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Nineteenth International Cosmic Ray Conference. HE Sessions, Volume 8

Papers submitted for presentation at the 19th International Cosmic Ray Conference are compiled. The present volume contains papers addressing high energy interactions and related phenomena. Specific topic areas include muons, neutrinos, magnetic monopoles, nucleon decay, searches for new particles, and acoustic and thermoluminescence detection techniques.

Jones, F. C.↗

Nuclear Physics in Space: What We Can Learn From Cosmic Rays

Studies and discoveries in cosmic-ray physics and generally in Astrophysics provide a fertile ground for research in many areas of Particle Physics and Cosmology, such as the search for dark matter, antimatter, new particles, and exotic physics, studies of the nucleosynthesis, origin of Galactic and extragalactic gamma-ray diffuse emission, formation of the large scale structure of the universe etc. In several years new missions are planned for cosmic-ray experiments, which will tremendously increase the quality and accuracy of cosmic-ray data. On the other hand, direct measurements of cosmic rays are possible in only one location on the outskirts of the Milky Way galaxy and present only a snapshot of very dynamic processes. It has been recently realized that direct information about the fluxes and spectra of cosmic rays in distant locations is provided by the Galactic diffuse gamma-rays, therefore, complementing the local cosmic-ray studies. A wealth of information is also contained in the isotopic abundances of cosmic rays, therefore, accurate evaluation of the isotopic production cross sections is of primary importance for Astrophysics of cosmic rays, studies of the galactic chemical evolution, and Cosmology. In this talk, I will show new results obtained with GALPROP, the most advanced numerical model for cosmic-ray propagation, which includes in a self-consistent way all cosmic-ray species (stable and long-lived radioactive isotopes from H to Ni, antiprotons, positrons and electrons, gamma rays and synchrotron radiation), and all relevant processes and reactions.

Moskalenko, Igor V.↗

CMB-S4 Decadal Survey APC White Paper

CMB-S4 is envisioned to be the ultimate ground-based cosmic microwave background experiment, crossing critical thresholds in our understanding of the origin and evolution of the Universe, from the highest energies at the dawn of time through the growth of structure to the present day. The CMB-S4 science case is spectacular: the search for primordial gravitational waves as predicted from inflation and the imprint of relic particles including neutrinos, unique insights into dark energy and tests of gravity on large scales, elucidating the role of baryonic feedback on galaxy formation and evolution, opening up a window on the transient Universe at millimeter wavelengths, and even the exploration of the outer Solar System. The CMB-S4 sensitivity to primordial gravitational waves will probe physics at the highest energy scales and cross a major theoretically motivated threshold in constraints on inflation. The CMB-S4 search for new light relic particles will shed light on the early Universe 10,000 times farther back than current experiments can reach. Finally, the CMB-S4 Legacy Survey covering 70% of the sky with unprecedented sensitivity and angular resolution from centimeter- to millimeter-wave observing bands will have a profound and lasting impact on Astronomy and Astrophysics and provide a powerful complement to surveys at other wavelengths, such as LSST and WFIRST, and others yet to be imagined. We emphasize that these critical thresholds cannot be reached without the level of community and agency investment and commitment required by CMB-S4. In particular, the CMB-S4 science goals are out of the reach of any projected precursor experiment by a significant margin.

Abazajian, Kevork↗

Japanese-American Cooperative Emulsion Experiment /JACEE/

The instrumentation and results of long duration balloon flights carried out jointly by U.S. and Japan researchers to examine high energy cosmic rays are reported. Basic detector geometries are 2.5 sq m sr with operation at altitudes with 3-4 g/sq cm pressure, with observations thus far of over 100 hr. Energies from 2-100 TeV are recorded for nucleus-nucleus and hadron-nucleus interactions, and searches are made for new particle or interactions. The detector is an emulsion chamber which comprises doubly-coated nuclear emulsions on 800 micron thick methacryl substrates, X-ray films, etchable detectors, low density spacers, and lead sheets. Segmentation of the instrument into a primary charge module, a target section, a spacer section, and a lead-emulsion calorimeter allows accurate charge measurement for primary nuclei, reliable energy resolution, and a large geometrical factor for collecting high energy events. A primary Ca nucleus of 300 TeV has been observed.

Huggett, R. W.↗

International Cosmic Ray Conference, 13th, University of Denver, Denver, Colo., August 17-30, 1973, Proceedings. Volumes 3 & 4

Volumes 3 and 4 contain papers dealing with measurements of muons and neutrinos, ultrahigh-energy interactions, extensive air showers, and details of experimental techniques and instrumentation. Attention is given to the zenith angle and underground depth dependence of cosmic ray muons, muon charge ratios and energy spectra, extraterrestrial sources of neutrinos, strong interaction data from new accelerators, searches for quarks and other new particles, hadron fluxes and propagation in the atmosphere, high-energy gamma-ray measurements, and new models and theories for high-energy strong interactions. Extensive air showers are examined in papers dealing with associated Cerenkov light, radio emission, structure, the hadron content, and primaries. The design, operation, and performance of various detectors are explained. Individual items are announced in this issue.

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Searching for New Physics with Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays

Ultrahigh energy cosmic rays that produce giant extensive showers of charged particles and photons when they interact in the Earth's atmosphere provide a unique tool to search for new physics. Of particular interest is the possibility of detecting a very small violation of Lorentz invariance such as may be related to the structure of space-time near the Planck scale of approximately 10 (exp -35) m. We discuss here the possible signature of Lorentz invariance violation on the spectrum of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays as compared with present observations of giant air showers. We also discuss the possibilities of using more sensitive detection techniques to improve searches for Lorentz invariance violation in the future. Using the latest data from the Pierre Auger Observatory, we derive a best fit to the LIV parameter of 3 .0 + 1.5 - 3:0 x 10 (exp -23) ,corresponding to an upper limit of 4.5 x 10-23 at a proton Lorentz factor of approximately 2 x 10(exp 11) . This result has fundamental implications for quantum gravity models.

Stecker, Floyd W.↗

Exploring the Extreme Universe with GLAST

The Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, GLAST, is a satellite-based experiment under development to measure the cosmic gamma-ray flux in the energy range 20 MeV to > 300 GeV. With a sensitivity that is more than a factor 30 greater than that of the EGRET detector on GRO, GLAST will open a new and important window on a wide variety of high energy phenomena, including supermassive black holes and active galactic nuclei, gamma-ray bursts, supernova remnants, and searches for new phenomena such as supersymmetric dark matter annihilations and big bang particle relics. The launch is planned for 2005. This talk will include a discussion of the physics, the scientific capabilities, the novel collaboration of particle physicists and high energy astrophysicists, and the mission status.

Ritz, Steven↗

Hunting Super-heavy Dark Matter with Ultra-high Energy Photons

At any epoch, particle physics must be open to completely unexpected discoveries, and that is reason enoughto extend the reach of searches for ultra-high energy (UHE) photons. The observation of a population ofphotons with energies𝐸 ≳100 EeVwould for example imply the existence of either a completely new physicalphenomena, or particle acceleration mechanisms heretofore never seen or imagined. But as we outline in thisLetter of Interest, there are also good arguments for super-heavy dark matter (SHDM) in a parameter rangesuch that it could be discovered via its decays to, in particular, UHE photons. Only ultra-high energy cosmic rayobservatories have capabilities to detect UHE photons. We first investigate how current and future observationscan probe and constrain SHDM models in important directions, and then outline some of the scenarios thatmotivate such searches. We also discuss connections between constraints on SHDM and on the parametervalues of cosmological models

Luis A Anchordoqui↗

High-Resolution Displacement Sensor Using a SQUID Array Amplifier

Improvement in the measurement of displacement has profound implications for both exploration technologies and fundamental physics. For planetary exploration, the new SQUID-based capacitive displacement sensor will enable a more sensitive gravity gradiometer for mapping the interior of planets and moons. A new concept of a superfluid clock to be reported by Penanen and Chui at this workshop is also based on a high-resolution displacement sensor. Examples of high-impact physics projects that can benefit from a better displacement sensor are: detection of gravitational waves, test of the equivalence principle, search for the postulated "axion" particle, and test of the inverse square law of gravity. We describe the concept of a new displacement sensor that makes use of a recent development in the Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) technology. The SQUID array amplifier, invented by Welty and Martinis (IEEE Trans. Appl. Superconductivity 3, 2605, 1993), has about the same noise as a conventional SQUID; however, it can work at a much higher frequency of up to 5 MHz. We explain how the higher bandwidth can be translated into higher resolution using a bridge-balancing scheme that can simultaneously balance out both the carrier signal at the bridge output and the electrostatic force acting on the test mass.

Chui, Talso↗

A search for antihelium in primary cosmic radiation.

A search for anti-alpha-particles in the primary cosmic radiation has been carried out, and a new upper limit for these particles in the range 0.2-4.3 GeV per nucleon has been obtained. At the 95 per cent confidence level the upper limit is found to be 0.14 per cent of the alpha-particle flux. The instrument used for this purpose is a magnetic spectrometer employing spark chambers for determining particle trajectories and time-of-flight measurement for the rejection of upward-moving particles. Implications of these results for various models of the sources of cosmic radiation are discussed.

Evenson, P.↗

Resolving Wave-Particle Duality Could Accelerate the Mass Production of Quantum Computers

Quantum computers, hypothesized in 1980s, use concepts of superposition and entanglement phenomena. Although theoretical propositions and associated search algorithms for accurate measurements are being generated, the development of practical quantum computers themselves are advancing very slowly requiring enormous time and investments. The underlying concepts of a quantum computer are not new to the optical domain. However, the crucial enabling concepts of Entanglement and Superposition Principle are remaining clouded under the unresolved postulates, Wave-Particle Duality (WPD), and Wave Packet Reduction (WPR), implicating incompleteness in the interpretations of the mathematical formalism behind Quantum Mechanics. The WPD debate started during late1600 between Newton and Huygens. Young’s resolution of WPD through his double-slit experiment in 1802 was effectively overturned by Einstein’s interpretation of photoelectric effect as due to “indivisible light quanta”. However, Einstein disowned his “light quanta” postulate shortly before his death in1955, even though it had earned him the Nobel Prize. We resolve WPD by synthesizing Newton’s and Maxwell’s concepts and assume atoms do emit quanta but propagate as time-finite exponential pulses. This assumption also resolves WPR for light-matter interaction with the assumption that Schrodinger’s ψ represents atom’s internal dipolar amplitude stimulations. This over-turns Born’s interpretation that ψ only represents the abstract mathematical probability amplitude, rather than the physical “internal amplitude stimulation” of the quantum entity. However, our concept of atomic pulse emission forces us to re-derive the expression for the N-slit grating-spectrometer response since the classical derivation uses CW light, which does not exist. This pulsespectrometric response function strengthens our postulate since the grating response to the exponential pulse appears to be the convolution of a Lorentzian spectrum with the classical CW response function of the grating. The Fourier Transform of an exponential function is Lorentzian and QM predicts spontaneous emission line width to be Lorentzian. Then, conceptually one can extend the grating-expression (with N=2) to get the double-slit pattern. This approach preserves the classical causality that each of the two slits, like the N-signals out of a grating, are physically real and jointly stimulate the quantum detector array at the far field to generate the “Local” cosine fringes. The detector array executes the square modulus operation on its imposed dipolar amplitude stimulation and absorbs the necessary energy to fill up their quantum cups. Hence the double-slit pattern must also be “Local”, just as the N-slit grating spectrum is generated locally at the exit spectral-plane of the spectrometer. This removes the need to believe that “single photons” mysteriously generate the double slit pattern. Quantum computers, hypothesized in 1980s, use concepts of superposition and entanglement phenomena. Although theoretical propositions and associated search algorithms for accurate measurements are being generated, the development of practical quantum computers themselves are advancing very slowly requiring enormous time and investments. The underlying concepts of a quantum computer are not new to the optical domain. However, the crucial enabling concepts of Entanglement and Superposition Principle are remaining clouded under the unresolved postulates, Wave-Particle Duality (WPD), and Wave Packet Reduction (WPR), implicating incompleteness in the interpretations of the mathematical formalism behind Quantum Mechanics. The WPD debate started during late1600 between Newton and Huygens. Young’s resolution of WPD through his double-slit experiment in 1802 was effectively overturned by Einstein’s interpretation of photoelectric effect as due to “indivisible light quanta”. However, Einstein disowned his “light quanta” postulate shortly before his death in1955, even though it had earned him the Nobel Prize. We resolve WPD by synthesizing Newton’s and Maxwell’s concepts and assume atoms do emit quanta but propagate as time-finite exponential pulses. This assumption also resolves WPR for light-matter interaction with the assumption that Schrodinger’s ψ represents atom’s internal dipolar amplitude stimulations. This over-turns Born’s interpretation that ψ only represents the abstract mathematical probability amplitude, rather than the physical “internal amplitude stimulation” of the quantum entity. However, our concept of atomic pulse emission forces us to re-derive the expression for the N-slit grating-spectrometer response since the classical derivation uses CW light, which does not exist. This pulsespectrometric response function strengthens our postulate since the grating response to the exponential pulse appears to be the convolution of a Lorentzian spectrum with the classical CW response function of the grating. The Fourier Transform of an exponential function is Lorentzian and QM predicts spontaneous emission line width to be Lorentzian. Then, conceptually one can extend the grating-expression (with N=2) to get the double-slit pattern. This approach preserves the classical causality that each of the two slits, like the N-signals out of a grating, are physically real and jointly stimulate the quantum detector array at the far field to generate the “Local” cosine fringes. The detector array executes the square modulus operation on its imposed dipolar amplitude stimulation and absorbs the necessary energy to fill up their quantum cups. Hence the double-slit pattern must also be “Local”, just as the N-slit grating spectrum is generated locally at the exit spectral-plane of the spectrometer. This removes the need to believe that “single photons” mysteriously generate the double slit pattern.

Quantum Computer↗

Implementation of A New Microwave Scattering Database and A Forward Model for Active Microwave Sensors in CRTM

Radiative transfer models are extensively used for the assimilation of satellite observations into NWP models as well as retrieving geophysical products from satellite measurements. CRTM is a community model developed by NOAA JCSDA and widely used for different purposes requiring RT calculations. CRTM requires bulk scattering lookup tables in order to perform all-sky RT calculations. However, the current CRTM lookup tables for microwave frequencies were generated based on the Mie theory by assuming spherical frozen particles. The scattering lookup tables generated using the DDA technique has shown to largely improve the RT scattering calculations in the MW region. This presentation targets (i) the implementation and validation of a DDA database that was originally developed for the ARTS RT model into CRTM, and (ii) developing the CRTM active sensor module that takes advantage of the backscattering coefficients computed using the DDA method. The DDA database only provides single scattering properties of different habits, while CRTM requires bulk scattering properties. The CRTM cloud coefficients were previously generated based on the effective radius for representing the size of the particles. However, effective radius is neither measurable nor provided by the NWP models, thus need to be estimated from other geophysical variables such as water content. Therefore, in addition to calculating the CRTM bulk scattering properties from the DDA single scattering database, the CRTM was also largely modified to use cloud water content (kg.m-3), instead of effective radius, for performing the interpolation over size/mass of the particles. CRTM already requires water content as input, thus no extra variables are required for performing scattering calculations using the new ARTS DDA database. The CRTM scattering modules search for effective radius in cloud coefficient files and will use the cloud water content if the effective radius dimension is not found in the cloud coefficient files. Figure 1 shows the CRTM simulated brightness temperatures computed using different cloud coefficients versus ATMS observed values over Hurricane Irma on September 7, 2017 at 18:00 UTC. We used all the cloud water content values included in ERA5 with default CRTM/DDA habits for water, rain, snow, ice, hail, and graupel. ERA5 does not provide separate water content values for ice, hail, and graupel, thus the ice water content values were divided between ice, hail, and graupel clouds similar to what was explained in the previous section. In channels with a frequency lower than 90 GHz, emission from water and rain clouds can compensate for cloud scattering so that cloud contaminated Tbs are larger than corresponding clear sky Tbs. The DDA simulations for channels 1-7 largely perform better than the Mie simulations. The DDA simulations show a mix of small negative and positive simulated minus observed values, while the Mie results show large negative biases. The weighting functions for some of the ATMS temperature sounding channels (channels 9-15) peak mostly above the clouds, therefore the measured Tbs become less sensitive to clouds so that the results of both Mie and DDA become very similar. The Mie lookup tables generate excessive scattering for channel 16, but not enough scattering for the water vapor channels. In the specific case of Hurricane Maria, the DDA lookup tables do not generate enough scattering for channel 16, but the DDA results are much more consistent with observations for water vapor channels than for channel 16. It should be noted that the results may vary if we use other habits to represent snow, hail, and graupel in the DDA simulations. Although these results clearly show the advantage of the DDA database over the Mie dataset, different error sources such as error in the observations, displacement of clouds in the ERA5 reanalysis, and also lack of convective clouds or in general errors in the input atmospheric and cloud profiles contribute to the differences between the simulated and observed values. Aside from the improvements in the simulations, a major advantage of the new dataset is a large number of habits that can be used to tune the data assimilation systems to perform well in different weather conditions.

Isaac Moradi↗

Particle Swarm Optimization

The purpose of this paper is to show how the search algorithm known as particle swarm optimization performs. Here, particle swarm optimization is applied to structural design problems, but the method has a much wider range of possible applications. The paper's new contributions are improvements to the particle swarm optimization algorithm and conclusions and recommendations as to the utility of the algorithm, Results of numerical experiments for both continuous and discrete applications are presented in the paper. The results indicate that the particle swarm optimization algorithm does locate the constrained minimum design in continuous applications with very good precision, albeit at a much higher computational cost than that of a typical gradient based optimizer. However, the true potential of particle swarm optimization is primarily in applications with discrete and/or discontinuous functions and variables. Additionally, particle swarm optimization has the potential of efficient computation with very large numbers of concurrently operating processors.

Venter, Gerhard↗

GLAST, the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope

The Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, GLAST, is a mission to measure the cosmic gamma-ray flux in the energy range 20 MeV to greater than 300 GeV, with supporting measurements for gamma-ray bursts from 10 keV to 25 MeV. With its upcoming launch in 2008, GLAST will open a new and important window on a wide variety of phenomena, including black holes and active galactic nuclei; the optical-UV extragalactic background light, gamma-ray bursts; the origin of cosmic rays and supernova remnants; and searches for hypothetical new phenomena such as supersymmetric dark matter annihilations and Lorentz invariance violation. In addition to the science opportunities, this talk includes a description of the instruments, the collaboration between particle physicists and astrophysicists, the opportunities for guest observers, and the mission status.

Ritz, Steven↗

GLAST, the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope

The Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, GLAST, is a mission to measure the cosmic gamma-ray flux in the energy range 20 MeV to greater than 300 GeV, with supporting measurements for gamma-ray bursts from 10 keV to 25 MeV. With its upcoming launch in 2008, GLAST will open a new and important window on a wide variety of phenomena, including black holes and active galactic nuclei; the optical-UV extragalactic background light, gamma-ray bursts; the origin of cosmic rays and supernova remnants; and searches for hypothetical new phenomena such as supersymmetric dark matter annihilations and Lorentz invariance violation. In addition to the science opportunities, this talk includes a description of the instruments, the collaboration between particle physicists and astrophysicists, the opportunities for guest observers, and the mission status.

Ritz, Steven↗

A new experiment to investigate the origin of optical activity using a low energy positron beam of controlled helicity

Previous experiments undertaken in search of a correlation between the origin of optical activity in biological molecules and the helicity of beta particles emitted in nuclear beta decay have not provided any useful results. A description is presented of an experiment in which a low energy polarized positron beam of controlled helicity interacts with an optically active material to form positronium in vacuum. Advantages of the current study compared to the previous experiments are mainly related to a much greater sensitivity. Initially, it will be possible to detect a helicity-dependent asymmetry in triplet positronium formation of 1 part in 10,000. Improvements to better than 1 part in 100,000 should be attainable.

Gidley, D. W.↗

Submillimeter Imaging of Dust Around Main Sequence Stars

This grant was to image circumstellar dust disks surrounding main-sequence stars. The delivery of the SCUBA detector we had planned to use for this work was delayed repeatedly, leading us to undertake a majority of the observations with the UKT14 submillimeter detector at the JCMT (James Clerk Maxwell Telescope) and optical imagers and a coronagraph at the University of Hawaii 2.2-m telescope. Major findings under this grant include: (1) We discovered 5 asymmetries in the beta Pictoris regenerated dust disk. The discovery of these asymmetries was a surprise, since smearing due to Keplerian shear should eliminate most such features on timescales of a few thousand years. One exception is the "wing tilt" asymmetry, which we interpret as due to the scattering phase function of dust disk particles. From the wing tilt and a model of the phase function, we find a disk plane inclination to the line of sight of < 5 degrees. Other asymmetries (e.g. the butterfly asymmetry) suggest a disk that has been recently disturbed. We searched for possible nearby perturbers but found no clear candidates. Low mass stars (M dwarfs) and brown dwarfs would have fallen beneath the sensitivity threshhold of our survey, however. (2) We calculated a set of disk models to assess the detectability of dust disks around stars as a function of (a) distance, (b) disk, inclination (c) dust optical depth/mass, and (d) imaging resolution. These models guided our observational strategy on Mauna Kea. (3) We performed a coronagraphic survey of approx. 100 main-sequence stars in search of additional examples of circumstellar disks. The best new candidate disk, around the 5 M(sun) star BD+31deg.643, is distinguished by its large extent (few x 10( exp 3) AU). This disk, if real, cannot be rotationally supported. We suggest that the dust particles are ejected from a smaller, unseen disk (Kuiper Belt?) by strong radiation pressure forces due to the high luminosity central star. (4) SCUBA images of circumstellar dust disks were obtained at 850 gm in 1997/8. These images show extended, asymmetric emission, but have a signal-to-noise ratio too low to permit disk mapping to large projected distances. Our images of beta Pic, in particular, are in agreement with those obtained by Holland et al., and appear to confirm the blob-structure reported first by these authors. We have not yet been able to confirm that the structure is intrinsic to the disk, since beta Pic is at -50 degree declination, and suitable observing opportunities from northern latitudes are comparatively rare (even at the +20 degree latitude of JCMT). It is possible, for instance, that the main 850 micro-m blob is merely a galaxy or other high-z source projected onto the beta Pic mid-plane.

Jewitt, David↗

Advanced designs for fluid flow visualization

Research was carried out on existing and new designs for minimally intrusive measurement of flow fields in the Geophysical Fluid Flow Cell and the proposed Atmospheric General Circulation Experiment. The following topics are discussed: (1) identification and removal of foreign particles, (2) search for higher dielectric photochromic solutions, (3) selection of uv light source, (4) analysis of refractive techniques and (5) examination of fresnel lens applicability.

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