Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Performance of High Energy Physics Detectors”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10

High-precision Measurement of the 16 O($n, n'γ$) Cross Section using $γ$-ray Detection in Liquid Scintillators with H 2 O and BeO Targets

The 16 O($n, n'γ$) reaction was measured at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center white neutron source using γ-ray detection in liquid scintillators present in the upper hemisphere of the Correlated Gamma-Neutron Array for sCattering (CoGNAC). Separate measurements of this reaction were performed using H 2 O and BeO targets in successive years. The unique high energies of γ rays emitted from the 16 O($n, n'γ$) reaction facilitated a clean selection of this reaction from threshold to 9.8 MeV incident neutron energy without the need for precise measurements of the γ-ray energy or the scattered neutrons. The precise time resolution of the liquid scintillator detectors was then exploited to obtain high-resolution incident neutron energy measurements, and good agreement was obtained between the H 2 O and BeO results reported here. The dominant literature data sets for this reaction have systematic differences between them, but the present results improve upon the neutron energy resolution of earlier measurements and show important discrepancies in recent data. Finally, tentative data are also shown up to 20 MeV incident neutron energy but are potentially subject to improved understanding of the relative γ-ray and α decay branches from 16 O excited states.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Demonstration of low-mode shape control in indirect-drive double shell implosions at the NIF

Double shell inertial confinement fusion is a concept for achieving robust thermonuclear burn that uses dense metal shells to compress deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel to fusion conditions. Double shell implosions are typically indirectly driven and involve a target that consists of a low-Z ablator, a foam layer, and a high-Z pusher surrounding the DT fuel. The goal of the campaign is to achieve a volumetric burn as radiation losses from the DT fuel are trapped by the opaque high-Z shell. The overall performance of double shell implosions relies on the efficient collisional transfer of kinetic energy between layers. The efficiency of this transfer (and therefore the overall performance of a given implosion) is degraded by the presence of low-mode asymmetries. P2 asymmetries are often observed in spatially resolved 2D radiographs of nominal double shell implosions. This work discusses three such experiments: one with an oblate P2 asymmetry, one with a prolate P2 asymmetry, and one with an approximate spherical symmetry. After performing a shape analysis of the oblate and prolate implosions to quantify asymmetries, these experimental results were compared with the results of hydrodynamic simulations for the two experiments. Differences between the experiment and simulation were then used to design an approximately spherical implosion by altering the incident laser cone fraction. Radiographs from the experiment that implemented the modified cone fraction show evidence of an implosion that is approximately spherical until bang time. This design is intended to serve as a point design for future studies that will seek to optimize various aspects of the double shell target.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Application of machine learning techniques for fast MeV x-ray spectra unfolding from filter stack spectrometer data

Recovery of MeV x-ray spectra from detector signals is difficult because the response matrix inversion is ill-conditioned and current methods are too slow for high-repetition-rate experiments. In this work, we make use of neural networks to unfold MeV x-ray spectra from measurements obtained with a filter stack spectrometer at rates of near 40 Hz. The neural network was trained on synthetic data and tested on both synthetic and experimental data, the latter obtained in two separate experiments performed at the Omega EP laser facility. We show here that this unfolding method has good performance on synthetic data and that it is a promising option for experimental data of up to 40 MeV. The accuracy on experimental data is verified by using a simple forward model to compare against measured values.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Simulations of muon imaging with the LANL GMT detector for spent nuclear fuel cask content verification

Atmospheric muons are typically high energy, highly penetrating charged particles. They interact with matter primarily through multiple Coulomb scatterings. Muon scattering intensities can be used to characterize the density and atomic number of the matter that they pass through. Previously, the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) muon tomography team performed muon imaging of the partially filled MC-10 spent nuclear fuel (SNF) cask at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). This experiment demonstrated the feasibility of muon imaging for the verification of spent fuel container contents. That original effort used the mini muon tracker array, consisting of two arrays of drift tubes on either side of the SNF cask. The reconstructed image quality was limited by statistics, largely due to low muon flux at high zenith angles. A LANL led team will perform new measurements with a larger array, the Giant Muon Tracker (GMT), to improve data collection rates and statistics. In this work, simulations were performed with the GMT near the partially filled INL MC-10 cask. For more general fuel diversion detection, a full MC-10 cask and casks with a singular missing fuel bundle were also simulated. To understand minimum measurement times needed for missing bundle identification, 100 000 to millions of tracked muons (corresponding to 1.4 days to several weeks measurement time) were analyzed. Simulated images were then analyzed visually and numerically to explore techniques designed to minimize the collection time needed to identify the diversion of fuel in each scenario.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry utilizing benzene cations for measurements of volatile organic compounds and nitric oxide

We evaluate the capability of chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) using benzene cations as reagent ions (benzene CIMS) for detecting atmospheric trace gases. We characterize the ionization pathways and product ion distributions for 27 analytes spanning diverse chemical classes. To interpret the complex ion chemistry involving two reagent ions (C 6 H$^{+}_{6}$ and (C 6 H 6 )$^{+}_{2}$) and multiple ionization pathways (charge transfer, proton transfer, adduct formation, and hydride abstraction), we introduce a thermodynamics-based framework that classifies analytes into three categories based on their ionization energy (IE), relative to those of benzene monomer (9.24 eV) and dimer (8.69 eV). Each class exhibits distinct ionization mechanisms and product ions. Analytes with IE smaller than 8.69 eV (low IE) undergo charge transfer with both reagent ions; analytes with IE between 8.69 and 9.24 eV (mid IE) undergo charge transfer with C 6 H$^{+}_{6}$ and potential adduct formation with (C 6 H 6 )$^{+}_{2}$; analytes with IE larger than 9.24 eV (high IE) could undergo adduct formation, proton transfer, or hydride abstraction. Analytes within each class also show similar sensitivity, enabling sensitivity estimation for compounds lacking calibration standards. In addition to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), benzene CIMS detects nitric oxide (NO) with a detection limit of 5 pptv for 1 min integration time, exceeding the performance of most commercial NOx analyzers. Field deployments in Chicago and St. Louis demonstrate good agreement with reference NO measurements. Isoprene measurements show good agreement with a co-located gas chromatography–photoionization detector (GC-PID) in St. Louis, but exhibit substantial positive bias in Chicago, likely due to interferences from anthropogenic VOCs in the polluted urban environment. These results highlight the potential of benzene CIMS for concurrent measurements of NO, VOCs, and their oxidation products using a single instrument, while also underscoring challenges in complex atmospheric conditions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Measurement of nuclear interaction cross sections towards neutron-skin thickness determination

The accuracy of reaction theories used to extract properties of exotic nuclei from scattering experiments is often unknown or not quantified, but of utmost importance when, e.g., constraining the equation of state of asymmetric nuclear matter from observables as the neutron-skin thickness. In order to test the Glauber multiple-scattering model, the total interaction cross section of 12 C on carbon targets was measured at initial beam energies of 400, 550, 650, 800, and 1000 MeV/nucleon. The measurements were performed during the first experiment of the newly constructed R 3 B (Reaction with Relativistic Radioactive Beams) experiment after the start of FAIR Phase-0 at the GSI/FAIR facility with beam energies of 400, 550, 650, 800, and 1000 MeV/nucleon. The combination of the large-acceptance dipole magnet GLAD and a newly designed and highly efficient Time-of-Flight detector enabled a precise transmission measurement with several target thicknesses for each initial beam energy with an experimental uncertainty of ±0.4%. A comparison with the Glauber model revealed a discrepancy of around 3.1% at higher beam energies, which will serve as a crucial baseline for the model-dependent uncertainty in future fragmentation experiments.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Commissioning of the Mu2e tracker DAQ, planning for the Vertical Slice Test and pre-pattern recognition studies

The primary objective of the Mu2e experiment at Fermilab is to search for the neutrino-less coherent $\mu \rightarrow e$ conversion in the field of an aluminum nucleus ($\mu^- \text{Al} \rightarrow e^- \text{Al}$). The signature of this process is a monochromatic Conversion Electron (CE) with an energy of approximately 104.97 MeV \cite{bartoszek2015mu2e}. Within the Standard Model (SM), the branching ratio for this process, including neutrino masses and oscillation, is expected to be less than $\mathcal{O}(10^{-50})$. This value is far beyond current experimental capabilities. However, models of physics beyond the SM predict much higher relative rates, approaching an observable level. The SINDRUM II experiment set an upper limit on muon conversion at $7 \times 10^{-13}$ (90\% CL) on Au target \cite{SINDRUMII:2006dvw}, and the Mu2e collaboration aims to improve this limit by four orders of magnitude. Observing this process would provide a clear evidence of physics beyond the Standard Model. A brief discussion of the theoretical and experimental aspects is provided in Chapter \ref{intr}. Mu2e adopts a sophisticated experimental setup to achieve its goals, further described in Chapter \ref{mu2echapter}. The central part of the Mu2e detector is the tracker, that consists of 18 tracking stations. The tracker must provide excellent momentum resolution, approximately 1 MeV/c, to distinguish the monochromatic CE signal from the background. To minimize the energy losses, a straw tube tracker will be used \cite{bobbb}. Chapter \ref{chaptertrk} provides an overview of the straw tracker design and its working principles. This Thesis presents a comprehensive study of the Mu2e tracker, covering complementary aspects from initial commissioning to optimization and first steps of the calibration processes. My work at Fermilab has been focused on the complete Data Acquisition (DAQ) testing from both hardware and software perspectives. I was involved in the commissioning of the Mu2e DAQ system and the Vertical Slice Test (VST) of the tracker. The VST encompasses the entire testing chain, from the straws to the readout, and to processed data on disk. I was also focused on the offline analysis, especially on pre-pattern recognition studies, to explore the best methods for identifying $\delta$-electrons during the data taking. Chapter \ref{commissioning} details the commissioning of the tracker DAQ system, emphasizing the importance of understanding of the readout process before the data acquisition. This includes validating the readout logic and firmware through Monte Carlo simulations to confirm functionality and buffering, monitoring the quality of the data from the tracker preamplifiers and front-end electronics, and assessing overall DAQ performance to ensure reliability during future calibration and data-taking. Chapter \ref{planning} discusses the initial steps towards the tracker calibration. The ultimate goal is to perform a time calibration of the first assembled station of the tracker using cosmic muons, aiming for a longitudinal hit position resolution better than 4 cm. This involves determining the signal propagation times and channel-to-channel delays. I performed a Monte Carlo study to determine the impact of the station orientation on the quality of the calibration, in particular on the cosmic track reconstruction, focusing on potential biases that could arise. These studies provide essential insights into the operation, optimization, and calibration of the Mu2e tracker system. Given the high data volume expected during Mu2e operations, estimated at approximately 7 PBytes per year, optimizing memory usage and minimizing CPU consumption are critical. A significant challenge lies in effectively flagging $\delta$-electron hits, which are the primary source of hits in the tracker, without compromising the efficiency of CE hit detection and track reconstruction. A detailed study of pre-pattern recognition and a thorough comparison of two $\delta$-electron flagging algorithms is provided in Chapter \ref{delta}. In Chapter \ref{conclusions}, the findings are concisely summarized, offering a comprehensive synthesis of the research and emphasizing the key insights derived from this study.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Enhanced Neutron and γ-Ray Detection via 6 Li Substitution in Undoped and Tl-Doped Zero-Dimensional Perovskite Cs 3 Cu 2 I 5 Scintillators

Radiation detectors are crucial in a wide variety of research and commercial applications, such as oil and gas exploration, medical imaging, nuclear nonproliferation, and homeland security. Neutron and gamma-ray detectors are fundamental components in portal monitors at ports and border crossings, bolstering national security against radiological threats. This study presents a dual-mode scintillator, undoped and Tl-doped 6 Li-Cs 3 Cu 2 I 5 , and demonstrates its potential as a promising material for simultaneous thermal neutron and gamma-ray detection. We explore the Bridgman growth of both undoped and thallium doped Li → Cu and Li → Cs substitutional systems with various Li doping levels and assess their impact on scintillation properties. Under 662 keV gamma-ray excitation, the undoped crystals had light yields up to 35,900 ph/MeV, with energy resolutions down to 4.5%. The Tl-doped crystals performed better than the undoped crystals with light yields peaking at 65,900 ph/MeV and energy resolutions as low as 3.5%. When exposed to a moderated 252 Cf excitation source, our crystals had light yields between 102,900 and 167,200 photons per thermal neutron capture, with a full energy thermal neutron peak reaching 3 MeV in gamma equivalent energy. Pulse shape discrimination studies reveal well-separated gamma and neutron events, resulting in Figure-Of-Merit (FOM) as high as 3.7. Furthermore, these findings highlight the potential of Li-doped Cs 3 Cu 2 I 5 as a viable candidate for next-generation dual-mode scintillators.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A High-Speed, High-Resolution Transition Edge Sensor Spectrometer for Soft X-Rays at the Advanced Photon Source

This project explores the design and development of a transition edge sensor (TES) spectrometer for resonant soft X-ray scattering (RSXS) measurements developed in collaboration between Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Soft X-ray scattering is a powerful technique for studying the electronic and magnetic properties of materials on a microscopic level. However, the lack of high-performance soft X-ray spectrometers has limited the potential of this technique. TES spectrometers have the potential to overcome these limitations due to their high energy resolution, high efficiency, and broad energy range. This project aims to optimize the design of a TES spectrometer for RSXS measurements and more generally soft X-ray spectroscopy at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) 29-ID, leading to improved understanding of advanced materials. We will present a detailed description of the instrument design and implementation. The spectrometer consists of a large array of approximately 250 high-speed and high-resolution pixels. The pixels have saturation energies of approximately 1 keV, sub-ms pulse duration and energy resolution of approximately 1 eV. The array is read out using microwave multiplexing chips with MHz bandwidth per channel, enabling efficient data throughput. To facilitate measurement of samples in situ under ultra-high vacuum conditions at the beamline, the spectrometer is integrated with an approximately 1 m long snout.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Search for Heavy Neutral Leptons at the MINER$\nu$A detector

Heavy Neutral Leptons (HNL) are particles hypothesised to provide a mass generation mechanism for the active (observed) neutrino species, which are known to have nonzero mass from the definitive observation of neutrino oscillations. HNL are eigenstates of mass of the order $\mathcal{O}(0.1 − 1\,\,\mathrm{GeV}/c^{2})$, which mix into the active flavour eigenstates through the extended leptonic mixing matrix. Apart from neutrino mass, they could provide a natural dark matter candidate and a mechanism for matter-antimatter asymmetry in the early Universe, giving rise to today’s matter-dominated cosmos. Searches for HNL typically attempt to either confirm the existence of HNL through an excess in data that is most compatible with an HNL hypothesis, or by setting limits on the HNL parameter space $\left(M_{N4}, \left|U_{\alpha 4}\right|^{2}\right)$ in the case of statistically insignificant excess. Such searches are intensifying as part of a global research programme at both colliders and accelerator / atmospheric neutrino experiments. One such setting is the MINER$\nu$A experiment, located in the NuMI beamline at Fermilab. MINER$\nu$A has collected a large amount of data over seven years of operation to measure the cross-sections of neutrino-nucleus interactions necessary to drive systematic uncertainties down, in order for neutrino oscillation experiments to achieve sensitivity to CP violation in the neutrino sector. With the high-energy, high-intensity NuMI beam, and with good timing, position, and angular resolution leading to sensitivity to HNL decays, MINER$\nu$A is fertile ground for an HNL search, which is performed in this thesis. Specifically, a novel, experiment-agnostic and general simulation of HNL production and decay is presented and deployed; this simulation has been incorporated in the ubiquitous GENIE neutrino event generator for use with neutrino experiments in the future. The event selection and background characterisation is discussed in detail, including the primary background coming from charged-current coherent and diffractive pion production from neutrino-nucleus interactions, and constraints on the background using control regions from MINER$\nu$A data are derived. Finally, by means of a fake-data study given a background of $\mathcal{O}(500)$ events, the discovery potential and limit-setting capacity of MINER$\nu$A is demonstrated, and ways to improve this capacity are expounded upon.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Search for Soft Unclustered Energy Patterns in Proton-Proton Collisions at 13 TeV

The first search for soft unclustered energy patterns (SUEPs) is performed using an integrated luminosity of 138 fb −1 of proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{𝑠}$ = 13 TeV, collected in 2016–2018 by the CMS detector at the LHC. Such SUEPs are predicted by hidden valley models with a new, confining force with a large ’t Hooft coupling. In events with boosted topologies, selected by high-threshold hadronic triggers, the multiplicity and sphericity of clustered tracks are used to reject the background from standard model quantum chromodynamics. With no observed excess of events over the standard model expectation, limits are set on the cross section for production via gluon fusion of a scalar mediator with SUEP-like decays.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Characterization of proton-induced damage in thick, p-channel skipper-CCDs

Here, in this work, we characterize the radiation-induced damage in two thick, p-channel skipper-CCDs irradiated unbiased and at room temperature with 217-MeV protons. We evaluate the overall performance of the sensors and demonstrate their single-electron/single-photon sensitivity after receiving a fluence on the order of 10 10 protons/cm 2 . Using the pocket-pumping technique, we quantify and characterize the proton-induced defects from displacement damage. We report an overall trap density of 0.134 traps/pixel for a displacement damage dose of 2.3 × 10 7 MeV/g. Three main proton-induced trap species were identified, V 2 , C i O i and V n O m , and their characteristic trap energies and cross sections were extracted. We found that while divacancies are the most common proton-induced defects, C i O i defects have a greater impact on charge integrity at typical operating temperatures because their emission-time constants are comparable or larger than typical readout times. To estimate ionization damage, we measure the characteristic output transistor curves. We found no threshold voltage shifts after irradiation. Our results highlight the potential of skipper-CCDs for applications requiring high-radiation tolerance and can be used to find the operating conditions in which effects of radiation-induced damage are mitigated.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Intelligent Experiments through Real-Time AI: Fast Data Processing and Autonomous Detector Control for High-Energy Nuclear Experiments

The aim of this project is to develop software and hardware for fast real-time data processing and autonomous detector control and calibration for the sPHENIX and the future EIC experiments. Below summarizes Georgia Tech team efforts in the past year: 1. We developed a real-time clustering algorithm and FPGA-based pipeline architecture for processing fired pixel data from ALPIDE sensors in sPHENIX experiments. Our Columnar Clustering Co-Design introduces a hardware-aware, stream-friendly approach that segments pixel data by column pairs using a Column Pair Clustering (CPC) strategy, followed by Cluster Stitching to merge adjacent subclusters. Implemented in Vitis HLS, the pipeline comprises five stages—read-in, subclustering, stitching, analysis, and write-out—connected by tagged HLS streams with custom end-of-event signaling for robust synchronization. We designed a pipelined dataflow model optimized for throughput, low latency, and minimal buffering, enabling scalable clustering across events of arbitrary size. Our system maintains spatial precision via center-of-mass and shape key extraction and efficiently handles edge cases such as fragmented or nested clusters. Compared against DBSCAN in both software and hardware, our approach demonstrates competitive performance under FPGA constraints. 2. We also conducted a comprehensive algorithm-to-hardware co-design of connected component analysis tailored for sPHENIX experiments, focusing on real-time, low-latency processing using FPGAs and High-Level Synthesis (HLS). Starting from a Python-based particle tracking pipeline, the team translated the core logic—graph traversal via DFS and Union-Find—into an HLS-compatible C++ model, replacing dynamic memory and recursion with static arrays and pipelined control flow. The final design includes a fully streamed and dataflow-compatible Union-Find kernel optimized across five iterations, incorporating loop pipelining, array partitioning, AXI/FIFO interface tuning, and function flattening. Experimental results show up to 14.8× speedup over the CPU baseline, reducing per-graph latency to 1.58 μs and demonstrating strong resource efficiency with only ~7k LUTs and zero BRAM usage. The design maintains functional correctness against the Python reference using a Python-based C-simulation framework and Mean Squared Error metrics. This work validates the potential of HLS-driven FPGA designs for edge-level HEP data acquisition, laying a scalable foundation for future integration with real-time detector pipelines and multi-graph processing systems.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Optimization of X-ray event screening using ground and in-orbit data for the Resolve instrument onboard the XRISM satellite

The X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite was successfully launched and put into a low-Earth orbit on September 6, 2023 (UT). The Resolve instrument onboard XRISM hosts an X-ray microcalorimeter detector, which was designed to achieve a high-resolution ( ≤ 7 eV FWHM at 6 keV), high-throughput, and non-dispersive spectroscopy over a wide energy range. It also excels in a low background with a requirement of < 2 × 10 -3 s -1 keV -1 (0.3 to 12.0 keV), which is equivalent to only one background event per spectral bin per 100-ks exposure. Event screening to discriminate X-ray events from background is a key to meeting the requirement. We present the result of the Resolve event screening using data sets recorded on the ground and in orbit based on the heritage of the preceding X-ray microcalorimeter missions, in particular, the Soft X-ray Spectrometer onboard ASTRO-H. We optimize and evaluate 19 screening items of three types based on (1) the event pulse shape, (2) relative arrival times among multiple events, and (3) good time intervals. We show that the initial screening, which is applied for science data products in the performance verification phase, reduces the background rate to 1.8 × 10 -3 s -1 keV -1 meeting the requirement. We further evaluate the additional screening utilizing the correlation among some pulse shape properties of X-ray events and show that it further reduces the background rate, particularly in the < 2 keV band. Over 0.3 to 12 keV, the background rate becomes 1.0 × 10 -3 s -1 keV -1 .

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Search for low-mass resonances decaying into two jets and produced in association with a photon or a jet at √s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search is performed for localized excesses in the low-mass dijet invariant mass distribution, targeting a hypothetical new particle decaying into two jets and produced in association with either a high transverse momentum photon or a jet. The search uses the full Run 2 data sample from LHC proton-proton collisions collected by the ATLAS experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV during 2015–2018. Two variants of the search are presented for each type of initial-state radiation: one that makes no jet flavor requirements and one that requires both of the jets to have been identified as containing b-hadrons. No excess is observed relative to the Standard Model prediction, and the data are used to set upper limits on the production cross section for a benchmark Z' model and, separately, for generic, beyond the Standard Model scenarios which might produce a Gaussian-shaped contribution to dijet invariant mass distributions. The results extend the current constraints on dijet resonances to the mass range between 200 and 650 GeV.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The IDEA detector concept for FCC-ee

A detector concept, named IDEA, optimized for the physics and running conditions at the FCC-ee is presented. After discussing the expected running conditions and the main physics drivers, a detailed description of the individual sub-detectors is given. These include: a very light tracking system with a powerful vertex detector inside a large drift chamber surrounded by a silicon wrapper, a high resolution dual readout crystal electromagnetic calorimeter, an HTS based superconducting solenoid, a dual readout fiber calorimeter and three layers of muon chambers embedded in the magnet flux return yoke. Some examples of the expected detector performance, based on fast and full simulation, are also given.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

The performance of missing transverse momentum reconstruction and its significance with the ATLAS detector using 140 $\hbox {fb}^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV pp collisions

This paper presents the reconstruction of missing transverse momentum ($p_{\text {T}}^{\text {miss}}$ ) in proton–proton collisions, at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. This is a challenging task involving many detector inputs, combining fully calibrated electrons, muons, photons, hadronically decaying $\tau$ -leptons, hadronic jets, and soft activity from remaining tracks. Possible double counting of momentum is avoided by applying a signal ambiguity resolution procedure which rejects detector inputs that have already been used. Several $p_{\text {T}}^{\text {miss}}$ ‘working points’ are defined with varying stringency of selections, the tightest improving the resolution at high pile-up by up to 39% compared to the loosest. The $p_{\text {T}}^{\text {miss}}$ performance is evaluated using data and Monte Carlo simulation, with an emphasis on understanding the impact of pile-up, primarily using events consistent with leptonic Z decays. The studies use $140~\text {fb}^{-1}$ of data, collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider between 2015 and 2018. The results demonstrate that $p_{\text {T}}^{\text {miss}}$ reconstruction, and its associated significance, are well understood and reliably modelled by simulation. Finally, the systematic uncertainties on the soft $p_{\text {T}}^{\text {miss}}$ component are calculated. After various improvements the scale and resolution uncertainties are reduced by up to 76% and 51%, respectively, compared to the previous calculation at a lower luminosity.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

First Measurement of Missing Energy due to Nuclear Effects in Monoenergetic Neutrino Charged-Current Interactions

We present the first measurement of the missing energy due to nuclear effects in monoenergetic, muon neutrino charged-current interactions on carbon, originating from 𝐾 + → 𝜇 + ⁢𝜈 𝜇 decay at rest (𝐸 𝜈 𝜇 = 235.5 MeV), performed with the J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at the J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source liquid scintillator based experiment. Toward characterizing the neutrino interaction, ostensibly 𝜈 𝜇 ⁢𝑛 → 𝜇 − ⁢𝑝 or 𝜈 𝜇 ⁢ 12 C → 𝜇 − ⁢ 12 N, we define the missing energy as the energy transferred to the nucleus (𝜔) minus the kinetic energy of the outgoing proton(s), 𝐸 𝑚 ≡ 𝜔−∑ 𝑇 𝑝 , and relate this to visible energy in the detector, 𝐸 𝑚 = 𝐸 𝜈 𝜇 ⁡(235.5 MeV) − 𝑚 𝜇⁡ (105.7 MeV) + [𝑚 𝑛 − 𝑚 𝑝⁡ (1.3 MeV)] − 𝐸 vis . The missing energy, which is naively expected to be zero in the absence of nuclear effects (e.g., nucleon separation energy, Fermi momenta, and final-state interactions), is uniquely sensitive to many aspects of the interaction, and has previously been inaccessible with neutrinos. The shape-only, differential cross section measurement reported, based on a (77 ± 3)% pure double-coincidence kaon decay-at-rest signal (621 total events), provides detailed insight into neutrino-nucleus interactions, allowing even the nuclear orbital shell of the struck nucleon to be inferred. The measurement provides an important benchmark for models and event generators at hundreds of MeV neutrino energies, characterized by the difficult-to-model transition region between neutrino-nucleus and neutrino-nucleon scattering, and relevant for applications in nuclear physics, neutrino oscillation measurements, and Type-II supernova studies.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗