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At least 73 records · Page 4

Evolution of in-medium baryon-baryon scattering cross sections and stiffness of dense nuclear matter from Bayesian analyses of FOPI proton-flow excitation functions

Within a Bayesian statistical framework using a Gaussian process (GP) emulator for an isospin-dependent Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck (IBUU) transport model simulator of heavy-ion reactions with momentum-independent Skyrme interactions, we infer from the proton directed and elliptical flow in mid-central Au + Au reactions, measured at beam energies from 150 to 1200 MeV/nucleon by the FOPI Collaboration, the posterior probability distribution functions (PDFs) of the in-medium baryon-baryon scattering cross section (BBSCS) modification factor 𝑋 (with respect to their free-space values) and the stiffness parameter 𝐾 of dense nuclear matter. Here, we find that the most probable value of 𝑋 evolves from around 0.7 to 1.0 as the beam energy 𝐸 beam /𝐴 increases. On the other hand, the posterior PDF⁡(𝐾) may have dual peaks having roughly the same height or extended shoulders at high 𝐾 values. More quantitatively, the posterior PDF⁡(𝐾) changes from having a major peak around 220 MeV, characterizing a soft EOS in the reaction at 𝐸 beam /𝐴 = 150 MeV, to one that peaks around 320 MeV, indicating a stiff EOS in the reactions at 𝐸 beam /𝐴 higher than about 600 MeV. The transition from soft to stiff happens in mid-central Au + Au reactions at beam energies around 250 MeV/nucleon in which 𝐾 = 220 MeV and 𝐾 = 320 MeV are approximately equally probable. Altogether, the FOPI proton-flow excitation function data indicate a gradual hardening of hot and dense nuclear matter as its density and temperature increase in reactions with higher beam energies.

nuclear matter↗

DUNE and MINERvA Flux Studies and a Measurement of the Charged-Current Quasielastic Antineutrino Scattering Cross Section with $<E_{\nu}> \sim 6 $ GeV on a CH Target

One of the biggest open questions in physics is the prevalence of matter over anti-matter in the present universe. One of possible answers lies in the violation of charge and parity symmetry in the lepton sector that would favor matter over anti-matter so that the universe becomes dominated by matter over time. Recent results from neutrino experiments like T2K and NOvA have indicated that there is CP violation in the leptonic sector \citep{Abe:2019vii}. However, the precise measurement of CP violation will require an unprecedented level of accuracy in these oscillation experiments. One of the challenges lies with the systematic uncertainties that come with the measurements, which include uncertainties related to the neutrino flux modeling, interaction modeling and detector related systematic uncertainties.\\ The first part of this thesis will go through the challenges related to flux uncertainties. It will discuss the flux uncertainties related to hadron production in the LBN F beamli ne for the DUNE experiment. Hadron production models used in flux simulations vary widely depending on the simulation and choice of physics models used to simulate the hadron production. This thesis will explain the method of using existing hadron production data to constrain these uncertainties, a method which has been used in MINERvA experiment.\\ The second part of the thesis goes through the effect of possible flux mismodeling and MINERvA's approach to address this effect. In doing so, we discovered that the suspected mismodeling could also result from incorrect estimation of the energy scale of the muons. This project not only demonstrated the challenges of flux modeling but also led to a novel approach of using neutrino energy spectra to understand the correlation between detector and neutrino beamline parameters. \\ A high statistics measurement of the anti-neutrino scattering cross section in the charged current quasielastic (CCQE) channel is the final part of the th esis. Th e 2-body interactions in this channel have the advantage of allowing reconstruction of the interaction kinematics from the outgoing muon trajectory which can be measured very well. Double differential cross sections as a function of muon kinematics, one of the deliverables of this analysis, will help future oscillation experiments understand their data. The cross-section as a function of the four-momentum transferred from the leptonic system to the hadronic system ($Q^{2}_{QE}$) can be used to test models used in simulating antineutrino interactions and the nuclear effects that can modify the predicted cross sections. Nuclear effects arise from the complex nuclear environment and both modify the initial scattering and change the fate of the particles produced from in neutrino-nucleus interactions. Study of nuclear effects will help to understand the structure of the atomic nucleus and its impact on neutrino interactions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Evaluation of Thermal Neutron Scattering Cross Sections for CaH 2

Solid metal hydrides have long been considered viable moderators for nuclear reactor designs due to their moderating ratios, hydrogen densities, high dissociation temperatures, and mechanical properties. CaH 2 is an orthorhombic saline-hydride that has recently been investigated and shows promise for use as a moderator in microreactors. At present, there is no Thermal Scatting Law (TSL) evaluation for CaH 2 in the ENDF/B-VIII.0 database. An evaluation does exist in the JEFF-3.3 database, performed by Serot, however it was limited by the implemented methods and thus both drastically over-predicts the incoherent elastic contribution and completely ignores the coherent elastic contribution to scattering from the metal ions. The thermal neutron scattering cross sections of CaH 2 are evaluated in this work to establish accurate data for use in reactor design. The present evaluation corrects the inaccuracies of the JEFF-3.3 data, and yields three distinct libraries: Ca in CaH 2 , H 1 in CaH 2 , and H 2 in CaH 2 .

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Neutron Scattering Cross Sections: (n,n′), (n,n′γ), and (n,γ) Measurements (Final Technical Report)

This technical report discusses the outcomes from a grant to the University of Dallas in collaboration with the University of Kentucky, the United States Naval Academy and Mississippi State University to measure neutron cross sections and to provide educational opportunities in nuclear science for undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Vibrationally elastic scattering cross section of water vapor by electron impact

Absolute differential cross sections of electrons vibrationally elastically scattered from water vapor have been measured at room temperature by electron impact. A modulated crossed-beam method was used. The energy and angular range covered were from 2.2 to 20 eV and from 15 to 150 deg, respectively. Strong backward scattering has been observed as predicted by theory. The measured integrated and momentum-transfer cross sections are generally larger than others in the literature by 50 percent.

Shyn, T. W.↗

Absolute Inelastic Differential Electron Scattering Cross Sections for He, Xe, N2, and CO at Near Threshold Impact Energies for 90(deg) Scattering Angle

There is a great deal of need for accurate differential cross sections (DCSs) associated with electron impact excitation of various atomic and molecular species. These cross sections are needed for modeling of various plasma systems (ranging from lasers and material processing plasmas to planetary and astrophysical plasmas) and for guiding development of theoretical and computational schemes.

DCS beam scattering beam-beam scattering↗

Quasielastic electromagnetic scattering cross sections and world data comparisons in the GENIE Monte Carlo event generator

The usage of Monte Carlo neutrino event generators (MC$\textit{ν}$EGs) is a norm within the high-energy $\textit{ν}$ scattering community. The relevance of quasielastic (QE) energy regimes to $\textit{ν}$ oscillation experiments implies that accurate calculations of $\textit{ν}$A cross sections in this regime will be a key contributor to reducing the systematic uncertainties affecting the extraction of oscillation parameters. In spite of this, many MC$\textit{ν}$EGs utilize highly phenomenological, parametrized models of QE scattering cross sections. Moreover, a culture of validation of MC$\textit{ν}$EGs against prolific electron ($\textit{e}$) scattering data has been historically lacking. In this work, we implement new eA cross sections obtained from nuclear ab initio approaches in GENIE, the primary MC$\textit{ν}$EG utilized by the FNAL community. In particular, we utilize results from quantum MC methods which solve the many-body nuclear problem in the short-time approximation (STA), allowing consistent retention of two-nucleon dynamics which are crucial to explain available nuclear electromagnetic (electroweak) data over a wide range of energy and momentum transfers. This new implementation in GENIE is fully tested against the world QE electromagnetic data, finding agreement with available data below ~2 GeV of beam energy with the aid of a scaling function formalism. The STA is currently limited to study $\textit{A}$ ≤ 12 nuclei, however, its semi-inclusive multibody identity components are exportable to other many-body computational techniques such as auxiliary field diffusion MC which can reach $\textit{A}$ ≤ 40 systems while continuing to realize the factorization contained within the STA’s multinucleon dynamics. Together, these developments promise to make future experiments such as DUNE more accurate in their assessment of MC$\textit{ν}$EG systematics, $\textit{ν}$ properties, and potentially empower the discovery of physics beyond the Standard Model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

High-energy neutrino deep inelastic scattering cross sections

We present a state-of-the-art prediction for cross sections of neutrino deep inelastic scattering (DIS) from nucleon at high neutrino energies, E v , up to 1000 EeV (10 12 GeV). Our calculations are based on the latest CT18 NNLO parton distribution functions (PDFs) and their associated uncertainties. To make predictions for the highest energies, we extrapolate the PDFs to small x according to several procedures and assumptions, thus affecting the uncertainties at ultrahigh E v ; we quantify the uncertainties corresponding to these choices. Similarly, we quantify the uncertainties introduced by the nuclear corrections that are required to evaluate neutrino-nuclear cross sections for the neutrino observatories. These results can be applied to currently running astrophysical neutrino observatories, such as IceCube and KM3NeT, as well as various future experiments that have been proposed.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering Cross Section from the Proton at 10.6 GeV using the CLAS12 Detector

Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) is an exclusive process that produces a real photon when a lepton scatters from a quark inside a nucleon or a nucleus. Measurement of the DVCS cross section enables the study of the Generalized Parton Distributions (GPD), which plays a central role in understanding the QCD dynamics inside a hadron. Thus, the quark and gluon origin of the nucleon spin and mass can be probed and three-dimensional images of the target nucleon or nucleus can be realized. This thesis presents a cross section analysis of DVCS from the proton in the presence of its background, Bethe-Heitler (BH) process. The CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer for operation at 12 GeV beam energy (CLAS12) collaboration has taken electron-proton scattering data in fall 2018 using a liquid hydrogen target and the 10.6 GeV polarized electron beam from the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). The CLAS12 detector is a nearly hermetic fixed-target detector, located in Hall B, Jefferson Lab at Newport News, Virginia. The experimentally determined BH-DVCS cross section is in good agreement with a phenomenological-model based theoretical prediction. The kinematic dependence of the cross section is reported over a wide range. The short-term plan to utilize the results presented here for a thorough tomography study and the long-term plan for GPD studies at future facilities such as the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) are discussed.

Lee, Sangbaek↗

Absolute elastic differential electron scattering cross sections in the intermediate energy region. IV - CO

Using a crossed electron beam-molecular beam scattering geometry and a relative-flow technique, ratios of elastic differential cross sections of CO to those of He have been measured at electron impact energies of 3, 5, 7.5, 9.9, 15, 20, 30, 50, 75, and 100 eV. At each energy, an angular range of 15 to 130 deg has been covered. These ratios have been multiplied by previously known He elastic differential cross sections to obtain elastic differential cross sections for CO. Since pure rotational excitations were not resolved, the elastic differential cross sections are a sum of elastic and pure rotational excitations at room temperature. From a knowledge of differential cross sections (DCS), integral and momentum transfer cross sections have been calculated. Both the DCS and integral cross sections are compared at 50, 75, and 100 eV to a recent two-potential theory of e-molecule scattering. Present results show that the isoelectronic molecules CO and N2 have very similar magnitudes and shapes of their differential cross sections.

Tanaka, H.↗

A comparison of three time-dependent wave packet methods for calculating electron-atom elastic scattering cross sections

Three time-dependent wave packet methods for performing elastic scattering calculations from screened Coulomb potentials are compared. The three methods are the time-dependent amplitude density method (TDADM), a Cayley-transform method (CTM), and the Chebyshev propagation method of Tal-Ezer and Kosloff. Both the TDADM and the CTM are based on a time-dependent integral equation for the wave function. In the first, the time-dependent amplitude density is propagated, while in the other two, the wave function is propagated. As a numerical example, phase shifts and cross sections are calculated using a screened Coulomb, Yukawa type potential over the range 200-1000 eV. It is found that, in most cases, all three methods yield comparable accuracy and are about equally efficient computationally. However for l = 0, where the Coulomb well is not screened by the centrifugal potential, the TDADM requires smaller grid spacings to maintain accuracy.

Judson, Richard S.↗

First Measurement of Differential Charged Current Quasielasticlike $\nu_{\mu}$ -Argon Scattering Cross Sections with the MicroBooNE Detector

We report on the first measurement of flux-integrated single differential cross sections for charged-current (CC) muon neutrino ($\nu_{\mu}$) scattering on argon with a muon and a proton in the final state, 40 Ar $(\nu_{\mu},μp)X$. The measurement was carried out using the Booster Neutrino Beam at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the MicroBooNE liquid argon time projection chamber detector with an exposure of 4.59 × 10 19 protons on target. Events are selected to enhance the contribution of CC quasielastic (CCQE) interactions. The data are reported in terms of a total cross section as well as single differential cross sections in final state muon and proton kinematics. We measure the integrated per-nucleus CCQE-like cross section (i.e., for interactions leading to a muon, one proton, and no pions above detection threshold) of (4.93 ± 0.76 stat ± 1.29 sys )×10 -38 cm 2 , in good agreement with theoretical calculations. The single differential cross sections are also in overall good agreement with theoretical predictions, except at very forward muon scattering angles that correspond to low-momentum-transfer events.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

First Measurement of Differential Charged Current Quasielastic-like $\nu_\mu$–Argon Scattering Cross Sections In Kinematic Imbalance Variables With The MicroBooNE Detector

We report the first measurement of flux-integrated multi-differential cross sections for charged-current events with muon neutrinos scattering on argon with solely a muon and a single proton in the final state as a function of kinematic imbalance variables. The measurement was carried out using the Booster Neutrino Beam at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory within the MicroBooNE Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber detector with an exposure of 6.79 × 10 20 protons on target. Events were selected to enhance the contribution of charged-current mesonless interactions with one proton detected in the final state. The data discussed here are reported in terms of multidifferential cross sections in kinematic imbalance variables, which are generally sensitive to nuclear effects. The double-differential results in these variables can provide an excellent handle to disentagle specific nuclear aspects not easily isolated via single differential cross sections. Our results pave a path towards identifying regions of the phase-space where future interaction modeling development and Monte Carlo neutrino generator tuning efforts should concentrate. EVENT SELECTION Neutrino oscillation measurements aim to extract neutrino mixing angles, mass differences, the value of the chargeparity violating phase in the lepton sector, and to search for new physics beyond the Standard Model [1, 2]. For that to be achieved, an unprecedented understanding of neutrino-argon interactions is of utmost importance since a growing number of neutrino oscillation experiments employ Liquid Argon Time Projector Chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detectors [3–6]. The accuracy to which these experiments can extract neutrino oscillation parameters requires a good understanding of the neutrino energy. Experimentally, this energy is deduced from the measured kinetic energies of particles that are emitted following the neutrino interaction in the detector. The kinematic properties of such finalstate particles reflect complex dynamics due to nuclear and initial-state effects of the interaction [7]. However, certain categories of nuclear effects can be isolated by variables built specifically to characterize the degeneracy between such effects [8–10]. This note reports cross sections in kinematic variables sensitive to nuclear effects using events with one detected muon with momentum 0.1 < pµ < 1.2 GeV/c, and exactly one proton with 0.3 < pp < 1 GeV/c. This signal definition includes events with any number of protons below 300 MeV/c, neutrons at any momenta, and charged pions with momentum lower than 70 MeV/c. This choice is guided by the fact that their experimental signature of correlated muon-proton pairs is fairly straightforward to reconstruct [11–22]. Such events primarily originate from chargedcurrent (CC) neutrino-nucleon quasielastic (QE) scattering interactions where the neutrino removes a single intact nucleon from the nucleus without producing any additional particles. This definition can also include contributions from interactions that lead to the production of additional particles that are absent from the final state due to nuclear effects, such as pion absorption, or have momenta that are below the experimental detection threshold.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

First Measurement of Differential Charged Current Quasielastic-like $\nu_\mu$–Argon Scattering Cross Sections in Kinematic Imbalance Variables with the MicroBooNE Detector

We report the first measurement of flux-integrated multi-differential cross sections for charged-current events with muon neutrinos scattering on argon with solely a muon and a single proton in the final state as a function of kinematic imbalance variables. The measurement was carried out using the Booster Neutrino Beam at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory within the MicroBooNE Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber detector with an exposure of 6.79 × 10 20 protons on target. Events were selected to enhance the contribution of charged-current mesonless interactions with one proton detected in the final state. The data discussed here are reported in terms of multi-differential cross sections in kinematic imbalance variables, which are generally sensitive to nuclear effects. The double-differential results in these variables can provide an excellent handle to disentagle specific nuclear aspects not easily isolated via single differential cross sections. Our results pave a path towards identifying regions of the phase-space where future interaction modeling development and Monte Carlo neutrino generator tuning efforts should concentrate.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Nucleon and deuteron scattering cross sections from 25 MV/Nucleon to 22.5 GeV/Nucleon

Within the context of a double-folding optical potential approximation to the exact nucleus-nucleus multiple-scattering series, eikonal scattering theory is used to generate tables of nucleon and deuteron total and absorption cross sections at kinetic energies between 25 MeV/nucleon and 22.5 GeV/nucleon for use in cosmic-ray transport and shielding studies. Comparisons of predictions for nucleon-nucleus and deuteron-nucleus absorption and total cross sections with experimental data are also made.

Townsend, L. W.↗