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Evans, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Evans, D..

At least 19 records

Magnetic structure and resistivity minimum in GdCuAs 2

The electrical resistivity of GdCuAs 2 single crystals exhibits an anomalous Kondo-like resistivity minimum above the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature T N 1 approximate to 10.6 K, which is unusual for a highly localized 4f-moment (Gd 3+ ) system. Using x-ray resonant magnetic scattering, we determined the magnetic structure of GdCuAs 2 , where Gd moments are antiferromagnetically aligned along the crystallographic a axis and in the (+ + --) arrangement in the c direction and ferromagnetically arranged in the b direction. The antiferromagnetic order appears first at q = (δ, 0, 0.5) below 10 K, with an incommensurate modulation along the a axis and locks into a commensurate position at q = (1/3, 0, 0.5) below T N 2 approximate to 6 K. Our high-resolution x-ray diffraction measurements show a two-peak structure at Q = (2, 0, 6) above the resistivity minimum, suggesting a lower-symmetry crystal structure than the reported tetragonal structure, and the Q = (2, 0, 6) peak becomes a sharp one-peak structure below the resistivity minimum, implying a magnetoelastic coupling above T N . In conclusion, our findings suggest a complex interplay between the crystal structure and antiferromagnetic structure through a magnetoelastic coupling, associated with the anomalous resistivity minimum above T N 1 .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

First Leptophobic Dark Matter Search from the Coherent–CAPTAIN-Mills Liquid Argon Detector

We report the first results of a search for leptophobic dark matter (DM) from the Coherent–CAPTAIN-Mills (CCM) liquid argon (LAr) detector. An engineering run with 120 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and 17.9 × 10 20 protons on target (POT) was performed in fall 2019 to study the characteristics of the CCM detector. The operation of this 10-ton detector was strictly light based with a threshold of 50 keV and used coherent elastic scattering off argon nuclei to detect DM. Despite only 1.5 months of accumulated luminosity, contaminated LAr, and nonoptimized shielding, CCM’s first engineering run has already achieved sensitivity to previously unexplored parameter space of light dark matter models with a baryonic vector portal. With an expected background of 115 005 events, we observe 115 005 + 16.5 events which is compatible with background expectations. For a benchmark mediator-to-DM mass ratio of m V B =m χ = 2.1, DM masses within the range 9 MeV ≲ m χ ≲ 50 MeV are excluded at 90% C. L. in the leptophobic model after applying the Feldman-Cousins test statistic. CCM’s upgraded run with 200 PMTs, filtered LAr, improved shielding, and 10 times more POT will be able to exclude the remaining thermal relic density parameter space of this model, as well as probe new parameter space of other leptophobic DM models.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Statistical Uncertainty in Paleoclimate Proxy Reconstructions

A quantitative analysis of any environment older than the instrumental record relies on proxies. Uncertainties associated with proxy reconstructions are often underestimated, which can lead to artificial conflict between different proxies, and between data and models. In this paper, using ordinary least squares linear regression as a common example, we describe a simple, robust and generalizable method for quantifying uncertainty in proxy reconstructions. We highlight the primary controls on the magnitude of uncertainty, and compare this simple estimate to equivalent estimates from Bayesian, nonparametric and fiducial statistical frameworks. We discuss when it may be possible to reduce uncertainties, and conclude that the unexplained variance in the calibration must always feature in the uncertainty in the reconstruction. This directs future research toward explaining as much of the variance in the calibration data as possible. We also advocate for a “data-forward” approach, that clearly decouples the presentation of proxy data from plausible environmental inferences.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

First Observation of 𝑃-odd 𝛾 Asymmetry in Polarized Neutron Capture on Hydrogen

Here, we report the first observation of the parity-violating gamma-ray asymmetry 𝐴$^{𝑛⁢𝑝}_{𝛾}$ in neutron-proton capture using polarized cold neutrons incident on a liquid parahydrogen target at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 𝐴$^{𝑛⁢𝑝}_{𝛾}$ isolates the Δ⁢𝐼 =1, 3 𝑆 1 → 3 𝑃 1 component of the weak nucleon-nucleon interaction, which is dominated by pion exchange and can be directly related to a single coupling constant in either the DDH meson exchange model or pionless effective field theory. We measured 𝐴$^{𝑛⁢𝑝}_{𝛾}$=[−3.0±1.4⁢(stat)±0.2⁢(syst)]×10 −8 , which implies a DDH weak 𝜋⁢𝑁⁢𝑁 coupling of ℎ$^1_𝜋$=[2.6±1.2⁢(stat)±0.2⁢(syst)]×10 −7 and a pionless EFT constant of 𝐶 3 𝑆 1 → 3 𝑃 1 /𝐶 0 =[−7.4±3.5⁢(stat)±0.5⁢(syst)]×10 −11 MeV −1 . We describe the experiment, data analysis, systematic uncertainties, and implications of the result.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Plans for living on a restless planet sets NASA's solid Earth agenda

What are the most important challenges facing solid Earth science today and over the next two decades? And what is the best approach for NASA, in partnership with other agencies, to address these challenges? A new report, living on a restless planet, provides a blueprint for answering these questions. The top priority for a new spacecraft mission in the area of solid earth science over the next 5 years, according to this report, is a satellite dedicated to interferometric synthetic aperture radar(inSAR).

Earth magnetic field imaging spectroscopy solid ea↗

High Time Resolution Study of the Hemispheric Power Carried by Energetic Electrons Into the Ionosphere During the May 19-20, 1996, Auroral Activity

The UVI imager on board the POLAR satellite offers the opportunity to obtain high time resolution global auroral images. The spectral resolution of the imager is sufficient to separate the auroral emission from the scattered sunlight, even when the entire auroral zone is sunlit. The energy flux of the precipitating electrons is derived from the surface brightness through the LBH-long filter. Global images which have the dayglow removed are spatially integrated to yield the total hemispheric electron energy flux. This parameter, the hemispheric power, has found much application in ionospheric modeling. It can also be derived from electron spectra measured along the track of the NOAA/TIROS satellites that are combined with average empirical auroral precipitation patterns. We show that the hemispheric power input derived from the two-dimensional images represents a substantial improvement in the temporal variability of this parameter. We present an example for the period of 19/20 May 1996 by comparing power indices derived from NOAA/TIROS measurements with those derived from the UVI images.

Lummerzheim, D.↗