the density exceeds a characteristic value determined by the product of the plasma frequency and the laser pulse duration. For a diffuse vacuum-plasma boundary, the emission from the plasma entrance and exit is asymmetric: increasing and decreasing density ramps enhance and diminish the radiated energy, respectively. Enhancements by a factor of 50 are found and simulations show that a 1.66 J, 50 fs driver pulse can generate ∼400 μJ of THz radiation in a 1.2 mm increasing density ramp. We present a model that attributes this effect to a plasma resonance process in the density ramp. The results from the model match those of the simulations for ramp lengths less than 600 μm. For longer ramps for which simulations are too time consuming, the model shows that the amount of radiation reaches a maximum at a ramp length determined by collisional absorption.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Recent progress in the development of transition radiation detectors

Transition-radiation detectors have been used in several recent cosmic-ray experiments for particle identification at energies E/mc-squared of at least about 1000. In order to optimize the design of such detectors and to use them for energy measurements over a broad energy range, it is necessary to study the details of the transition-radiation process. Experimental results are presented which test the theoretical predictions more precisely and at higher energies than in previous experiments. The dependence of the interference pattern in the frequency spectrum on the radiator dimensions is studied, and the total transition-radiation yield generated by electrons in various radiators is measured over a very wide energy range, from 5 to 300 GeV. The significance of the individual experimental parameters in the design of transition radiation detectors is reviewed, and the characteristics of transition-radiation detectors capable of measuring particle energies over the range E/mc-squared from about 300 to 100,000 are discussed.

Cherry, M. L.↗

Performance of the ATLAS Transition Radiation Tracker in Run 1 of the LHC: tracker properties

The tracking performance parameters of the ATLAS Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT) as part of the ATLAS inner detector are described in this paper for different data-taking conditions in proton-proton, proton-lead and lead-lead collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The performance is studied using data collected during the first period of LHC operation (Run 1) and is compared with Monte Carlo simulations. The performance of the TRT, operating with two different gas mixtures (xenon-based and argon-based) and its dependence on the TRT occupancy is presented. Furthermore, these studies show that the tracking performance of the TRT is similar for the two gas mixtures and that a significant contribution to the particle momentum resolution is made by the TRT up to high particle densities.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Cherenkov and Transition Radiation as Low-Energy Background Sources in SuperCDMS Detectors

The Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) has historically been a prime candidate for dark matter due to its elegant compatibility with the Minimally Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). Recent dark matter experiments have ruled out much of the GeV-TeV mass range predicted by the MSSM, however, and the newest generation of direct detection experiments, such as SuperCDMS SNOLAB, have begunto explore sub-GeV dark matter. As experiments push towards lower masses, sensitivity to eV-scale electron recoil events has become increasingly important. A variety of unexplained excesses at energy deposits of 1-100 eV have been found inmany such low-mass experiments, across different detection techniques and at different excess rates. These low-energy events are not thought to be dark matter, and they must be understood and effectively removed to further improve detector energy resolution. This thesis will outline the simulation of one possible source of low-energy excess at SuperCDMS: optical photons produced from charges in uniform motion, specifically from Cherenkov radiation (CR), transition radiation (TR), and the intermediate hybrid transition-Cherenkov radiation (HR). In the latter case, the standard formulae for HR contain divergences at certain angles in transparent media, which are an artifact of their derivation and become problematic to simulate. To rsolve this, we present a novel approach to normalize the divergent HR peaks, which allows HR to transition smoothly between TR and CR in a numerical simulation. We also add TR and CR as a physics process to the SuperCDMS Monte Carlo simulation package SuperSim, based on the Geant4 simulation toolkit. To verify the physics of our addition, we show some test simulations in comparison to theoretical predictions of optical radiation intensity. We also use the simulation to make some preliminary predictions on the contribution of TR and CR to the low energy background, with the expectation that more thorough analyses will be conducted in the future.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Transition radiation light sources

Transition radiation from nanotubes, nanosheets, and nanoparticles and in particular, boron nitride nanomaterials, can be utilized for the generation of light. Wavelengths of light of interest for microchip lithography, including 13.5 nm (91.8 eV) and 6.7 nm (185 eV), can be generated at useful intensities, by transition radiation light sources. Light useful for monitoring relativistic charged particle beam characteristics such as spatial distribution and intensity can be generated.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Transition radiation light sources

Transition radiation from nanotubes, nanosheets, and nanoparticles and in particular, boron nitride nanomaterials, can be utilized for the generation of light. Wavelengths of light of interest for microchip lithography, including 13.5 nm (91.8 eV) and 6.7 nm (185 eV), can be generated at useful intensities, by transition radiation light sources. Light useful for monitoring relativistic charged particle beam characteristics such as spatial distribution and intensity can be generated.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The efficient identification of relativistic particles by transition radiation

A system of transition radiation detectors has been constructed and exposed to beams of electrons and pions in the energy range of 3 to 15 GeV at SLAC. Transition radiation was generated in a variety of stacks of mylar foils (radiators), and its intensity was detected with 7 multiwire proportional chambers. The raw data demonstrate a good separation between electron and pion induced signals. A more detailed analysis shows that a very efficient identification of individual particles is possible. Typically, a detection efficiency for electrons above 90%, combined with a pion-electron discrimination ratio of .001, has been achieved. Some conclusions with respect to the design of a practical detector for relativistic particles are drawn.

Cherry, M. L.↗

The generation of transition radiation by relativistic particles in plastic foam radiators

The design of large area transition radiation detectors for highly relativistic particles can be greatly simplified if plastic foam radiators are employed. Using electron beams with energies 1-9 GeV at the Cornell synchrotron, we have studied the properties of a large variety of transition radiators consisting of commercially available foam materials. In most cases, a measurable transition radiation signal has been observed, but only a few materials have been found to be suitable for practical purposes. The observed radiation yield is in these cases very similar to that of equivalent multifoil radiators. A detailed discussion is given of the particle detection efficiency that can be obtained with high yield foam radiators.

Prince, T. A.↗

A new Transition Radiation detector based on GEM technology

Transition Radiation Detectors (TRD) have the potential feature of separating particles by their gamma factor. Classical TRDs are based on Multi-Wire Proportional Chambers (MWPC) or straw tubes, using a Xenon based gas mixture to efficiently absorb transition radiation photons. These detectors operate well in experiments with relatively low particle multiplicity. The performance of MWPC-TRD in experiments with luminosity of order 10 34 cm 2 s –1 and above, is significantly deteriorated due to the high particle multiplicity and channel occupancy. Replacing MWPC or straw tubes with a high granularity Micro Pattern Gas Detectors (MPGD) like Gas Electron Multipliers (GEMs), could improve the performance of the TRD. In addition, GEM technology allows one to combine a tracker with TRD identification (GEM-TRD/T). This report presents a new TRD development based on GEM technology for the future Electron Ion Collider (EIC). The first beam test was performed at Jefferson Lab (Hall-D) using 3–6 GeV electrons. A GEM-TRD/T module has been exposed to electrons with and without a fiber radiator. First results of test beam measurements and comparison with Geant4 Monte Carlo are introduced here.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

X-ray transition radiation of electrons with energy of 300 to 900 MeV in periodic multifoil radiators

Results: of experiments conducted at the Tomsk synchrotron to study resonant X-ray transition radiation generated by relativistic electrons in periodic multifoil radiators are reviewed. Both the internal synchrotron beam and the external secondary electron beam from the pair magnetic γ-spectrometer with energies ranging from 300 to 900 MeV were used in the experiments. The radiators consisted of many thin amorphous foils of various materials. The generation of X-ray radiation in a compound radiator consisting of a multifoil radiator and a crystal is also studied. In this case, the resonant X-ray transition radiation generated in the multifoil radiator is diffracted in the crystal and emitted at Bragg angles, together with the parametric X-ray radiation generated in the crystal. Spectral and angular properties of the resonant X-ray transition radiation and diffracted resonant X-ray transition radiation are investigated. The ratio between the contributions from the diffracted resonant X-ray transition radiation and other types of radiation to the total coherent X-ray radiation flux generated by electrons in periodic structures and crystals is estimated.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Transition radiation from relativistic electrons in periodic radiators

The generation and detection of transition radiation have been studied in a series of experiments with electrons from 1 to 15 GeV at SLAC and at the Cornell Synchrotron. Periodic radiators, consisting of thin plastic foils stretched in air at constant spacings, were used, and proportional chambers filled with krypton or xenon served as detectors. A detailed discussion of the theoretical predictions is given, and the measurements are systematically compared with the predictions by varying the most critical parameters, such as configuration of radiators and detectors, and energy of the electrons. In general, good agreement between theory and experiment has been found. On the basis of these results, the criteria are summarized under which transition radiation can readily be observed.

Cherry, M. L.↗

A new transition radiation detector for cosmic ray nuclei

Test measurements on materials for transition radiation detectors at a low Lorentz factor are reported. The materials will be based on board Spacelab-2 for determining the composition and energy spectra of nuclear cosmic rays in the 1 TeV/nucleon range. The transition radiation detectors consist of a sandwich of radiator-photon detector combinations. The radiators emit X-rays and are composed of polyolefin fibers used with Xe filled multiwired proportional chamber (MWPC) detectors capable of detecting particle Lorentz factors of several hundred. The sizing of the detectors is outlined, noting the requirement of a thickness which provides a maximum ratio of transition radiation to total signal in the chambers. The fiber radiator-MWPC responses were tested at Fermilab and in an electron cyclotron. An increase in transition radiation detection was found as a square power law of Z, and the use of six radiator-MWPC on board the Spacelab-2 is outlined.

Lheureux, J.↗