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DOE OSTI2023

The St. Benedict Facility: Probing Fundamental Symmetries through Mixed Mirror $β$-Decays

Precise measurements of nuclear beta decays provide a unique insight into the Standard Model due to their connection to the electroweak interaction. These decays help constrain the unitarity or non-unitarity of the Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa (CKM) quark mixing matrix, and can uniquely probe the existence of exotic scalar or tensor currents. Of these decays, superallowed mixed mirror transitions have been the least well-studied, in part due to the absence of data on their Fermi to Gamow-Teller mixing ratios ($ρ$). At the Nuclear Science Laboratory (NSL) at the University of Notre Dame, the Superallowed Transition Beta-Neutrino Decay Ion Coincidence Trap (St. Benedict) is being constructed to determine the ρ for various mirror decays via a measurement of the beta–neutrino angular correlation parameter ($α_{βν}$) to a relative precision of 0.5%. In this work, we present an overview of the St. Benedict facility and the impact it will have on various Beyond the Standard Model studies, including an expanded sensitivity study of $ρ$ for various mirror nuclei accessible to the facility. A feasibility evaluation is also presented that indicates the measurement goals for many mirror nuclei, which are currently attainable in a week of radioactive beam delivery at the NSL.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Measurement of Compton Scattering at MAMI for the Extraction of the Electric and Magnetic Polarizabilities of the Proton

A precise measurement of the differential cross sections dσ/dΩ and the linearly polarized photon beam asymmetry Σ 3 for Compton scattering on the proton below pion threshold has been performed with a tagged photon beam and almost 4π detector at the Mainz Microtron. The incident photons were produced by the recently upgraded Glasgow-Mainz photon tagging facility and impinged on a cryogenic liquid hydrogen target, with the scattered photons detected in the Crystal Ball/TAPS setup. Using the highest statistics Compton scattering data ever measured on the proton along with two effective field theories (both covariant baryon and heavy-baryon) and one fixed-t dispersion relation model, constraining the fits with the Baldin sum rule, we have obtained the proton electric and magnetic polarizabilities with unprecedented precision: α E1 = 10.99 ± 0.16 ± 0.47 ± 0.17 ± 0.34, β M1 = 3.14 ± 0.21 ± 0.24 ± 0.20 ± 0.35; in units of 10 -4 fm 3 where the errors are statistical, systematic, spin polarizability dependent, and model dependent.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Measurement of Charged Current Inclusive $\bar{V}_\mu$ Interactions and 2p2h Contribution Using the NOvA Near Detector

More precise measurements of the scattering of antineutrinos on nuclei in the few GeV region of incident energy, $E_{\nu}$, can reveal new aspects of $v/\bar{v}$ interactions and of nuclear structure, while providing information crucial to continued progress by neutrino oscillation experiments. This Thesis reports an investigation of charged current $\bar{v}_\mu$ interactions in the predominantly hydrocarbon medium of the NOvA Near Detector. The data are obtained with the detector exposed to a narrow-band $\bar{v}$ µ beam with spectral peak at E ν = 2.0 GeV, for a total accumulated exposure of 12.5×10$^{20}$ protons-on-target. The analysis expresses results in terms of three-momentum transfer,|$\vec{q}$| and available hadronic energy, $E$ avail . These variables approximate (q 0 , |$\vec{q}$|), the variables used in theoretical treatments of lepton scattering on multi-nucleon systems such as in 2-particle-2-hole (2p2h) processes. This Thesis delivers two core measurements: Firstly, the double-dierential cross section $d^2σ/d|\vec{q} |dE_{avail}$ for inclusive CC $\bar{v}_\mu$ interactions in the NOvA detector medium is obtained. The cross section has a roughly gaussian shape in its projection onto |$\vec{q}$|, while being largely concentrated at values of $E$ avail below 100 MeV. The single diferential cross sections dσ/d|$\vec{q}$| and dσ/dE avail are also obtained, and are compared to predictions based on the GENIE v3.0.6 neutrino generator augmented with four different implementations of 2p2h reactions. Secondly, the contribution of 2p2h reactions to the CC inclusive scattering sample is determined. Its presence is characterized in terms of double-differential and single-differential cross sections. The latter 2p2h distributions are compared to predictions from two experimental data-tune models and from two theory-based models, namely the SuSAv2 model and the Valencia model. Both of the theoretical models underpredict the measured cross-section strength and predict a shape for dσ/d|$\vec{q}$| that is flatter than the measured shape. Thus, this Thesis provides new information about CC antineutrino-nucleus scattering in the vicinity of Eν ~ 2 GeV, and it highlights improvements that are needed in theoretical treatments of 2p2h reactions.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Weak charge and weak radius of 12 C

Here, we present a feasibility study of a simultaneous sub-percent extraction of the weak charge and the weak radius of the 12 C nucleus using parity-violating electron scattering, based on a largely model-independent assessment of the uncertainties. The corresponding measurement is considered to be carried out at the future MESA facility in Mainz with E beam = 155 MeV. We find that a combination of a 0.3% precise measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry at forward angles with a 10% measurement at backward angles will allow to determine the weak charge and the weak radius of 12 C with 0.4% and 0.5% precision, respectively. These values could be improved to 0.3% and 0.2% for a 3% backward measurement. This experimental program will have impact on precision low-energy tests in the electroweak sector and nuclear structure.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Studying MeV Scale Neutron Interactions in DUNE ND-LAr 2x2 Demonstrator

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment designed to make high-precision measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters and probe for new physics using a neutrino beam produced at Fermilab and measured at a near detector complex and a far detector located 1,300 km away at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. Precise neutrino energy reconstruction is essential for these measurements, with neutron production in neutrino–argon interactions representing a significant source of systematic uncertainty, as neutrons can carry away significant energy, making their detection and characterization crucial. DUNE’s near detector complex includes ND-LAr, a Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) detector designed to mirror the far detector technology and constrain neutrino–argon interaction systematics. The DUNE 2x2 Demonstrator, a pixelated LArTPC based on the ArgonCube design, serves as a prototype for ND-LAr. During 2x2 operations from October to November 2026, an Americium–Beryllium (AmBe) neutron source was deployed near the detector cryostat to obtain a high-statistics sample of neutron interactions. This poster presents progress in studying MeV-scale neutron interactions in this dataset by identifying de-excitation gammas from neutron capture on argon, providing a method for neutron identification and charge readout system calibration in future DUNE detectors.

Mao, Edgar [Syracuse U.] (ORCID:0009000600893306)↗

DOE OSTI2020

On single-crystal neutron-diffraction in DACs: quantitative structure refinement of light elements on SNAP and TOPAZ

Quantitative single crystal neutron-diffraction in diamond anvil cells has so far been limited by the neutron flux available at the various neutron sources. As a result, highly precise measurements of the exact position of light elements have not been possible preventing, for example, structural studies of hydrogen and hydrogen bonds under pressure. Here we report experiments carried out on SNAP at the Spallation Neutron Source (ORNL, TN, USA) to explore the possibility and current limits of such studies. Furthermore, we benchmarked the obtained data quality with reference experiments carried out on TOPAZ, a dedicated single-crystal instrument.We show that measuring single-crystal diffraction intensities on SNAP is possible to such a precision that we are able to resolve the hydrogen bonds in potassium dideuterium phosphate (DKDP) as well as in ice VI.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Absolute nuclear charge radius by Na-like spectral line separation in high-Z elements

Abstract We describe a novel technique to determine absolute nuclear radii of high- Z nuclides. Utilizing accurate theoretical atomic structure calculations together with precise measurements of extreme ultraviolet transitions in highly charged ions this method allows for precise determinations of absolute nuclear charge radii based upon the well-known nuclear radii of their neighboring elements. This method can work for elements without stable isotopes, and its accuracy may be competitive with current methods (electron scattering and muonic x-ray spectroscopy).

Hosier, A. (ORCID:0000000328366605)↗

DOE OSTI2020

High-resolution spectroscopy of gaseous 83m Kr conversion electrons with the KATRIN experiment

Abstract In this work, we present the first spectroscopic measurements of conversion electrons originating from the decay of metastable gaseous 83m Kr with the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment. The obtained results represent one of the major commissioning milestones for the subsequent direct neutrino mass measurement with KATRIN. The successful campaign demonstrates the functionalities of the KATRIN beamline. Precise measurement of the narrow K-32, L 3 -32, and N 2,3 -32 conversion electron lines allowed to verify the eV-scale energy resolution of the KATRIN main spectrometer necessary for competitive measurement of the absolute neutrino mass scale.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Evaluation of Lattice Light Shift at Low 10 -19 Uncertainty for a Shallow Lattice Sr Optical Clock

A Wannier-Stark optical lattice clock has demonstrated unprecedented measurement precision for optical atomic clocks. Here, we present a systematic evaluation of the lattice light shift, a necessary next step for establishing this system as an accurate atomic clock. With precise control of the atomic motional states in the lattice, we report accurate measurements of the multipolar and the hyperpolar contributions and the operational lattice light shift with a fractional frequency uncertainty of 3.5×10 -19 .

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2024

Measurements of Chemical Potentials in Pb-Pb Collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=5.02 TeV

This Letter presents the most precise measurement to date of the matter-antimatter imbalance at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV. Using the Statistical Hadronization framework, it is possible to obtain the value of the electric charge and baryon chemical potentials, μ Q = -0.18 ± 0.90 MeV and μ B = 0.71 ± 0.45 MeV, with unprecedented precision. A centrality-differential study of the antiparticle-to-particle yield ratios of charged pions, protons, Ω baryons, and light (hyper)nuclei is performed. These results indicate that the system created in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC is on average baryon-free and electrically neutral at midrapidity.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Optimal binning of correlated measurements

Experimental measurements are commonly represented on a discrete grid, requiring a balance between granularity and statistical noise. Two strategies have traditionally been used to improve such representations: selecting an appropriate bin width to control discretization error and applying kernel-based smoothing to suppress fluctuations. Despite their shared goal, these approaches have largely developed independently, without a unified statistical description of how discretization and correlation jointly determine measurement precision. Here, we extend the discussion of optimal interval averaging to a correlation-aware setting by Gaussian process regression, which explicitly accounts for correlations among neighboring bins. Starting from first principles, we derive the mean-squared error of discretized measurements and obtain closed-form asymptotic expressions for the optimal bin width and correlation length. When recast in reduced variables, the theory reveals distinct universal scaling laws governing the error in the correlation-free and correlation-controlled regimes. Characterized by intrinsically smooth intensity profiles and counting-based statistics, neutron scattering measurements are well suited for demonstrating the enhanced error contraction enabled by inter-bin correlations. We show that such improvement is achievable over the experimentally accessible Q-range and across multiple instruments and material systems. These results show that explicitly accounting for correlations systematically reshapes the limits of precision in discretized, noise-limited measurements. More broadly, the framework provides a transferable statistical foundation for optimizing data representation, inference, and experimental design across the physical and data sciences.

Tung, Chi-Huan [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000221972074)↗

DOE OSTI2020

Measuring the Weak Mixing Angle in the DUNE near-Detector Complex

The planned DUNE experiment will have excellent sensitivity to the vector and axial couplings of the electron to the $Z$-boson via precision measurements of neutrino--electron scattering. We investigate the sensitivity of DUNE-PRISM, a movable near detector in the direction perpendicular to the beam line, and find that it will qualitatively impact our ability to constrain the weak couplings of the electron. We translate these neutrino--electron scattering measurements into a determination of the weak mixing angle at low scales and estimate that, with seven years of data taking, the DUNE near-detector can be used to measure $\sin^2\theta_W$ with better than 2% precision. We also discuss the impact of combining neutrino--electron scattering data with neutrino trident production at DUNE-PRISM.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Muon flux measurement at China Jinping Underground Laboratory

China Jinping Underground Laboratory (CJPL) is ideal for studying solar, geo-, and supernova neutrinos. A precise measurement of the cosmic-ray background is essential in proceeding with R&D research for these MeV-scale neutrino experiments. Using a 1-ton prototype detector for the Jinping Neutrino Experiment (JNE), we detected 264 high-energy muon events from a 645.2-day dataset from the first phase of CJPL (CJPL-I), reconstructed their directions, and measured the cosmic-ray muon flux to be $(3.53\pm0.22_{\rm{stat.}}\pm0.07_{\rm{sys.}})\times10^{-10}$ cm $^{-2}$s $^{-1}$. The observed angular distributions indicate the leakage of cosmic-ray muon background and agree with simulation data accounting for Jinping mountain's terrain. A survey of muon fluxes at different laboratory locations, considering both those situated under mountains and those down mine shafts, indicates that the flux at the former is generally a factor of $(4\pm2)$ larger than at the latter, with the same vertical overburden. In conclusion, this study provides a convenient back-of-the-envelope estimation for the muon flux of an underground experiment.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2020

An Extreme-precision Radial-velocity Pipeline: First Radial Velocities from EXPRES

The EXtreme-PREcision Spectrograph (EXPRES) is an environmentally stabilized, fiber-fed, R = 137,500, optical spectrograph. It was recently commissioned at the 4.3 m Lowell Discovery Telescope near Flagstaff, Arizona. The spectrograph was designed with a target radial-velocity (RV) precision of 30 cm s{sup −1}. In addition to instrumental innovations, the EXPRES pipeline, presented here, is the first on-sky, optical, fiber-fed spectrograph to employ many novel techniques—including an “extended flat” fiber used for wavelength-dependent quantum efficiency characterization of the CCD, a flat-relative optimal extraction algorithm, chromatic barycentric corrections, chromatic calibration offsets, and an ultra-precise laser frequency comb for wavelength calibration. We describe the reduction, calibration, and RV analysis pipeline used for EXPRES and present an example of our current sub-meter-per-second RV measurement precision, which reaches a formal, single-measurement error of 0.3 m s{sup −1} for an observation with a per-pixel signal-to-noise ratio of 250. These velocities yield an orbital solution on the known exoplanet host 51 Peg that matches literature values with a residual rms of 0.895 m s{sup −1}.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Electron Polarimetry

Electron polarimetry benefits from the ability to use processes with well- known analyzing powers, hence enabling high precision measurements. Several techniques are employed to measure electron beam polarization, including Mott, Møller, and Compton polarimetry. Each technique has particular advantages and disadvantages, depending on the application. This chapter will focus on the tech- niques used to measure electron beam polarization, with particular emphasis on the challenges and requirements for achieving high precision. The development of a conceptual design of a Compton polarimeter for the future Electron Ion Collider will also be discussed.

Gaskell, David↗

DOE OSTI2020

Prospects and limitations for constraining light relics with primordial abundance measurements

The light relic density affects the thermal and expansion history of the early Universe, leaving a number of observable imprints. We focus on the primordial abundances of light elements produced during the process of big bang nucleosynthesis that are influenced by the light relic density. Primordial abundances can be used to infer the density of light relics and thereby serve as a probe of physics beyond the standard model. We calculate the observational uncertainty on primordial light element abundances and associated quantities that would be required in order for these measurements to achieve sensitivity to the light relic density comparable to that anticipated from upcoming cosmic microwave background surveys. We identify the nuclear reaction rates that need to be better measured to maximize the utility of future observations. In this work, we show that improved measurements of the primordial helium-4 abundance can improve constraints on light relics, while more precise measurements of the primordial deuterium abundance are unlikely to be competitive with cosmic microwave background measurements of the light relic density.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Detailed report on the measurement of the positive muon anomalous magnetic moment to 0.20 ppm

We present details on a new measurement of the muon magnetic anomaly, a μ =(g μ −2)/2. The result is based on positive muon data taken at Fermilab’s Muon Campus during the 2019 and 2020 accelerator runs. The measurement uses 3.1 GeV/c polarized muons stored in a 7.1-m-radius storage ring with a 1.45 T uniform magnetic field. The value of a μ is determined from the measured difference between the muon spin precession frequency and its cyclotron frequency. This difference is normalized to the strength of the magnetic field, measured using nuclear magnetic resonance. The ratio is then corrected for small contributions from beam motion, beam dispersion, and transient magnetic fields. We measure a μ =116592057(25)×10 −11 (0.21 ppm). This is the world’s most precise measurement of this quantity and represents a factor of 2.2 improvement over our previous result based on the 2018 dataset. In combination, the two datasets yield a μ (FNAL)=116592055(24)×10 −11 (0.20 ppm). Combining this with the measurements from Brookhaven National Laboratory for both positive and negative muons, the new world average is a μ (exp)=116592059(22)×10 −11 (0.19 ppm).

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Siena Galaxy Atlas 2020

Abstract We present the 2020 version of the Siena Galaxy Atlas (SGA-2020), a multiwavelength optical and infrared imaging atlas of 383,620 nearby galaxies. The SGA-2020 uses optical grz imaging over ≈20,000 deg 2 from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Legacy Imaging Surveys Data Release 9 and infrared imaging in four bands (spanning 3.4–22 μ m) from the 6 year unWISE coadds; it is more than 95% complete for galaxies larger than R (26) ≈ 25″ and r < 18 measured at the 26 mag arcsec −2 isophote in the r band. The atlas delivers precise coordinates, multiwavelength mosaics, azimuthally averaged optical surface-brightness profiles, model images and photometry, and additional ancillary metadata for the full sample. Coupled with existing and forthcoming optical spectroscopy from the DESI, the SGA-2020 will facilitate new detailed studies of the star formation and mass assembly histories of nearby galaxies; enable precise measurements of the local velocity field via the Tully–Fisher and fundamental plane relations; serve as a reference sample of lasting legacy value for time-domain and multimessenger astronomical events; and more.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗