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At least 37 records · Page 2

Characterization of Silicon-Photomultipliers for a Cosmic Muon Veto detector

A Cosmic Muon Veto (CMV) detector using extruded scintillators is being designed around the mini-Iron Calorimeter detector at the transit campus of the India-based Neutrino Observatory, Madurai for measuring its efficiency at shallow depth underground experiments. The scintillation signal is transmitted through a Wavelength Shifting (WLS) fibre and readout by Hamamatsu Silicon-Photomultipliers (SiPMs). A Light Emitting Diode (LED) system is included on the front-end readout for in-situ calibration of the gain of each SiPM. A characterization system was developed for the measurement of gain and choice of the overvoltage (V ov ) of SiPMs using the LED as well as a cosmic muon telescope. The V ov is obtained by studying the noise rate, the gain of the SiPM, and the muon detection efficiency. In case of any malfunction of the LED system during the operation, the SiPM can also be calibrated with the noise data as well as using radioactive sources. Furthermore, this paper describes the basic characteristics of the SiPM and the comparison of the calibration results using all three methods, as well as the V ov of the SiPMs and muon selection criteria for the veto detector.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Large scale SiPM testing for the Cosmic Muon Veto detector

A Cosmic Muon Veto (CMV) detector using extruded plastic scintillators is being built around the mini-Iron Calorimeter (mini-ICAL) detector at the transit campus of the India based Neutrino Observatory, Madurai. The extruded plastic scintillators will be embedded with wavelength shifting (WLS) fibres to absorb scintillating photons and propgate the re-emitted photons to the silicon-photomultipliers for the electronic signals. The CMV detector will require 760 extruded plastic scintillators to shield the mini-ICAL detector, and will require 3040 SiPMs for the readout. The design goal for the cosmic muon veto efficiency of the CMV is $>$99.99\% and fake veto rate less than 10$^{-5}$. Hence, every SiPM used in the detector needs to be characterised to satisfy the design goal of the CMV. For this, a large-scale testing system was developed, using an LED driver, to measure the gain and noise rate of each SiPM, and thus determine it's breakdown voltage ($V_{br}$) and optimum operating overvoltage ($V_{ov}$).

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Promising Technologies and R&D Directions for the Future Muon Collider Detectors

Among the post-LHC generation of particle accelerators, the muon collider represents a unique machine with capability to provide very high energy leptonic collisions and to open the path to a vast and mostly unexplored physics programme. However, on the experimental side, such great physics potential is accompanied by unprecedented technological challenges, due to the fact that muons are unstable particles. Their decay products interact with the machine elements and produce an intense flux of background particles that eventually reach the detector and may degrade its performance. In this paper, we present technologies that have a potential to match the challenging specifications of a muon collider detector and outline a path forward for the future R&D efforts.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Direct measurement of the muonic content of extensive air showers between 2 $\times$ 10 17 and 2 $\times$ 10 18 eV at the Pierre Auger Observatory

The hybrid design of the Pierre Auger Observatory allows for the measurement of the properties of extensive air showers initiated by ultra-high energy cosmic rays with unprecedented precision. By using an array of prototype underground muon detectors, we have performed the first direct measurement, by the Auger Collaboration, of the muon content of air showers between 2 $\times$ 10 17 and 2 $\times$ 10 18 eV. We have studied the energy evolution of the attenuation-corrected muon density, and compared it to predictions from air shower simulations. The observed densities are found to be larger than those predicted by models. We quantify this discrepancy by combining the measurements from the muon detector with those from the Auger fluorescence detector at 10 17.5 eV and 10 18 eV. We find that, for the models to explain the data, an increase in the muon density of 38% $±$4%(12%) $±^{21\%}_{18\%}$ for EPOS-LHC, and of 50%(53%) $±$4%(13%) $±^{23\%}_{20\%}$ for QGSJETII-04, is respectively needed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The cosmic muon and detector simulation framework of the extreme energy events (EEE) experiment

Abstract This paper describes the simulation framework of the extreme energy events (EEE) experiment. EEE is a network of cosmic muon trackers, each made of three multi-gap resistive plate chambers (MRPC), able to precisely measure the absolute muon crossing time and the muon integrated angular flux at the ground level. The response of a single MRPC and the combination of three chambers have been implemented in a GEANT4-based framework (GEMC) to study the telescope response. The detector geometry, as well as details about the surrounding materials and the location of the telescopes have been included in the simulations in order to realistically reproduce the experimental set-up of each telescope. A model based on the latest parametrization of the cosmic muon flux has been used to generate single muon events. After validating the framework by comparing simulations to selected EEE telescope data, it has been used to determine detector parameters not accessible by analysing experimental data only, such as detection efficiency, angular and spatial resolution.

Abbrescia, M.↗

Search for New Physics with the Compact Muon Solenoid Experiment and QIS-enabled Technology

Understanding the fundamental nature of dark matter (DM)---its cosmological origin, constituents, and interactions---is one of the most important questions in fundamental science today. In this thesis, I present two novel and highly complementary approaches to cover the gaps in sensitivity of current DM searches. The searches are enabled by a first-of-its-kind reconstruction technique to search for hidden-sector particles using the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) and by new advances in quantum sensing technology to search for axions and hidden-sector DM. In the first part of this thesis, I present a search for long-lived hidden sector particles, predicted by many extensions of the SM, using a novel technique to reconstruct decays of long-lived particles (LLPs) in the CMS muon detector. The innovative LLP reconstruction technique is sensitive to a broad range of LLP decays and to LLP masses below GeV. The search yields competitive sensitivity for proper lifetime 0.1--1000 m with the full Run 2 dataset recorded at the LHC between 2016--2018 at $\sqrt{s} = 13~$TeV. To extend the physics reach of this novel muon detector shower (MDS) signature, I present the model-independence of MDS and the reinterpretation of the search to a large number of LLP models, demonstrating its complementarity with proposed and existing dedicated LLP experiments. Finally, I present a new dedicated MDS trigger that improves the trigger efficiency by at least an order of magnitude and was deployed in 2022, at the start of Run 3 of the LHC operations. In the second part of the thesis, I present for the first time, the use of a novel quantum sensor, the low-noise and single-photon sensitive superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs), to directly detect dark matter. The low detection threshold and ultra-low dark count rate of SNSPDs can close the gap in DM discovery reach due to the current limitations in detector sensitivity. I will present my work on the development and characterization of SNSPDs for two entirely new experiments to directly detect axions via absorption and hidden-sector DM via electron scattering. The search for axions employs a novel broadband reflector technique with the Broadband Reflector Experiment for Axion Detection (BREAD). A unique parabolic mirror is then used to focus axion-converted photons to the SNSPDs, extending the reach to axion masses of 0.04--1 eV. On the other hand, by coupling the SNSPDs with gallium arsenide, a bright cryogenic scintillator well matched to SNSPD detection, a prototype sensing system can be built as a basis of new direct DM detection experiments capable of extending the discovery to DM masses as low as 1 MeV.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Muon content of gamma ray induced EAS from Cygnus X-3

During 1984 the Leeds group (Lambert et al, OG 2,1-6) have observed emission above 5 times 10 to the 14th power eV in July, September and October at phi approximately 0.6. These observations were made with an array which included the Nottingham 10 sq m muon detector. A search for muons in events at the phase peak and off source has yielded the following results: (1) for 42 on source events we find an average muon density of 0.63 muons m(-2) at a mean core distance Bar R = 32 m and mean primary energy approximately 25 times 10 to the 15th power eV; (2) for 21 off source events average muon density = 1.6 m(-2), Bar R = 32 m with mean primary energy approximately 2.0 x 10 to the 15th power eV; (3) for 11 of the 42 on source events, zero muons were recorded in the 10 sq ms. For these events Bar R = 41 m and mean primary energy approximately 1.5 x 10 to the 15th power eV; (4) for 8 of the 21 off source events, zero muons were recorded in the 10 sq ms. For these events Bar R = 37 m and mean primary energy approximately 1.5 times 10 to the 15th power eV. For all the events the mean zenith angle was approximately 16 deg. A more detailed comparison of on source and further off source events will be presented.

Blake, P. R.↗

Non-invasive in-situ imaging of interior of nuclear reactors

Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for non-invasive monitoring and imaging of nuclear fuel inside a nuclear reactor using muon detector arrays. In one aspect, these detector arrays are placed outside the reactor vessel or building for investigating the reactors without access to the cores, therefore the imaging process is non-invasive. In some implementation, these detector arrays measure both muon scattering and absorption to enable imaging and characterizing not only the very high-Z fuel materials, but also other materials in the reactor, thereby obtaining a more complete picture of reactor status. When applied to damaged reactors, the disclosed proposed techniques, systems, and devices, through the process of providing an image, can reveal the presence (or absence) of damage to fuel rod assemblies or puddles of molten fuel at the bottom of the containment vessel, thus providing crucial information to guide decisions about remedial actions.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Long-lived heavy neutral leptons with a displaced shower signature at $\mathrm{CMS}$

We study the LHC discovery potential in the search for heavy neutral leptons (HNL) with a new signature: a displaced shower in the CMS muon detector, giving rise to a large cluster of hits forming a displaced shower. A new Delphes module is used to model the CMS detector response for such displaced decays. We reinterpret a dedicated CMS search for neutral long-lived particles decaying in the CMS muon endcap detectors for the minimal HNL scenario. We demonstrate that this new strategy is particularly sensitive to active-sterile mixings with τ leptons, due to hadronic τ decays. HNL masses between ~ 1–6 GeV can be accessed for mixings as low as |V τN | 2 ~10 -7 , probing unique regions of parameter space in the τ sector.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Aspects of Higgs Physics at a $\sqrt{s}=3$ TeV Muon Collider with detailed detector simulation

The Muon Collider is one of the most promising future collider facilities with the potential to reach multi-TeV center-of-mass energy and high luminosity. Due to the significant Higgs boson production cross section in muon-antimuon collisions at such high energies, the collider offers an excellent opportunity for in-depth exploration of Higgs boson properties. It holds the capability to significantly advance our understanding of the Higgs sector to a very high level of precision. However, the presence of beam-induced background resulting from the decay of the beam muons poses unique challenges for detector development and event reconstruction. In this paper, the prospects for measuring various Higgs boson properties at a center-of-mass energy of 3 TeV are presented, using a detailed detector simulation in a realistic environment. The study demonstrates the feasibility of achieving high precision results with the current state-of-the-art detector design. In addition, the paper discusses the detector requirements necessary to achieve this level of accuracy.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Muon Flux Variance from Severe Atmospheric Conditions

We analyze data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the QuarkNet Research Group at Fermilab to study the variance in muon flux due to extreme weather conditions. We considered three high-intensity storms for each season: winter, spring, and summer. The most significant observation was during winter, with a ~125% increase in muon flux corresponding to a temperature drop of ~20K. Additionally, we are developing CosmicWatch muon detectors to be used in tests for the MMBC/MAMBA Bubble Chamber. A pair of these detectors will be employed to trigger on muons, providing extremely precise and inexpensive tracking granularity in the form of a muon telescope.

Aamir, Yusuf↗

Design and commissioning of readout electronics for a $K$$^{0}_{L}$ and $μ$ detector at the Belle II experiment

The K-long and muon detector (KLM) constitutes the outer-most volume of the Belle II spectrometer at the interaction region of the SuperKEKB collider in Tsukuba, Japan. The KLM detector was partially upgraded since the Belle experiment by replacing many of its resistive-plate chambers with scintillators containing wavelength-shifting fibers and instrumenting it with silicon photomultipliers. Here, we describe the readout electronics, firmware, and software created to control and acquire data from the scintillators and resistive-plate chambers.

Belle II↗

RPC based tracking system at CERN GIF++ facility

With the HL-LHC upgrade of the LHC machine, an increase of the instantaneous luminosity by a factor of five is expected and the current detection systems need to be validated for such working conditions to ensure stable data taking. At the CERN Gamma Irradiation Facility (GIF++) many muon detectors undergo such studies, but the high gamma background can pose a challenge to the muon trigger system which is exposed to many fake hits from the gamma background. A tracking system using RPCs is implemented to clean the fake hits, taking profit of the high muon efficiency of these chambers. This work will present the tracking system configuration, used detector analysis algorithm and results.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

The effect of the interplanetary magnetic field on sidereal variations observed at medium depth underground detectors

It has been known for some years that the intensity variations in sidereal time observed by muon detectors at moderate underground depths are sensitive to the polarity of the interplanetary magnetic field (ipmf) near the Earth. There are differences in the response to these anisotropies as observed in the Norhtern and southern hemispheres. When fully understood, the nature of the anisotropy seems likely to provide information on the 3-dimensional structure of the heliomagnetosphere, its time variations, and its linking with the local interstellar field. The summation harmonic dials for the sidereal diurnal variation during 1958 to 1982 show that there is a strong dependence on whether the ipmf near the Earth is directed outwards from the Sun or inwards it.

Humble, J. E.↗

Production and tests of the ADDC for the Micromegas detector of the ATLAS New Small Wheel

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN will perform a series of upgrades to allow luminosity increases during the next physics runs expected from 2022 on. These will also significantly increase the trigger rates of all the detectors. As part of the ATLAS Phase-I upgrade, the current Small Wheel muon detectors will be replaced with state-of-the-art New Small Wheel (NSW) detectors to cope with the increased luminosity of the LHC. The Address in Real Time Data Driver Card (ADDC) is designed to transmit the trigger data from the resistive Micro-Mesh Gaseous Structure (Micromegas) detectors of the NSW. The ART ASIC on the ADDC is a customdesigned chip to receive theAddress in Real Time (ART) signals from theVMMfront-end ASIC and perform hit-selection processing. The processed trigger data is then sent to the Trigger Processor (TP) through optical links. A total of 512 ADDCs will be installed on the detector close to the front-end boards. Therefore, those cards must be able to work properly in a high radiation and magnetic field environment. Furthermore, after four rounds of prototyping, the ADDC production was launched in January of 2019. 600 ADDC boards have been produced and tested with an automated test stand. This test setup can simulate the front-end signals and provide "Level-1 Data Driver Card" (L1DDC) functions as well as part of the TP functions. Thus, the ADDC functionality and stability can be verified without the remaining NSW electronics. This paper describes the ADDC hardware prototype development, radiation and integration testing, and the ADDC automated production test procedure.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of energy muons in EAS at energy region larger thean 10(17) eV

A measurement of low energy muons in extensive air showers (EAS) (threshold energies are 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.38 GeV) was carried out. The density under the concrete shielding equivalent to 0.25 GeV at core distance less than 500 m and 0.5 GeV less than 150 m suffers contamination of electromagnetic components. Therefore the thickness of concrete shielding for muon detectors for the giant air shower array is determined to be 0.5 GeV equivalence. Effects of photoproduced muons are found to be negligible in the examined ranges of shower sizes and core distances. The fluctuation of the muon density in 90 sq m is at most 25% between 200 m and 600 m from the core around 10 to the 17th power eV.

Matsubara, Y.↗