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At least 73 records · Page 4

Interpretations of the ATLAS measurements of Higgs boson production and decay rates and differential cross-sections in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

Measurements of the Higgs boson production times decay rates and differential cross-sections have recently been performed by the ATLAS experiment in several decay channels using up to 139 fb -1 of proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV recorded at the Large Hadron Collider. This paper presents multiple interpretations of these Higgs boson measurements. Measurements of production-mode cross-sections, simplified template cross-sections and fiducial differential cross-sections in different decay channels are reparameterised in terms of the impact of Standard Model effective field theory operators, and constraints are reported on the corresponding Wilson coefficients. Production and decay rate measurements are interpreted in UV-complete extensions of the Standard Model, namely the two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM) near the alignment limit and the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) for various MSSM benchmark scenarios. The constraints on the 2HDM parameters (cos(β - α), tanβ) and the MSSM parameters (m A , tanβ) are complementary to those obtained from direct searches for additional Higgs bosons.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Rotational state-to-state transition rate coefficients for H 2 O + H 2 O collisions at nonequilibrium conditions

Aims.The goal is to develop a database of rate coefficients for rotational state-to-state transitions in H 2 O + H 2 O collisions that is suitable for the modeling of energy transfer in nonequilibrium conditions, in which the distribution of rotational states of H 2 O deviates from local thermodynamic equilibrium. Methods.A two-temperature model was employed that assumed that although there is no equilibrium between all possible degrees of freedom in the system, the translational and rotational degrees of freedom can be expected to achieve their own equilibria independently, and that they can be approximately characterized by Boltzmann distributions at two different temperatures,T kin andT rot . Results.Upon introducing our new parameterization of the collisional rates, taking into account their dependence on bothT kin andT rot , we find a change of up to 20% in the H 2 O rotational level populations for both ortho and para-H 2 O for the part of the cometary coma where the nonequilibrium regime occurs.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Non-adiabatic quantum interference and complex formation in ultracold collisions of Rb with KRb

Ultracold elastic collisions of 87 Rb with 40 K 87 Rb in its ground vibrational and rotational state are investigated using a first principles based theoretical methodology. Full-dimensional ab initio computed potential energy surfaces are reported that include the two lowest-lying electronic states, their conical intersection, non-adiabatic couplings and an accurate long-range behavior. A numerically exact time-independent quantum dynamics method in hyperspherical coordinates is used to compute the elastic scattering cross sections, rate coefficients and collision lifetime spectrum. The quantum scattering calculations include all degrees of freedom and treat both electronic states and their non-adiabatic couplings using a two-state diabatic representation. The theoretically computed elastic rate coefficient is in good agreement with the recently reported experimental value. Significant non-adiabatic quantum interference effects are shown to originate from the unique properties of ultracold collisions and the geometric phase associated with the conical intersection. A high-resolution collision energy grid is used to investigate the origin of the experimentally reported long-lived 3-body collision complexes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Second-generation dust in planetary systems: the case of HD 163296

Observations indicate that large, dust-laden protoplanetary discs are common. Some features, like gaps, rings, and spirals, suggest they may host young planets, which can excite the orbits of nearby leftover planetesimals. Energetic collisions among these bodies can lead to the production of second-generation dust. Grains produced by collisions may have a dynamical behaviour different from that of first-generation, primordial dust out of which planetesimals and planets formed. Here, we aim to study these differences for the HD 163296 system and determine whether dynamical signatures in the mixture of the two dust populations can help separate their contributions. We use three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic models to describe the gaseous disc with three, Saturn- to Jupiter-mass, embedded planets. Dust grains, of sizes $1\, \mu \mathrm{m}$–$1\, \mathrm{mm}$, are treated as Lagrangian particles with resolved thermodynamics and mass-loss. Initial disc and planet configurations are derived from observation-based work, which indicates low gas viscosity. The 3D approach also allows us to detect the formation of vortices induced by Rossby waves, where dust becomes concentrated and may contribute to planetesimal formation. We find that the main differences in the dynamical behaviour of first- and second-generation dust occur in the vertical distribution. The two populations have similar distributions around the disc mid-plane, although second-generation dust shows longer residence times close to the radial locations of the planets’ gas gaps. Sedimentation rates of $\mu$m-sized grains are comparable to or lower than the production rates by planetesimals’ collisions, making this population potentially observable. These outcomes can be extended to similar systems harbouring giant planets.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Influence of strong Coulomb coupling on diffusion in atmospheric pressure plasmas

Ion diffusion in atmospheric pressure plasmas is examined and particular attention is paid to the fact that ion–ion interactions can be influenced by strong Coulomb coupling. Three regimes are identified. At low ionization fractions (x i ≲ 10 —6 ), standard weakly correlated ion-neutral interactions set the diffusion rate. At moderate ionization fractions (10 —6 ≲ x i ≲ 10 —2 ) there is a transition from ion-neutral to ion–ion collisions setting the diffusion rate. In this regime, the effect of strong Coulomb coupling in ion–ion collisions is accounted for by applying the mean force kinetic theory. Since both ion-neutral and ion–ion interactions contribute a comparable amount to the total diffusion rate, models (such as particle-in-cell or fluid) must account for both contributions. At high ionization fractions (x i ≳ 10 —2 ), strongly correlated ion–ion collisions dominate and the plasma is heated substantially by a disorder-induced heating (DIH) process associated with strong correlations. The temperature increase due to DIH strongly influences the ion diffusion rate. This effect becomes even more important, and occurs at lower ionization fractions, as the pressure increases above atmospheric pressure. In addition to ion diffusion, DIH affects the neutral gas temperature, therefore influencing the neutral diffusion rate. Model predictions are tested using molecular dynamics simulations, which included a Monte Carlo collision routine to simulate the effect of ion-neutral collisions at the lowest ionization fractions. The model and simulations show good agreement over a broad range of ionization fractions. Importantly, the results provide a model for ion diffusion, on a wide range of ionization fractions and pressures, solely considering the elastic contribution to the diffusion coefficient—as an illustration of how strong Coulomb coupling influences diffusion processes in general.

fast neutral gas heating↗

Role of collisionality and radiative cooling in supersonic plasma jet collisions of different materials

Currently there is considerable interest in creating scalable laboratory plasmas to study the mechanisms behind the formation and evolution of astrophysical phenomena such as Herbig-Haro objects and supernova remnants. Laboratory-scaled experiments can provide a well diagnosed and repeatable supplement to direct observations of these extraterrestrial objects if they meet similarity criteria demonstrating that the same physics govern both systems. Here, we present a study on the role of collision and cooling rates on shock formation using colliding jets from opposed conical wire arrays on a compact pulsed-power driver. These diverse conditions were achieved by changing the wire material feeding the jets, since the ion-ion mean free path (λmfp-ii) and radiative cooling rates (Prad) increase with atomic number. Low Z carbon flows produced smooth, temporally stable shocks. Weakly collisional, moderately cooled aluminum flows produced strong shocks that developed signs of thermal condensation instabilities and turbulence. Weakly collisional, strongly cooled copper flows collided to form thin shocks that developed inconsistently and fragmented. Effectively collisionless, strongly cooled tungsten flows interpenetrated, producing long axial density perturbations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Quality Control of Silicon Sensor Modules for Particle Detectors

The High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) will produce a higher rate of particle collisions than the current Large Hadron Collider (LHC), requiring important upgrades to the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) to handle an increased amount of data. An important upgrade is the Phase-2 Outer Tracker Upgrade, which consists of 13,000 silicon sensor modules made of two parallel silicon sensors and readout electronics. These modules undergo careful quality control checks both during and after module assembly to ensure precise and reliable detector performance. This project focuses on precision testing for quality control of silicon sensor modules at Fermilab. Hands-on work includes visual inspection, current-voltage testing, module testing, and ultraviolet (UV) light exposure of modules showing abnormal current-voltage behavior. The ultraviolet exposure process improves the abnormal sensor readout data by placing the selected sensor side of the module directly under the UV light inside a controlled box. In addition to laboratory testing and ultraviolet experiments, I developed a Python-based data tool that connects to a module database and allows selected testing conditions and module information to be retrieved and displayed efficiently. These different testing procedures, experimental processes, and computational tools support the broader goal of identifying module issues and improving modules that will be used in the CMS Outer Tracker Phase-2 Upgrade.

Siddiqui, Hooriya [DuPage Coll.] (ORCID:0009000151↗

Intelligent experiments through real-time AI: Fast Data Processing and Autonomous Detector Control for sPHENIX and future EIC detectors

This R&D project, initiated by the DOE Nuclear Physics AI-Machine Learning initiative in 2022, leverages AI to address data processing challenges in high-energy nuclear experiments (RHIC, LHC, and future EIC). Our focus is on developing a demonstrator for real-time processing of high-rate data streams from sPHENIX experiment tracking detectors. The limitations of a 15 kHz maximum trigger rate imposed by the calorimeters can be negated by intelligent use of streaming technology in the tracking system. The approach efficiently identifies low momentum rare heavy flavor events in high-rate p+p collisions (3MHz), using Graph Neural Network (GNN) and High Level Synthesis for Machine Learning (hls4ml). Success at sPHENIX promises immediate benefits, minimizing resources and accelerating the heavy-flavor measurements. The approach is transferable to other fields. For the EIC, we develop a DIS-electron tagger using Artificial Intelligence - Machine Learning (AI-ML) algorithms for real-time identification, showcasing the transformative potential of AI and FPGA technologies in high-energy nuclear and particle experiments real-time data processing pipelines.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Quality Control of Silicon Sensor Modules for Particle Detectors

The High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) will produce a higher rate of particle collisions than the current Large Hadron Collider (LHC), requiring significant upgrades to the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) to handle the increased amount of data. An important upgrade is the Phase-2 Outer Tracker Upgrade, which consists of 13,000 silicon sensor modules made of two parallel silicon sensors and readout electronics. These modules undergo careful quality control checks both during and after module assembly to ensure precise and reliable detector performance. This project focuses on precision testing for quality control of silicon sensor modules at Fermilab. Hands-on work includes visual inspection, current-voltage testing, module testing, and ultraviolet (UV) light exposure of modules showing abnormal current-voltage behavior. The ultraviolet exposure process improves the abnormal sensor readout data by placing the selected sensor side of the module directly under the UV light inside a controlled box. In addition to laboratory testing and ultraviolet experiments, I developed a Python-based data tool that connects to a module database and allows selected testing conditions and module information to be retrieved and displayed efficiently. These different testing procedures, experimental processes, and computational tools support the broader goal of identifying module issues and improving modules that will be used in the CMS Outer Tracker Phase-2 Upgrade.

Siddiqui, Hooriya [DuPage Coll.; Fermilab] (ORCID:↗

Establishing criteria for the transition from kinetic to fluid modeling in hollow cathode analysis

Hollow cathodes for plasma switch applications are investigated via 2D3V particle-in-cell simulations of the channel and plume region. The kinetic nature of the plasma within the channel is dependent on the thermalization rate of electrons, emitted from the insert. When Coulomb collisions occur at a much greater rate than ionization or excitation collisions, the electron energy distribution function rapidly relaxes to a Maxwellian and the plasma within the channel can be described accurately via a fluid model. In contrast, if inelastic processes are much faster than Coulomb collisions, then the electron energy distribution function in the channel exhibits a notable high-energy tail, and a kinetic treatment is required. This criterion is applied to hollow cathodes from the literature, revealing that a fluid approach is suitable for most electric propulsion applications, whereas a kinetic treatment can be more critical to accurate modeling of plasma switches.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Improved temperature dependence of rate coefficients for rotational state-to-state transitions in H 2 O + H 2 O collisions

Aims. We present an improved database of temperature-dependent rate coefficients for rotational state-to-state transitions in H 2 O + H 2 O collisions. The database includes 231 transitions between the lower para-states of H 2 O and 210 transitions between its lower ortho-states (up toj= 7) and can be employed in cometary and planetary applications up to the temperature of 1000 K. Methods. We developed and applied a new general method that allows the generation of rate coefficients for excitation and quenching processes that automatically satisfy the principle of microscopic reversibility and also helps to cover the range of low collision energies by interpolation of cross sections between the process threshold and the computed data points. Results. We find that in the range of intermediate temperatures, 150

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Operation of the ATLAS trigger system in Run 2

The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider employs a two-level trigger system to record data at an average rate of 1 kHz from physics collisions, starting from an initial bunch crossing rate of 40 MHz. During the LHC Run 2 (2015–2018), the ATLAS trigger system operated successfully with excellent performance and flexibility by adapting to the various run conditions encountered and has been vital for the ATLAS Run-2 physics programme. For proton-proton running, approximately 1500 individual event selections were included in a trigger menu which specified the physics signatures and selection algorithms used for the data-taking, and the allocated event rate and bandwidth. The trigger menu must reflect the physics goals for a given data collection period, taking into account the instantaneous luminosity of the LHC and limitations from the ATLAS detector readout, online processing farm, and offline storage. This document discusses the operation of the ATLAS trigger system during the nominal proton-proton data collection in Run 2 with examples of special data-taking runs. Aspects of software validation, evolution of the trigger selection algorithms during Run 2, monitoring of the trigger system and data quality as well as trigger configuration are presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

The Dynamics of Ions on Phased Radio-frequency Carpets in High Pressure Gases and Application for Barium Tagging in Xenon Gas Time Projection Chambers

Radio-frequency (RF) carpets with ultra-fine pitches are examined for ion transport in gases at atmospheric pressures and above. We develop new analytic and computational methods for modeling RF ion transport at densities where dynamics are strongly influenced by buffer gas collisions. An analytic description of levitating and sweeping forces from phased arrays is obtained, then thermodynamic and kinetic principles are used to calculate ion loss rates in the presence of collisions. This methodology is validated against detailed microscopic SIMION simulations. We then explore a parameter space of special interest for neutrinoless double beta decay experiments: transport of barium ions in xenon at pressures from 1 to 10 bar. Our computations account for molecular ion formation and pressure dependent mobility as well as finite temperature effects. We discuss the challenges associated with achieving suitable operating conditions, which lie beyond the capabilities of existing devices, using presently available or near-future manufacturing techniques.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Search for long-lived particles decaying into muon pairs in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV collected with a dedicated high-rate data stream

A search for long-lived particles decaying into muon pairs is performed using proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2017 and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb -1 . The data sets used in this search were collected with a dedicated dimuon trigger stream with low transverse momentum thresholds, recorded at high rate by retaining a reduced amount of information, in order to explore otherwise inaccessible phase space at low dimuon mass and nonzero displacement from the primary interaction vertex. No significant excess of events beyond the standard model expectation is found. Upper limits on branching fractions at 95% confidence level are set on a wide range of mass and lifetime hypotheses in beyond the standard model frameworks with the Higgs boson decaying into a pair of long-lived dark photons, or with a long-lived scalar resonance arising from a decay of a b hadron. The limits are the most stringent to date for substantial regions of the parameter space. These results can be also used to constrain models of displaced dimuons that are not explicitly considered in this paper.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

On the Rate Constant for NH 2 +HO 2 and Third-Body Collision Efficiencies for NH 2 +H(+M) and NH 2 +NH 2 (+M)

In low-temperature flash photolysis of NH 3 /O 2 /N 2 mixtures, the NH 2 consumption rate and the product distribution is controlled by the reactions NH 2 + HO 2 → products (R1), NH 2 + H (+M) → NH 3 (+M) (R2), and NH 2 + NH 2 (+M) → N 2 H 4 (+M) (R3). In the present work, published flash photolysis experiments by, among others, Cheskis and co-workers, are re-interpreted using recent direct measurements of NH 2 + H (+N 2 ) and NH 2 + NH 2 (+N 2 ) from Altinay and Macdonald. To facilitate analysis of the FP data, relative third-body collision efficiencies compared to N 2 for R2 and R3 were calculated for O 2 and NH 3 as well as for other selected molecules. We report results were in good agreement with the limited experimental data. Based on reported NH 2 decay rates in flash photolysis of NH 3 /O 2 /N 2 , a rate constant for NH 2 + HO 2 → NH 3 + O 2 (R1a) of $k_{1\text{a}}$ = 1.5(±0.5) × 10 14 cm 3 mol –1 s –1 at 295 K was derived. This value is higher than earlier determinations based on the FP results but in good agreement with recent theoretical work. Kinetic modeling of reported N 2 O yields indicates that NH 2 + HO 2 → H 2 NO + O (R1c) is competing with R1a, but perturbation experiments with addition of CH4 indicate that it is not a dominating channel. Measured HNO profiles indicate that this component is formed directly by NH 2 + HO 2 → HNO + H 2 O (R1b), but theoretical work indicates that R1b is only a minor channel. Based on this analysis, we estimate $k_{1\text{c}}$ = 2.5 × 10 13 cm 3 mol –1 s –1 and $k_{1\text{b}}$ = 2.5 × 10 12 cm 3 mol –1 s –1 at 295 K, with significant uncertainty margins.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Enhanced Production of Λ b 0 Baryons in High-Multiplicity p p Collisions at s = 13 TeV

The production rate of Λ b 0 baryons relative to B 0 mesons in p p collisions at a center-of-mass energy s = 13 TeV is measured by the LHCb experiment. The ratio of Λ b 0 to B 0 production cross sections shows a significant dependence on both the transverse momentum and the measured charged-particle multiplicity. At low multiplicity, the ratio measured at LHCb is consistent with the value measured in e + e − collisions, and increases by a factor of ∼ 2 with increasing multiplicity. At relatively low transverse momentum, the ratio of Λ b 0 to B 0 cross sections is higher than what is measured in e + e − collisions, but converges with the e + e − ratio as the momentum increases. These results imply that the evolution of heavy b quarks into final-state hadrons is influenced by the density of the hadronic environment produced in the collision. Comparisons with several models and implications for the mechanisms enforcing quark confinement are discussed. © 2024 CERN, for the LHCb Collaboration 2024 CERN

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Investigation of low-energy particle remnants in high-energy collisions at the LHC with a skipper-CCD detector

We deployed the Mobile Skipper Testing Apparatus ∼33 m away from the Compact Muon Solenoid collision point, the first skipper-CCD detector probing low-energy particles produced in high-energy collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. In this work, we search for beam-related events using data collected in 2024 during beam-on and beam-off periods. The dataset corresponds to integrated luminosities of 113.3 fb −1 and 1.54 nb −1 for the proton-proton and Pb-Pb collision periods, respectively. We report observed event rates in a model-independent framework across two ionization regions: ≤ 20⁢𝑒 − and > 20⁢𝑒 − . For the low-energy region, we perform a likelihood analysis to test the null hypothesis of no beam-correlated signal. We found no significant correlation during proton-proton and Pb-Pb collisions. For the high-energy region, we present the energy spectra for both collision periods and compare event rates for images with and without luminosity. We observe a slight increase in the event rate following the Pb-Pb collisions, coinciding with a rise in the single-electron rate, which will be investigated in future work. Using the low-energy proton-proton results, we place 95% confidence level constraints on the mass-millicharge parameter space of millicharged particles. Overall, the results in this work demonstrate the viability of skipper-CCD technology to explore new physics at high-energy colliders and motivate future searches with more massive detectors.

Cervantes-Vergara, Brenda A. [Fermi National Accel↗