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At least 235 records · Page 13

Longitudinal form Factors of A ≤ 10 Nuclei in a Chiral Effective Field Theory Approach

Here, in this work, we present the elastic electron scattering longitudinal form factors of A ≤ 10 nuclei computed in a variational Monte Carlo approach. We employ the Norfolk family of local chiral interactions and a consistent electromagnetic charge operator. Our calculations are compared both to data and past theoretical evaluations. This work represents, to our knowledge, the first accurate calculation of longitudinal form factors using manybody methods based on interacting nucleon degrees of freedom in the 7 ≤ A ≤ 10 mass range. Finally, we identify 9 Be and 10 B as candidate targets for renewed experimental interest, as they exhibit the potential to provide more stringent constraints on the theoretical models.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The CLAS12 Forward Tagger

This document presents the technical layout and the performance of the CLAS12 Forward Tagger (FT). The FT, composed of an electromagnetic calorimeter based on PbWO$_4$ crystals (FT-Cal), a scintillation hodoscope (FT-Hodo), and several layers of Micromegas trackers (FT-Trk), has been designed to detect electrons and photons scattered at polar angles from 2$^\circ$ to 5$^\circ$ and to meet the physics goals of the hadron spectroscopy program and other experiments running with the CLAS12 spectrometer in Hall B.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

An all-digital associated particle imaging system for the 3D determination of isotopic distributions

Associated particle imaging (API) is a non-destructive nuclear technique for the 3D determination of isotopic distributions. By detecting the alpha particle associated with the emitted neutron in the deuterium–tritium fusion reaction with a position- and time-resolving detector, the direction of the 14.1 MeV neutron and its time of emission can be determined. Employing this method, isotope characteristic gamma rays emitted in inelastic neutron scattering events can be correlated with the neutron interaction location. Here, an API system consisting of a sealed-type neutron generator, gamma detectors, and a position-sensitive alpha detector was designed, constructed, and characterized. The system was tested with common soil elements and shown to be sensitive to 12 C, 16 O, 28 Si, 27 Al, and 56 Fe. New aspects of our approach are the use of a yttrium–aluminum–perovskite scintillator, using a sapphire window instead of a fiber-optic faceplate for light transport to the photomultiplier, and the all-digital data acquisition system. We present a description of the system with simulations and experimental results that show a position resolution on the alpha detector of 1 mm, a depth resolution using a LaBr 3 detector of 6.2 cm, and an angular resolution of 4.5°. Additionally, we present single-element gamma response measurements for the elements mentioned above together with a comparison to Monte Carlo simulations (MCNP6).

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Lepton-nucleus cross section measurements for DUNE with the LDMX detector

We point out that the LDMX (Light Dark Matter eXperiment) detector design, conceived to search for sub-GeV dark matter, will also have very advantageous characteristics to pursue electron-nucleus scattering measurements of direct relevance to the neutrino program at DUNE and elsewhere. These characteristics include a 4-GeV electron beam, a precision tracker, electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters with near 2 π azimuthal acceptance from the forward beam axis out to ~ 40 ° angle, and low reconstruction energy threshold. LDMX thus could provide (semi)exclusive cross section measurements, with detailed information about final-state electrons, pions, protons, and neutrons. We compare the predictions of two widely used neutrino generators ( genie , g i buu ) in the LDMX region of acceptance to illustrate the large modeling discrepancies in electron-nucleus interactions at DUNE-like kinematics. We argue that discriminating between these predictions is well within the capabilities of the LDMX detector.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Quasielastic lepton scattering and back-to-back nucleons in the short-time approximation

Understanding quasielastic electron- and neutrino-scattering from nuclei has taken on new urgency with current and planned neutrino oscillation experiments, and with electron scattering experiments measuring specific final states, such as those involving nucleon pairs in “back-to-back” configurations. Accurate many-body methods are available for calculating the response of light (A ≤ 12) nuclei to electromagnetic and weak probes, but they are computationally intensive and only applicable to the inclusive response. In the present work we introduce a novel approach, based on realistic models of nuclear interactions and currents, to evaluate the short-time (high-energy) inclusive and exclusive response of nuclei. The approach accounts reliably for crucial two-nucleon dynamics, including correlations and currents, and provides information on back-to-back nucleons observed in electron and neutrino scattering experiments. We demonstrate that in the quasielastic regime and at moderate momentum transfers both initial- and final-state correlations, and two-nucleon currents are important for a quantitatively successful description of the inclusive response and final state nucleons. Finally, the approach can be extended to include relativistic—kinematical and dynamical—effects, at least approximately in the two-nucleon sector, and to describe the response in the resonance-excitation region.

6 ≤ A ≤ 19↗

Small-angle neutron polarimetry apparatus (SANPA): Development at the NIST Center for Neutron Research

Spherical neutron polarimetry directly measures the rotation of the neutron polarization after scattering from materials with magnetic structure. It is an under utilized measurement technique that is capable of measuring all nine elements of the polarization tensor of a material. In this article, we describe our new cryogen-free small-angle neutron polarimetry apparatus and infrastructure at the NIST Center for Neutron Research. The resulting apparatus is capable of continuous operation and is designed for measurements at low temperatures (4–8 K) using niobium Meissner shielding and mu-metal shielding to produce a zero-field (≤1 μT) cooling sample environment.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Inverse-kinematics proton scattering from S 42 , 44 , P 41 , 43 , and the collapse of the N = 28 major shell closure

Excited states of the neutron-rich isotopes S 42 , 44 and P 41 , 43 have been investigated via inverse-kinematics proton scattering from a liquid hydrogen target, using the GRETINA γ -ray tracking array to extract inelastic-scattering cross sections. Deformation lengths of the 2 1 + excitations in S 42 , 44 have been observed and, when combined with deformation lengths determined with electromagnetic probes, yield the ratio of neutron-to-proton matrix elements M n / M p for the 2 1 + excitations in these nuclei. The present results for P 41 , 43 ( p , p ' ) are used to compare two shell-model interactions, SDPF-U and SDPF-MU. As in a recent study of Si 42 , the present results on P 41 , 43 favor the SDPF-MU interaction.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

First measurement of the Ti ( e , e ' ) X cross section at Jefferson Lab

To probe CP violation in the leptonic sector using GeV energy neutrino beams in current and future experiments using argon detectors, precise models of the complex underlying neutrino and antineutrino interactions are needed. The E12-14-012 experiment at Jefferson Lab Hall A was designed to perform a combined analysis of inclusive and exclusive electron scatterings on both argon (N = 22) and titanium (Z = 22) nuclei using GeV-energy electron beams. The measurement on titanium nucleus provides essential information to understand the neutrino scattering on argon, large contribution to which comes from scattering off neutrons. Here we report the first experimental study of electron-titanium scattering as double-differential cross section at beam energy E = 2.222 GeV and electron-scattering angle θ = 15.541°, measured over a broad range of energy transfer, spanning the kinematical regions in which quasielastic scattering and delta production are the dominant reaction mechanisms. In conclusion, the data provide valuable new information needed to develop accurate theoretical models of the electromagnetic and weak cross sections of these complex nuclei in the kinematic regime of interest to neutrino experiments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Designer Spatial Control of Interactions in Ultracold Gases

Designer optical control of interactions in ultracold atomic gases has wide applications, from creating new quantum phases to modeling the physics of black holes. We demonstrate wide tunability and spatial control of interactions in a two-component cloud of 6 Li fermions, using electromagnetically induced transparency. With two control fields detuned ≃1.5 THz from atomic resonance, megahertz changes in the frequency of one optical beam tune the measured scattering length over the full range achieved by magnetic control, with negligible (10 –6 ) effect on the net optical confining potential. A 1D “sandwich” of resonantly and weakly interacting regions is imprinted on the trapped cloud and broadly manipulated with sub-MHz frequency changes. Here, all of the data are in excellent agreement with our continuum-dressed state theoretical model of optical control, which includes both the spatial and momentum dependence of the scattering amplitude.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Novel Measurement of the Neutron Magnetic Form Factor from A=3 Mirror Nuclei

The electromagnetic form factors of the proton and neutron encode information on the spatial structure of their charge and magnetization distributions. While measurements of the proton are relatively straightforward, the lack of a free neutron target makes measurements of the neutron's electromagnetic structure more challenging and more sensitive to experimental or model-dependent uncertainties. Various experiments have attempted to extract the neutron form factors from scattering from the neutron in deuterium, with different techniques providing different, and sometimes large, systematic uncertainties. We present results from a novel measurement of the neutron magnetic form factor using quasielastic scattering from the mirror nuclei 3 H and 3 He, where the nuclear effects are larger than for deuterium but expected to largely cancel in the cross-section ratios. We extracted values of the neutron magnetic form factor for low-to-modest momentum transfer, 0.6 < Q 2 < 2.9 GeV 2 , where existing measurements give inconsistent results. The precision and Q 2 range of these data allow for a better understanding of the current world’s data and suggest a path toward further improvement of our overall understanding of the neutron’s magnetic form factor.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Relativistic approach to manipulating angular distribution of charged particles via kinetic equations

Deflection angles of charged particles interacting with materials play a critical role in various plasma applications. The development of a mathematically well-posed kinetic collision operator that accounts for deflection angles of strong Coulomb interactions remains a fundamental open problem. This paper presents a relativistic method for modifying the electromagnetic field in an anisotropic and adjustable manner to manipulate a system of charged particles, specifically by the transfer of angular momentum from a superluminal wave source to particles at specific times and locations. The method provides a mechanism to influence the scattering outcomes of strong interactions by manipulating the angular distribution of particles, and thus the deflection angles of their interactions with a solid surface, without requiring detailed knowledge of the kinetic collision operator. To this end, we demonstrate how a specific type of singularity, generated by Maxwell's equations for a superluminal wave source at the boundary of the plasma, can modify the electromagnetic field in a highly directional manner. The proposed method can lead to the development of novel approaches for controlling interactions of charged particles with a material in plasma systems. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Moini, Nima (ORCID:0009000929568824)↗

Scattering of Radio Frequency Waves by Density Fluctuations in Tokamak Plasmas

In tokamak fusion plasmas, coherent fluctuations in the form of blobs or filaments and incoherent fluctuations due to turbulence are routinely observed in the scrape-off layer. Radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves, excited by antenna structures placed near the wall of a tokamak, have to propagate through the scrape-off layer before reaching the core of the plasma. RF waves in the electron cyclotron and lower hybrid range of frequencies are commonly used to modify the current profile. In the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), electron cyclotron waves are expected to stabilize the neoclassical tearing mode by providing current in the island region. While the effect of fluctuations on RF waves has not been quantified experimentally, there are telltale signs, arising from differences between results from simulations and from experiments, that fluctuations can modify the spectrum of RF waves. Consequently, pioneering theoretical studies and complementary computer simulations have been pursued to elucidate the impact of fluctuations on RF waves. These studies, using the full complement of Maxwell's equations for a cold, magnetized plasma, show that the Poynting flux in the wake of the filament develops spatial structure due to diffraction and shadowing. The uniformity of power flow into the plasma is affected by side-scattering, modifications to the wave spectrum, and coupling to plasma waves other than the incident RF wave. The Snell's law and the Fresnel equations have been reformulated within the context of magnetized plasmas. These are distinctly different from their counterparts in scalar dielectric media, and reveal new and important physical insight into the scattering of RF waves. All of these studies apply to the scattering of RF waves in any frequency range and for arbitrary variations in density.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

QED medium effects in (anti)neutrino-nucleus and electron-nucleus scattering: Elastic scattering on nucleons

Interpretation of current and future neutrino oscillation and electron scattering experiments requires knowledge of lepton-nucleon and lepton-nucleus interactions at the percent level. We study the exchange of photons between charged particles and the nuclear medium for (anti)neutrino-, electron-, and muon-induced reactions inside a large nucleus. While quantum electrodynamics (QED)-medium contributions are formally suppressed by two powers of the electromagnetic coupling constant α when compared to the leading-order cross sections, low-energy modes and the nuclear size enhance the effect by orders of magnitude. They require a proper infrared regularization, which we implement as a screening of the electromagnetic interactions at atomic length scales or above. We provide approximate analytic expressions for the distortion of (anti)neutrino-nucleus and charged lepton-nucleus cross sections and evaluate the QED-medium effects for realistic values of the screening scale on the example of elastic scattering with nucleons inside the nucleus. We find new permille- to percent-level effects, which were not considered in either (anti)neutrino-nucleus or electron-nucleus scattering.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Progress of Geant4 electromagnetic physics developments and applications

We report on developments of the Geant4 electromagnetic physics sub-libraries of Geant4 release 10.4 and beyond. Modifications are introduced to the models of photoelectric effect, bremsstrahlung, gamma conversion, single and multiple scattering. The theory-based Goudsmit-Saunderson model of electron/positron multiple scattering has been recently reviewed and a new improved version, providing the most accurate results for scattering of electrons and positrons, was made available. The updated interfaces, models and configurations have already been integrated into LHC applications and may be useful for any type of simulations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Probability of radiation of twisted photons in the infrared domain

Highlights: •Infrared asymptotics of twisted photon radiation in QED is studied. •General selection rules for the twisted photon radiation are proved. •Exact formulas for the twisted photon edge radiation are obtained. •Edge radiation is a superradiant source of twisted photons in the infrared domain. -- Abstract: The infrared asymptotics of the probability of radiation of twisted photons in an arbitrary scattering process of quantum electrodynamics in vacuum is investigated. This asymptotics is universal and corresponds to the radiation produced by a classical current. Such radiation is known as edge radiation. We represent it in terms of twisted photons, and exact analytical formulas for the average number of radiated twisted photons are derived. We find the average projection of the total angular momentum of the edge radiation and the angular momentum per photon. It is shown that edge radiation can be used as a source of twisted photons with a large angular momentum. Moreover, this radiation can be employed as a superradiant coherent source of twisted photons in the infrared domain, in particular, the THz part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Several general selection rules for the radiation and absorption of twisted photons are proved. In particular, these selection rules allow one to modulate the one-particle radiation probability by means of scattering of charged particles on symmetrically arranged crystals.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Diffraction of waves by a perfect electromagnetic conductor half-plane between isorefractive media

In this study, diffraction of waves by a perfectly electromagnetic conductor half-plane which is lying at the boundary of isorefractive media is investigated. The diffracted field expressions are constructed by using the relation between scattered geometrical optics fields and the transition boundaries. The high frequency asymptotic expressions of diffracted fields reach infinite magnitude values at the transition boundaries. The uniform expressions of fields are obtained by using the uniform theory of diffraction method in order to obtain the finite magnitude values at the transition boundaries and the results are analyzed numerically for different set of parameters.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

The BigBite Calorimeter for the Super Bigbite Spectrometer Program at Jefferson Lab

Here, we report features of the design, construction, installation, and performance of the BigBite Calorimeter (BBCal), a lead-glass electromagnetic calorimeter constructed as part of the BigBite Spectrometer (BBS), which served as the electron arm for the Super Bigbite Spectrometer (SBS) program of high-precision neutron electromagnetic form factor measurements in Hall A at Jefferson Lab. As a total-absorption calorimeter, BBCal provided the primary electron trigger for BBS, detecting quasi-elastically scattered electrons in the 1–4 GeV energy range with an energy resolution of approximately 6.2%, position resolution of 1.2 cm, and timing resolution of 0.5 ns.

BBCal↗

Search for in-band transitions in the candidate superdeformed band in Si 28

Background: Superdeformed (SD) bands are suggested by theory around Ca 40 and in lighter alpha-conjugate nuclei such as Mg 24 , Si 28 , and S 32 . Such predictions originate from a number of theoretical models including mean-field models and antisymmetrized molecular dynamics (AMD) calculations. While SD bands have been identified in Ca 40 and its near neighbors, evidence of their existence in the lighter, midshell nuclei is circumstantial at best. Additionally, the key evidence of superdeformation would be the observation of transitions with high B ( E 2 ) transition strengths connecting states in a rotational sequence. This is challenging information to obtain since the bands lie at a high excitation energy and competition from out-of-band decay is dominant. Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to establish a new methodology to circumvent the difficulties in identifying and quantifying in-band transitions through directly populating candidate states in the SD band in Si 28 through inelastic alpha scattering, selecting such states with a spectrometer, and measuring their gamma-ray decay with a large array of high-purity germanium detectors, allowing direct access to electromagnetic transition strengths. Methods: Excited states in Si 28 were populated in the Si 28 ( α , α ' ) reaction using a 130-MeV He 4 beam from the K140 AVF cyclotron at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics. Outgoing alpha particles were analyzed using the Grand Raiden spectrometer positioned at an angle of 9 . 1 ° to favor the population of states with J ≈ 4 . Coincident gamma rays were detected with the CAGRA array of 12 HPGe clover detectors augmented by a set of four large LaBr 3 detectors. Results: Data analysis showed that it was possible to identify additional low-energy transitions in competition with high-energy decays from excited states in Si 28 in the vicinity of 10 MeV. However, while the candidate 4 + SD state at 10.944 MeV was populated, a 1148-keV transition to the candidate 2 + SD state at 9.796 MeV was not observed, and only an upper limit for its transition strength of B ( E 2 ) < 43 W.u. could be established. This contradicts AMD predictions of ≈ 200 W.u. for such a transition. Conclusion: The present study strongly rejects the hypothesis that the candidate set of states identified in Si 28 represents an SD band, which demonstrates the potential of the methodology devised here.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗