SRF Cavity Searches for Dark Photon Dark Matter: First Scan Results [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2305.09711


We present the first use of a tunable superconducting radio frequency cavity to perform a scan search for dark photon dark matter with novel data analysis strategies. We mechanically tuned the resonant frequency of a cavity embedded in the liquid helium with a temperature of $2$ K, scanning the dark photon mass over a frequency range of $1.37$ MHz centered at $1.3$ GHz. By exploiting the superconducting radio frequency cavity’s considerably high quality factors of approximately $10^{10}$, our results demonstrate the most stringent constraints to date on a substantial portion of the exclusion parameter space, particularly concerning the kinetic mixing coefficient between dark photons and electromagnetic photons $\epsilon$, yielding a value of $\epsilon < 2.2 \times 10^{-16}$.

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Z. Tang, B. Wang, Y. Chen, et. al.
Thu, 18 May 23
29/67

Comments: 11 pages, 7 figures

Electron polarization in ultrarelativistic plasma current filamentation instabilities [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2212.03303


Plasma current filamentation of an ultrarelativistic electron beam impinging on an overdense plasma is investigated, with emphasis on radiation-induced electron polarization. Particle-in-cell simulations provide the classification and in-depth analysis of three different regimes of the current filaments, namely, the normal filament, abnormal filament, and quenching regimes. We show that electron radiative polarization emerges during the instability along the azimuthal direction in the momentum space, which significantly varies across the regimes. We put forward an intuitive Hamiltonian model to trace the origin of the electron polarization dynamics. In particular, we discern the role of nonlinear transverse motion of plasma filaments, which induces asymmetry in radiative spin flips, yielding an accumulation of electron polarization. Our results break the conventional perception that quasi-symmetric fields are inefficient for generating radiative spin-polarized beams, suggesting the potential of electron polarization as a source of new information on laboratory and astrophysical plasma instabilities.

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Z. Gong, K. Hatsagortsyan and C. Keitel
Thu, 8 Dec 22
11/63

Comments: 7 pages, 5 figures

Multi-Petawatt Physics Prioritization (MP3) Workshop Report [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2211.13187


This Multi-Petawatt Physics Prioritization (MP3) Workshop Report captures the outcomes from a community-initiated workshop held April 20-22, 2022 at Sorbonne University in Paris, France. The MP3 workshop aimed at developing science questions to guide research and future experiments in four areas identified by corresponding MP3 working groups: high-field physics and quantum electrodynamics (HFP/QED), laboratory astrophysics and planetary physics (LAPP), laser-driven nuclear physics (LDNP), and particle acceleration and advanced light sources (PAALS).

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A. Piazza, L. Willingale and J. Zuegel
Thu, 24 Nov 22
17/71

Comments: 113 pages

Multi-Petawatt Physics Prioritization (MP3) Workshop Report [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2211.13187


This Multi-Petawatt Physics Prioritization (MP3) Workshop Report captures the outcomes from a community-initiated workshop held April 20-22, 2022 at Sorbonne University in Paris, France. The MP3 workshop aimed at developing science questions to guide research and future experiments in four areas identified by corresponding MP3 working groups: high-field physics and quantum electrodynamics (HFP/QED), laboratory astrophysics and planetary physics (LAPP), laser-driven nuclear physics (LDNP), and particle acceleration and advanced light sources (PAALS).

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A. Piazza, L. Willingale and J. Zuegel
Thu, 24 Nov 22
45/71

Comments: 113 pages

Using Kernel-Based Statistical Distance to Study the Dynamics of Charged Particle Beams in Particle-Based Simulation Codes [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2204.04275


Measures of discrepancy between probability distributions (statistical distance) are widely used in the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning. We describe how certain measures of statistical distance can be implemented as numerical diagnostics for simulations involving charged-particle beams. Related measures of statistical dependence are also described. The resulting diagnostics provide sensitive measures of dynamical processes important for beams in nonlinear or high-intensity systems, which are otherwise difficult to characterize. The focus is on kernel-based methods such as Maximum Mean Discrepancy, which have a well-developed mathematical foundation and reasonable computational complexity. Several benchmark problems and examples involving intense beams are discussed. While the focus is on charged-particle beams, these methods may also be applied to other many-body systems such as plasmas or gravitational systems.

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C. Mitchell, R. Ryne and K. Hwang
Tue, 12 Apr 22
87/87

Comments: N/A

Tomographic Muon Imaging of the Great Pyramid of Giza [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2202.08184


The pyramids of the Giza plateau have fascinated visitors since ancient times and are the last of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world still standing. It has been half a century since Luiz Alvarez and his team used cosmic-ray muon imaging to look for hidden chambers in Khafres Pyramid. Advances in instrumentation for High-Energy Physics (HEP) allowed a new survey, ScanPyramids, to make important new discoveries at the Great Pyramid (Khufu) utilizing the same basic technique that the Alvarez team used, but now with modern instrumentation. The Exploring the Great Pyramid Mission plans to field a very-large muon telescope system that will be transformational with respect to the field of cosmic-ray muon imaging. We plan to field a telescope system that has upwards of 100 times the sensitivity of the equipment that has recently been used at the Great Pyramid, will image muons from nearly all angles and will, for the first time, produce a true tomographic image of such a large structure.

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A. Bross, E. Dukes, R. Ehrlich, et. al.
Thu, 17 Feb 22
44/60

Comments: N/A

SUPA: A Lightweight Diagnostic Simulator for Machine Learning in Particle Physics [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2202.05012


Deep learning methods have gained popularity in high energy physics for fast modeling of particle showers in detectors. Detailed simulation frameworks such as the gold standard Geant4 are computationally intensive, and current deep generative architectures work on discretized, lower resolution versions of the detailed simulation. The development of models that work at higher spatial resolutions is currently hindered by the complexity of the full simulation data, and by the lack of simpler, more interpretable benchmarks. Our contribution is SUPA, the SUrrogate PArticle propagation simulator, an algorithm and software package for generating data by simulating simplified particle propagation, scattering and shower development in matter. The generation is extremely fast and easy to use compared to Geant4, but still exhibits the key characteristics and challenges of the detailed simulation. We support this claim experimentally by showing that performance of generative models on data from our simulator reflects the performance on a dataset generated with Geant4. The proposed simulator generates thousands of particle showers per second on a desktop machine, a speed up of up to 6 orders of magnitudes over Geant4, and stores detailed geometric information about the shower propagation. SUPA provides much greater flexibility for setting initial conditions and defining multiple benchmarks for the development of models. Moreover, interpreting particle showers as point clouds creates a connection to geometric machine learning and provides challenging and fundamentally new datasets for the field.
The code for SUPA is available at https://github.com/itsdaniele/SUPA.

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A. Sinha, D. Paliotta, B. Máté, et. al.
Fri, 11 Feb 22
61/71

Comments: N/A

Deciphering in situ electron dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma via polarization pattern of emitted gamma photons [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.00563


Understanding and interpretation of the dynamics of ultrarelativistic plasma is a challenge, which calls for the development of methods for in situ probing the plasma dynamical characteristics. We put forward a new probing method, harnessing polarization properties of $\gamma$-photons spontaneously emitted from a non-prepolarized plasma irradiated by a circularly polarized strong laser pulse. We show that the temporal and angular pattern of $\gamma$-photon linear polarization is explicitly correlated with the instantaneous dynamics of the radiating electrons, which provides information on the laser-plasma interaction regime. Furthermore, with the $\gamma$-photon circular polarization originated from the electron radiative spin-flips, the plasma susceptibility to quantum electrodynamical processes is gauged. Our study demonstrates that the polarization signal of emitted $\gamma$-photons from ultrarelativistic plasma can be a versatile information source, which would be beneficial for the research fields of laser-driven plasma, accelerator science, and laboratory astrophysics.

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Z. Gong, K. Hatsagortsyan and C. Keitel
Tue, 2 Nov 21
7/93

Comments: N/A

Effects of nonmagnetic impurities and subgap states on the kinetic inductance, complex conductivity, quality factor and depairing current density [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.00573


We investigate how a combination of a nonmagnetic-impurity scattering rate $\gamma$ and finite subgap states parametrized by Dynes $\Gamma$ affects various physical quantities relevant to to superconducting devices: kinetic inductance $L_k$, complex conductivity $\sigma$, surface resistance $R_s$, quality factor $Q$, and depairing current density $J_d$. All the calculations are based on the Eilenberger formalism of the BCS theory. We assume the device materials are extreme type-II $s$-wave superconductors. It is well known that the optimum impurity concentration ($\gamma/\Delta_0 \sim 1$) minimizes $R_s$. Here, $\Delta_0$ is the pair potential for the idealized ($\Gamma\to 0$) superconductor for the temperature $T\to 0$. We find the optimum $\Gamma$ can also reduce $R_s$ by one order of magnitude for a clean superconductor ($\gamma/\Delta_0 < 1$) and a few tens $\%$ for a dirty superconductor ($\gamma/\Delta_0 > 1$). Also, we find a nearly-ideal ($\Gamma/\Delta_0 \ll 1$) clean-limit superconductor exhibits a frequency-independent $R_s$ for a broad range of frequency $\omega$, which can significantly improve $Q$ of a very compact cavity with a few tens of GHz frequency. As $\Gamma$ or $\gamma$ increases, the plateau disappears, and $R_s$ obeys the $\omega^2$ dependence. The subgap-state-induced residual surface resistance $R_{\rm res}$ is also studied, which can be detected by an SRF-grade high-$Q$ 3D resonator. We calculate $L_k(\gamma, \Gamma,T)$ and $J_d(\gamma, \Gamma,T)$, which are monotonic increasing and decreasing functions of $(\gamma, \Gamma,T)$, respectively. Measurements of $(\gamma, \Gamma)$ of device materials can give helpful information on engineering $(\gamma, \Gamma)$ via materials processing, by which it would be possible to improve $Q$, engineer $L_k$, and ameliorate $J_d$.

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T. Kubo
Mon, 4 Oct 21
5/76

Comments: 15 pages, 15 figures

Light-front approach to relativistic electrodynamics [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2012.07094


We illustrate how our recent light-front approach simplifies relativistic electrodynamics with an electromagnetic (EM) field $F^{\mu\nu}$ that is the sum of a (even very intense) plane travelling wave $F_t^{\mu\nu}(ct!-!z)$ and a static part $F_s^{\mu\nu}(x,y,z)$; it adopts the light-like coordinate $\xi=ct!-!z$ instead of time $t$ as an independent variable. This can be applied to several cases of extreme acceleration, both in vacuum and in a cold diluted plasma hit by a very short and intense laser pulse (slingshot effect, plasma wave-breaking and laser wake-field acceleration, etc.)

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G. Fiore
Tue, 15 Dec 20
100/136

Comments: Latex file, 20 pages, 7 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of the “9th International Conference on Mathematical Modeling in Physical Sciences”, September 7-10, 2020 (held on-line because of the Covid19 pandemic)

Detection of gravitational waves in circular particle accelerators [IMA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2012.00529


Here we calculate the effects of astrophysical gravitational waves (GWs) on the travel times of proton bunch test masses in circular particle accelerators. We show that a high-precision proton bunch time-tagging detector could turn a circular particle accelerator facility into a GW observatory sensitive to millihertz (mHz) GWs. We comment on sources of noise and the technological feasibility of ultrafast single photon detectors by conducting a case study of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN.

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S. Rao, M. Brüggen and J. Liske
Wed, 2 Dec 20
2/71

Comments: 9 pages, 2 figures. This manuscript has been accepted for publication as a Regular Article in Physical Review D

Special Relativity — Applications to astronomy and the accelerator physics [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2007.07780


There are many books on the classical subject of special relativity. However, after having spent a number of years, both in relativistic engineering and research with relativity, I have come to the conclusion that there exist a place for a new book. I do believe that the present book is not quite the same as the others, mainly due to attempt to cast light on dark corners. I should make it clear what this little book is not. It is not a textbook on relativity theory. What the book is about is the nature of special relativistic kinematics, its relation to space and time, and the operational interpretation of coordinate transformations. Every theory contains a number of quantities that can be measured by experiment and an expressions that cannot possibly be observed. Whenever we have a theory containing an arbitrary convention, we should examine what parts of the theory depend on the choice of that convention and what parts do not. The distinction is not always made and many authors claim some data to be observable, according to arbitrary conventions, which do not correspond to any physical experiment. This leads to inconsistencies and paradoxes that should be avoided at all cost.

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E. Saldin
Thu, 16 Jul 20
-213/56

Comments: Working draft from July 2020 (still a work-in-progress), 217 pages, 44 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1808.07808, arXiv:1903.07452, arXiv:1709.09408, arXiv:1909.03833

Constraints on the velocity dispersion of Dark Matter from Cosmology and new bounds on scattering from the Cosmic Dawn [CEA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2001.05653


The observational value of the velocity dispersion, $\Delta\upsilon$, is missing in the Dark Matter (DM) puzzle. Non-zero or non-thermal DM velocities can drastically influence Large Scale Structure and the 21-cm temperature at the epoch of the Cosmic Dawn, as well as the estimation of DM physical parameters, such as the mass and the interaction couplings. To study the phenomenology of $\Delta\upsilon$ we model the evolution of DM in terms of a simplistic and generic Boltzmann-like momentum distribution. Using cosmological data from the Cosmic Microwave Background, Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations, and Red Luminous Galaxies, we constrain the DM velocity dispersion for a broad range of masses $10^{-3} eV < m_\chi < 10^9 eV$, finding $\Delta\upsilon_0 \lesssim$ 0.33 km/s (99% CL). Including the EDGES $T_{21}$-measurements, we extend our study to constrain the baryon-DM interaction in the range of DM velocities allowed by our analysis. As a consequence, we present new bounds on two electromagnetic models of DM, namely minicharged particles (MCPs) and electric dipole moment (EDM). For MCPs, the parameter region that is consistent with EDGES and independent bounds on cosmological and stellar physics is very small, pointing to the sub-eV mass regime of DM. A window in the MeV-GeV may still be compatible with these bounds for MCP models without a hidden photon. But the EDM parameter region consistent with EDGES is excluded by Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis and Collider Physics.

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I. Rodríguez-Montoya, V. Ávila-Reese, A. Pérez-Lorenzana, et. al.
Fri, 17 Jan 20
40/60

Comments: To be published in the Astrophysical Journal. 11 pages, 5 figures

Time-step dependent force interpolation scheme for suppressing numerical Cherenkov instability in relativistic particle-in-cell simulations [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1909.09613


The WT scheme, a piecewise polynomial force interpolation scheme with time-step dependency, is proposed in this paper for relativistic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. The WT scheme removes the lowest order numerical Cherenkov instability (NCI) growth rate for arbitrary time steps allowed by the Courant condition. While NCI from higher order resonances is still present, the numerical tests show that for smaller time steps, the numerical instability grows much slower than using the optimal time step found in previous studies. The WT scheme is efficient for improving the quality and flexibility of relativistic particle-in-cell simulations.

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Y. Lu, P. Kilian, F. Guo, et. al.
Mon, 23 Sep 19
12/46

Comments: 10 pages, single column, one figure

Synchrotron radiation interaction with cryosorbed layers for astrochemical investigations [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1810.10392


Photon-stimulated desorption (PSD) is a process of interest for the two seemingly unrelated topics of accelerator vacuum dynamics and astrochemistry. Here we present an approach to studying PSD of interstellar ice analogs, i.e. condensed films of molecules of astrophysical interest at cryogenic temperatures, using synchrotron radiation. We present results obtained in the VUV range on various pure and layered ices, focusing on elucidating the desorption mechanisms, and results in the X-ray range for H$_2$O.

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R. Dupuy, M. Bertin, G. Féraud, et. al.
Thu, 25 Oct 18
52/65

Comments: Proceedings of the ECLOUD’18 6th workshop on electron-cloud effects (3-7 June 2018 La Biodola (Isola d’Elba) Italy). To be published as a CERN yellow report

The light speed vs the observer: the Kennedy-Thorndike test from GRAAL-ESRF [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1807.08551


High precision tests of the light speed constancy for all observers as of empirical basis of the Special Relativity have continuously been among the goals of advanced experimental studies. Based on the Compton Edge method proposed by us [1], a constraint on the one-way light speed isotropy and the Lorentz invariance violation has been obtained at the dedicated GRAAL experiment at European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF, Grenoble) [2-5]. Using the GRAAL’s data we now get a new constraint on one of key tests of Special Relativity – the Kennedy-Thorndike experiment [6] – in probing the light speed invariance with respect to the velocity of the observer (apparatus). Our analysis takes advantage of GRAAL’s setup where two separate energy scales are involved: first, via the position of the Compton Edge determining the light speed in the reference frame of incident 6 GeV electrons within the tagging system, second, in the calorimeter via the 1.27 MeV photons of the ^22 Na source. The two energy scales are engaged to each other through production of $\eta$ mesons by tagged laser Compton backscattered $\gamma$-rays. Accuracy of the calibration and stability of energies reached in each section enable us to obtain the limit 7 10^-12 for the Kennedy-Thorndike test, which improves the currently existing limits by three orders of magnitude.

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V. Gurzadyan and A. Margaryan
Tue, 31 Jul 18
34/69

Comments: To appear in Eur Phys J C; 6 pages, 3 figures

Objective Bayesian analysis of neutrino masses and hierarchy [CEA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1802.09450


Given the precision of current neutrino data, priors still impact noticeably the constraints on neutrino masses and their hierarchy. To avoid our understanding of neutrinos being driven by prior assumptions, we construct a prior that is mathematically minimally informative. Using the constructed uninformative prior, we find that the normal hierarchy is favoured but with inconclusive posterior odds of 5.1:1. Better data is hence needed before the neutrino masses and their hierarchy can be well constrained. We find that the next decade of cosmological data should provide conclusive evidence if the normal hierarchy with negligible minimum mass is correct, and if the uncertainty in the sum of neutrino masses drops below 0.025 eV. On the other hand, if neutrinos obey the inverted hierarchy, achieving strong evidence will be difficult with the same uncertainties. Our uninformative prior was constructed from principles of the Objective Bayesian approach. The prior is called a reference prior and is minimally informative in the specific sense that the information gain after collection of data is maximised. The prior is computed for the combination of neutrino oscillation data and cosmological data and still applies if the data improve.

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A. Heavens and E. Sellentin
Tue, 27 Feb 18
76/85

Comments: 15 pages. For submission to JCAP

Differences in 1D electron plasma wake field acceleration in MeV versus GeV and linear versus blowout regimes [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1711.09766


In some laboratory and most astrophysical situations plasma wakefield acceleration of electrons is one dimensional, i.e. variation transverse to the beam’s motion can be ignored. Thus, one dimensional (1D), particle-in-cell (PIC), fully electromagnetic simulations of electron plasma wake field acceleration are conducted in order to study the differences in electron plasma wake field acceleration in MeV versus GeV and linear versus blowout regimes. First, we show that caution needs to be taken when using fluid simulations, as PIC simulations prove that an approximation for an electron bunch not to evolve in time for few hundred plasma periods only applies when it is sufficiently relativistic. Our 1D PIC simulations establish that injecting driving and trailing electron bunches into plasmas with $n_0=5 \times 10^{22}$ m$^{-3}$, results in electric fields of about $- 10^{10}$ V/m, if the bunch density is one third as that of plasma (linear regime), and about $- 10^{11}$ V/m if the driving bunch density is $2.5 n_0$ (blowout regime). We study the differences in the plasma wake created and what is an optimal position of the trailing electron bunch. Starting from initial 36 MeV trailing bunch with $n_b=0.3 n_0$ its acceleration to 85 MeV is readily possible within 200 plasma periods. Beyond this time the approximation for a driving electron bunch not to evolve in time becomes invalid. Starting from initial 20 GeV trailing bunch with $n_b=0.3 n_0$ its acceleration to 21 GeV occurs within 2000 plasma periods. When driving bunch density is increased to $n_b=2.5 n_0$, starting from initial 20 GeV trailing bunch with $n_b=n_0$ its acceleration to 24 GeV occurs within 2000 plasma periods and plasma wake size is much larger. In this case, optimally there should be approximately $(90-100) c/\omega_{pe}$ distance between trailing and driving electron bunches.

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D. Tsiklauri
Tue, 28 Nov 17
32/82

Comments: submitted for publication, in peer review

Machine learning for analysis of plasma driven Ion source [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1709.02109


Recently, neural networks have found many applications in different fields including Genetics, Pharmacy, Astrophysics and High Energy Physics [1-3]. In the field of accelerator physics it has been used for control systems [4]. In this paper we present the results based on machine learning techniques motivated to predict the behaviour of ion source in terms of composition of the ion beam while using the Hydrogen gas to produce $H^+$ ions. In the framework of Stellarator type Figure-8 Storage Ring (F8SR) project a volume type ion source was designed for low energy beam transport experiments. In the early stage the functioning of this ion source was studied and the results were published, but only small number of observations were analysed as the main requirement for on going experiments was fulfilled. Though at a later stage, more number of observations were recorded with larger parameter space, to investigate the properties of extracted ion beams from this source further. With recent interests and improved techniques in the applications of machine learning algorithms, we tried to introduce data analysis using neural network to study the ion beams from this plasma ion source.

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N. Joshi
Fri, 8 Sep 17
49/65

Comments: N/A

Compton Edge probing basic physics at Jefferson Laboratory: light speed isotropy and Lorentz invariance [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1706.08907


We propose to study of the light speed isotropy and Lorentz invariance at Jefferson Laboratory by means of the measurements of the Compton Edge using of the Hall A/C existing experimental setup. Methodologically the same experiment has already been successfully elaborated at GRAAL experiment at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble with 6 GeV electron beam. This Proposal states two goals expected to be reached at Jefferson Laboratory, both on Lorentz invariance: (a) the one-way light speed isotropy testing accuracy, following from conservative evaluations at numerical simulations, to about an order of magnitude better than was GRAAL’s; (b) the dependence of the light speed on the velocity of the apparatus (Kennedy-Thorndike measurement) will be traced to an accuracy about 3 orders of magnitudes better than the available limits.

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V. Gurzadyan, D. Gaskell, V. Kakoyan, et. al.
Thu, 29 Jun 17
27/44

Comments: Submitted to PAC45, Jefferson Laboratory, 38 pages, 14 figures

High Flux Femtosecond X-ray Emission from the Electron-Hose Instability in Laser Wakefield Accelerators [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1705.01181


Bright and ultrashort duration X-ray pulses can be produced by through betatron oscillations of electrons during Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA). Our experimental measurements using the \textsc{Hercules} laser system demonstrate a dramatic increase in X-ray flux for interaction distances beyond the depletion/dephasing lengths, where the initial electron bunch injected into the first wake bucket catches up with the laser pulse front and the laser pulse depletes. A transition from an LWFA regime to a beam-driven plasma wakefield acceleration (PWFA) regime consequently occurs. The drive electron bunch is susceptible to the electron-hose instability and rapidly develops large amplitude oscillations in its tail, which leads to greatly enhanced X-ray radiation emission. We measure the X-ray flux as a function of acceleration length using a variable length gas cell. 3D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations using a Monte Carlo synchrotron X-ray emission algorithm elucidate the time-dependent variations in the radiation emission processes.

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C. Dong, T. Zhao, K. Behm, et. al.
Thu, 4 May 17
6/54

Comments: N/A

Travelling waves and a fruitful `time' reparametrization in relativistic electrodynamics [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1607.03482


We simplify the nonlinear equations of motion of charged particles in an external electromagnetic field that is the sum of a plane travelling wave F_t(ct-z) and a static part F_s(x,y,z): by adopting the light-like coordinate ct-z instead of time t as an independent variable in the Action, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian, and deriving the new Euler-Lagrange and Hamilton equations accordingly, we make the unknown z(t) disappear from the argument of F_t. We study and solve first the single particle equations in few significant cases of extreme accelerations. In particular we obtain a rigorous formulation of a Lawson-Woodward-type (no-final-acceleration) theorem and a compact derivation of cyclotron autoresonance, beside new solutions in the presence of uniform F_s. We then extend our method to plasmas in hydrodynamic conditions and apply it to plane problems: the system of partial differential equations may be partially solved and sometimes even completely reduced to a family of decoupled systems of ordinary ones; this occurs e.g. with the impact of the travelling wave on a vacuum-plasma interface (what may produce the slingshot effect). Since Fourier analysis plays no role in our general framework, the method can be applied to all kind of travelling waves, ranging from almost monochromatic to socalled “impulses”, which contain few, one or even no complete cycle.

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G. Fiore
Fri, 28 Apr 17
3/55

Comments: Latex file, 36 pages, 5 figures

Non-linear Ion-Wake Excitation by the Time-Asymmetric Electron Wakefields of Intense Energy Sources with applications to the Crunch-in regime [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1612.03520


A model for the excitation of a non-linear ion-wake mode by a train of plasma electron oscillations in the non-linear time-asymmetric regime is developed using analytical theory and particle-in-cell based computational solutions. The ion-wake is shown to be a driven non-linear ion-acoustic wave in the form of a cylindrical ion-soliton. The near-void and radially-outwards propagating ion-wake channel of a few plasma skin-depth radius, is explored for application to “Crunch-in” regime of positron acceleration. The coupling from the electron wakefield mode to the ion-mode dictates the long-term evolution of the plasma and the time for its relaxation back to an equilibrium, limiting the repetition-rate of a plasma accelerator. Using an analytical model it is shown that it is the time asymmetric phases of the oscillating radial electric fields of the nearly-stationary electron bubble that excite time-averaged inertial ion motion radially. The electron compression in the back of the bubble sucks-in the ions whereas the space-charge within the bubble cavity expels them, driving a cylindrical ion-soliton structure with on-axis and bubble-edge density-spikes. Once formed, the channel-edge density-spike is sustained over the length of the plasma and driven radially outwards by the thermal pressure of the wake energy in electrons. Its channel-like structure is independent of the energy-source, electromagnetic wave or particle beam, driving the bubble electron wake. Particle-In-Cell simulations are used to study the ion-wake soliton structure, its driven propagation and its use for positron acceleration in the “Crunch-in” regime.

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A. Sahai
Tue, 13 Dec 16
67/77

Comments: Crunch-in regime strongly contradicts the established conclusions of ZERO focusing fields in a hollow-channel (claimed and presented in several PRL, PoP, PRE and Nature papers). Since this entirely opposes and goes against established conclusions of over 20 years old work, severely damaging to the reputations of the senior physicists, it is not being allowed through the peer-review process

Collisionless electrostatic shock formation and ion acceleration in intense laser interactions with near critical density plasmas [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1611.06616


Laser-driven collisonless electrostatic shock formation and the subsequent ion acceleration have been studied in near critical density plasmas. Particle-in-cell simulations show that both the speed of laser-driven collisionless electrostatic shock and the energies of shock-accelerated ions can be greatly enhanced due to fast laser propagation in near critical density plasmas. However, a response time longer than tens of laser wave cycles is required before the shock formation in a near critical density plasma, in contrast to the quick shock formation in a highly overdense target. More important, we find that some ions can be reflected by the collisionless shock even if the electrostatic potential jump across the shock is smaller than the ion kinetic energy in the shock frame, which seems against the conventional ion-reflection condition. These anomalous ion reflections are attributed to the strongly time-oscillating electric field accompanying laser-driven collisionless shock in a near critical density plasma.

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M. Liu, S. Weng, Y. Li, et. al.
Tue, 22 Nov 16
25/79

Comments: 9 figures,\

Dense blocks of energetic ions driven by multi-petawatt lasers [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1603.04001


Laser-driven ion accelerators have the advantages of compact size, high density, and short bunch duration over conventional accelerators. Nevertheless, it is still challenging to simultaneously enhance the yield and quality of laser-driven ion beams for practical applications. Here we propose a scheme to address this challenge via the use of emerging multi-petawatt lasers and a density-modulated target. The density-modulated target permits its ions to be uniformly accelerated as a dense block by laser radiation pressure. In addition, the beam quality of the accelerated ions is remarkably improved by embedding the target in a thick enough substrate, which suppresses hot electron refluxing and thus alleviates plasma heating. Particle-in-cell simulations demonstrate that almost all ions in a solid-density plasma of a few microns can be uniformly accelerated to about 25% of the speed of light by a laser pulse at an intensity around 1022 W/cm2. The resulting dense block of energetic ions may drive fusion ignition and more generally create matter with unprecedented high energy density.

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S. Weng, M. Liu, Z. Sheng, et. al.
Tue, 22 Nov 16
33/79

Comments: 18 pages, 4 figures

Angular Momentum of Twisted Radiation from an Electron in Spiral Motion [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1610.02182


We theoretically demonstrate for the first time that a single free electron in circular/spiral motion emits twisted photons carrying well defined orbital angular momentum along the axis of the electron circulation, in adding to spin angular momentum. We show that, when the electron velocity is relativistic, the radiation field contains harmonic components and the photons of l-th harmonic carry lhbar total angular momentum for each. This work indicates that twisted photons are naturally emitted by free electrons and more ubiquitous in laboratories and in nature than ever been thought.

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M. Katoh, M. Fujimoto, H. Kawaguchi, et. al.
Mon, 10 Oct 16
28/51

Comments: N/A

Surface modeling for optical fabrication with linear ion source [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1609.09516


We present a concept of surface decomposition extended from double Fourier series to nonnegative sinusoidal wave surfaces, on the basis of which linear ion sources apply to the ultra-precision fabrication of complex surfaces and diffractive optics. It is the first time that we have a surface descriptor for building a relationship between the fabrication process of optical surfaces and the surface characterization based on PSD analysis, which akin to Zernike polynomials used for mapping the relationship between surface errors and Seidel aberrations. Also, we demonstrate that the one-dimensional scanning of linear ion source is applicable to the removal of surface errors caused by small-tool polishing in raster scan mode as well as the fabrication of beam sampling grating of high diffractive uniformity without a post-processing procedure. The simulation results show that, in theory, optical fabrication with linear ion source is feasible and even of higher output efficiency compared with the conventional approach.

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L. Wu, C. Wei and J. Shao
Mon, 3 Oct 16
7/47

Comments: 7 pages, 5 figures

Gamma ray vortices from nonlinear inverse Compton scattering of circularly polarized light [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1608.04894


Inverse Compton scattering (ICS) is an elemental radiation process that produces high-energy photons both in nature and in the laboratory. Non-linear ICS is a process in which multiple photons are converted to a single high-energy photon. Here, we theoretically show that the photon produced by non-linear ICS of circularly polarized photons is a vortex, which means that it possesses a helical wave front and carries orbital angular momentum. Our work explains a recent experimental result regarding non-linear Compton scattering that clearly shows an annular intensity distribution as a remarkable feature of a vortex beam. Our work implies that gamma ray vortices should be produced in various situations in astrophysics in which high-energy electrons and intense circularly polarized light fields coexist. They should play a critical role in stellar nucleosynthesis. Non-linear ICS is the most promising radiation process for realizing a gamma ray vortex source based on currently available laser and accelerator technologies, which would be an indispensable tool for exploring gamma ray vortex science.

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Y. Taira, T. Hayakawa and M. Katoh
Thu, 18 Aug 16
3/51

Comments: N/A

Lorentz invariant relative velocity and relativistic binary collisions [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1605.00569


This article reviews the concept of Lorentz invariant relative velocity that is often misunderstood or unknown in high energy physics literature. The properties of the relative velocity allow to formulate the invariant flux and cross section without recurring to non–physical velocities or any assumption about the reference frame. Applications such as the luminosity of a collider, the use as kinematic variable, and the statistical theory of collisions in a relativistic classical gas are reviewed. It is emphasized how the hyperbolic properties of the velocity space explain the peculiarities of relativistic scattering.

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M. Cannoni
Tue, 3 May 16
11/62

Comments: 14 pages, 3 figures, review article

GigaGauss magnetic fields in under-dense plasma [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1604.01259


Magnetic fields have a crucial role in physics at all scales, from synchrotrons and laser-driven plasma accelerators to astrophysics and nanotechnology. Large field strengths, beside the guiding of relativistic particles along a shorter curvature, allows the investigation of material in extreme conditions existing only in exotic astro-objects like neutron stars or pulsars. Here we propose a method for generating magnetic field on the GigaGauss level in under-dense plasma using high intensity laser pulses with azimuthally non-uniform intensity distribution. The interaction is studied with the help of three-dimensional particle-in-cell plasma simulation code. Beside the standard wake-field and bubble generation, such laser beam induces the rotational motion of electrons at the edge of evacuated plasma region. The combined axial magnetic and electric fields form a compact source of both high frequency radiation, due to coherent synchrotron emission, and low emittance, high density relativistic electron bunches. We will also discuss the regime at which static solenoidal field can be observed without electron acceleration with longer life-time but smaller magnetic field amplitude.

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Z. Lecz, I. Konoplev, A. Seryi, et. al.
Wed, 6 Apr 16
40/63

Comments: 15 pages, 9 figures. 2 pictures (in Fig. 2) are not included because they exceed the total data size limit. I will send the full source by email. One file (supplement.pdf) is supplementary material

Light sterile neutrinos [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1507.08204


The theory and phenomenology of light sterile neutrinos at the eV mass scale is reviewed. The reactor, Gallium and LSND anomalies are briefly described and interpreted as indications of the existence of short-baseline oscillations which require the existence of light sterile neutrinos. The global fits of short-baseline oscillation data in 3+1 and 3+2 schemes are discussed, together with the implications for beta-decay and neutrinoless double-beta decay. The cosmological effects of light sterile neutrinos are briefly reviewed and the implications of existing cosmological data are discussed. The review concludes with a summary of future perspectives.

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S. Gariazzo, C. Giunti, M. Laveder, et. al.
Thu, 30 Jul 15
4/50

Comments: 40 pages

A fast, always positive definite and normalizable approximation of non-Gaussian likelihoods [CEA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1506.04866


We extent the previously published DALI-approximation for likelihoods to cases of a parameter dependent covariance matrix. The approximation recovers non-Gaussian likelihoods and falls back onto the Fisher matrix approach in the case of Gaussianity. It works with the minimal assumptions of having Gaussian errors on the data, and a covariance matrix that posesses a converging Taylor approximation. The resulting approximation works in cases of severe parameter degeneracies and in cases where the Fisher matrix is singular. It is easily a 1000 times faster than typical Monte Carlo Markov Chain runs. Two example applications to cases of extremely non-Gaussian likelihoods are presented – one demonstrates how the method succeeds in reconstructing completely a ring-shaped likelihood. A public code is released on github.

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E. Sellentin
Wed, 17 Jun 15
20/47

Comments: 6 pages, 2 figures

Non-linear Ion-wake Excitation by Ultra-relativistic Electron Wakefields [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1504.03735


The excitation of a non-linear ion-wake by a train of ultra-relativistic plasmons is modeled and its use for a novel regime of positron acceleration is explored. Its channel-like structure is independent of the energy-source driving the bubble-shaped slowly-propagating high phase-velocity electron density waves. The back of the bubble electron compression sucks-in the ions and the space-charge within the bubble expels them, forming a near-void channel with on-axis and bubble-edge density-spikes. The channel-edge density-spike is driven radially outwards as a non-linear ion acoustic-wave by the wake electron thermal pressure. OSIRIS PIC simulations are used to study the ion-wake structure, its evolution and its use for positron acceleration.

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A. Sahai and T. Katsouleas
Thu, 16 Apr 15
47/48

Comments: submitted to Physical Review, Apr 2015

Accurate determination of the free-free Gaunt factor. II – relativistic Gaunt factors [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1502.06788


When modelling an ionised plasma, all spectral synthesis codes need the thermally averaged free-free Gaunt factor defined over a very wide range of parameter space in order to produce an accurate prediction for the spectrum. Until now no data set exists that would meet these needs completely. We have therefore produced a table of relativistic Gaunt factors over a much wider range of parameter space than has ever been produced before. We present tables of the thermally averaged Gaunt factor covering the range log10(gamma^2) = -6 to 10 and log10(u) = -16 to 13 for all atomic numbers Z = 1 through 36. The data were calculated using the relativistic Bethe-Heitler-Elwert (BHE) approximation and were subsequently merged with accurate non-relativistic results in those parts of the parameter space where the BHE approximation is not valid. These data will be incorporated in the next major release of the spectral synthesis code Cloudy. We also produced tables of the frequency integrated Gaunt factor covering the parameter space log10(gamma^2) = -6 to 10 for all values of Z between 1 and 36. All the data presented in this paper are available online.

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P. Hoof, G. Ferland, R. Williams, et. al.
Wed, 25 Feb 15
15/55

Comments: 8 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables

Artificial_Micrometeorites [IMA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1407.8542


An iron ball, a beryllium sphere and a tungsten tube segment with diameter twenty microns, are electrically charged while proton beam irradiating. These bodies are accelerated by the running pulse field in a spiral waveguide up to velocity: thirty kilometers per second. The accelerator, generating micrometeorites is placed at satellites on the Earth orbit. This article considers processes of penetration of micrometeorites into the Earth atmosphere. It is shown that micrometeorites evaporate at the height of one hundred kilometers-one hundred fifty kilometers from the surface of the Earth. A micrometeorite which is a segment of the beryllium tube equipped with a graphite cone in the head part is the very meteorite to reach the Earth surface without being broken.

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S. Dolya
Fri, 1 Aug 14
5/67

Comments: 27 pages, 1 table

Accurate determination of the free-free Gaunt factor; I – non-relativistic Gaunt factors [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1407.5048


Modern spectral synthesis codes need the thermally averaged free-free Gaunt factor defined over a very wide range of parameter space in order to produce an accurate prediction for the spectrum emitted by an ionized plasma. Until now no set of data exists that would meet this need in a fully satisfactory way. We have therefore undertaken to produce a table of very accurate non-relativistic Gaunt factors over a much wider range of parameters than has ever been produced before. We first produced a table of non-averaged Gaunt factors, covering the parameter space log10(epsilon_i) = -20 to +10 and log10(w) = -30 to +25. We then continued to produce a table of thermally averaged Gaunt factors covering the parameter space log10(gamma^2) = -6 to +10 and log10(u) = -16 to +13. Finally we produced a table of the frequency integrated Gaunt factor covering the parameter space log10(gamma^2) = -6 to +10. All the data presented in this paper are available online.

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P. Hoof, R. Williams, K. Volk, et. al.
Mon, 21 Jul 14
35/55

Comments: 10 pages, 5 tables, 3 figures

Long Term Evolution of Plasma Wakefields [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1405.4302


We study the long-term evolution (LTE) of plasma wakefields over multiple plasma-electron periods and few plasma-ion periods, much less than a recombination time. The evolution and relaxation of such a wakefield-perturbed plasma over these timescales has important implications for the upper limits of repetition-rates in plasma colliders. Intense fields in relativistic lasers (or intense beams) create plasma wakefields (modes around {\omega}pe) by transferring energy to the plasma electrons. Charged-particle beams in the right phase may be accelerated with acceleration/focusing gradients of tens of GeV/m. However, wakefields leave behind a plasma not in equilibrium, with a relaxation time of multiple plasma-electron periods. Ion motion over ion timescales, caused by energy transfer from the driven plasma-electrons to the plasma-ions can create interesting plasma states. Eventually during LTE, the dynamics of plasma de-coheres (multiple modes through instability driven mixing), thermalizing into random motion (second law of thermodynamics), dissipating energy away from the wakefields. Wakefield-drivers interacting with such a relativistically hot-plasma lead to plasma wakefields that differ from the wakefields in a cold-plasma.

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A. Sahai, T. Katsouleas, F. Tsung, et. al.
Tue, 20 May 14
30/62

Comments: North American Particle Accelerator Conference, Sep 2013, Pasadena, CA, USA (MOPAC10, ISBN 978-3-95450-138-0) this http URL 03- Alternative Acceleration Schemes, A23 – Laser-driven Plasma Acceleration, pp.90-92