First results from the search for an excess of ν ¯ e events in JSNS2
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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Engineering topics
Wei, W.
Publications and source records attributed to Wei, W..
PMT calibration for the JSNS^2-II far detector with an embedded LED system
The JSNS^2-II (the second phase of JSNS^2, J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) is an experiment aimed at searching for sterile neutrinos. Here, this experiment has entered its second phase, employing two liquid scintillator detectors located at near and far positions from the neutrino source. Recently, the far detector of the experiment has been completed and is currently in the calibration phase. The following properties of all functioning Photo-Multiplier-Tubes (PMTs) to detect the neutrino events in the far detector have been calibrated: PMT gain, its dependence of supplied High Voltage (HV), Peak-to-Valley (PV), and signal timing. This paper presents a detailed description of the calibration process utilizing the LED system. The LED system of the far detector uses two Ultra-Violet (UV) LEDs, which are effective in calibrating all of the PMTs at once. The UV light is converted into the visible light wavelengths inside liquid scintillator via the wavelength shifters, providing pseudo-isotropic light. To achieve a good energy resolution for physics events, a relative gain adjustment of up to 10% is required for all functioning PMTs. This will be achieved using the HV curves measured and the results of the LED calibration. The Peak-to-Valley (PV) ratio values, which distinguish the single photo-electron signal from the pedestal, are similar to those from the production company. Additionally, the precision of the PMT signal timing is measured to be 2.1 ns. This meets the event reconstruction requirement of 10 ns.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
Muon tagging with flash ADC waveform baselines
Here, this manuscript describes an innovative method to tag muons using the baseline information of the Flash ADC (FADC) waveform of PMTs in the JSNS 2 (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) experiment. The experiment is designed to search for evidence of sterile neutrinos, and a reliable method for muon tagging is an essential component for background rejection because the detector is located above ground, on the 3rd floor of the J-PARC Material and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF). Cosmogenic muons that stop within the detector volume and produce a Michel electron are a particularly important background that must be rejected for our sterile neutrino search. Utilizing this innovative method, more than 99.8 % of Michel electrons can be rejected even without using information from the detector’s veto region PMTs. This technique can be employed by any experiments which uses a similar detector configuration.
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
Demonstration of sub-micron UCN position resolution using room-temperature CMOS sensor
High spatial resolution of ultracold neutron (UCN) measurement is of growing interest to UCN experiments such as UCN spectrometers, UCN polarimeters, quantum physics of UCNs, and quantum gravity. Here we utilize physics informed deep learning to enhance the experimental position resolution and to demonstrate sub-micron spatial resolutions for UCN position measurements obtained using a room-temperature CMOS sensor, extending our previous work that demonstrated a position uncertainty of 1.5 microns. We explore the use of the open-source software Allpix Squared to generate experiment-like synthetic hit images with ground-truth position labels. We use physics-informed deep learning by training a fully connected neural network (FCNN) to learn a mapping from input hit images to output hit position. The automated analysis for sub-micron position resolution in UCN detection combined with the fast data rates of current and next generation UCN sources will enable improved precision for future UCN research and applications.
10B nanometer thin film↗
Status and Challenges of the Interaction Region Magnets for HL-LHC
About one hundred magnets of six different types shall be installed in the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) in the years 2026-2028 at CERN. The magnets design, construction and test are based on CERN collaborations with institutes and industrial partners in USA, Spain, Italy, Japan and China. Three types of correctors are based on Nb-Ti technology and feature conductor peak fields in the 2 to 4 T range: for all of them the prototype phase has been successfully completed. The production is well advanced for the superferric correctors, and is starting for the canted cosine theta correctors and for the nested correctors. The separation and recombination Nb-Ti dipoles D1 and D2, with a 4.5-6 T bore field range, are both in the prototype phase after the completion of the short model program. The most challenging magnet, the Nb 3 Sn quadrupole with conductor peak field above 11 T, is in the prototype phase at CERN and halfway through the production phase in the USA. In this paper we will give, for each type of magnet, an overview of the main achievements obtained so far and we will outline the technical points still needing validation from the prototype program.
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
Fill and dump measurement of the neutron lifetime using an asymmetric magneto-gravitational trap
The past two decades have yielded several new measurements and reanalysis of older measurements of the neutron lifetime. These have led to a 4.4 standard deviation discrepancy between the most precise measurements of the neutron decay rate producing protons in cold neutron beams and the most precise lifetime measured in neutron storage experiments. Measurements using different techniques are important for investigating whether there are unidentified systematic effects in any of the measurements. In this paper we report a new measurement using the Los Alamos asymmetric magneto-gravitational trap where the surviving neutrons are counted external to the trap using the fill and dump method. In this work, the new measurement gives a free neutron lifetime of $τ_n$ = 876.3(2.4) stat (0.8) syst . Although this measurement is not as precise, it is in statistical agreement with previous results using in situ counting in the same apparatus.
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
Investigations of LHW-plasma coupling and current drive at high density related to H-mode experiments in EAST
Two important issues in achieving lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) high confinement plasma in EAST are to improve lower hybrid wave (LHW)-plasma coupling and to drive the plasma current at a high density. Studies in different configurations with different directions of toroidal magnetic field (Bt) show that the density near the antenna is affected by both the radial electric field induced by plasma without a LHW (Er-plasma) in the scrape off layer (SOL), and the radial electric field induced by LHW power (Er-LH) near the grill. Investigations indicate that Er× Btin the SOL leads to a different effect of configuration on the LHW-plasma coupling and Er-LH× Btaccounts for the asymmetric density behaviour in the SOL observed in the experiments, where Eris the total radial electric field in the SOL. Modelling of parametric instability (PI), collisional absorption (CA) and scattering from density fluctuations (SDF) in the edge region, performed considering the parameters of high density LHCD experiments in EAST, has shown that these mechanisms could be responsible for the low current drive (CD) efficiency at high density. Radiofrequency probe spectra, useful for documenting PI occurrence, show sidebands whose amplitude in the case of the lithiated vacuum chamber is smaller than in the case of poor lithiation, consistently with growth rates from PI modeling of the respective reference discharges. Since strong lithiation is also expected to diminish the parasitic effect on the LHCD of the remaining possible mechanisms, this appears to be a useful method for improving LHCD efficiency at a high density.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Improved Neutron Lifetime Measurement with UCN$\tau$
In this work, we report an improved measurement of the free neutron lifetime $\tau_n$ using the UCN$\tau$ apparatus at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. We count a total of approximately 38×10 6 surviving ultracold neutrons (UCNs) after storing in UCN$\tau$’s magnetogravitational trap over two data acquisition campaigns in 2017 and 2018. We extract $\tau$ n from three blinded, independent analyses by both pairing long and short storage time runs to find a set of replicate $\tau$ n measurements and by performing a global likelihood fit to all data while self-consistently incorporating the β-decay lifetime. Both techniques achieve consistent results and find a value $\tau$ n =877.75±0.28 stat +0.22/–0.16 syst s. With this sensitivity, neutron lifetime experiments now directly address the impact of recent refinements in our understanding of the standard model for neutron decay.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
Improved limits on Fierz interference using asymmetry measurements from the Ultracold Neutron Asymmetry (UCNA) experiment
The Ultracold Neutron Asymmetry (UCNA) experiment was designed to measure the β-decay asymmetry parameter, A 0 , for free neutron decay. In the experiment, polarized ultracold neutrons are transported into a decay trap, and their β-decay electrons are detected with ≈4π acceptance into two detector packages which provide position and energy reconstruction. The experiment also has sensitivity to b n , the Fierz interference term in the neutron β-decay rate. In this work, we determine bn from the energy dependence of A 0 using the data taken during the UCNA 2011–2013 run. In addition, we present the same type of analysis using the earlier 2010 A dataset. Furthermore, motivated by improved statistics and comparable systematic errors compared to the 2010 data-taking run, we present a new b n measurement using the weighted average of our asymmetry dataset fits, to obtain b n = 0.066 ± 0.041 stat ± 0.024 syst which corresponds to a limit of -0.012 < b n < 0.144 at the 90% confidence level.
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
Characterization of ion beam modified ceramic wear surfaces using Auger electron spectroscopy
An investigation of the surface chemistry and morphology of the wear surfaces of ceramic material surfaces modified by ion beam mixing has been conducted using Auger electron spectroscopy and secondary electron microscopy. Studies have been conducted on ceramic/ceramic friction and wear couples made up of TiC and NiMo-bonded TiC cermet pins run against Si3N4 and partially stabilized zirconia disc surfaces modified by the ion beam mixing of titanium and nickel, as well as ummodified ceramic/ceramic couples in order to determine the types of surface changes leading to the improved friction and wear behavior of the surface modified ceramics in simulated diesel environments. The results of the surface analyses indicate that the formation of a lubricating oxide layer of titanium and nickel, is responsible for the improvement in ceramic friction and wear behavior. The beneficial effect of this oxide layer depends on several factors, including the adherence of the surface modified layer or subsequently formed oxide layer to the disc substrate, the substrate materials, the conditions of ion beam mixing, and the environmental conditions.
Wei, W.↗
Friction and wear behaviour of ion beam modified ceramics
In the present study, the sliding friction coefficients and wear rates of carbide, oxide, and nitride materials for potential use as sliding seals (ring/liner) were measured under temperature, environmental, velocity, and loading conditions representative of a diesel engine. In addition, silicon nitride and partially stabilized zirconia discs were modified by ion mixing with TiNi, nickel, cobalt and chromium, and subsequently run against carbide pins, with the objective of producing reduced friction via solid lubrication at elevated temperature. Unmodified ceramic sliding couples were characterized at all temperatures by friction coefficients of 0.24 and above. However, the coefficient at 800 C in an oxidizing environment was reduced to below 0.1, for certain material combinations, by the ion implantation of TiNi or cobalt. This beneficial effect was found to derive from lubricious titanium, nickel, and cobalt oxides.
Lankford, J.↗
Sliding Seal Materials for Adiabatic Engines, Phase 2
An essential task in the development of the heavy-duty adiabatic diesel engine is identification and improvements of reliable, low-friction piston seal materials. In the present study, the sliding friction coefficients and wear rates of promising carbide, oxide, and nitride materials were measured under temperature, environmental, velocity, and loading conditions that are representative of the adiabatic engine environment. In addition, silicon nitride and partially stabilized zirconia disks were ion implanted with TiNi, Ni, Co, and Cr, and subsequently run against carbide pins, with the objective of producing reduced friction via solid lubrication at elevated temperature. In order to provide guidance needed to improve materials for this application, the program stressed fundamental understanding of the mechanisms involved in friction and wear. Electron microscopy was used to elucidate the micromechanisms of wear following wear testing, and Auger electron spectroscopy was used to evaluate interface/environment interactions which seemed to be important in the friction and wear process. Unmodified ceramic sliding couples were characterized at all temperatures by friction coefficients of 0.24 and above. The coefficient at 800 C in an oxidizing environment was reduced to below 0.1, for certain material combinations, by the ion implanation of TiNi or Co. This beneficial effect was found to derive from lubricious Ti, Ni, and Co oxides.
Lankford, J.↗