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Dark matter searches and energy accumulation and release in materials

Efforts to identify dark matter by detecting nuclear recoils produced by dark matter particles reveal low-energy backgrounds of unknown origin in different types of detectors. In many cases, energy accumulation and delayed burst-like releases of stored energy could provide an explanation. These dynamics follow Prigogine’s ideas on systems with energy flow and the general Self-Organized Criticality scenario. We compare these models with properties of excess backgrounds in cryogenic solid-state detectors, relaxation processes in glasses and crystals, our observations of delayed luminescence in NaI(Tl), and make predictions for more phenomena present in these systems and in superconducting photon detectors and qubits. Experiments to create accurate phenomenological models are needed.

Pereverzev, Sergey↗

Astro Skipper-CCD Detector

Cosmologists have determined that the majority of the universe is composed of dark energy and nonbaryonic (not made of atoms) dark matter. Dark energy is an unknown form of energy, hypothesized to be the cause of the accelerating expansion of the universe. Dark matter can not be detected electromagnetically, however cosmologists are confident it exists because of its gravitational effect on galaxies. In spiral galaxies, we observe stars that orbit at speeds that can not be accounted for by the gravitational force of visible matter. This puzzling result is contrary to standard Newtonian gravity, yet makes sense if one assumes the gravitational effects of an unseen mass[1]. Better, more sensitive detectors are required to perform detailed measurements of faint stars and galaxies that will allow us to further understand these phenomena.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DESI DR2 Reference Mocks: Clustering results from UCHUU ELGs and QSOs

High-redshift galaxy clustering provides a powerful probe of the growth of structure, testing models of dark matter, dark energy, and galaxy formation during the epoch when the Universe was rapidly evolving. Emission line galaxies (ELGs) and quasars (QSOs) are used as tracers of dark matter by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) to probe this redshift regime. We present results from ELG and QSO mock catalogs created from the Uchuu N-body simulation and tuned to DESI Data Release 2 (DR2) clustering. Employing a modified subhalo abundance matching (SHAM) technique, we populate Uchuu halos and subhalos with QSOs between 0.8 < z < 2.1. For ELGs, we modify this method to select satellite galaxies with low velocities relative to their associated central halos, and populate a separate set of Uchuu halos and subhalos with ELGs between 0.8 < z < 1.6. In this paper, we reproduce the redshift evolution of number density and clustering statistics across the fitted range of scales. We also measure the large-scale clustering bias of both the data and mock samples. These results improve simulated lightcone construction from cosmological models and enhance our understanding of the galaxy-halo connection.

Vaisakh, R. [Southern Methodist U.] (ORCID:0009000↗

Opportunities for DOE National Laboratory-led QuantISED Experiments

A subset of QuantISED Sensor PIs met virtually on May 26, 2020 to discuss a response to a charge by the DOE Office of High Energy Physics. In this document, we summarize the QuantISED sensor community discussion, including a consideration of HEP science enabled by quantum sensors, describing the distinction between Quantum 1.0 and Quantum 2.0, and discussing synergies/complementarity with the new DOE NQI centers and with research supported by other SC offices. Quantum 2.0 advances in sensor technology offer many opportunities and new approaches for HEP experiments. The DOE HEP QuantISED program could support a portfolio of small experiments based on these advances. QuantISED experiments could use sensor technologies that exemplify Quantum 2.0 breakthroughs. They would strive to achieve new HEP science results, while possibly spinning off other domain science applications or serving as pathfinders for future HEP science targets. QuantISED experiments should be led by a DOE laboratory, to take advantage of laboratory technical resources, infrastructure, and expertise in the safe and efficient construction, operation, and review of experiments. The QuantISED PIs emphasized that the quest for HEP science results under the QuantISED program is distinct from the ongoing DOE HEP programs on the energy, intensity, and cosmic frontiers. There is robust evidence for the existence of particles and phenomena beyond the Standard Model, including dark matter, dark energy, quantum gravity, and new physics responsible for neutrino masses, cosmic inflation, and the cosmic preference for matter over antimatter. Where is this physics and how do we find it? The QuantISED program can exploit new capabilities provided by quantum technology to probe these kinds of science questions in new ways and over a broader range of science parameters than can be achieved with conventional techniques.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Review of Particle Physics

The Review summarizes much of particle physics and cosmology. Using data from previous editions, plus 3,324 new measurements from 878 papers, we list, evaluate, and average measured properties of gauge bosons and the recently discovered Higgs boson, leptons, quarks, mesons, and baryons. We summarize searches for hypothetical particles such as supersymmetric particles, heavy bosons, axions, dark photons, etc. Particle properties and search limits are listed in Summary Tables. We give numerous tables, figures, formulae, and reviews of topics such as Higgs Boson Physics, Supersymmetry, Grand Unified Theories, Neutrino Mixing, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Cosmology, Particle Detectors, Colliders, Probability and Statistics. Among the 120 reviews are many that are new or heavily revised, including a new review on High Energy Soft QCD and Diffraction and one on the Determination of CKM Angles from B Hadrons. The Review is divided into two volumes. Volume 1 includes the Summary Tables and 98 review articles. Volume 2 consists of the Particle Listings and contains also 22 reviews that address specific aspects of the data presented in the Listings. The complete Review (both volumes) is published online on the website of the Particle Data Group (pdg.lbl.gov) and in a journal. Volume 1 is available in print as the PDG Book. A Pariicle Physics Booklet with the Summary Tables and essential tables, figures, and equations from selected review articles is available in print and as a web version optimized for use on phones as well as an Android app.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Dartmouth Theory Group: The Physics of the Universe

1. What were the major goals of the project? Under this project, the senior investigator Robert Caldwell (PI) conducted research that addresses outstanding problems in cosmology. This project built on the PI’s ongoing research program in dark energy and cosmic acceleration, cosmology as a probe of fundamental physics, and new gravitational phenomena. Other faculty conducting research under this project were: Stephon Alexander, Marcelo Gleiser, and Devin Walker. Specific results have included predictions of new physics that informs and helps guide Cosmic Frontier observational probes of dark energy, dark matter, and CMB probes pursuing B-mode polarization. 2. What was accomplished under these goals? The project accomplished the primary goals: to extend the state of knowledge of dark energy, inflation, and the phases of the early Universe; to identify new observations and measurements that may help identify the underlying physics of the cosmos; to develop new analysis techniques that enhance the value of exist

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Studies to Improve the Sensitivity to Low Energy Interactions in Dual-Phase Xenon Dark Matter Detectors. Department of Energy Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program, Final project report

Noble liquid time projection chambers (TPCs) are some of the most sensitive particle detectors ever developed. They see use in searches for new physics with neutrinos, or for new particles like dark matter. They work by sensing light and charge signals left behind by particle interactions in a volume of liquified xenon or argon. TPCs are so sensitive that even a single electron liberated in an interaction can be readily detected. However this sensitivity to signals comes with a sensitivity to background noise, with one example being single electrons that arrive long after the signals from a true particle interaction. This type of noise has been the subject of multiple studies, which have concluded that single electron backgrounds are well correlated with prior events in the TPC, as well as impurities in the detection medium. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), the XeNu TPC is a testbed for a novel study of these backgrounds by generating data with new components made of aluminum and Shapal--the latter being an exotic ceramic which can be machined using standard tools. These materials were selected to replace plastic components which introduce impurities in the TPC during operation. Without plastic, the hope is that electron backgrounds will be reduced, leaving new opportunities for studying their origins and dependence on impurities. The SCGSR fellowship served as a springboard to help meet these objectives. Over the course of a year, the new components were designed, fabricated, and installed in XeNu. Following their installation, data was taken for use in a future study that will enable the electron background contributions from plastic components to be studied directly. In the interim, preliminary analysis results indicate that electron backgrounds with the new components are roughly 50% lower. This has established the efficacy of Shapal as a low-background replacement for plastic components where electrical and thermal stability are needed

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Positive Neutrino Masses with DESI DR2 via Matter Conversion to Dark Energy

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is a massively parallel spectroscopic survey on the Mayall telescope at Kitt Peak, which has released measurements of baryon acoustic oscillations determined from over 14 million extragalactic targets. We combine DESI Data Release 2 with CMB datasets to search for evidence of matter conversion to dark energy (DE), focusing on a scenario mediated by stellar collapse to cosmologically coupled black holes (CCBHs). In this physical model, which has the same number of free parameters as Λ⁢CDM, DE production is determined by the cosmic star formation rate density (SFRD), allowing for distinct early- and late-time cosmologies. Using two SFRDs to bracket current observations, we find that the CCBH model: accurately recovers the cosmological expansion history, agrees with early-time baryon abundance measured by BBN, reduces tension with the local distance ladder, and relaxes constraints on the summed neutrino mass ∑𝑚 𝜈 . For these SFRDs, we find a peaked positive ∑𝑚 𝜈 < 0.149 eV (95% confidence) and ∑𝑚 𝜈 = 0.106$^{+0.050}_{−0.069}$ eV, respectively, in good agreement with lower limits from neutrino oscillation experiments. A peak in ∑𝑚 𝜈 > 0 results from late-time baryon consumption in the CCBH scenario and is expected to be a general feature of any model that converts sufficient matter to dark energy during and after reionization.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The James Webb Space Telescope: Extending the Science

The science objectives of the James Webb Space Telescope fall into four themes. The End of the Dark Ages: First Light and Reionization theme seeks to identify the first luminous sources to form and to determine the ionization history of the universe. The Assembly of Galaxies theme seeks to determine how galaxies and the dark matter, gas, stars, metals, morphological structures, and black holes within them evolved from the epoch of reionization to the present. The Birth of Stars and Protoplanetary Systems theme seeks to unravel the birth and early evolution of stars, from infall onto dust-enshrouded protostars, to the genesis of planetary systems. The Planetary Systems and the Origins of Life theme seeks. to determine the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems around nearby stars and of our own, and to investigate the potential for life in those systems. These four science themes were used to establish the design requirements for the observatory and instrumentation. Since Webb's capabilities are unique, those science themes will remain relevant through launch and operations and goals contained within these themes will continue to guide the design and implementation choices for the mission. More recently, it has also become clear that Webb will make major contributions to other areas of research, including dark energy, dark matter, exoplanet characterization and Solar System objects. In this paper, I review the original four science themes and discuss how the scientific output of Webb will extend to these new areas of research.

Gardner, Jonathan P.↗

Review of Particle Physics

Abstract The Review summarizes much of particle physics and cosmology. Using data from previous editions, plus 2,143 new measurements from 709 papers, we list, evaluate, and average measured properties of gauge bosons and the recently discovered Higgs boson, leptons, quarks, mesons, and baryons. We summarize searches for hypothetical particles such as supersymmetric particles, heavy bosons, axions, dark photons, etc. Particle properties and search limits are listed in Summary Tables. We give numerous tables, figures, formulae, and reviews of topics such as Higgs Boson Physics, Supersymmetry, Grand Unified Theories, Neutrino Mixing, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Cosmology, Particle Detectors, Colliders, Probability and Statistics. Among the 120 reviews are many that are new or heavily revised, including a new review on Machine Learning, and one on Spectroscopy of Light Meson Resonances. The Review is divided into two volumes. Volume 1 includes the Summary Tables and 97 review articles. Volume 2 consists of the Particle Listings and contains also 23 reviews that address specific aspects of the data presented in the Listings. The complete Review (both volumes) is published online on the website of the Particle Data Group (pdg.lbl.gov) and in a journal. Volume 1 is available in print as the PDG Book. A Particle Physics Booklet with the Summary Tables and essential tables, figures, and equations from selected review articles is available in print, as a web version optimized for use on phones, and as an Android app.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Robust Quantum Control via Multipath Interference for Thousandfold Phase Amplification in a Resonant Atom Interferometer

We introduce a novel technique for enhancing the robustness of light-pulse atom interferometers against the pulse infidelities that typically limit their sensitivities. The technique uses quantum optimal control to favorably harness the multipath interference of the stray trajectories produced by imperfect atom-optics operations. We apply this method to a resonant atom interferometer and achieve thousandfold phase amplification, representing a 50-fold improvement over the performance observed without optimized control. Moreover, we find that spurious interference can arise from the interplay of spontaneous emission and many-pulse sequences and demonstrate optimization strategies to mitigate this effect. Given the ubiquity of spontaneous emission in quantum systems, these results may be valuable for improving the performance of a diverse array of quantum sensors. We anticipate our findings will significantly benefit the performance of matter-wave interferometers for a variety of applications, including dark matter, dark energy, and gravitational wave detection.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The Millimeter Universe with CMB-S4

CMB-S4, the next-generation ground-based cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiment, will make measurements with unprecedented precision and provide fundamental new insights into physics and astronomy. Its key measurements will include the search for primordial gravitational waves, probes of the nature of dark matter and dark energy, mapping matter throughout the Universe, and the detection of transient events in the microwave sky. In this talk, I provide an overview of the CMB-S4 science program, highlighting the rich astrophysical measurements it will enable. I will also describe the instrument configuration and project status.

Simon, Sara M. [Fermilab]↗

First Detection of the GI-type of Intrinsic Alignments of Galaxies Using the Self-calibration Method in a Photometric Galaxy Survey

Weak gravitational lensing is one of the most promising cosmological probes to constrain dark matter, dark energy, and the nature of gravity at cosmic scales. Intrinsic alignments (IAs) of galaxies have been recognized as one of the most serious systematic effects facing gravitational lensing. Such alignments must be isolated and removed to obtain a pure lensing signal. Furthermore, the alignments are related to the processes of galaxy formation, so their extracted signal can help in understanding such formation processes and improving their theoretical modeling. We report in this Letter the first detection of the gravitational shear–intrinsic shape (GI) correlation and the intrinsic shape–galaxy density (Ig) correlation using the self-calibration method in a photometric redshift survey. These direct measurements are made from the KiDS-450 photometric galaxy survey with a significance of 3.65σ in the third bin for the Ig correlation, and 3.51σ for the GI cross-correlation between the third and fourth bins. The self-calibration method uses the information available from photometric surveys without needing to specify an IA model and will play an important role in validating IA models and IA mitigation in future surveys such as the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time, Euclid, and WFIRST.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Basic Physics Questions Addressed by Astrophysics

Dark matter, dark energy, the Big Bang, testing relativity -- all are physics questions accessible to astrophysicists -- but all require new equipment. As Harwit's "Cosmic Discovery" pointed out, almost all great surprises in astronomy came from new equipment or new uses of equipment designed for other purposes, and many of those had military applications. I will outline prospects for new equipment and discuss how that equipment can be developed and built. Bigger and lighter mirrors, wavefront sensing and control, new detector technology, cryogenics -- each has its own social network, its own special possibilities, and its own funding sources outside science. I will discuss some examples drawn from real-life experience with the James Webb Space Telescope, a telescope that was said to have a "giggle factor" when it was proposed in 1995. Now each of the 10 major technologies has been brought to maturity, flight hardware is being built, and launch is planned for 2014. As an instrument builder all my life, I will speculate a little on what may be within our reach over the next few decades.

Mather, John C.↗

Science with the James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope is the scientific successor to the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. It will be a large (6.6m) cold (50K) telescope launched into orbit around the second Earth-Sun lagrange point. It is a partnership of NASA with the European and Canadian Space Agencies. The science goals for JWST include the formation of the first stars and galaxies in the early universe; the chemical, morphological and dynamical buildup of galaxies and the formation of stars and planetary systems. Recently, the goals have expanded to include studies of dark energy, dark matter, active galactic nuclei, exoplanets and Solar System objects. Webb will have four instruments: The Near-Infrared Camera, the Near-Infrared multi-object Spectrograph, and the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitiess Spectrograph will cover the wavelength range 0.6 to 5 microns, while the Mid-Infrared Instrument will do both imaging and spectroscopy from 5 to 28.5 microns. The observatory is confirmed for launch in 2018; the design is complete and it is in its construction phase. Recent progress includes the completion of the mirrors, the delivery of the first flight instrument(s) and the start of the integration and test phase.

Gardner, Jonathan P.↗

The James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope is the scientific successor to the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. It will be a large (6.6m) cold (SDK) telescope launched into orbit around the second Earth-Sun Lagrange point. It is a partnership of NASA with the European and Canadian Space Agencies. The science goals for JWST include the formation of the first stars and galaxies in the early universe; the chemical, morphological and dynamical buildup of galaxies and the formation of stars and planetary systems. Recently, the goals have expanded to include studies of dark energy, dark matter, active galactic nuclei, exoplanets and Solar System objects. Webb will have four instruments: The Near-Infrared Camera, the Near-Infrared multi-object Spectrograph, and the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph will cover the wavelength range 0.6 to S microns, while the Mid-Infrared Instrument will do both imaging and spectroscopy from 5 to 28.5 microns. The observatory is confirmed for launch in 2018; the design is complete and it is in its construction phase. Recent progress includes the completion of the mirrors, the delivery of the first flight instruments and the start of the integration and test phase.

Gardner, Jonathan P.↗

Servicing Mission 4 and the Extraordinary Science of the Hubble Space Telescope

Just two years ago, NASA astronauts performed a challenging and flawless final Space Shuttle servicing mission to the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. With science instruments repaired on board and two new ones installed, the observatory. is more powerful now than ever before. I will show the dramatic highlights of the servicing mission and present some of the early scientific results from the refurbished telescope. Its high sensitivity and multi-wavelength capabilities are revealing the highest redshift galaxies ever seen, as well as details of the cosmic web of intergalactic medium, large scale structure formation, solar system bodies, and stellar evolution. Enlightening studies of dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanet atmospheres add to the profound contributions to astrophysics that are being made with Hubble, setting a critical stage for future observatories such as the James Webb Space Telescope.

Wiseman, Jennifer J.↗

Characterization and Performance of a Kilo-TES Sub-Array for ACTPol

ACTPol is a polarization-sensitive receiver upgrade to the Atacama CosmologyTelescope (ACT) which will make millimeterwavelength measurements of the small-scale polarization anisotropies of the cosmic microwave background to investigate the properties of inflation, dark energy, dark matter, and neutrinos in the early Universe. ACTPol will employ three arrays of transition edge sensor (TES) bolometer detectors. The detectors, with a target transition temperature of 150 mK, will be operated at a bath temperature of 100 mK provided by a dilution refrigerator. One array operating at a central frequency of 150 GHz and consisting of 1024 TESes achieved first light at the ACT site in July 2013. We anticipate fielding the remainder of the focal plane, consisting of a second 150 GHz array and a multi-chroic array sensitive to 90 and 150 GHz, at the end of the 2013 observing season. In these proceedings, we present characterization of key detector parameters from measurements performed on the first array both in the lab and during initial field testing. We comment on the design goals, measurements, and uniformity of the detector transition temperatures, saturation powers, and thermal conductivities while detailing measurement methods and results for the detector optical efficiencies and time constants.

neutrinos↗