Tag Archives: High Energy Physics – Experiment

Development and characterization of a fast and low noise readout for the next generation X-ray CCDs [IMA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.08880


The broad energy response, low electronic read noise, and good energy resolution have made X-ray Charge-Coupled Devices (CCDs) an obvious choice for developing soft X-ray astronomical instruments over the last half century. They also come in large array formats with small pixel sizes which make them a potential candidate for the next generation astronomical X-ray missions. However, the next generation X-ray telescopic experiments propose for significantly larger collecting area compared to the existing observatories in order to explore the low luminosity and high redshift X-ray universe which requires these detectors to have an order of magnitude faster readout. In this context, the Stanford University (SU) in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has initiated the development of fast readout electronics for X-ray CCDs. At SU, we have designed and developed a fast and low noise readout module with the goal of achieving a readout speed of 5 Mpixel/s. We successfully ran a prototype CCD matrix of 512 $\times$ 512 pixels at 4 Mpixels/s. In this paper, we describe the details of the readout electronics and report the performance of the detectors at these readout speeds in terms of read noise and energy resolution. In the future, we plan to continue to improve performance of the readout module and eventually converge to a dedicated ASIC based readout system to enable parallel read out of large array multi-node CCD devices.

Read this paper on arXiv…

T. Chattopadhyay, S. Herrmann, P. Orel, et. al.
Tue, 25 Jan 22
49/78

Comments: Submitted in Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems (JATIS)

Boosted tau lepton as a microscope and macroscope [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.07808


Anomalies from the LHCb lepton flavour universality and Fermilab muon anomalous magnetic momentum, show tantalizing hints of possible new physics from the lepton sectors. Due to its large mass and shorter lifetime than muon, the tau lepton is believed to couple more to possible new physics beyond the standard model. Traditionally, tau leptons are probed through the decay products due to tau’s short life time. On the other hand, at a high energy scale, a large fraction of tau leptons could be boosted to a much longer life time and fly a visible distance from several centimetres up to kilometer length scale, yet very informative to new physics beyond the standard model or high energy cosmic rays. In this article, we show unique yet promising tau physics by exploiting long-lived taus as a microscope or macroscope, to measure tau’s anomalous magnetic momentum to an unprecedented level of accuracy and detect high energy cosmic neutrinos at the 1 TeV to 1 PeV scale, respectively.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Qian, Z. Guan, S. Deng, et. al.
Fri, 21 Jan 22
11/60

Comments: 6 pages, 5 figures

Extending the Lorentz Factor Range and Sensitivity of Transition Radiation with Compound Radiators [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.07901


Transition radiation detectors (TRDs) have been used to identify high-energy particles (in particular, to separate electrons from heavier particles) in accelerator experiments. In space, they have been used to identify cosmic-ray electrons and measure the energies of cosmic-ray nuclei. To date, radiators have consisted of regular configurations of foils with fixed values of foil thickness and spacing (or foam or fiber radiators with comparable average dimensions) that have operated over a relatively restricted range of Lorentz factors. In order to extend the applicability of future TRDs (for example, to identify 0.5 – 3 TeV pions, kaons, and protons in the far forward region in a future accelerator experiment or to measure the energy spectrum of cosmic-ray nuclei up to 20 TeV/nucleon or higher), there is a need to increase the signal strength and extend the range of Lorentz factors that can be measured in a single detector. A possible approach is to utilize compound radiators consisting of varying radiator parameters. We discuss the case of a compound radiator and derive the yield produced in a TRD with an arbitrary configuration of foil thicknesses and spacings.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Alnussirat and M. Cherry
Fri, 21 Jan 22
26/60

Comments: To be published, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. in Phys. Research A (2022)

A feasibility study of extruded plastic scintillator embedding WLS fiber for AMoRE-II muon veto [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.08034


AMoRE-II is the second phase of the Advanced Molybdenum-based Rare process Experiment aiming to search for the neutrino-less double beta decay of 100Mo isotopes using ~ 200 kg of molybdenum-containing cryogenic detectors. The AMoRE-II needs to keep the background level below 10-5 counts/keV/kg/year with various methods to maximize the sensitivity. One of the methods is to have the experiment be carried out in a deep underground free from the cosmic ray backgrounds. The AMoRE-II will run at Yemilab with ~ 1,000 m depth. Even in such a deep underground environment, however, there are still survived cosmic muons which can affect the measurement and should be excluded as much as possible. A muon veto detector is necessary to reject muon-induced particles coming to the inner detector where the molybdate cryogenic detectors are located. We have studied the possibility of using an extruded plastic scintillator and wavelength shifting fiber together with SiPM as a muon veto system. We obtained a muon flux of 428.4 events/m2/day at Yangyang underground laboratory using a prototype muon detector, in agreement with a COSINE-100 measurement. The estimated event rate in the AMoRE-II muon veto system for a 135 m2 total veto area is 2.04 events/s.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Seo, W. Kim, Y. Kim, et. al.
Fri, 21 Jan 22
45/60

Comments: 9 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables

In situ, broadband measurement of the radio frequency attenuation length at Summit Station, Greenland [IMA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.07846


Over the last 25 years, radiowave detection of neutrino-generated signals, using cold polar ice as the neutrino target, has emerged as perhaps the most promising technique for detection of extragalactic ultra-high energy neutrinos (corresponding to neutrino energies in excess of 0.01 Joules, or $10^{17}$ electron volts). During the summer of 2021 and in tandem with the initial deployment of the Radio Neutrino Observatory in Greenland (RNO-G), we conducted radioglaciological measurements at Summit Station, Greenland to refine our understanding of the ice target. We report the result of one such measurement, the radio-frequency electric field attenuation length $L_\alpha$. We find an approximately linear dependence of $L_\alpha$ on frequency with the best fit of the average field attenuation for the upper 1500 m of ice: $\langle L_\alpha \rangle = \big( (1024 \pm 50) – (0.65 \pm 0.06) (\nu/$MHz$)\big)$ m for frequencies $\nu \in [145 – 350]$ MHz.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Aguilar, P. Allison, J. Beatty, et. al.
Fri, 21 Jan 22
52/60

Comments: 12 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Journal of Glaciology

Simulation of a first case study for magnetic field imaging with the Magic-$μ$ technique [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.07466


So far, most of the developments in muography (or cosmic-ray muon radiography) have been based on either the scattering or the absorption of cosmic-ray muons produced by the nuclear interactions between primary cosmic-rays and the nuclei of the Earth’s atmosphere. Applications of muography are increasing in various disciplines. A new use of this technique to measure a magnetic field has recently been proposed by our group. This new application takes advantage of the electric charge of cosmic-ray muons, which causes them to change their trajectory due to the Lorentz force generated by a magnetic field. In this study, we present a feasibility study of the proposed technique by simulating a simple dipole magnet using the three-dimensional finite element solution package AMaze, together with the PHITS Monte Carlo simulation tools. The distribution of magnetic field flux densities around the magnet was calculated in AMaze and entered into the PHITS code. Positive and negative cosmic-ray muons were generated based on the PHITS-based analytical radiation model (PARMA). A comparison of the count rate maps of the detected muons on two position-sensitive scintillator detectors for the magnetic field ON and OFF was studied using PHITS. The simulation results show the effect of the magnet on the count rate maps and are promising for the newly proposed application of cosmic-ray muons, the imaging of a magnetic field.

Read this paper on arXiv…

H. Basiri, T. Kin, N. Okamoto, et. al.
Thu, 20 Jan 22
29/77

Comments: N/A

Cold Atoms in Space: Community Workshop Summary and Proposed Road-Map [IMA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.07789


We summarize the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with ESA and national space and research funding agencies.

Read this paper on arXiv…

I. Alonso, C. Alpigiani, B. Altschul, et. al.
Thu, 20 Jan 22
40/77

Comments: Summary of the Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space and corresponding Road-map: this https URL

Detecting High-Frequency Gravitational Waves with Microwave Cavities [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.11465


We give a detailed treatment of electromagnetic signals generated by gravitational waves (GWs) in resonant cavity experiments. Our investigation corrects and builds upon previous studies by carefully accounting for the gauge dependence of relevant quantities. We work in a preferred frame for the laboratory, the proper detector frame, and show how to resum short-wavelength effects to provide analytic results that are exact for GWs of arbitrary wavelength. This formalism allows us to firmly establish that, contrary to previous claims, cavity experiments designed for the detection of axion dark matter only need to reanalyze existing data to search for high-frequency GWs with strains as small as $h\sim 10^{-22}-10^{-21}$. We also argue that directional detection is possible in principle using readout of multiple cavity modes. Further improvements in sensitivity are expected with cutting-edge advances in superconducting cavity technology.

Read this paper on arXiv…

A. Berlin, D. Blas, R. D’Agnolo, et. al.
Thu, 20 Jan 22
58/77

Comments: 20 pages + appendix, 7 figures

Operation and performance of a dual-phase crystalline/vapor xenon time projection chamber [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.05740


We have built and operated a crystalline/vapor xenon TPC, with the goal of improving searches for dark matter. The motivation for this instrument is the fact that beta decays from the radon decay chain to the ground state presently limit the state-of-the-art liquid/vapor xenon experiments. In contrast, a crystalline xenon target has the potential to tag and reject radon-chain backgrounds, due to the time and energy signature of their decays. The present article is the first demonstration of a crystalline/vapor xenon TPC with electroluminescence (gas gain) for the electron signal readout. It also shows that the scintillation yield in crystalline xenon appears to be identical to that in liquid xenon, in contrast to previous results.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Kravitz, H. Chen, R. Gibbons, et. al.
Wed, 19 Jan 22
38/121

Comments: N/A

Fast and Flexible Analysis of Direct Dark Matter Search Data with Machine Learning [CEA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.05734


We present the results from combining machine learning with the profile likelihood fit procedure, using data from the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) dark matter experiment. This approach demonstrates reduction in computation time by a factor of 30 when compared with the previous approach, without loss of performance on real data. We establish its flexibility to capture non-linear correlations between variables (such as smearing in light and charge signals due to position variation) by achieving equal performance using pulse areas with and without position-corrections applied. Its efficiency and scalability furthermore enables searching for dark matter using additional variables without significant computational burden. We demonstrate this by including a light signal pulse shape variable alongside more traditional inputs such as light and charge signal strengths. This technique can be exploited by future dark matter experiments to make use of additional information, reduce computational resources needed for signal searches and simulations, and make inclusion of physical nuisance parameters in fits tractable.

Read this paper on arXiv…

L. Collaboration, D. Akerib, S. Alsum, et. al.
Wed, 19 Jan 22
76/121

Comments: N/A

Taking Neutrino Pictures via Electrons [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.06733


In this paper we discuss the prospects to take a picture of an extended neutrino source, i.e., resolving its angular neutrino luminosity distribution. This is challenging since neutrino directions cannot be directly measured but only estimated from the directions of charged particles they interact with in the detector material. This leads to an intrinsic blurring effect. We first discuss the problem in general terms and then apply our insights to solar neutrinos scattering elastically with electrons. Despite the aforementioned blurring we show how with high statistics and precision the original neutrino distributions could be reconstructed.

Read this paper on arXiv…

G. Lin, T. Nguyen, M. Spinrath, et. al.
Wed, 19 Jan 22
78/121

Comments: 34 pages, 15 figures

Axion-photon multimessenger astronomy with giant flares [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.04059


We treat prospects for multimessenger astronomy with giant flares (GFs), a rare transient event featured by magnetars that can be as luminous as a hundred of the brightest supernovae ever observed. The beamed photons correlate with an axion counterpart via resonant conversion in the magnetosphere. Relying on orthodox idealizations, we find the sensitivity to galactic GFs of viable experiments $\mathrm{g}{\phi \gamma}!\gtrsim!4!\times!10^{-12}$ GeV$^{-1}$& $\mathrm{g}{\phi e}!\gtrsim!10^{-10}$ at 95% confidence level over a broad mass range. We rule out the compatibility of axion flares with the recent XENON1T excess only due to the time persistence of the signal.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Miguel and C. Otani
Wed, 12 Jan 22
30/89

Comments: 6 pages, 3 figures

Cosmogenic production of $^{37}$Ar in the context of the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.02858


We estimate the amount of $^{37}$Ar produced in natural xenon via cosmic ray-induced spallation, an inevitable consequence of the transportation and storage of xenon on the Earth’s surface. We then calculate the resulting $^{37}$Ar concentration in a 10-tonne payload~(similar to that of the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment) assuming a representative schedule of xenon purification, storage and delivery to the underground facility. Using the spallation model by Silberberg and Tsao, the sea level production rate of $^{37}$Ar in natural xenon is estimated to be 0.024~atoms/kg/day. Assuming the xenon is successively purified to remove radioactive contaminants in 1-tonne batches at a rate of 1~tonne/month, the average $^{37}$Ar activity after 10~tonnes are purified and transported underground is 0.058–0.090~$\mu$Bq/kg, depending on the degree of argon removal during above-ground purification. Such cosmogenic $^{37}$Ar will appear as a noticeable background in the early science data, while decaying with a 35~day half-life. This newly-noticed production mechanism of $^{37}$Ar should be considered when planning for future liquid xenon-based experiments.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Aalbers, D. Akerib, A. Musalhi, et. al.
Tue, 11 Jan 22
11/95

Comments: N/A

Fieldable Muon Momentum Measurement using Coupled Pressurized Gaseous Cherenkov Detectors [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.02591


Cosmic ray muons present a large part of the radiation background and depending on the application of interest muons can be seen as background noise, e.g., radiation mapping, radiation protection, dosimetry, or as a useful interrogation probe such as cosmic ray muon tomography. It is worth noting recent developments on muon scattering tomography which has emerged as a prospective noninvasive monitoring method for many applications including spent nuclear fuel cask monitoring and geotomography. However, it is still very challenging to measure muon momentum in the field, despite the apparent benefits, without resorting to large and expensive calorimeters, ring imagers, or time of flight detectors. Recent efforts at CNL and INFN have developed large prototypes based on multiple Coulomb scattering coupled with the muon momentum reconstruction algorithms. While these efforts show promise, no portable detectors exist that can measure muon momentum in the field. In this work, we present a new concept for measuring muon momentum using coupled pressurized gaseous Cherenkov radiators. By carefully selecting the gas pressure at each radiator we can optimize the muon momentum threshold for which a muon signal will be detected. This way, a muon passing through the radiators will only trigger those radiators with momentum threshold less than the actual muon momentum. By measuring the presence of Cherenkov signals in each radiator, our system can then estimate the muon momentum. The primary benefit of such a concept is that it can be compact and portable enough so that it can be deployed in the field separately or in combination with existing tomography systems.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis
Mon, 10 Jan 22
16/49

Comments: Transactions of American Nuclear Society Winter meeting, 125 (1), 400-403, 2021

On the nature of radio-wave radiation from particle cascades [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.01298


The nature of the radio-wave radiation generated by particle cascades in both the Earth’s atmosphere and dense media such as ice has, historically, been much debated. This situation changed in the early 2010’s, with the community converging on the common terminology of “geomagnetic” and “Askaryan” radiation to describe the two emission mechanisms. However, this convergence arose from discussions at various conferences and workshops, and was ultimately reached through agreement between simulation codes and experimental measurements. In this article therefore, I use relatively simple geometrical arguments, and a minimum of calculations based on single particle tracks, to explain the nature of radiation from extensive air showers (EAS) and cascades in dense media such as ice. I identify well-determined frequency regimes where the radiation from the Askaryan effect will be bremsstrahlung-like and Cherenkov-like, being respectively below/above 1 GHz in EAS and 100 MHz in dense media; and where geomagnetic emission will be transverse-current-like and where it will resemble synchrotron radiation, respectively below/above a few GHz in EAS, depending on the height of cascade development. I suggest how these transitions in the nature of the emission may be experimentally observed.

Read this paper on arXiv…

C. James
Thu, 6 Jan 22
43/56

Comments: 15 pages, 1 table, 8 figures, submitted to Physical Review D

Towards observations of nuclearites in Mini-EUSO [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.01114


Mini-EUSO is a small orbital telescope with a field of view of $44^{\circ}\times 44^{\circ}$, observing the night-time Earth mostly in 320-420 nm band. Its time resolution spanning from microseconds (triggered) to milliseconds (untriggered) and more than $300\times 300$ km of the ground covered, already allowed it to register thousands of meteors. Such detections make the telescope a suitable tool in the search for hypothetical heavy compact objects, which would leave trails of light in the atmosphere due to their high density and speed. The most prominent example are the nuclearites — hypothetical lumps of strange quark matter that could be stabler and denser than the nuclear matter. In this paper, we show potential limits on the flux of nuclearites after collecting 42 hours of observations data.

Read this paper on arXiv…

L. Piotrowski, D. Barghini, M. Battisti, et. al.
Wed, 5 Jan 22
36/54

Comments: To be published in the Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2021), Berlin, 12 -23 July 2021

Fieldable muon spectrometer using multi-layer pressurized gas Cherenkov radiators and its applications [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.00253


Cosmic ray muons have been considered as a non-conventional radiation probe in various applications. To utilize cosmic ray muons in engineering applications, two important quantities, trajectory and momentum, must be known. The muon trajectories are easily reconstructed using two-fold detector arrays with a high spatial resolution. However, precise measurement of muon momentum is difficult to be achieved without deploying large and expensive spectrometers such as solenoid magnets. Here, we propose a new method to estimate muon momentum using multi-layer pressurized gas Cherenkov radiators. This is accurate, portable, compact (< 1m3), and easily coupled with existing muon detectors without the need of neither bulky magnetic nor time-of-flight spectrometers. The results show that not only our new muon spectrometer can measure muon momentum with a resolution of +-0.5 GeV/c in a momentum range of 0.1 to 10.0 GeV/c, but also we can reconstruct cosmic muon spectrum with high accuracy (~90%).

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis
Tue, 4 Jan 22
3/58

Comments: N/A

Investigating the Longitudinal Development of EAS with Ultra High Energies [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.00401


The simulation of the extensive air showers was performed by investigating the longitudinal development parameters (N and Xmax) by using AIRES system version 19.04.0. The simulation was performed at the energy range (10^18-10^20 eV) for different primary particles (such as primary proton and iron nuclei) and different zenith angles. The longitudinal development curves of EAS are fitted using Gaussian function that gave a new parameters for different primary particles and different zenith angles at the energy range (10^18-10^20 eV).

Read this paper on arXiv…

A. Raham, A. Al-Rubaiee and M. Al-Kubaisy
Tue, 4 Jan 22
9/58

Comments: 8 pages, 4 figures, Published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series, IOP publishing

Parametric analysis of the Lateral Distribution Function of Cherenkov light for Yakutsk EAS Array in the Energy Range 1-20 PeV [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.00400


In this research, the simulation of lateral distribution function (LDF) of Cherenkov radiation was performed using CORSIKA software for two hadronic models QGSJET and GHEISHA. This simulation was performed for several elementary particles such as protons, iron nuclei, electrons and gamma quanta, in the range of energies 1-20 PeV for three zenith angles 0, 20 and 30 degrees. A parameterization of Cherenkov light LDF was performed for that simulated curves using Lorentzian function. The comparison between the obtained results for LDF of Cherenkov light with that measured with Yakutsk EAS array gave a good agreement within the distances of 100-1000 m from the shower axis.

Read this paper on arXiv…

F. Al-Zubaidi, A. Al-Rubaiee and B. Hariharan
Tue, 4 Jan 22
56/58

Comments: 55 pages, 3 figures, published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series, IOP publishing

Correlated signals of first-order phase transitions and primordial black hole evaporation [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.14588


Fermi balls produced in a cosmological first-order phase transition may collapse to primordial black holes (PBHs) if the fermion dark matter particles that comprise them interact via a sufficiently strong Yukawa force. We show that phase transitions described by a quartic thermal effective potential with vacuum energy, $0.1\lesssim B^{1/4}/{\rm MeV} \lesssim 10^3$, generate PBHs of mass, $10^{-20}\lesssim M_{\rm PBH}/M_\odot \lesssim 10^{-16}$, and gravitational waves from the phase transition (at THEIA/$\mu$Ares) can be correlated with an isotropic extragalactic X-ray/$\gamma$-ray background from PBH evaporation (at AMEGO-X/e-ASTROGAM).

Read this paper on arXiv…

D. Marfatia and P. Tseng
Thu, 30 Dec 21
23/71

Comments: 13 pages, 4 figures, 1 table

Probing the electron-to-proton mass ratio gradient in the Milky Way with class I methanol masers [GA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.14560


We estimate limits on non-universal coupling of hypothetical hidden fields to standard matter by evaluating the fractional changes in the electron-to-proton mass ratio, mu = m_e/m_p, based on observations of ClassI methanol masers distributed in the Milky Way disk over the range of the galactocentric distances 4 < R < 12 kpc. The velocity offsets DeltaV = V44 – V95 measured between the 44 and 95 GHz methanol lines provide, so far, one of the most stringent constraints on the spatial gradient k_mu = d(Delta mu/mu)/dR < 2×10^-9 kpc-1 and the upper limit on Delta mu/mu < 2×10^-8, where Delta mu/mu = (mu_obs-mu_lab)/mu_lab. We also find that the offsets DeltaV are clustered into two groups which are separated by 0.022 +/- 0.003 km/s (1sigma C.L.). The grouping is most probably due to the dominance of different hyperfine transitions in the 44 and 95 GHz methanol maser emission. Which transition becomes favored is determined by an alignment (polarization) of the nuclear spins of the four hydrogen atoms in the methanol molecule. This result confirms that there are preferred hyperfine transitions involved in the methanol maser action.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Levshakov, I. Agafonova, C. Henkel, et. al.
Thu, 30 Dec 21
38/71

Comments: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 7 pages text, 8 figures, 7 tables

Exploring millicharged dark matter components from the shadows [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.13858


Dark matter sectors with hidden interactions have been of much interest in recent years. These frameworks include models of millicharged particles as well as dark sector bound states, whose constituents have electromagnetic gauge interactions. These exotic, charged states could constitute a part of the total dark matter density. In this work, we explore in some detail the various effects, on the photon sphere and shadow of spherically symmetric black holes, due to dark matter plasmas furnished by such sectors. Estimating physically viable parameter spaces for the particle physics models and taking semi-realistic astrophysical scenarios that are amenable to theoretical analyses, we point out various modifications and characteristics that may be present. Many of these effects are unique and very distinct from analogous situations with conventional baryonic plasmas, or neutral perfect fluid dark matter surrounding black holes. While in many physically viable regions of the parameter space the effects on the near-horizon regions and black hole shadows are small, in many parts of the low particle mass regions the effects are significant, and potentially measurable by current and future telescopes. Such deviations, for instance, include characteristic changes in the photon sphere and black hole shadow radii, unique thresholds for the dark matter plasma dispersion where the photon sphere or black hole shadow vanishes, and where the dark matter plasma becomes opaque to electromagnetic waves. Alternatively, we point out that a non-observation of such deviations and characteristics, in future, could put constraints on interesting regions of the particle physics parameter space.

Read this paper on arXiv…

L. Bhandari and A. Thalapillil
Thu, 30 Dec 21
67/71

Comments: 41 pages, 7 figures, and 4 tables

Correlated signals of first-order phase transitions and primordial black hole evaporation [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.14588


Fermi balls produced in a cosmological first-order phase transition may collapse to primordial black holes (PBHs) if the fermion dark matter particles that comprise them interact via a sufficiently strong Yukawa force. We show that phase transitions described by a quartic thermal effective potential with vacuum energy, $0.1\lesssim B^{1/4}/{\rm MeV} \lesssim 10^3$, generate PBHs of mass, $10^{-20}\lesssim M_{\rm PBH}/M_\odot \lesssim 10^{-16}$, and gravitational waves from the phase transition (at THEIA/$\mu$Ares) can be correlated with an isotropic extragalactic X-ray/$\gamma$-ray background from PBH evaporation (at AMEGO-X/e-ASTROGAM).

Read this paper on arXiv…

D. Marfatia and P. Tseng
Thu, 30 Dec 21
21/71

Comments: 13 pages, 4 figures, 1 table

Probing the electron-to-proton mass ratio gradient in the Milky Way with class I methanol masers [GA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.14560


We estimate limits on non-universal coupling of hypothetical hidden fields to standard matter by evaluating the fractional changes in the electron-to-proton mass ratio, mu = m_e/m_p, based on observations of ClassI methanol masers distributed in the Milky Way disk over the range of the galactocentric distances 4 < R < 12 kpc. The velocity offsets DeltaV = V44 – V95 measured between the 44 and 95 GHz methanol lines provide, so far, one of the most stringent constraints on the spatial gradient k_mu = d(Delta mu/mu)/dR < 2×10^-9 kpc-1 and the upper limit on Delta mu/mu < 2×10^-8, where Delta mu/mu = (mu_obs-mu_lab)/mu_lab. We also find that the offsets DeltaV are clustered into two groups which are separated by 0.022 +/- 0.003 km/s (1sigma C.L.). The grouping is most probably due to the dominance of different hyperfine transitions in the 44 and 95 GHz methanol maser emission. Which transition becomes favored is determined by an alignment (polarization) of the nuclear spins of the four hydrogen atoms in the methanol molecule. This result confirms that there are preferred hyperfine transitions involved in the methanol maser action.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Levshakov, I. Agafonova, C. Henkel, et. al.
Thu, 30 Dec 21
33/71

Comments: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 7 pages text, 8 figures, 7 tables

Exploring millicharged dark matter components from the shadows [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.13858


Dark matter sectors with hidden interactions have been of much interest in recent years. These frameworks include models of millicharged particles as well as dark sector bound states, whose constituents have electromagnetic gauge interactions. These exotic, charged states could constitute a part of the total dark matter density. In this work, we explore in some detail the various effects, on the photon sphere and shadow of spherically symmetric black holes, due to dark matter plasmas furnished by such sectors. Estimating physically viable parameter spaces for the particle physics models and taking semi-realistic astrophysical scenarios that are amenable to theoretical analyses, we point out various modifications and characteristics that may be present. Many of these effects are unique and very distinct from analogous situations with conventional baryonic plasmas, or neutral perfect fluid dark matter surrounding black holes. While in many physically viable regions of the parameter space the effects on the near-horizon regions and black hole shadows are small, in many parts of the low particle mass regions the effects are significant, and potentially measurable by current and future telescopes. Such deviations, for instance, include characteristic changes in the photon sphere and black hole shadow radii, unique thresholds for the dark matter plasma dispersion where the photon sphere or black hole shadow vanishes, and where the dark matter plasma becomes opaque to electromagnetic waves. Alternatively, we point out that a non-observation of such deviations and characteristics, in future, could put constraints on interesting regions of the particle physics parameter space.

Read this paper on arXiv…

L. Bhandari and A. Thalapillil
Thu, 30 Dec 21
69/71

Comments: 41 pages, 7 figures, and 4 tables

Impact of the superconductors properties on the measurement sensitivity of resonant-based axion detectors [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.12775


Axions, hypothetical particles theorized to solve the strong CP-problem, are presently being considered as strong candidates as cold dark matter constituents. The signal power of resonant-based axion detectors, known as haloscopes, is directly proportional to their quality factor $Q$. In this paper, the impact of the use of superconductors in the performances of the haloscopes is studied by evaluating the obtainable $Q$. In particular, the surface resistance $R_s$ of NbTi, Nb$3$Sn, YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O${7-\delta}$ and FeSe${0.5}$Te${0.5}$ is computed in the frequency, magnetic field and temperature ranges of interest, starting from the measured vortex motion complex resistivity and screening lengths of these materials. From $R_s$ the quality factor $Q$ of a cylindrical haloscope with copper conical bases and superconductive lateral wall, operating with the TM${010}$ mode, is evaluated and used to perform a comparison of the performances of the different materials. Both YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O${7-\delta}$ and FeSe${0.5}$Te${0.5}$ are shown to improve the measurement sensitivity by almost an order of magnitude with respect to a whole Cu cavity, while NbTi is shown to be suitable only at lower frequencies (<10 GHz). Nb$_3$Sn can give an intermediate improvement in the whole spectrum of interest.

Read this paper on arXiv…

A. Alimenti, K. Torokhtii, D. Gioacchino, et. al.
Fri, 24 Dec 21
9/58

Comments: 15 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Instruments journal (published by MDPI)

Gadolinium Loaded Cherenkov Detectors for Neutron Monitoring in High Energy Air Showers [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.12739


Monitoring of high energy cosmic ray neutrons is of particular interest for cosmic ray water Cherenkov detectors as intense bundles of delayed neutrons have been found to arrive after the initial passage of a high energy air shower. In this paper we explore the possibility of building large-area high-energy neutron monitors using gadolinium-loaded Water Cherenkov Detectors (WCDs). GEANT4 simulations of photon production in WCDs are used to estimate the maximum detection efficiency for a hypothetical system. Requiring a series of neutron induced gamma ray flashes distributed over an extended period of time (up to 20{\mu}s) was shown to be an effective way to discriminate high energy neutron interactions from other backgrounds. Results suggest that neutron detection efficiencies of 4-15% may be possible using a gadolinium-loaded detection system above 200 MeV. The magnitude of gadolinium loading was also shown to significantly modify the timing response of the simulated detector.

Read this paper on arXiv…

P. Stowell, S. Fargher, L. Thompson, et. al.
Fri, 24 Dec 21
10/58

Comments: 12 Pages, 8 Figures

Impact of the superconductors properties on the measurement sensitivity of resonant-based axion detectors [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.12775


Axions, hypothetical particles theorized to solve the strong CP-problem, are presently being considered as strong candidates as cold dark matter constituents. The signal power of resonant-based axion detectors, known as haloscopes, is directly proportional to their quality factor $Q$. In this paper, the impact of the use of superconductors in the performances of the haloscopes is studied by evaluating the obtainable $Q$. In particular, the surface resistance $R_s$ of NbTi, Nb$3$Sn, YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O${7-\delta}$ and FeSe${0.5}$Te${0.5}$ is computed in the frequency, magnetic field and temperature ranges of interest, starting from the measured vortex motion complex resistivity and screening lengths of these materials. From $R_s$ the quality factor $Q$ of a cylindrical haloscope with copper conical bases and superconductive lateral wall, operating with the TM${010}$ mode, is evaluated and used to perform a comparison of the performances of the different materials. Both YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O${7-\delta}$ and FeSe${0.5}$Te${0.5}$ are shown to improve the measurement sensitivity by almost an order of magnitude with respect to a whole Cu cavity, while NbTi is shown to be suitable only at lower frequencies (<10 GHz). Nb$_3$Sn can give an intermediate improvement in the whole spectrum of interest.

Read this paper on arXiv…

A. Alimenti, K. Torokhtii, D. Gioacchino, et. al.
Fri, 24 Dec 21
10/58

Comments: 15 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Instruments journal (published by MDPI)

Gadolinium Loaded Cherenkov Detectors for Neutron Monitoring in High Energy Air Showers [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.12739


Monitoring of high energy cosmic ray neutrons is of particular interest for cosmic ray water Cherenkov detectors as intense bundles of delayed neutrons have been found to arrive after the initial passage of a high energy air shower. In this paper we explore the possibility of building large-area high-energy neutron monitors using gadolinium-loaded Water Cherenkov Detectors (WCDs). GEANT4 simulations of photon production in WCDs are used to estimate the maximum detection efficiency for a hypothetical system. Requiring a series of neutron induced gamma ray flashes distributed over an extended period of time (up to 20{\mu}s) was shown to be an effective way to discriminate high energy neutron interactions from other backgrounds. Results suggest that neutron detection efficiencies of 4-15% may be possible using a gadolinium-loaded detection system above 200 MeV. The magnitude of gadolinium loading was also shown to significantly modify the timing response of the simulated detector.

Read this paper on arXiv…

P. Stowell, S. Fargher, L. Thompson, et. al.
Fri, 24 Dec 21
37/58

Comments: 12 Pages, 8 Figures

Gravitational Wave Imprints of Left-Right Symmetric Model with Minimal Higgs Sector [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.12041


We study the gravitational wave imprints of left-right symmetric model equipped with universal seesaw mechanism allowing for the natural generation of hierarchical masses of the Standard Model fermions. The scalar sector of this model is the minimal one, consisting of only two Higgs doublets. Following the construction of the full thermal potential for this model, we perform a scan of the entire parametric space and identify the region in which the cosmic phase transition associated with the left-right symmetry breaking gives gravitational wave signals detectable by a variety of planned space-based interferometers. Then we also discuss the relevant collider implications of this beyond the Standard Model scenario.

Read this paper on arXiv…

L. Gráf, S. Jana, A. Kaladharan, et. al.
Thu, 23 Dec 21
15/63

Comments: 19 pages + references, 5 figures

The Phonon Background from Gamma Rays in Sub-GeV Dark Matter Detectors [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.09702


High-energy photons with $\mathcal{O}$(MeV) energies from radioactive contaminants can scatter in a solid-state target material and constitute an important low-energy background for sub-GeV dark matter direct-detection searches. This background is most noticeable for energy deposits in the $1 – 100$ meV range due to the partially coherent scattering enhancement in the forward scattering direction. We comprehensively quantify the resulting single- and multi-phonon background in Si, Ge, GaAs, SiC, and Al$_2$O$_3$ target materials, which are representative of target materials of interest in low-mass dark matter searches. We use a realistic representation of the high-energy photon background, and contrast the expected background phonon spectrum with the expected dark matter signal phonon spectrum. An active veto is needed to suppress this background sufficiently in order to allow for the detection of a dark matter signal, even in well-shielded environments.

Read this paper on arXiv…

K. Berghaus, R. Essig, Y. Hochberg, et. al.
Tue, 21 Dec 21
1/86

Comments: 14 pages, 6 figures, 1 table

Measuring the stability of fundamental constants with a network of clocks [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.10618


The detection of variations of fundamental constants of the Standard Model would provide us with compelling evidence of new physics, and could lift the veil on the nature of dark matter and dark energy. In this work, we discuss how a network of atomic and molecular clocks can be used to look for such variations with unprecedented sensitivity over a wide range of time scales. This is precisely the goal of the recently launched QSNET project: A network of clocks for measuring the stability of fundamental constants. QSNET will include state-of-the-art atomic clocks, but will also develop next-generation molecular and highly charged ion clocks with enhanced sensitivity to variations of fundamental constants. We describe the technological and scientific aims of QSNET and evaluate its expected performance. We show that in the range of parameters probed by QSNET, either we will discover new physics, or we will impose new constraints on violations of fundamental symmetries and a range of theories beyond the Standard Model, including dark matter and dark energy models.

Read this paper on arXiv…

G. Barontini, L. Blackburn, V. Boyer, et. al.
Tue, 21 Dec 21
12/86

Comments: N/A

Studies of VERITAS Photomultipliers After Eight Years of Use [IMA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.10707


The VERITAS gamma-ray telescope array has been operating since 2007 and has been equipped with Hamamatsu R10560-100-20 PMTs since 2012. A decision to continue operations into the mid 2020s was taken in 2019 so the question of whether the PMTs would need replacing became important and a study was initiated.
We present results from scanning two groups of 20 Hamamatsu R10560-100-20 PMTs with an LED flasher. One group comprised five PMTs from each of the four VERITAS telescopes and the other was made up of 20 PMTs of the same type, and date of manufacture, that had never been used. We measured three test variables related to gains and high-voltage response and found that there were no significant differences between the two groups. This indicates that there has been little ageing in the PMTs that have been used on the telescopes and that replacement is unnecessary.

Read this paper on arXiv…

D. Hanna, S. Obrien and T. Rosin
Tue, 21 Dec 21
31/86

Comments: N/A

Probing New Physics at Future Tau Neutrino Telescopes [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.09476


We systematically investigate new physics scenarios that can modify the interactions between neutrinos and matter at upcoming tau neutrino telescopes, which will test neutrino-proton collisions with energies $ \gtrsim 45~{\rm TeV}$, and can provide unique insights to the elusive tau neutrino. At such high energy scales, the impact of parton distribution functions of second and third generations of quarks (usually suppressed) can be comparable to the contribution of first generation with small momentum fraction, hence making tau neutrino telescopes an excellent facility to probe new physics associated with second and third families. Among an inclusive set of particle physics models, we identify new physics scenarios at tree level that can give competitive contributions to the neutrino cross sections while staying within laboratory constraints: charged/neutral Higgs and leptoquarks. Our analysis is close to the actual experimental configurations of the telescopes, and we perform a $\chi^2$-analysis on the energy and angular distributions of the tau events. By numerically solving the propagation equations of neutrino and tau fluxes in matter, we obtain the sensitivities of representative upcoming tau neutrino telescopes, GRAND, POEMMA and Trinity, to the charged Higgs and leptoquark models. While each of the experiments can achieve a sensitivity better than the current collider reaches for certain models, their combination is remarkably complementary in probing the new physics. In particular, the new physics will affect the energy and angular distributions in different ways at those telescopes.

Read this paper on arXiv…

G. Huang, S. Jana, M. Lindner, et. al.
Mon, 20 Dec 21
53/59

Comments: 31 pages + citations, 10 figures

The Elusive Muonic WIMP [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.09103


The Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) paradigm is one of the most popular scenarios for Dark Matter (DM) theories that however is strongly constrained, in particular by direct detection experiments. We stick with the WIMP hypothesis and consider a Dirac fermion candidate for DM that interacts with the Standard Model (SM) via a spin-1 $Z’$, arising from the spontaneous breaking of an Abelian $U(1)’{\mu}$ gauge symmetry, under which only second generation leptons and the DM are appropriately charged. Due to the charge assignment, the model is gauge anomalous and can only be interpreted as an effective field theory (EFT) at low energy. The $Z’$ couples at tree level only to the vector DM current, to the axial muon current and to left-handed muonic neutrinos, so the WIMP-nucleon cross section is beyond the experimental reach of spin-independent (SI) direct detection searches. We study the current bounds on this model coming from direct and indirect detection of DM, collider searches, contributions to $(g-2){\mu}$ and to neutrino trident production. We find that large regions of the parameter space remains to be explored. In the context of LHC searches, we study the impact of a muon-exclusive signal region for the $3\mu$ + ${E}^{{\rm miss}}T$ channel with an invariant mass window around $m{Z’}$. We show that this search can significantly improve the current collider bounds. Finally, from the anomalous nature of our EFT, there remain at low energy triboson anomalous interactions between the $Z’$ and the electroweak (EW) SM gauge bosons. We explore the possibilities of probing these interactions at the LHC and at a 100 TeV proton collider finding it extremely challenging. On the other hand, for a muon collider the resonant channel $\mu^{+}\mu^{-}\to Z’\to ZZ$ could be discovered in the most promising scenario with luminosity of $\mathcal{O}({\rm few}\; 10)$ ${\rm fb}^{-1}$.

Read this paper on arXiv…

A. Medina, N. Mileo, A. Szynkman, et. al.
Fri, 17 Dec 21
10/72

Comments: 26 pages, 7 figures

Dark Matter interpretation of the neutron decay anomaly [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.09111


We add to the Standard Model a new fermion $\chi$ with minimal baryon number 1/3. Neutron decay $n \to \chi\chi\chi$ into non-relativistic $\chi$ can account for the neutron decay anomaly, compatibly with bounds from neutron stars. $\chi$ can be Dark Matter, and its cosmological abundance can be generated by freeze-in dominated at $T \sim m_n$. The associated processes $n \to \chi\chi\chi \gamma$, hydrogen decay ${\rm H}\to \chi\chi \chi\nu(\gamma)$ and DM-induced neutron disappearance $\bar\chi n \to \chi \chi (\gamma)$ have rates below experimental bounds and can be of interest for future experiments.

Read this paper on arXiv…

A. Strumia
Fri, 17 Dec 21
29/72

Comments: 14 pages, 3 figures

Search for gamma-ray spectral lines with the DArk Matter Particle Explorer [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.08860


The DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) is well suitable for searching for monochromatic and sharp $\gamma$-ray structures in the GeV$-$TeV range thanks to its unprecedented high energy resolution. In this work, we search for $\gamma$-ray line structures using five years of DAMPE data. To improve the sensitivity, we develop two types of dedicated data sets (including the BgoOnly data which is the first time to be used in the data analysis for the calorimeter-based gamma-ray observatories) and adopt the signal-to-noise ratio optimized regions of interest (ROIs) for different DM density profiles. No line signals or candidates are found between 10 and 300 GeV in the Galaxy. The constraints on the velocity-averaged cross section for $\chi\chi \to \gamma\gamma$ and the decay lifetime for $\chi \to \gamma\nu$, both at 95\% confidence level, have been calculated and the systematic uncertainties have been taken into account. Comparing to the previous Fermi-LAT results, though DAMPE has an acceptance smaller by a factor of $\sim 10$, similar constraints on the DM parameters are achieved and below 100 GeV the lower limits on the decay lifetime are even stronger by a factor of a few. Our results demonstrate the potential of high-energy-resolution observations on dark matter detection.

Read this paper on arXiv…

F. Alemanno, Q. An, P. Azzarello, et. al.
Fri, 17 Dec 21
68/72

Comments: 14 pages, 8 figures, Science Bulletin in press

Analysis of a Tau Neutrino Origin for the Near-Horizon Air Shower Events Observed by the Fourth Flight of the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.07069


We study in detail the sensitivity of the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) to possible $\nu_\tau$ point source fluxes detected via $\tau$-lepton-induced air showers. This investigation is framed around the observation of four upward-going extensive air shower events very close to the horizon seen in ANITA-IV. We find that these four upgoing events are not observationally inconsistent with $\tau$-induced EASs from Earth-skimming $\nu_\tau$, both in their spectral properties as well as in their observed locations on the sky. These four events, as well as the overall diffuse and point source exposure to Earth-skimming $\nu_\tau$, are also compared against published ultrahigh-energy neutrino limits from the Pierre Auger Observatory. While none of these four events occurred at sky locations simultaneously visible by Auger, the implied fluence necessary for ANITA to observe these events is in strong tension with limits set by Auger across a wide range of energies and is additionally in tension with ANITA’s Askaryan in-ice neutrino channel above $10^{19}$ eV. We conclude by discussing some of the technical challenges with simulating and analyzing these near horizon events and the potential for future observatories to observe similar events.

Read this paper on arXiv…

R. Prechelt, S. Wissel, A. Romero-Wolf, et. al.
Wed, 15 Dec 21
6/85

Comments: 19 pages, 22 figures, will be published in Physical Review D (PRD)

Scintillation and optical properties of xenon-doped liquid argon [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.07427


Liquid argon (LAr) is a common choice as detection medium in particle physics and rare-event searches. Challenges of LAr scintillation light detection include its short emission wavelength, long scintillation time and short attenuation length. The addition of small amounts of xenon to LAr is known to improve the scintillation and optical properties. We present a characterization campaign on xenon-doped liquid argon (XeDLAr) with target xenon concentrations ranging from 0 to 300 ppm by mass encompassing the measurement of the photoelectron yield $Y$ , effective triplet lifetime $\tau_3$ and effective attenuation length $\lambda_\mathrm{att}$. The measurements were conducted in the Subterranean Cryogenic ARgon Facility, SCARF, a 1 t (XeD)LAr test stand in the shallow underground laboratory (UGL) of TU-Munich. These three scintillation and optical parameters were observed simultaneously with a single setup, the Legend Liquid Argon Monitoring Apparatus, LLAMA. The actual xenon concentrations in the liquid and gaseous phases were determined with the Impurity DEtector For Investigation of Xenon, IDEFIX, a mass spectrometer setup, and successful doping was confirmed. At the highest dopant concentration we find a doubling of $Y$ , a tenfold reduction of $\tau_3$ to $\sim$ 90 ns and a tenfold increase of $\lambda_{att}$ to over 6 m.

Read this paper on arXiv…

C. Vogl, M. Schwarz, X. Stribl, et. al.
Wed, 15 Dec 21
70/85

Comments: N/A

A new versatile method for the reconstruction of scintillator-based muon telescope events [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.07500


This paper presents a new method to process the data recorded with muon telescopes. We have developed this processing method for the plastic scintillator-based hodoscopes located around the volcano La Soufri`ere de Guadeloupe, in the French Lesser Antilles, in order to perform muon radiographies of the lava dome region, strongly impacted by the volcanic hydrothermal activity. Our method relies on particle trajectory reconstruction, performing a fit of the recorded hits in the impacted scintillator bars using a Random Sample Consensus algorithm. This algorithm is specifically built to discriminate outlier points, usually due to noise hits, in the data. Thus, it is expected to significantly improve the signal/noise separation in muon track hits and to obtain higher quality estimates of the particles’ incident trajectories in our detectors. The first analysis of the RANSAC-reconstructed events offers promising results in terms of average density maps. To illustrate the performances of this algorithm, we provide angular resolution and reconstruction efficiency estimates using a GEANT4 simulation of a telescope equipped with four detection matrices. In addition, we also show preliminary results from open-sky data recorded with such telescope at La Soufri`ere de Guadeloupe volcano.

Read this paper on arXiv…

R. Bajou, M. Rosas-Carbajal and J. Marteau
Wed, 15 Dec 21
78/85

Comments: 6 pages, 7 figures, Muography 2021 workshop proceeding

R&D of Wavelength-Shifting Reflectors and Characterization of the Quantum Efficiency of Tetraphenyl Butadiene and Polyethylene Naphthalate in Liquid Argon [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.06675


Detectors based on liquid argon (LAr) often require surfaces that can shift vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light and reflect the visible shifted light. For the LAr instrumentation of the LEGEND-200 neutrinoless double beta decay experiment, several square meters of wavelength-shifting reflectors (WLSR) were prepared: the reflector Tetratex (TTX) was in-situ evaporated with the wavelength shifter tetraphenyl butadiene (TPB). For even larger detectors, TPB evaporation will be more challenging and plastic films of polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) are considered as an option to ease scalability.
In this work, we first characterized the absorption (and reflectivity) of PEN, TPB (and TTX) films in response to visible light. We then measured TPB and PEN coupled to TTX in a LAr setup equipped with a VUV sensitive photomultiplier tube. The effective light yield in the setup was first measured using an absorbing reference sample, and the VUV reflectivity of TTX quantified. The characterization and simulation of the setup along with the measurements and modelling of the optical parameters of TPB, PEN and TTX allowed to estimate the quantum efficiency (QE) of TPB and PEN in LAr (at 87K) for the first time: these were found to be above 67% and 49%, respectively (at 90% CL). These results provide relevant input for the optical simulations of experiments that use TPB in LAr, such as LEGEND-200, and for experiments that plan to use TPB or PEN to shift VUV scintillation light.

Read this paper on arXiv…

G. Araujo, L. Baudis, N. McFadden, et. al.
Tue, 14 Dec 21
8/98

Comments: N/A

Direct Detection of Spin-Dependent Sub-GeV Dark Matter via Migdal Effect [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.06492


Motivated by the current strong constraints on the spin-independent dark matter (DM)-nucleus scattering, we investigate the spin-dependent (SD) interactions of the light Majorana DM with the nucleus mediated by an axial-vector boson. Due to the small nucleus recoil energy, the ionization signals have now been used to probe the light dark matter particles in direct detection experiments. With the existing ionization data, we derive the exclusion limits on the SD DM-nucleus scattering through Migdal effect in the MeV-GeV DM mass range. It is found that the lower limit of the DM mass can reach about several MeVs. Due to the momentum transfer correction induced by the light mediator, the bounds on the SD DM-nucleus scattering cross sections can be weakened in comparison with the heavy mediator.

Read this paper on arXiv…

W. Wang, K. Wu, L. Wu, et. al.
Tue, 14 Dec 21
52/98

Comments: 6 pages, 2 figures

The Spectra of IceCube Neutrino (SIN) candidate sources — II. Source Characterisation [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.05394


Eight years after the first detection of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos by IceCube we are still almost clueless as regards to their origin, although the case for blazars being neutrino sources is getting stronger. After the first significant association at the $3 – 3.5\,\sigma$ level in time and space with IceCube neutrinos, i.e. the blazar TXS 0506+056 at $z=0.3365$, some of us have in fact selected a unique sample of 47 blazars, out of which $\sim 16$ could be associated with individual neutrino track events detected by IceCube. Building upon our recent spectroscopy work on these objects, here we characterise them to determine their real nature and check if they are different from the rest of the blazar population. For the first time we also present a systematic study of the frequency of masquerading BL Lacs, i.e. flat-spectrum radio quasars with their broad lines swamped by non-thermal jet emission, in a $\gamma$-ray- and IceCube-selected sample, finding a fraction $>$ 24 per cent and possibly as high as 80 per cent. In terms of their broad-band properties, our sources appear to be indistinguishable from the rest of the blazar population. We also discuss two theoretical scenarios for neutrino emission, one in which neutrinos are produced in interactions of protons with jet photons and one in which the target photons are from the broad line region. Both scenarios can equally account for the neutrino-blazar correlation observed by some of us. Future observations with neutrino telescopes and X-ray satellites will test them out.

Read this paper on arXiv…

P. Padovani, P. Giommi, R. Falomo, et. al.
Mon, 13 Dec 21
8/70

Comments: 19 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

The optical simulation model of the DarkSide-20k Veto detector [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.04990


DarkSide-20k is a rare-event search experiment aimed at finding signals of dark matter particles. It is a dual-phase detector that registers ionisation and scintillation signals originating from the particles interacting with the liquid argon detector medium. It is enclosed in a single-phase liquid argon neutron veto tank, equipped with Gd-loaded panels for capturing neutrons. Since vetoing and particle identification are carried out using the light signal, it is crucial to maximise the light yield. Light collection efficiency depends on optical properties of the detector and particularly for the veto detector, which has a photosensor coverage of the order of a per cent, the reflectivity of the walls has a big impact. To quantify the amount of collected light, a comprehensive Geant4 simulation is performed, which uses optical characterisation data. In this work, a detailed description of the optics model for the veto of the experiment will be discussed.

Read this paper on arXiv…

C. Türkoğlu and S. Choudhary
Fri, 10 Dec 21
8/94

Comments: Proceedings of 17th International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics (TAUP 2021)

A Search for Wavelike Dark Matter with Dielectrically-loaded Multimode Cavities [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.04542


Dark matter makes up 85% of the matter in the universe and 27% of its energy density, but we don’t know what comprises dark matter. There are several compelling candidates for dark matter that have wavelike properties, including axions and dark photons. Wavelike dark matter can be detected using ultra-sensitive microwave cavities. The ADMX experiment uses a cylindrical cavity operating at the fundamental mode to search for axions in the few micro-eV mass range. However, the ADMX search technique becomes increasingly challenging with increasing axion mass. This is because higher masses require smaller-diameter cavities, and a smaller cavity volume reduces the signal strength. Thus, there is interest in developing more sophisticated resonators to overcome this problem. The ADMX-Orpheus experiment uses a dielectric-loaded Fabry-Perot cavity to search for axions and dark photons with masses approaching 100 micro-eV. Orpheus maintains a large volume by operating at a higher-order mode, and the dielectrics shape the electric field so that the mode couples more strongly to the axion and dark photon. This thesis describes the development and commissioning of ADMX-Orpheus to search for dark photons with masses between 65.5 micro-eV and 69.3 micro-eV.

Read this paper on arXiv…

R. Cervantes
Fri, 10 Dec 21
22/94

Comments: N/A

Dedicated SiPM array for GRD of GECAM [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.04770


The discovery of gravitational waves and gamma-ray bursts heralds the era of multi-messenger astronomy. With the adoption of two small satellites to achieve the all-sky monitoring of gamma-ray bursts, the gravitational wave high-energy electromagnetic counterpart all-sky monitor (GECAM) possesses a quasi-real-time early warning ability and plays an important role in positioning the sources of gravitational waves and in subsequent observations.

Read this paper on arXiv…

D. Zhang, X. Sun, Z. An, et. al.
Fri, 10 Dec 21
71/94

Comments: N/A

The BOSS DR12 Full-Shape Cosmology: $Λ$CDM Constraints from the Large-Scale Galaxy Power Spectrum and Bispectrum Monopole [CEA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.04515


We present a full $\Lambda$CDM analysis of the BOSS DR12 dataset, including information from the power spectrum multipoles, the real-space power spectrum, the reconstructed power spectrum and the bispectrum monopole. This is the first analysis to feature a complete treatment of the galaxy bispectrum, including a consistent theoretical model and without large-scale cuts. Unlike previous works, the statistics are measured using window-free estimators: this greatly reduces computational costs by removing the need to window-convolve the theory model. Our pipeline is tested using a suite of high-resolution mocks and shown to be robust and precise, with systematic errors far below the statistical thresholds. Inclusion of the bispectrum yields consistent parameter constraints and shrinks the $\sigma_8$ posterior by $13\%$ to reach $<5\%$ precision; less conservative analysis choices would reduce the error-bars further. Our constraints are broadly consistent with Planck: in particular, we find $H_0 = 69.6^{+1.1}{-1.3}\,\mathrm{km}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}\mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$, $\sigma_8 = 0.692^{+0.035}{-0.041}$ and $n_s=0.870^{+0.067}{-0.064}$, including a BBN prior on the baryon density. When $n_s$ is set by Planck, we find $H_0 = 68.31^{+0.83}{-0.86}\,\mathrm{km}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}\mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ and $\sigma_8 = 0.722^{+0.032}_{-0.036}$. Our $S_8$ posterior, $0.751\pm0.039$, is consistent with weak lensing studies, but lower than Planck. Constraints on the higher-order bias parameters are significantly strengthened from the inclusion of the bispectrum, and we find no evidence for deviation from the dark matter halo bias relations. These results represent the most complete full-shape analysis of BOSS DR12 to-date, and the corresponding spectra will enable a variety of beyond-$\Lambda$CDM analyses, probing phenomena such as the neutrino mass and primordial non-Gaussianity.

Read this paper on arXiv…

O. Philcox and M. Ivanov
Fri, 10 Dec 21
76/94

Comments: 20+8 pages, 12 figures. Data available at this https URL

The SiPM Array Data Acquisition Algorithm Applied to the GECAM Satellite Payload [IMA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.04786


The Gravitational Wave Burst High-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM), consists of 2 small satellites that each contain 25 LaBr3 (lanthanum bromide doped with cerium chloride) detectors and 8 plastic scintillator detectors. The detector signals are read out using a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array. In this study, an acquisition algorithm for in-orbit real-time SiPM array data is designed and implemented, and the output event packet is defined. Finally, the algorithm’s efficacy for event acquisition is verified.

Read this paper on arXiv…

Y. Liu, K. Gong, X. Li, et. al.
Fri, 10 Dec 21
79/94

Comments: N/A

A search for correlated low-energy electron antineutrinos in KamLAND with gamma-ray bursts [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.04918


We present the results of a time-coincident event search for low-energy electron antineutrinos in the KamLAND detector with gamma-ray bursts from the Gamma-ray Coordinates Network and Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor. Using a variable coincidence time window of $\pm$500s plus the duration of each gamma-ray burst, no statistically significant excess above background is observed. We place the world’s most stringent 90% confidence level upper limit on the electron antineutrino fluence below 17.5 MeV. Assuming a Fermi-Dirac neutrino energy spectrum from the gamma-ray burst source, we use the available redshift data to constrain the electron antineutrino luminosity and effective temperature.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Abe, S. Asami, A. Gando, et. al.
Fri, 10 Dec 21
93/94

Comments: 9 pages, 3 figures

A Model-Independent Radio Telescope Dark Matter Search [CEA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.03439


A novel search technique for ultralight dark matter has been developed and carried out over a narrow range in L-band, utilizing the recent Breakthrough Listen public data release of three years of observation with the Green Bank Telescope. The search concept depends only on the assumption of decay or annihilation of virialized dark matter to a quasi-monochromatic radio line, and additionally that the frequency and intensity of the line be consistent with most general properties expected of the phase space of our Milky Way halo. Specifically, the search selects for a line which exhibits a Doppler shift with position according to the solar motion through a static galactic halo, and similarly varies in intensity with position with respect to the galactic center. Over the frequency range $1.73-1.83$ GHz, radiative annihilation of dark matter is excluded above $\langle{\sigma}v\rangle$ = $1.2 \times 10^{-47} \text{ cm}^3 \text{ s}^{-1}$, and for decay above ${\lambda}$ = $4.1 \times 10^{-35} \text{ s}^{-1}$. The analysis of the full L-, S-, C- and X-band dataset by this method ($25,000$ spectra, $1.1-11.6$ GHz) is currently underway.

Read this paper on arXiv…

A. Keller, S. O’Brien, A. Kamdar, et. al.
Wed, 8 Dec 21
46/77

Comments: Submitted to ApJ; 10 pages

Neutral bremsstrahlung electroluminescence in noble liquids [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.01737


Proportional electroluminescence (EL) is the physical effect used in two-phase dark matter detectors, to optically record in the gas phase the ionization signal produced by particle scattering in the liquid phase. In our previous works the presence of a new EL mechanism in noble gases, namely that of neutral bremsstrahlung (NBrS), was demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally, in addition to the ordinary EL mechanism due to excimer emission. In this work we show that the similar theoretical approach can apply to noble liquids, namely to liquid helium, neon, argon, krypton and xenon. In particular, the photon yields and spectra for NBrS EL in noble liquids have for the first time been calculated, using the electron energy and transport parameters obtained in the framework of Cohen-Lekner and Atrazhev theory. The relevance of the results obtained to the development of noble liquid detectors for dark matter searches and neutrino experiments is discussed.

Read this paper on arXiv…

E. Borisova and A. Buzulutskov
Mon, 6 Dec 21
9/61

Comments: 7 pages, 6 figures

Perturbative and non-perturbative effects in ultraperipheral production of lepton pairs [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.00358


Perturbative and non-perturbative terms of the cross sections of ultraperipheral production of lepton pairs in ion collisions are taken into account. It is shown that production of low-mass $e^+e^-$ pairs is strongly enhanced (compared to perturbative estimates) due to the non-perturbative Sommerfeld-Gamow-Sakharov (SGS) factor. Coulomb attraction of the non-relativistic components of those pairs leads to the finite value of their mass distribution at lowest relative velocities. Their annihilation can result in the increased intensity of 511 keV photons. It can be recorded at the NICA collider and is especially crucial in astrophysical implications regarding the 511 keV line emitted from the Galactic center. The analogous effect can be observed in lepton pairs production at LHC. Energy spectra of lepton pairs created in ultraperipheral nuclear collisions and their transverse momenta are calculated.

Read this paper on arXiv…

I. Dremin
Fri, 3 Dec 21
60/81

Comments: 9 p., 2 Figs. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2008.13184, arXiv:2101.04679

Sterile neutrino dark matter production in presence of non-standard neutrino self-interactions: an EFT approach [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.00758


Sterile neutrinos with keV-scale masses are popular candidates for warm dark matter. In the most straightforward case they are produced via oscillations with active neutrinos. We introduce effective self-interactions of active neutrinos and investigate the effect on the parameter space of sterile neutrino mass and mixing. Our focus is on mixing with electron neutrinos, which is subject to constraints from several upcoming or running experiments like TRISTAN, ECHo, BeEST and HUNTER. Depending on the size of the self-interaction, the parameter space moves closer to, or further away from, the one testable by those future experiments. In particular, we show that phase 3 of the HUNTER experiment would test a larger amount of parameter space in the presence of self-interactions than without them. We also investigate the effect of the self-interactions on the free-streaming length of the sterile neutrino dark matter, which is important for structure formation observables.

Read this paper on arXiv…

C. Benso, W. Rodejohann, M. Sen, et. al.
Fri, 3 Dec 21
70/81

Comments: 10 pages + appendix, 6 figures, code repository at this https URL

New Methods and Simulations for Cosmogenic Induced Spallation Removal in Super-Kamiokande-IV [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2112.00092


Radioactivity induced by cosmic muon spallation is a dominant source of backgrounds for $\mathcal{O}(10)~$MeV neutrino interactions in water Cherenkov detectors. In particular, it is crucial to reduce backgrounds to measure the solar neutrino spectrum and find neutrino interactions from distant supernovae. In this paper we introduce new techniques to locate muon-induced hadronic showers and efficiently reject spallation backgrounds. Applying these techniques to the solar neutrino analysis with an exposure of $2790\times22.5$~kton.day increases the signal efficiency by $12.6\%$, approximately corresponding to an additional year of detector running. Furthermore, we present the first spallation simulation at SK, where we model hadronic interactions using FLUKA. The agreement between the isotope yields and shower pattern in this simulation and in the data gives confidence in the accuracy of this simulation, and thus opens the door to use it to optimize muon spallation removal in new data with gadolinium-enhanced neutron capture detection.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Collaboration, S. Locke, A. Coffani, et. al.
Thu, 2 Dec 21
14/61

Comments: N/A

Cosmic Neutrino Background Detection in Large-Neutrino-Mass Cosmologies [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.14870


The Cosmic Neutrino Background (CNB) is a definite prediction of the standard cosmological model and its direct discovery would represent a milestone in cosmology and neutrino physics. In this work, we consider the capture of relic neutrinos on a tritium target as a possible way to detect the CNB, as aimed for by the PTOLEMY project. Crucial parameters for this measurement are the absolute neutrino mass $m_\nu$ and the local neutrino number density $n_\nu^{\rm loc}$. Within the $\Lambda$CDM model, cosmology provides a stringent upper limit on the sum of neutrino masses of $\sum m_\nu < 0.12\,{\rm eV}$, with further improvements expected soon from galaxy surveys by DESI and EUCLID. This makes the prospects for a CNB detection and a neutrino mass measurement in the laboratory very difficult. In this context, we consider a set of non-standard cosmological models that allow for large neutrino masses ($m_\nu \sim 1\,{\rm eV}$), potentially in reach of the KATRIN neutrino mass experiment or upcoming neutrinoless double-beta decay searches. We show that the CNB detection prospects could be much higher in some of these models compared to those in $\Lambda$CDM, and discuss the potential for such a detection to discriminate between cosmological scenarios. Moreover, we provide a simple rule to estimate the required values of energy resolution, exposure, and background rate for a PTOLEMY-like experiment to cover a certain region in the $(m_\nu,\, n_\nu^{\rm loc})$ parameter space. Alongside this paper, we publicly release a code to calculate the CNB sensitivity in a given cosmological model.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Alvey, M. Escudero, N. Sabti, et. al.
Wed, 1 Dec 21
81/110

Comments: 16 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Code available at this https URL

A New Way to Limit the Interaction of Dark Matter with Baryons [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.14891


Recently, there had been renewed interest in limiting the interaction between dark matter particles and known particles. I propose a new way to set upper limits on the coupling of ions or electrons to dark matter particles of arbitrary mass, based on Faraday’s Law in a spinning conductor.

Read this paper on arXiv…

A. Abraham and L. Loeb
Wed, 1 Dec 21
95/110

Comments: Submitted for publication

Search for Low-Energy Signals from Fast Radio Bursts with the Borexino Detector [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.14500


The search for neutrino events in correlation with several of the most intense fast radio bursts (FRBs) has been performed using the Borexino data. We have searched for signals with visible energies above $250$~keV within a time window of $\pm$1000~s corresponding to the detection time of a particular FRB. We also applied an alternative approach based on searching for specific shapes of neutrino-electron scattering spectra in the full exposure spectrum of the Borexino detector. In particular, two incoming neutrino spectra were considered: the monoenergetic line and the spectrum expected from supernovae. The same spectra were considered for electron antineutrinos detected through the inverse beta-decay reaction. No statistically significant excess over the background was observed. As a result, the strongest upper limits on FRB-associated neutrino fluences of all flavors have been obtained in the $0.5 – 50$~MeV neutrino energy range.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Appel, Z. Bagdasarian, D. Basilico, et. al.
Tue, 30 Nov 21
64/105

Comments: 14 pages, 10 figures

The Strange Physics of Dark Baryons [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.12712


Dark sector particles at the GeV scale carrying baryon number provide an attractive framework for understanding the origin of dark matter and the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe. We demonstrate that dark decays of hadronic states containing strange quarks — hyperons — offer excellent prospects for discovering such dark baryons. Building up on novel calculations of the matrix elements relevant for hyperon dark decays, and in view of various collider, flavor, and astrophysical constraints, we determine the expected rates at hyperon factories like BESIII and LHCb. We also highlight the interesting theoretical connections of hyperon dark decays to the neutron lifetime anomaly and Mesogenesis.

Read this paper on arXiv…

G. Alonso-Álvarez, G. Elor, M. Escudero, et. al.
Mon, 29 Nov 21
23/94

Comments: 24 pages, 14 figures, 12 tables

The Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment [IMA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.13133


Neutrino telescopes are unrivaled tools to explore the Universe at its most extreme. The current generation of telescopes has shown that very high energy neutrinos are produced in the cosmos, even with hints of their possible origin, and that these neutrinos can be used to probe our understanding of particle physics at otherwise inaccessible regimes. The fluxes, however, are low, which means newer, larger telescopes are needed. Here we present the Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment, a proposal to build a multi-cubic-kilometer neutrino telescope off the coast of Canada. The idea builds on the experience accumulated by previous sea-water missions, and the technical expertise of Ocean Networks Canada that would facilitate deploying such a large infrastructure. The design and physics potential of the first stage and a full-scale P-ONE are discussed.

Read this paper on arXiv…

E. Resconi and P. Collaboration
Mon, 29 Nov 21
70/94

Comments: 17 pages, 11 figures, ICRC2021 contribution

Broadband solenoidal haloscope for terahertz axion detection [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.12103


We introduce the Broadband Reflector Experiment for Axion Detection (BREAD) conceptual design and science program. This haloscope plans to search for bosonic dark matter across the [10$^{-3}$, 1] eV ([0.24, 240] THz) mass range. BREAD proposes a cylindrical metal barrel to convert dark matter into photons, which a novel parabolic reflector design focuses onto a photosensor. This unique geometry enables enclosure in standard cryostats and high-field solenoids, overcoming limitations of current dish antennas. A pilot 0.7 m$^{2}$ barrel experiment planned at Fermilab is projected to surpass existing dark photon coupling constraints by over a decade with one-day runtime. Axion sensitivity requires $<10^{-20}$ W/$\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$ sensor noise equivalent power with a 10 T solenoid and 10 m$^{2}$ barrel. We project BREAD sensitivity for various sensor technologies and discuss future prospects.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Liu, K. Dona, G. Hoshino, et. al.
Thu, 25 Nov 21
4/60

Comments: 5 pages, 2 figures + references and appendices

Monopoles From an Atmospheric Collider [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.12091


Magnetic monopoles have a long history of theoretical predictions and experimental searches, carrying direct implications for fundamental concepts such as electric charge quantization. We analyze in detail for the first time magnetic monopole production from collisions of cosmic rays bombarding the atmosphere. This source of monopoles is independent of cosmology, has been active throughout Earth’s history, and supplies an irreducible monopole flux for all terrestrial experiments. Using results for robust atmospheric collider flux of monopoles, we systematically establish direct comparisons of previous ambient monopole searches with monopole searches at particle colliders and set leading limits on magnetic monopole production in the $\sim 5-100$ TeV mass-range.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Iguro, R. Plestid and V. Takhistov
Thu, 25 Nov 21
19/60

Comments: 7 pages, 4 figures

A Compact High-Resolution Muon Spectrometer Using Multi-Layer Gas Cherenkov Radiators [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.12512


In both particle physics and cosmic ray muon applications, a high-resolution muon momentum measurement capability plays a significant role not only in providing valuable information on the properties of subatomic particles but also in improving the utilizability of muons. Currently, muon momentum is estimated by reconstructing the muon path using a strong magnetic field and muon trackers. Alternatively, time-of-flight or multiple Coulomb scattering techniques are less frequently applied, especially when there is a need to avoid using a magnetic field. However, the measurement resolution is much lower than that of magnetic spectrometers, approximately 20% in the muon momentum range of 0.5 to 4.5 GeV/c whereas it is nearly 10% or less when using magnets and trackers. Here, we propose a different paradigm to estimate muon momentum that utilizes multi-layer pressurized gas Cherenkov radiators. Using the fact that the gas refractive index varies with pressure and temperature, we can optimize the muon Cherenkov threshold momentum for which a muon signal will be detected. By analyzing the optical signals from Cherenkov radiation, we show that the actual muon momentum can be estimated with a minimum resolution of +-0.05 GeV/c for a large number of radiators over the range of 0.1 to 10.0 GeV/c. The results also show that our spectrometer correctly classifies the muon momentum (~87% classification rate) in the momentum range of 0.1 to 10.0 GeV/c. We anticipate our new spectrometer will to provide an alternative substitute for the bulky magnets without degrading measurement resolution. Furthermore, we expect it will significantly improve the quality of imaging or reduce the scanning time in cosmic muon applications by being incorporated with existing instruments.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis
Thu, 25 Nov 21
35/60

Comments: N/A

Broadband solenoidal haloscope for terahertz axion detection [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.12103


We introduce the Broadband Reflector Experiment for Axion Detection (BREAD) conceptual design and science program. This haloscope plans to search for bosonic dark matter across the [10$^{-3}$, 1] eV ([0.24, 240] THz) mass range. BREAD proposes a cylindrical metal barrel to convert dark matter into photons, which a novel parabolic reflector design focuses onto a photosensor. This unique geometry enables enclosure in standard cryostats and high-field solenoids, overcoming limitations of current dish antennas. A pilot 0.7 m$^{2}$ barrel experiment planned at Fermilab is projected to surpass existing dark photon coupling constraints by over a decade with one-day runtime. Axion sensitivity requires $<10^{-20}$ W/$\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$ sensor noise equivalent power with a 10 T solenoid and 10 m$^{2}$ barrel. We project BREAD sensitivity for various sensor technologies and discuss future prospects.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Liu, K. Dona, G. Hoshino, et. al.
Thu, 25 Nov 21
4/60

Comments: 5 pages, 2 figures + references and appendices

Monopoles From an Atmospheric Collider [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.12091


Magnetic monopoles have a long history of theoretical predictions and experimental searches, carrying direct implications for fundamental concepts such as electric charge quantization. We analyze in detail for the first time magnetic monopole production from collisions of cosmic rays bombarding the atmosphere. This source of monopoles is independent of cosmology, has been active throughout Earth’s history, and supplies an irreducible monopole flux for all terrestrial experiments. Using results for robust atmospheric collider flux of monopoles, we systematically establish direct comparisons of previous ambient monopole searches with monopole searches at particle colliders and set leading limits on magnetic monopole production in the $\sim 5-100$ TeV mass-range.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Iguro, R. Plestid and V. Takhistov
Thu, 25 Nov 21
19/60

Comments: 7 pages, 4 figures

A Compact High-Resolution Muon Spectrometer Using Multi-Layer Gas Cherenkov Radiators [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.12512


In both particle physics and cosmic ray muon applications, a high-resolution muon momentum measurement capability plays a significant role not only in providing valuable information on the properties of subatomic particles but also in improving the utilizability of muons. Currently, muon momentum is estimated by reconstructing the muon path using a strong magnetic field and muon trackers. Alternatively, time-of-flight or multiple Coulomb scattering techniques are less frequently applied, especially when there is a need to avoid using a magnetic field. However, the measurement resolution is much lower than that of magnetic spectrometers, approximately 20% in the muon momentum range of 0.5 to 4.5 GeV/c whereas it is nearly 10% or less when using magnets and trackers. Here, we propose a different paradigm to estimate muon momentum that utilizes multi-layer pressurized gas Cherenkov radiators. Using the fact that the gas refractive index varies with pressure and temperature, we can optimize the muon Cherenkov threshold momentum for which a muon signal will be detected. By analyzing the optical signals from Cherenkov radiation, we show that the actual muon momentum can be estimated with a minimum resolution of +-0.05 GeV/c for a large number of radiators over the range of 0.1 to 10.0 GeV/c. The results also show that our spectrometer correctly classifies the muon momentum (~87% classification rate) in the momentum range of 0.1 to 10.0 GeV/c. We anticipate our new spectrometer will to provide an alternative substitute for the bulky magnets without degrading measurement resolution. Furthermore, we expect it will significantly improve the quality of imaging or reduce the scanning time in cosmic muon applications by being incorporated with existing instruments.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis
Thu, 25 Nov 21
40/60

Comments: N/A

On the origin of particle bursts observed by arrays of particle detectors [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.12053


Analysis of the observational data and possible origination scenarios of particle bursts allows us to conclude that the bursts can be explained by the electron acceleration in the thunderous atmosphere and by gigantic showers developed in the terrestrial atmosphere.

Read this paper on arXiv…

A. Chilingarian and G. Hovsepyan
Wed, 24 Nov 21
56/61

Comments: 19 pages 7 Figures

Observation of Variations in Cosmic Ray Single Count Rates During Thunderstorms and Implications for Large-Scale Electric Field Changes [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.09962


We present the first observation by the Telescope Array Surface Detector (TASD) of the effect of thunderstorms on the development of cosmic ray single count rate intensity over a 700 km$^{2}$ area. Observations of variations in the secondary low-energy cosmic ray counting rate, using the TASD, allow us to study the electric field inside thunderstorms, on a large scale, as it progresses on top of the 700 km$^{2}$ detector, without dealing with the limitation of narrow exposure in time and space using balloons and aircraft detectors. In this work, variations in the cosmic ray intensity (single count rate) using the TASD, were studied and found to be on average at the $\sim(0.5-1)\%$ and up to 2\% level. These observations were found to be both in excess and in deficit. They were also found to be correlated with lightning in addition to thunderstorms. These variations lasted for tens of minutes; their footprint on the ground ranged from 6 to 24 km in diameter and moved in the same direction as the thunderstorm. With the use of simple electric field models inside the cloud and between cloud to ground, the observed variations in the cosmic ray single count rate were recreated using CORSIKA simulations. Depending on the electric field model used and the direction of the electric field in that model, the electric field magnitude that reproduces the observed low-energy cosmic ray single count rate variations was found to be approximately between 0.2-0.4 GV. This in turn allows us to get a reasonable insight on the electric field and its effect on cosmic ray air showers inside thunderstorms.

Read this paper on arXiv…

R. Abbasi, T. Abu-Zayyad, M. Allen, et. al.
Mon, 22 Nov 21
2/53

Comments: N/A

Scaling violation in interaction of cosmic ray hadrons and the nature of the 3 PeV knee in the spectrum of primary cosmic rays [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.09929


Energy spectra of the most energetic hadrons in the core region of extensive air showers (EAS) were studied in dependence on the EAS energy $E_0$ in the hybrid experiment HADRON at the Tien Shan mountain cosmic ray station. For the first time by direct measurement it was found in this experiment that the slope of the power energy spectrum of EAS hadrons diminishes itself locally, and the average hadron energy, correspondingly, increases between the $E_0$ borders 3PeV and 20PeV. Such behavior agrees with threshold appearance in EAS, in the same energy range, of a long-flying penetrative component which was earlier revealed at the Tien Shan station. Now we reconsider this Tien Shan result in comparison with the new data of modern collider experiments. The analysis permits to state unambiguously an astrophysical nature of the penetrative EAS component, and to discuss its probable connection with the origin of the famous knee in the energy spectrum of cosmic rays at $E_0\simeq 3$ PeV.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Shaulov, A. Shepetov, E. Kupriyanova, et. al.
Mon, 22 Nov 21
3/53

Comments: N/A

MicroBooNE and the $ν_e$ Interpretation of the MiniBooNE Low-Energy Excess [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.10359


A new generation of neutrino experiments is testing the $4.7\sigma$ anomalous excess of electron-like events observed in MiniBooNE. This is of huge importance for particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology, not only because of the potential discovery of physics beyond the Standard Model, but also because the lessons we will learn about neutrino-nucleus interactions will be crucial for the worldwide neutrino program. MicroBooNE has recently released results that appear to disfavor several explanations of the MiniBooNE anomaly. Here, we show quantitatively that MicroBooNE results, while a promising start, unquestionably do not probe the full parameter space of sterile neutrino models hinted at by MiniBooNE and other data, nor do they probe the $\nu_e$ interpretation of the MiniBooNE excess in a model-independent way.

Read this paper on arXiv…

C. Argüelles, I. Esteban, M. Hostert, et. al.
Mon, 22 Nov 21
30/53

Comments: 8+2 pages, 5+2 figures

Quenching Factor consistency across several NaI(Tl) crystals [IMA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.09590


Testing the DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation result independently of dark matter particle and halo models has been a challenge for twenty years. Using the same target material, NaI(Tl), is required and presently two experiments, ANAIS-112 and COSINE-100, are running for such a goal. A precise knowledge of the detector response to nuclear recoils is mandatory because this is the most likely channel to find the dark matter signal. The light produced by nuclear recoils is quenched with respect to that produced by electrons by a factor that has to be measured experimentally. However, current quenching factor measurements in NaI(Tl) crystals disagree within the energy region of interest for dark matter searches. To disentangle whether this discrepancy is due to intrinsic differences in the light response among different NaI(Tl) crystals, or has its origin in unaccounted for systematic effects will be key in the comparison among the different experiments. We present measurements of the quenching factors for five small NaI(Tl) crystals performed in the same experimental setup to control systematics. Quenching factor results are compatible between crystals and no clear dependence with energy is observed from 10 to 80 keVnr.

Read this paper on arXiv…

D. Cintas, P. An, C. Awe, et. al.
Fri, 19 Nov 21
53/67

Comments: Proceeding of the TAUP 2021 Conference

Three-year annual modulation search with COSINE-100 [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.08863


COSINE-100 is a direct detection dark matter experiment that aims to test DAMA/LIBRA’s claim of dark matter discovery by searching for a dark matter-induced annual modulation signal with NaI(Tl) detectors. We present new constraints on the annual modulation signal from a dataset with a 2.82 yr livetime utilizing an active mass of 61.3 kg, for a total exposure of 173 kg$\cdot$yr. This new result features an improved event selection that allows for both lowering the energy threshold to 1 keV and a more precise time-dependent background model. In the 1-6 keV and 2-6 keV energy intervals, we observe best-fit values for the modulation amplitude of 0.0067$\pm$0.0042 and 0.0050$\pm$0.0047 counts/(day$\cdot$kg$\cdot$keV), respectively, with a phase fixed at 152.5 days.

Read this paper on arXiv…

C. Collaboration, G. Adhikari, E. Souza, et. al.
Thu, 18 Nov 21
7/92

Comments: 9 pages, 8 figures

Cascade Appearance Signatures of Sterile Neutrinos at 1-100 TeV [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.08722


Neutrino telescopes provide strong sensitivity to sterile neutrino oscillations through matter-enhanced oscillation, occurring in the few TeV energy range for eV$^{2}$-scale neutrino mass-squared splittings. Prior searches have focused on $\nu_\mu$ disappearance, which has a particularly strong sensitivity to the mixing angle $\theta_{24}$ via $\nu_\mu\rightarrow\nu_s$ transitions. Nowadays, the $\nu_\mu\rightarrow\nu_e$ and $\nu_\mu\rightarrow\nu_\tau$ appearance channels have been considered less promising at neutrino telescopes, due in part to the much smaller target volume for cascades relative to tracks. This work explores the detectability of these signatures at neutrino telescopes given present constraints on sterile neutrino mixing, and as an example, forecasts the sensitivity of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory to the mixing angles $\theta_{14}$, $\theta_{24}$, and $\theta_{34}$ in the 3+1 sterile neutrino model using the cascade channel with ten years of data. We find that $\nu_\tau$ appearance signatures consistent with the existing IceCube $\nu_\mu$ disappearance best-fit point are discoverable for values of $\theta_{34}$ consistent with world constraints, and that the sterile neutrino parameters favored by the BEST and gallium anomalies are expected to be testable at the 95\% confidence level.

Read this paper on arXiv…

B. Smithers, B. Jones, C. Argüelles, et. al.
Thu, 18 Nov 21
83/92

Comments: N/A

Applications for Microwave Kinetic Induction Detectors in Advanced Instrumentation [IMA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.08576


In recent years Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) have emerged as one of the most promising novel low temperature detector technologies. Their unrivaled scalability makes them very attractive for many modern applications and scientific instruments. In this paper we intend to give an overview of how and where MKIDs are currently being used or are suggested to be used in the future. MKID based projects are ongoing or proposed for observational astronomy, particle physics, material science and THz imaging, and the goal of this review is to provide an easily usable and thorough list of possible starting points for more in-depth literature research on the many areas profiting from kinetic inductance detectors.

Read this paper on arXiv…

G. Ulbricht, M. Lucia and E. Baldwin
Wed, 17 Nov 21
38/64

Comments: N/A

COHERENT at the Spallation Neutron Source [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.07033


The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory provides an intense, high-quality source of neutrinos from pion decay at rest. This source was recently used for the first measurements of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) by the COHERENT collaboration, resulting in new constraints of beyond-the-standard-model physics. The SNS neutrino source will enable further CEvNS measurements, exploration of inelastic neutrino-nucleus interactions of particular relevance for understanding of supernova neutrinos, and searches for accelerator-produced sub-GeV dark matter. Taking advantage of this unique facility, COHERENT’s suite of detectors in “Neutrino Alley” at the SNS is accumulating more data to address a broad physics program at the intersection of particle physics, nuclear physics, and astrophysics. This review describes COHERENT’s first two CEvNS measurements, their interpretation, and the potential of a future physics program at the SNS.

Read this paper on arXiv…

P. Barbeau, Y. Efremenko and K. Scholberg
Tue, 16 Nov 21
81/97

Comments: 33 pages, 12 figures. Invited review for Annual Reviews of Nuclear and Particle Science

Status and Perspectives of Neutrino Physics [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.07586


This review demonstrates the unique role of the neutrino by discussing in detail the physics of and with neutrinos. We deal with neutrino sources, neutrino oscillations, absolute masses, interactions, the possible existence of sterile neutrinos, and theoretical implications. In addition, synergies of neutrino physics with other research fields are found, and requirements to continue successful neutrino physics in the future, in terms of technological developments and adequate infrastructures, are stressed.

Read this paper on arXiv…

M. Athar, S. Barwick, T. Brunner, et. al.
Tue, 16 Nov 21
88/97

Comments: 227 pages; this review of the field of neutrino physics emerged from a report written by a panel on the request of IUPAP (International Union of Pure and Applied Physics). The mandate, the panel members and the report can be found on the web page of the panel at ht tps://www.iupapneutrinopanel.org

Probing the axion-nucleon coupling with the next generation of axion helioscopes [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.06407


A finite axion-nucleon coupling, nearly unavoidable for QCD axions, leads to the production of axions via the thermal excitation and subsequent de-excitation of Fe-57 isotopes in the sun. We revise the solar bound on this flux adopting the up to date emission rate, and investigate the sensitivity of the proposed International Axion Observatory IAXO and its intermediate stage BabyIAXO to detect these axions. We compare different realistic experimental options and discuss the model dependence of the signal. Already BabyIAXO has sensitivity far beyond previous solar axion searches via the nucleon coupling and IAXO can improve on this by more than an order of magnitude.

Read this paper on arXiv…

L. Luzio, J. Galan, M. Giannotti, et. al.
Mon, 15 Nov 21
6/52

Comments: 17 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables

Dissecting Axion and Dark Photon with A Network of Vector Sensors [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.06732


We develop formalisms for a network of vector sensors, sensitive to certain spatial components of the signals, to identify the properties of light axion or dark photon background. These bosonic fields contribute to vector-like signals in the detectors, including effective magnetic fields triggering the spin precession, effective electric currents in a shielded room, and forces on the matter. The interplay between a pair of vector sensors and a baseline that separates them can potentially uncover rich information of the bosons, including angular distribution, polarization modes, source localization, and macroscopic circular polarization. Using such a network, one can identify the microscopic nature of a potential signal, such as distinguishing between the axion-fermion coupling and the dipole couplings with the dark photon.

Read this paper on arXiv…

Y. Chen, M. Jiang, J. Shu, et. al.
Mon, 15 Nov 21
49/52

Comments: 30 pages, 14 figures

Efficient estimation method for time evolution of proto-neutron star mass and radius from supernova neutrino signal [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.05869


In this paper we present a novel method to estimate the time evolution of proto-neutron star (PNS) structure from the neutrino signal in core-collapse supernovae (CCSN). Employing recent results of multi-dimensional CCSN simulations, we delve into a relation between total emitted neutrino energy (TONE) and PNS mass/radius, and we find that they are strongly correlated with each other. We fit the relation by simple polynomial functions connecting TONE to PNS mass and radius as a function of time. By combining another fitting function representing the correlation between TONE and cumulative number of event at each neutrino observatory, PNS mass and radius can be retrieved from purely observed neutrino data. We demonstrate retrievals of PNS mass and radius from mock data of neutrino signal, and we assess the capability of our proposed method. While underlining the limitations of the method, we also discuss the importance of the joint analysis with gravitational wave signal. This would reduce uncertainties of parameter estimations in our method, and may narrow down the possible neutrino oscillation model. The proposed method is a very easy and inexpensive computation, which will be useful in real data analysis of CCSN neutrino signal.

Read this paper on arXiv…

H. Nagakura and D. Vartanyan
Fri, 12 Nov 21
3/53

Comments: Submitted to MNRAS

Cosmological Dependence of Sterile Neutrino Dark Matter With Self-Interacting Neutrinos [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.04087


Unexplored interactions of neutrinos could be the key to understanding the nature of the dark matter (DM). In particular, active neutrinos with new self-interactions can produce keV-mass sterile neutrinos that account for the whole of the DM through the Dodelson-Widrow mechanism for a large range of active-sterile mixing values. This production typically occurs before Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) in a yet uncharted era of the Universe. We assess how the mixing range for keV-mass sterile neutrino DM is affected by the uncertainty in the early Universe pre-BBN cosmology. This is particularly relevant for identifying the viable parameter space of sterile neutrino searches allowed by all astrophysical limits, as well as for cosmology, since the detection of a sterile neutrino could constitute the first observation of a particle providing information about the pre-BBN epoch. We find that the combined uncertainties in the early Universe cosmology and neutrino interactions significantly expand the allowed parameter space for sterile neutrinos that can constitute the whole of the DM.

Read this paper on arXiv…

C. Chichiri, G. Gelmini, P. Lu, et. al.
Tue, 9 Nov 21
12/102

Comments: 23 pages, 5 figures

Search for Quantum Gravity Using Astrophysical Neutrino Flavour with IceCube [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.04654


Along their long propagation from production to detection, neutrino states undergo quantum interference which converts their types, or flavours. High-energy astrophysical neutrinos, first observed by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, are known to propagate unperturbed over a billion light years in vacuum. These neutrinos act as the largest quantum interferometer and are sensitive to the smallest effects in vacuum due to new physics. Quantum gravity (QG) aims to describe gravity in a quantum mechanical framework, unifying matter, forces and space-time. QG effects are expected to appear at the ultra-high-energy scale known as the Planck energy, $E_{P}\equiv 1.22\times 10^{19}$~giga-electronvolts (GeV). Such a high-energy universe would have existed only right after the Big Bang and it is inaccessible by human technologies. On the other hand, it is speculated that the effects of QG may exist in our low-energy vacuum, but are suppressed by the Planck energy as $E_{P}^{-1}$ ($\sim 10^{-19}$~GeV$^{-1}$), $E_{P}^{-2}$ ($\sim 10^{-38}$~GeV$^{-2}$), or its higher powers. The coupling of particles to these effects is too small to measure in kinematic observables, but the phase shift of neutrino waves could cause observable flavour conversions. Here, we report the first result of neutrino interferometry~\cite{Aartsen:2017ibm} using astrophysical neutrino flavours to search for new space-time structure. We did not find any evidence of anomalous flavour conversion in IceCube astrophysical neutrino flavour data. We place the most stringent limits of any known technologies, down to $10^{-42}$~GeV$^{-2}$, on the dimension-six operators that parameterize the space-time defects for preferred astrophysical production scenarios. For the first time, we unambiguously reach the signal region of quantum-gravity-motivated physics.

Read this paper on arXiv…

R. Abbasi, M. Ackermann, J. Adams, et. al.
Tue, 9 Nov 21
40/102

Comments: The main text is 7 pages with 3 figures and 1 table. The Appendix includes 5 pages with 3 figures

Neutrino and Axion Astronomy with Dark Matter Experiments [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.04088


Sensitive dark matter (DM) experiments can be well exploited beyond their designated targets, allowing to explore a breadth of physics topics. As we discuss, future large direct DM detection experiments constitute impressive telescopes, complementary to conventional neutrino detectors. This opens a new window into neutrino astronomy, including puzzles such as the origin of supermassive black holes and topics like supernova forecast. Furthermore, DM experiments can act as effective instruments for multimessenger astronomy. This is well illustrated by exploration of relativistic axions from transient astrophysical sources (e.g. axion star explosions), providing novel signatures as well as possible insights into the axion potential.

Read this paper on arXiv…

V. Takhistov
Tue, 9 Nov 21
47/102

Comments: 5 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics (TAUP 2021), 30 August – 3 September 2021, Valencia, Spain – Online

WISPLC: Search for Dark Matter with LC Circuit [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.04541


The focus on dark matter search has expanded to include low-mass particles such as axions or axion-like particles, and novel theoretical schemes extending the phenomenological landscape, within QCD and beyond, also garnered additional interest in recent decades. Assuming dark matter is composed of axions, in presence of a solenoidal magnetic field, they induce a displacement current that gives rise to a toroidal magnetic field. The Weakly Interacting Slender Particle detection with LC circuit (WISPLC) is a precision direct detection experiment that will search for light dark matter candidates such as axion-like particles in parts of the parameter space previously unexplored. We present two detection schemes of the signal in a pickup loop capturing the flux of this toroidal magnetic field. WISPLC operates in a broadband and a resonant scheme where a LC circuit is used to enhance the signal with an expected Q factor $\sim 10^4$. Taking into account the irreducible flux noise of the detector, we estimate the sensitivity of the experiment in the axion mass range between $10^{-11}$ eV and $10^{-6}$ eV to reach a detectable axion-photon coupling of $g_{a\gamma\gamma}\approx 10^{-15}~\mathrm{GeV}^{-1}$, making it possible to probe mass ranges corresponding to ultralight axions motivated by string theory. The WISPLC experiment is fully funded and currently in the construction phase.

Read this paper on arXiv…

Z. Zhang, O. Ghosh and D. Horns
Tue, 9 Nov 21
78/102

Comments: 6 pages, 4 figures

Gravitino constraints on supergravity inflation [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.03645


Supergravity embedding of the Standard Model of particle physics provides phenomenologically well-motivated and observationally viable inflationary scenarios. We study a class of inflationary models based on the superconformal framework of supergravity and discuss constraints from the reheating temperature, with the particular focus on the gravitino problem inherent in these scenarios. We point out that a large part of the parameter space within the latest BICEP/Keck 95\% confidence contour has already been excluded by the gravitino constraints. Precision measurements of the scalar spectral index by a future mission may falsify these scenarios conclusively.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Kawai and N. Okada
Mon, 8 Nov 21
38/69

Comments: 4 pages, 2 figures

Phenomenology of CP-even ALP [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.03653


Axion or axion-like particle (ALP) has been usually considered as a CP-odd Nambu-Goldstone boson (NGB) from the spontaneous breakdown of a global U(1) symmetry. In this paper, we point out that the NGB behaves as a CP-even particle coupled to the SM particles in a large class of simple (or perhaps the simplest) renormalizable models. We provide a first study of the collider phenomenology and cosmology of the CP-even ALP. In a natural parameter region, the CP-even ALP can be produced from the Higgs boson decay in colliders. When the mass is not very light, the signals will be Higgs exotic decays, Higgs decay to displaced vertex $\times 2$, Higgs decay to displaced vertex + missing energy. The signal can be discriminated from other models, e.g. hidden photon, by measuring the decay length and the decay products of the light new particles. In addition, when $ m_a\lesssim$MeV, in which case the Higgs boson invisible decay may be probed in the colliders, the CP-even ALP is a nice DM candidate. The DM can be probed by 21cm line measurement as well as X- or $\gamma$-ray observations. The DM production mechanisms are discussed.

Read this paper on arXiv…

K. Sakurai and W. Yin
Mon, 8 Nov 21
65/69

Comments: 35pages, 7 figures, 1 table

Analysis of capability of detection of extensive airshowers by simple scintillator detectors [IMA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.02526


One of the main objectives of the CREDO project is to search for so-called Cosmic-Ray Ensembles (CRE) \cite{homola2020cosmic}. To confirm the existence of such phenomena a massive scale observation of even relatively low energy Extensive Air Showers (EAS) and an analysis of their correlations in time must be performed. To make such observations possible, an infrastructure of widely spread detectors connected in a global network should be developed using low-cost devices capable of collecting data for a long period of time. For each of these detectors or small detector systems the probability of detection of an EAS has to be determined. Such information is crucial in the analysis and interpretation of collected data. In the case of large number of systems with different properties the standard approach based on detailed and extensive simulations is not possible, thus a faster method is developed. Knowing the characteristics of EAS from more general simulations any required probability is calculated using appropriate parameterization taking into account EAS spectrum, energy dependence of particle density and zenith angle dependence. This allows to estimate expected number of EAS events measured by a set of small detectors \cite{Karbowiak_2020} and compare results of calculations with these measurements.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Pryga and W. Stanek
Fri, 5 Nov 21
58/72

Comments: 9 pages, 6 figures, onference: ICRC 2021

A goodness-of-fit test based on a recursive product of spacings [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.02252


We introduce a new statistical test based on the observed spacings of ordered data. The statistic is sensitive to detect non-uniformity in random samples, or short-lived features in event time series. Under some conditions, this new test can outperform existing ones, such as the well known Kolmogorov-Smirnov or Anderson-Darling tests, in particular when the number of samples is small and differences occur over a small quantile of the null hypothesis distribution. A detailed description of the test statistic is provided including an illustration and examples, together with a parameterization of its distribution based on simulation.

Read this paper on arXiv…

P. Eller and L. Shtembari
Thu, 4 Nov 21
22/73

Comments: N/A

A Helioscope for Gravitationally Bound Millicharged Particles [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2111.01796


Particles may be emitted efficiently from the solar interior if they are sufficiently light and weakly coupled to the solar plasma. In a narrow region of phase space, they are emitted with velocities smaller than the escape velocity of the solar system, thereby populating a gravitationally bound density that can accumulate over the solar lifetime, referred to as a “solar basin.” Detection strategies that can succeed in spite of (or even be enhanced by) the low particle velocities are therefore poised to explore new regions of parameter space when taking this solar population into account. Here we identify “direct deflection” as a powerful method to detect such a population of millicharged particles. This approach involves distorting the local flow of gravitationally bound millicharges with an oscillating electromagnetic field and measuring these distortions with a resonant LC circuit. Since it is easier to distort the flow of slowly moving particles, the signal is parametrically enhanced by the small solar escape velocity near Earth. The proposed setup can probe couplings an order of magnitude smaller than other methods for millicharge masses ranging from 100 meV to 100 eV and can operate concurrently as a search for sub-GeV millicharged dark matter. The signal power scales as the millicharge coupling to the eighth power, meaning that even with conservative assumptions, direct deflection could begin to explore new regions of parameter space. We also highlight novel features of millicharge solar basins, including those associated with the phase space distribution and the possibility for the occupation number to vastly exceed that of a thermal distribution.

Read this paper on arXiv…

A. Berlin and K. Schutz
Thu, 4 Nov 21
63/73

Comments: 21+4 pages, 7 figures

Joint Analysis Method on Gravitational Waves and Low-Energy Neutrinos to Detect Core-Collapse Supernovae [HEAP]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.15620


Core-collapse supernovae produce copious low-energy neutrinos and are also predicted to radiate gravitational waves. These two messengers can give us information regarding the explosion mechanism. The gravitational wave detection from these events are still elusive even with the already advanced detectors. Here we give a concise and timely introduction to a new method that combines triggers from GW and neutrino observatories; more details shall be given in a forthcoming paper [1].
Keywords: multimessenger, supernova, core-collapse, low-energy neutrino, gravitational wave.

Read this paper on arXiv…

O. Halim, C. Casentini, M. Drago, et. al.
Mon, 1 Nov 21
57/58

Comments: 17 pages, Proceedings of the 16th Marcel Grossmann meeting held on July 5-10, 2021

TauRunner: A Public Python Program to Propagate Neutral and Charged Leptons [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.14662


In the past decade IceCube’s observations have revealed a flux of astrophysical neutrinos extending to $10^{7}~\rm{GeV}$. The forthcoming generation of neutrino observatories promises to grant further insight into the high-energy neutrino sky, with sensitivity reaching energies up to $10^{12}~\rm{GeV}$. At such high energies, a new set of effects becomes relevant, which was not accounted for in the last generation of neutrino propagation software. Thus, it is important to develop new simulations which efficiently and accurately model lepton behavior at this scale. We present TauRunner a PYTHON-based package that propagates neutral and charged leptons. TauRunner supports propagation between $10~\rm{GeV}$ and $10^{12}~\rm{GeV}$. The package accounts for all relevant secondary neutrinos produced in charged-current tau neutrino interactions. Additionally, tau energy losses of taus produced in neutrino interactions is taken into account, and treated stochastically. Finally, TauRunner is broadly adaptable to divers experimental setups, allowing for user-specified trajectories and propagation media, neutrino cross sections, and initial spectra.

Read this paper on arXiv…

I. Safa, J. Lazar, A. Pizzuto, et. al.
Fri, 29 Oct 21
68/75

Comments: 15 pages, 7 figures, 1 table. code available at this https URL

Detection of a particle shower at the Glashow resonance with IceCube [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.15051


The Glashow resonance describes the resonant formation of a $W^-$ boson during the interaction of a high-energy electron antineutrino with an electron, peaking at an antineutrino energy of 6.3 petaelectronvolts (PeV) in the rest frame of the electron. Whereas this energy scale is out of reach for currently operating and future planned particle accelerators, natural astrophysical phenomena are expected to produce antineutrinos with energies beyond the PeV scale. Here we report the detection by the IceCube neutrino observatory of a cascade of high-energy particles (a particle shower) consistent with being created at the Glashow resonance. A shower with an energy of $6.05_{-0.62}^{+0.63}$ PeV (determined from Cherenkov radiation in the Antarctic Ice Sheet) was measured. Features consistent with the production of secondary muons in the particle shower indicate the hadronic decay of a resonant $W^-$ boson, confirm that the source is astrophysical and provide improved directional localization. The evidence of the Glashow resonance suggests the presence of electron antineutrinos in the astrophysical flux, while also providing further validation of the standard model of particle physics. Its unique signature indicates a method of distinguishing neutrinos from antineutrinos, thus providing a way to identify astronomical accelerators that produce neutrinos via hadronuclear or photohadronic interactions, with or without strong magnetic fields. As such, knowledge of both the flavour (that is, electron, muon or tau neutrinos) and charge (neutrino or antineutrino) will facilitate the advancement of neutrino astronomy.

Read this paper on arXiv…

I. Collaboration, M. Aartsen, R. Abbasi, et. al.
Fri, 29 Oct 21
73/75

Comments: This work has been published in Nature and is available at this https URL

A New Semi-Empirical Model for Cosmic Ray Muon Flux Estimation [IMA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.14152


Cosmic ray muons have emerged as a non-conventional high-energy radiation probe to monitor dense and large objects. Muons are the most abundant cosmic radiation on Earth, however, their flux at sea level is approximately 10,000/min-m2 much less than that of induced radiation, i.e., x-rays or electron beams. Cosmic ray muon flux varies with the particle incident angle and it is frequently approximated using a cosine-squared which can introduce large errors for high zenith angles. However, the cosmic ray muon flux depends on not only the zenith angle but also on the effective solid angle and the geometric characteristics of the detectors. Since the low muon flux typically results in long measurement times, an accurate estimation of the measurable muon counts is important for many muon applications. Here we propose a simple and versatile semi-empirical model to improve the accuracy in muon flux estimation at all zenith angles by incorporating the geometric parameters of detectors. We call this the Effective solid angle model. To demonstrate the functionality of our model, we compare with i) cosmic ray muon measurements, ii) the cosine-squared model, and iii) Monte-Carlo simulations. Our results show that the muon count rate estimation capability is significantly improved resulting in a reduced mean relative error from 30 % (for the cosine-squared model) to less than 15 % for the effective solid angle model. In addition, this model is simple enough and works universally for all detector geometries and configurations. By selecting an appropriate intensity correlation, the model can be easily extended to estimate muon flux at any altitude and underground level. Finally, a simple empirical correlation is derived in order to compute the expected cosmic ray muon counts in a single step.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis
Thu, 28 Oct 21
30/76

Comments: N/A

Ultra-high-energy neutrino scattering in an anomalous U(1) effective field theory [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.07517


A unique characteristic of exponentially growing scattering amplitude arises in an anomalous Abelian effective field theory when an extremely light Dirac neutrino mass is introduced to break the symmetry. We show that the low energy effective Lagrangian can be made explicitly gauge invariant with the help of a nonlinear representation of the Goldstone or Stueckelberg field. We study the peculiar feature of exponential growth in the ultra-high-energy neutrino-nucleon inelastic scattering. It is found that the inelastic scattering cross section is highly sensitive to the ratio of gauge coupling to the gauge boson mass, $g_X/m_X$. When the IceCube measurement of ultra-high-energy neutrinos, which is consistent with the standard model prediction up to $E_\nu \sim 6$ PeV, is taken into account, the inferred constraint on $g_X/m_X$ is more severe than that obtained from the events of mono-lepton$+$missing transverse energy at the LHC. A muon collider with a collision energy of $10$ TeV can be a good environment other than hadron colliders to probe the novel effect.

Read this paper on arXiv…

C. Chen, C. Chiang and C. Su
Tue, 26 Oct 21
14/109

Comments: 18 pages, 6 figures, references added

Compact Scintillator Array Detector (ComSAD) for sounding rocket and CubeSat missions [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.12500


The developments of sounding rocket and CubeSat are a total game changer to the space program and it allows building space instruments to be more achievable and affordable. Therefore, it gives us a good opportunity to build a small cosmic ray detector which has capabilities to measure the flux, direction, and even energy of cosmic rays at the height above the limitation of balloon experiments, and it may open a new door for the cosmic ray physics. Compact Scintillator Array Detector (ComSAD) is dedicated for the sounding rocket mission of Taiwan’s National Space Organization. In paper, we present the idea, design, and performance of ComSAD which is also suitable for CubeSat missions in the future.

Read this paper on arXiv…

P. Wang, C. Chen, H. Hsu, et. al.
Tue, 26 Oct 21
36/109

Comments: N/A

Dark matter Axion search with riNg Cavity Experiment DANCE: Design and development of auxiliary cavity for simultaneous resonance of linear polarizations [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.12023


Axion-like particles (ALPs) are undiscovered pseudo-scalar particles that are candidates for ultralight dark matter. ALPs interact with photons slightly and cause the rotational oscillation of linearly polarized light. Dark matter Axion search with riNg Cavity Experiment (DANCE) searches for ALP dark matter by amplifying the rotational oscillation with a bow-tie ring cavity. Simultaneous resonance of linear polarizations is necessary to amplify both the carrier field and the ALP signal, and to achieve the design sensitivity. The sensitivity of the current prototype experiment DANCE Act-1 is less than expectation by around three orders of magnitude due to the resonant frequency difference between s- and p-polarization in the bow-tie ring cavity. In order to tune the resonant frequency difference, the method of introducing an auxiliary cavity was proposed. We designed an auxiliary cavity that can cancel out the resonant frequency difference and realize simultaneous resonance, considering optical loss. We also confirmed that the sensitivity of DANCE Act-1 with the auxiliary cavity can reach the original sensitivity.

Read this paper on arXiv…

H. Fujimoto, Y. Oshima, M. Ando, et. al.
Tue, 26 Oct 21
74/109

Comments: 4 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings for the 17th International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics, online, August 26 – September 3, 2021

First observation and analysis of DANCE: Dark matter Axion search with riNg Cavity Experiment [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.10607


Dark matter Axion search with riNg Cavity Experiment (DANCE) was proposed to search for axion dark matter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 161301 (2018)]. We aim to detect the rotation and oscillation of optical linear polarization caused by axion-photon coupling with a bow-tie cavity. DANCE can improve the sensitivity to axion-photon coupling constant $g_{a \gamma}$ for axion mass $m_a < 10^{-10}~\rm{eV}$ by several orders of magnitude compared to the best upper limits at present. A prototype experiment DANCE Act-1 is ongoing to demonstrate the feasibility of the method and to investigate technical noises. The optics was assembled and the performance of the cavity was evaluated. The first 12-day observation was successfully performed in May 2021. We reached $3 \times 10^{-6}~\rm{rad/\sqrt{Hz}}$ at $10~\rm{Hz}$ in the one-sided amplitude spectral density of the rotation angle of linear polarization.

Read this paper on arXiv…

Y. Oshima, H. Fujimoto, M. Ando, et. al.
Fri, 22 Oct 21
3/133

Comments: 5 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings for the 17th International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics, online, August 26 – September 3, 2021. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2105.06252

Some Thoughts on (the Incompleteness of) the (Double) Differential Event Rates for Elastic WIMP-Nucleus Scattering in (Directional) Direct Dark Matter Detection Physics [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.10920


In this paper, we revisit the expressions for the (double) differential event rates for elastic WIMP-nucleus scattering and discuss some unusual thoughts on (the incompleteness of) the uses of these expressions in (directional) direct Dark Matter detection physics. Several not-frequently mentioned (but important) issues will be argued and demonstrated in detail.

Read this paper on arXiv…

C. Shan
Fri, 22 Oct 21
37/133

Comments: 17 pages, 9 figures

Machine-learning techniques applied to three-year exposure of ANAIS-112 [IMA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.10649


ANAIS is a direct dark matter detection experiment aiming at the confirmation or refutation of the DAMA/LIBRA positive annual modulation signal in the low energy detection rate, using the same target and technique. ANAIS-112, located at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory in Spain, is operating an array of 3$\times$3 ultrapure NaI(Tl) crystals with a total mass of 112.5 kg since August 2017. The trigger rate in the region of interest (1-6 keV) is dominated by non-bulk scintillation events. In order to discriminate these noise events from bulk scintillation events, robust filtering protocols have been developed. Although this filtering procedure works very well above 2 keV, the measured rate from 1 to 2 keV is about 50% higher than expected according to our background model, and we cannot discard non-bulk scintillation events as responsible of that excess. In order to improve the rejection of noise events, a Boosted Decision Tree has been developed and applied. With this new PMT-related noise rejection algorithm, the ANAIS-112 background between 1 and 2 keV is reduced by almost 30%, leading to an increase in sensitivity to the annual modulation signal. The reanalysis of the three years of ANAIS-112 data with this technique is also presented.

Read this paper on arXiv…

I. Coarasa, J. Apilluelo, J. Amaré, et. al.
Fri, 22 Oct 21
86/133

Comments: Contributed to the TAUP2021 Conference, August 2021. To be published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

Dark Matter Axion Search Using a Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifier [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.10262


We present a new exclusion bound of axion-like particle dark matter with axion-photon couplings above $\mathrm{10^{-13}}$ $\mathrm{GeV^{-1}}$ over the frequency range 4796.7–4799.5 MHz, corresponding to a narrow range of axion masses centered around 19.84 $\mu$eV. This measurement represents the first implementation of a Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifier (JTWPA) in a dark matter search. The JTWPA was operated in the insert of the Axion Dark Matter eXperiment (ADMX) as part of an independent receiver chain that was attached to a 0.588-liter cavity. The ability of the JTWPA to deliver high gain over a wide (3 GHz) bandwidth has engendered interest from those aiming to perform broadband axion searches, a longstanding goal in this field.

Read this paper on arXiv…

C. Bartram, T. Braine, R. Cervantes, et. al.
Fri, 22 Oct 21
119/133

Comments: N/A

Inference of cosmic-ray source properties by conditional invertible neural networks [IMA]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.09493


The inference of physical parameters from measured distributions constitutes a core task in physics data analyses. Among recent deep learning methods, so-called conditional invertible neural networks provide an elegant approach owing to their probability-preserving bijective mapping properties. They enable training the parameter-observation correspondence in one mapping direction and evaluating the parameter posterior distributions in the reverse direction. Here, we study the inference of cosmic-ray source properties from cosmic-ray observations on Earth using extensive astrophysical simulations. We compare the performance of conditional invertible neural networks (cINNs) with the frequently used Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. While cINNs are trained to directly predict the parameters’ posterior distributions, the MCMC method extracts the posterior distributions through a likelihood function that matches simulations with observations. Overall, we find good agreement between the physics parameters derived by the two different methods. As a result of its computational efficiency, the cINN method allows for a swift assessment of inference quality.

Read this paper on arXiv…

T. Bister, M. Erdmann, U. Köthe, et. al.
Tue, 19 Oct 21
39/98

Comments: 10 pages, 8 figures

Revising inelastic dark matter direct detection by including the cosmic ray acceleration [CL]

Posted on by

http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.08863


The null signal from collider and dark matter (DM) direct detector experiments makes the interaction between the DM and visible matter too tiny to reproduce the correct relic density for many thermal DM models. One of the most popular explanations is the inelastic DM scenario, allowing the coannihilation between two almost degenerated states in the dark sector. Unfortunately, the virialized DM component from the nearby halo is non-relativistic and not able to excite the DM ground state even if the relevant couplings can be considerable. Thus, the DM with either the light mass or large mass splitting can evade the traditional virialized DM searches. In this work, we connect the concept of cosmic-ray accelerated DM in our Milky Way (MW) and the direct detection of the inelastic scattering in the underground detectors to explore spectra that are resulted from several interaction types of the inelastic DM. We find that the mass splitting $\delta<\mathcal{O}(1~{\rm GeV})$ can still be reachable for the cosmic ray accelerated DM with mass range $1~{\rm MeV}<m_{\chi_1}<100~{\rm GeV}$ and sub-GeV light mediator, by using the latest PandaX-4T data, even though we conservatively take the astrophysical parameter (effective length) $D_{\rm eff}=1$ kpc.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. Feng, X. Kang, C. Lu, et. al.
Tue, 19 Oct 21
45/98

Comments: 35 pages, 10 figures