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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Search for an axion-like particle in B → K (*) a(→ γγ) decays at Belle

We report a search for an axion-like particle a in B → K (*) a decays using data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy electron-positron collider. The search is based on a 711 fb −1 data sample collected at the Υ(4S) resonance energy, corresponding to a sample of 772 × 10 6 Υ(4S) events. In this study, we search for the decay of the axion-like particle into a pair of photons, a → γγ. We scan the two-photon invariant mass in the range 0.16 GeV–4.50 GeV for the K modes and 0.16 GeV–4.20 GeV for the K * modes. No significant signal is observed in any of the modes, and 90% confidence level upper limits are established on the coupling to the W boson, g aW , as a function of a mass. The limits range from 3 × 10 −6 GeV −1 to 3 × 10 −5 GeV −1 , improving the current constraints on g aW by a factor of two over the most stringent previous experimental results.

B physics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Search for New Physics through a Long-Lived Di-Muon Resonance in the NuMI Beam with the ICARUS Detector

Many of the unexplained phenomena in particle physics and cosmology today, such as the microphysical nature of dark matter, the strong CP problem, and the origin of the neutrino masses, can be resolved by the existence of a light (~GeV), weakly-coupled hidden sector of new physics. Such hidden sectors often predict the existence of “long-lived” particles (LLPs) that travel a far distance from production before decaying into Standard Model particles. Neutrino oscillation experiments, which combine intense particle beams with precise imaging detectors, are well equipped to probe LLP models with new sensitivity. This thesis details a search for a long-lived particle decaying to two muons with the ICARUS liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detector in the Short-Baseline Neutrino program at Fermilab. The calibration of the ICARUS time projection chamber (TPC) which enables the search is also presented. Notably, the calibration measures an angular dependence in electron-ion recombination in argon, a novel effect in the detector physics of LArTPCs. The search is performed using data taken with the Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) beam, with an exposure of 2.41e20 protons on target. No significant excess over background is observed, and we set world-leading limits on two new physics models that predict this process: the Higgs portal scalar and a heavy axion model. We also present the sensitivity in a model-independent way applicable to any new physics model predicting the process K → π + S(→μμ), for a long-lived particle S.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Diphoton signals of muon-philic scalars at DarkQuest

We analyze the capability of the DarkQuest proton beam-dump experiment at Fermilab to discover new light resonances decaying into photons. As an example model, we focus on muon-philic scalar particles that decay to photons. This is one of the few minimal models that can address the ( g − 2 ) μ anomaly at low mass. These scalars can be copiously produced by meson decays and muon bremsstrahlung. We point out that thanks to DarkQuest’s compact geometry, muons can propagate through the dump and efficiently produce dark scalars near the end of the dump. This mechanism enables DarkQuest to be sensitive to both long-lived and prompt scalars. At the same time, diphoton signatures are generically not background free, and we discuss in detail the different sources of background and strategies to mitigate them. We find that the backgrounds can be sufficiently reduced for DarkQuest to test currently viable ( g − 2 ) μ parameter space. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Blinov, Nikita (ORCID:000000022845961X)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Search for Higgs boson decays into a pair of pseudoscalar particles in the γγτhadτhad final state using pp collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for exotic decays of the 125 GeV Higgs boson into a pair of new spin-0 particles, H → aa, where one decays into a photon pair and the other into a τ-lepton pair, is presented. Hadronic decays of the τ-leptons are considered and reconstructed using a dedicated tagger for collimated τ-lepton pairs. The search uses 140 fb−1 of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of s$$ \sqrt{s} $$ = 13 TeV recorded between 2015 and 2018 by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The search is performed in the mass range of the a boson between 10 GeV and 60 GeV. No significant excess of events is observed above the Standard Model background expectation. Model-independent upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the branching ratio of the Higgs boson to the γγττ final state, B$$ \mathcal{B} $$(H → aa → γγττ), ranging from 0.2% to 2%, depending on the a-boson mass hypothesis.

Aad, G↗
DOE OSTI2025

Search for boosted low-mass resonances decaying into hadrons produced in association with a photon in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Many extensions of the Standard Model, including those with dark matter particles, propose new mediator particles that decay into hadrons. This paper presents a search for such low mass narrow resonances decaying into hadrons using 140 fb −1 of proton-proton collision data recorded with the ATLAS detector at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The resonances are searched for in the invariant mass spectrum of large-radius jets with two-pronged substructure that are recoiling against an energetic photon from initial state radiation, which is used as a trigger to circumvent limitations on the maximum data recording rate. This technique enables the search for boosted hadronically decaying resonances in the mass range 20–100 GeV hitherto unprobed by the ATLAS Collaboration. The observed data are found to agree with Standard Model predictions and 95% confidence level upper limits are set on the coupling of a hypothetical new spin-1 Z′ resonance with Standard Model quarks as a function of the assumed Z′-boson mass in the range between 20 and 200 GeV.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Superradiant Neutrino Lasers from Radioactive Condensates

Superradiance emerges from collective spontaneous emission in optically pumped gases, and is characterized by photon emission enhancements of up to $\frac{1}{4}$⁢𝑁 2 in an 𝑁 atom system. The gain mechanism derives from correlations developed within the decay medium rather than from stimulated emission as in lasing, so an analog of this process should be possible for fermionic final states. We introduce here the concept of superradiant neutrino emission from a radioactive Bose Einstein condensate, which can form the basis for a superradiant neutrino laser. A plausible experimental realization based on a condensate of electron-capture isotope 83 Rb could exhibit effective radioactive decay rates accelerated from 86.2 days to minutes in viably sized rubidium condensates of 10 6 atoms.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Superconductivity in the lightly doped Hubbard model on the cylindrical honeycomb lattice

Here, we have performed large-scale density-matrix renormalization group studies of the lightly doped Hubbard model on the honeycomb lattice on long three- and four-leg cylinders. We find that the ground state of the system upon lightly doping is consistent with that of a superconducting state with coexisting quasi-long-range superconducting and charge density wave orders. Both the superconducting and charge density wave correlations decay as a power law at long distances with corresponding exponents 𝐾 𝑠⁢𝑐 < 2 and 𝐾 𝑐 < 2. On the contrary, the spin-spin and single-particle correlations decay exponentially, although with relatively long correlation lengths.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2026

Hiding in the Shadow of the Upsilon: Ditaus from a Light Pseudoscalar

The CMS collaboration has reported a measurement of $Υ$ decays to ditaus using $61.9~{\rm fb}^{-1}$ of scouting data. If interpreted as the decay of $Υ(1S,2S,3S)$, the measured ditau rate is more than ten times that seen in the dimuon final states at the $\sim 3 σ$ level, and is likewise inconsistent with the branching ratios measured at $B$-factories. If confirmed with more data and at higher significance, such a violation of lepton flavor universality would necessitate new physics. In this Letter, we present a simple model with a light pseudoscalar coincidentally near the $Υ(1S)$ mass, which mixes with two Higgs doublets in the alignment limit. Such a particle naturally decays primarily to taus and evades all existing experimental constraints, while implying a number of predictions that can be tested in the near future.

Buckley, Matthew R. [Rutgers U., Piscataway]↗
DOE OSTI2024

Renormalization of beta decay at three loops and beyond

The anomalous dimension for heavy-heavy-light effective theory operators describing nuclear beta decay is computed through three-loop order in the static limit. The result at order Z 2 α 3 corrects a previous result in the literature. An all-orders symmetry is shown to relate the anomalous dimensions at leading and subleading powers of Z at a given order of α . The first unknown coefficient for the anomalous dimension now appears at O ( Z 2 α 4 ) . Published by the American Physical Society 2024

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Search for long-lived particles using displaced vertices and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV

A search for the production of long-lived particles in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the CERN LHC is presented. The search is based on data collected by the CMS experiment in 2016–2018, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 137 fb − 1 . This search is designed to be sensitive to long-lived particles with mean proper decay lengths between 0.1 and 1000 mm, whose decay products produce a final state with at least one displaced vertex and missing transverse momentum. A machine learning algorithm, which improves the background rejection power by more than an order of magnitude, is applied to improve the sensitivity. The observation is consistent with the standard model background prediction, and the results are used to constrain split supersymmetry (SUSY) and gauge-mediated SUSY breaking models with different gluino mean proper decay lengths and masses. This search is the first CMS search that shows sensitivity to hadronically decaying long-lived particles from signals with mass differences between the gluino and neutralino below 100 GeV. It sets the most stringent limits to date for split-SUSY models and gauge-mediated SUSY breaking models with gluino proper decay length less than 6 mm. © 2024 CERN, for the CMS Collaboration 2024 CERN

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

How fast can protons decay?

Current laboratory bounds imply that protons are extremely long-lived. However, this conclusion may not hold for all time and in all of space. We find that the proton lifetime can be ∼ 15 orders of magnitude shorter in the relatively recent past on Earth or at the present time elsewhere in the Milky Way. A number of terrestrial and astrophysical constraints are examined and potential signals are outlined. We also sketch possible models that could lead to spatial or temporal variations in the proton lifetime. A positive signal could be compelling evidence for a new long range force of nature, with important implications for the limitations of fundamental inferences based solely on laboratory measurements. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Axion-like particle at the 10 GeV scale: Higgs decays to wide jets and photons

If axion-like particles (ALPs) exist, they may have renormalizable couplings only to the Higgs boson ($h^0$) or to fields beyond the Standard Model. An ALP $A_h$ lighter than about 60 GeV would allow the $h^0 \to A_h A_h$ decay, with a branching fraction determined by the explicit global symmetry breaking responsible for the main contributions to the $A_h$ mass ($M_A$). New heavy fields that carry color and electric charge, such as squarks, can mediate $A_h$ decays at one loop mostly into gluons, but also into photons. Exploring LHC sensitivity to $A_h$, we show that the $h^0 \to A_h A_h \to (gg)(γγ)$ channel leads to a diphoton resonance at $M_A$ whose production rate is consistent with a $3.5σ$ excess reported by a CMS search at $M_A \approx 13.6$ GeV. For $M_A$ of order 10 GeV, the $h^0 \to A_h A_h \to 4g$ cascade decay leads to two wide jets (each with 2-prong substructure) that form a resonance at 125 GeV.

Dobrescu, Bogdan A. [Fermilab] (ORCID:000000034291↗
DOE OSTI2024

Comparative study of decay heat calculations with FLUKA and MCNP/CINDER2008

In designing a high-power tungsten target, decay heat driven temperature rise in the spallation volume is a safety concern during maintenance and in loss of coolant accidents. As tungsten hydrates and becomes volatile in steam at above 800 ◦C, it is important to keep the target temperature below this threshold when active cooling is unavailable. Decay heat in a target is calculated with particle transport simulation codes combined with transmutation codes. The calculated decay heat usually differs depending on the nuclear cross sections and the decay particle transport models built in the code architecture. In this paper, we calculated decay heat of a water-cooled tungsten target using popular particle transport codes, FLUKA and MCNP6® paired with CINDER2008 and compared the results. The target-moderator-reflector (TMR) system is modeled with a water-cooled solid tungsten target, water premoderators, liquid hydrogen cold moderators and beryllium reflectors. Water-cooled stainless-steel shielding is modeled around the TMR system. The tungsten volume is clad with a thin layer of erosion/corrosion resistant material. This study provides information about the uncertainty range in decay heat prediction of high-power spallation targets for hazard analysis.

Lee, Yong Joong↗
DOE OSTI2025

3 He +𝛼 resonances in 7 Be

Resonances in 7 Be which decay into the 3 He+α exit channel have been measured with improved precision using preexisting data sets. The energy and width of the J π =7/2 - state have been extracted from an invariant-mass study of projectile-breakup products originating from interactions of an E/A=10.7-MeV 10 C beam on Be and C targets. The excitation energy of this state (from the pole of the S-matrix) is determined to be E*=4.545(6)~MeV, a factor of 8 improvement in precision as compared to the ENSDF value. This improvement is enabled by fine tuning the detector calibrations using calibration resonances in 6 Li, 7 Li, 6 Be, 9 B, and 12 C whose decay energies are known to high precision. The J π =7/2- resonance in 7 Be can now itself be used as a calibration resonance in invariant-mass experiments. This utility is particularly helpful for 3 He energy calibrations of CsI(Tl) detectors which are often used in detector arrays employed for measurements with fast beams. This utility is demonstrated with a data set associated with E/A=70 MeV 7 Be beams which are inelastically excited to the 7/2 - and 5/2 - 1 resonances. Again using the pole of the S-matrix as the definition of the resonance parameters, the fitted excitation energy of the 5/2 - 1 resonance is 6.376(17) MeV, approximately 300 keV lower than the ENSDF value. Finally, its width of 565(4) keV is roughly half of the ENSDF value.

energy levels↗
DOE OSTI2025

Source characterization of a detector for heavy and superheavy nuclei

A new focal plane detector system for the Berkeley Gas-filled Separator (BGS) was designed, constructed, and tested offline with various α-decay and conversion-electron sources. The SuperHeavy RECoils (SHREC) detector comprises sets of double-sided silicon strip detectors arranged in an open-faced cuboid geometry. Alongside the detector upgrade new digital data acquisition electronics have been commissioned offline. This setup aims to detect separated recoiling heavy and superheavy nuclei as well as their correlated radioactive decay paths with improved energy resolution and overall sensitivity.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Search for proton decay via 𝑝 → 𝑒 + ⁢𝜂 and 𝑝 → 𝜇 + ⁢𝜂 with a 0.37 Mton-year exposure of Super-Kamiokande

A search for proton decay into 𝑒 + /𝜇 + and a 𝜂 meson has been performed using data from a 0.373 Mton·year exposure (6050.3 live days) of Super-Kamiokande. Compared to previous searches this work introduces an improved model of the intranuclear 𝜂 interaction cross section, resulting in a factor of 2 reduction in uncertainties from this source and ∼10% increase in signal efficiency. No significant data excess was found above the expected number of atmospheric neutrino background events resulting in no indication of proton decay into either mode. Lower limits on the proton partial lifetime of 1.4 × 10 34 years for 𝑝 → 𝑒 + ⁢𝜂 and 7.3 × 10 33 years for 𝑝 → 𝜇 + ⁢𝜂 at the 90% CL were set. These limits are around 1.5 times longer than our previous study and are the most stringent to date.

Grand unified models↗
DOE OSTI2025

Search for neutron decay into an antineutrino and a neutral kaon in 0.401 megaton-years exposure of Super-Kamiokande

We searched for bound neutron decay via 𝑛 → $\bar{𝜈}$ +𝐾 0 predicted by the grand unified theories in 0.401 Mton·years exposure of all pure water phases in the Super-Kamiokande detector. About 4.4 times more data than in the previous search have been analyzed by a new method including a spectrum fit to kaon invariant mass distributions. No significant data excess has been observed in the signal regions. As a result of this analysis, we set a lower limit of 7.8 × 10 32 years on the neutron lifetime at a 90% confidence level.

Cherenkov detectors↗
DOE OSTI2024

Formulation of a one-dimensional electrostatic plasma model for testing the validity of kinetic theory

Here, we present a one-dimensional (1-D) model composed of aligned, electrostatically interacting charged disks, conceived to address in a computable model the validity of the Bogoliubov assumption on the decay of particle correlations in the Born–Bogoliubov–Green–Kirkwood–Yvon hierarchy. This assumption is a basic premise of plasma kinetic theory. The disk model exhibits spatially 1-D features at short distances, but retains 3-D features at large distances. Here the collective dynamics of this model plasma is investigated by solving the corresponding Vlasov equation. In addition, the implementation of the model for the numerical validation of the Bogoliubov assumption is formulated.

1-D plasma model↗