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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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Hadron-Argon Cross-Section Measurements at Protodune

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation experiment designed to measure neutrino oscillations with unprecedented precision, specifically seeking to identify CP violation in the lepton sector. DUNE utilizes the Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) as its core detecting technology, offering high-resolution imaging to reconstruct neutrino interactions on argon. A primary challenge in this reconstruction is the modeling of hadronic final-state interactions (FSI), where hadrons produced at the initial interaction vertex undergo further scattering before escaping the nucleus. In this thesis, I utilize the ProtoDUNE-SP detector and its 1~GeV/$c$ hadron beam at the CERN Neutrino Platform to present the first measurements of total inelastic $\pi^+$-argon and proton-argon cross sections in an energy regime critical to DUNE. I detail the development and validation of the ``slicing method'', which utilizes a kiloton-scale LArTPC to extract hadron-argon cross sections. These measurements provide an indispensable benchmark for informing DUNE's FSI modeling, and our results show no significant tension with current model predictions. Additionally, I study the impact of FSI modeling on DUNE’s sensitivity to oscillation parameters. This study demonstrates that variations in FSI models may be degenerate with oscillation features, highlighting the necessity of using direct experimental data to refine interaction models. Finally, I provide an outlook on related studies that will further contribute to this effort, supporting the ambitious physics goals of upcoming neutrino oscillation programs including DUNE.

Yin-Rui, Liu [U. Chicago (main)]↗
DOE OSTI2023

Cross-section measurement of the 82 Kr ($p,γ$) 83 Rb reaction in inverse kinematics

The total cross section of the 82 Kr(p,γ) 83 Rb reaction was measured for the first time at effective center-of-mass energies between 2.4 and 3.0 MeV, within the relevant Gamow window for the astrophysical γ process. The experiment took place at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University using the ReA facility. A 82 Kr beam was directed onto a hydrogen gas cell located at the center of the Summing NaI(Tl) (SuN) detector. Here, the obtained spectra were analyzed using the γ-summing technique and the extracted cross section was compared to standard statistical model calculations using the non-smoker and talys codes. The comparison indicates that standard statistical model calculations tend to overproduce the cross section of the 82 Kr(p,γ) 83 Rb reaction relative to the experimentally measured values. Furthermore, the experimental data were used to provide additional constraints on the nuclear level density and the γ-ray strength function used in the statistical model calculations.

59 ≤ A ≤ 89↗
NASA NTRS1978

Radar cross section measurements of a scale model of the space shuttle orbiter vehicle

A series of microwave measurements was conducted to determine the radar cross section of the Space Shuttle Orbiter vehicle at a frequency and at aspect angles applicable to re-entry radar acquisition and tracking. The measurements were performed in a microwave anechoic chamber using a 1/15th scale model and a frequency applicable to C-band tracking radars. The data were digitally recorded and processed to yield statistical descriptions useful for prediction of orbiter re-entry detection and tracking ranges.

Yates, W. T.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Inclusive and differential cross section measurements of single top quark production in association with a Z boson in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV

Inclusive and differential cross sections of single top quark production in association with a Z boson are measured in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb - 1 recorded by the CMS experiment. Events are selected based on the presence of three leptons, electrons or muons, associated with leptonic Z boson and top quark decays. The measurement yields an inclusive cross section of \( {87.9}_{-7.3}^{+7.5}{\left(\mathrm{stat}\right)}_{-6.0}^{+7.3}\left(\mathrm{syst}\right) \) fb for a dilepton invariant mass greater than 30 GeV, in agreement with standard model (SM) calculations and represents the most precise determination to date. The ratio between the cross sections for the top quark and the top antiquark production in association with a Z boson is measured as \( {2.37}_{-0.42}^{+0.56}{\left(\mathrm{stat}\right)}_{-0.13}^{+0.27}\left(\mathrm{syst}\right) \) . Differential measurements at parton and particle levels are performed for the first time. Several kinematic observables are considered to study the modeling of the process. Results are compared to theoretical predictions with different assumptions on the source of the initial-state b quark and found to be in agreement, within the uncertainties. Additionally, the spin asymmetry, which is sensitive to the top quark polarization, is determined from the differential distribution of the polarization angle at parton level to be 0 . 54 ± 0 . 16 (stat) ± 0 . 06 (syst), in agreement with SM predictions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Simultaneous Unbinned Differential Cross-Section Measurement of Twenty-Four Z+jets Kinematic Observables with the ATLAS Detector

Z boson events at the Large Hadron Collider can be selected with high purity and are sensitive to a diverse range of QCD phenomena. As a result, these events are often used to probe the nature of the strong force, improve Monte Carlo event generators, and search for deviations from standard model predictions. All previous measurements of Z boson production characterize the event properties using a small number of observables and present the results as differential cross sections in predetermined bins. In this analysis, a machine learning method called omnifold is used to produce a simultaneous measurement of twenty-four Z +jets observables using 139 fb -1 of proton-proton collisions at √s =13 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector. Unlike any previous fiducial differential cross-section measurement, this result is presented unbinned as a dataset of particle-level events, allowing for flexible reuse in a variety of contexts and for new observables to be constructed from the twenty-four measured observables.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS2003

Silicon Detector System for Cross Section Measurements

In order to estimate the radiation shielding effectiveness of materials it is necessary to know cosmic ray particles are broken up as they pass though these materials. The breakup of cosmic ray particles is characterized by the nuclear fragmentation cross sections, i.e. an effective geometrical cross section assigned to each target nucleus that represents its apparent size for fragmenting the incident particle. The values of these cross sections depend on the details of nuclear physics and cannot be calculated from first principles owing to the many-body nature of the interactions. The only way to determine them is to measure them. Once a sufficient number of cross sections have been measured, the systematic nature of the interactions allows other cross-sections to be estimated. The number of cross sections that contribute to the estimation of shielding effectiveness is very large 10,000. Fortunately most make minor contributions. These can be estimated from nuclear systematics. Only those who's uncertainties make significant contributions to the error in the shielding effectiveness estimations need to be measured. In the past it has proven difficult to measure light fragment production cross sections from the interactions of heavy cosmic rays owing to the size of the detectors used. We have developed a highly pixilated silicon (Si) detector system that can individually identify these light fragments while making efficient use of costly accelerator time. This system is an outgrowth of detector technology developed under a CDDF and a Code S sponsored cosmic ray experiment.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2020

Cross section measurements of deuteron electro-disintegration at very high recoil momenta and large 4-momentum transfers (Q^2)

The 2H(e,e'p)n cross sections have been measured at negative 4-momentum transfers of Q^2 = 4.5 +/- 0.5 (GeV/c)^2 and Q^2 = 3.5 +/- 0.5 (GeV/c)^2 reaching neutron recoil (missing) momenta up to p_r ?1.0 GeV/c. The data have been obtained at fixed neutron recoil angles 5 <= theta_nq <= 95 degrees with respect to the 3-momentum transfer q. The new data agree well with the previous data which reached p_r ?550 MeV/c. At theta_nq = 35 and 45 degrees, final state interactions (FSI), meson exchange currents (MEC) and isobar configurations (IC) are suppressed and the plane wave impulse approximation (PWIA) provides the dominant cross section contribution. The new data are compared to recent theoretical calculations, and a significant disagreement for recoil momenta p_r > 700 MeV/c is observed. The experiment was carried out in experimental Hall C at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) and formed part of a group of four experiments that were used to commission the new Super High Momentum Spectrometer (SHMS). The experiment consisted of a 10.6 GeV electron beam incident on a liquid deuterium target which resulted in the break-up of the deuteron into a proton and neutron. The scattered electrons were detected by the SHMS in coincidence with the knocked-out protons detected in the previously existing High Momentum Spectrometer (HMS) and the recoiling neutrons were reconstructed from energy-momentum conservation laws. To ensure that the 2H(e,e'p)n reaction channel was selected, we required the missing energy of the system to be the binding energy of the deuteron (?2.22 MeV). The spectrometers? central angles and momenta were set to measure three central missing momentum settings of the neutron corresponding to p_r = 80, 580 and 750 MeV/c, which required the SHMS central angle and momentum to be fixed and the HMS to be rotated from smaller to larger angles corresponding to the lower and higher missing momentum settings, respectively. The experiment was carried out in a time period of six days with typical electron beam currents of 45-60 uA at about 50% beam efficiency.

Yero, Carlos↗
DOE OSTI2025

Differential cross section measurements for the production of top quark pairs and of additional jets using dilepton events from pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

Differential cross sections for top quark pair ($\textrm{t}\overline{\textrm{t}}$) production are measured in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV using a sample of events containing two oppositely charged leptons. The data were recorded with the CMS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb −1 . The differential cross sections are measured as functions of kinematic observables of the $\textrm{t}\overline{\textrm{t}}$ system, the top quark and antiquark and their decay products, as well as of the number of additional jets in the event. The results are presented as functions of up to three variables and are corrected to the parton and particle levels. When compared to standard model predictions based on quantum chromodynamics at different levels of accuracy, it is found that the calculations do not always describe the observed data. The deviations are found to be largest for the multi-differential cross sections.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Total neutron cross-section measurement on CH with a novel 3D-projection scintillator detector

In order to extract neutrino oscillation parameters, long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments rely on detailed models of neutrino interactions with nuclei. These models constitute an important source of systematic uncertainty, partially because detectors to date have been blind to final state neutrons. Three-dimensional projection scintillator trackers comprise components of the near detectors of the next generation long-baseline neutrino experiments. Due to the good timing resolution and fine granularity, this technology is capable of measuring neutron kinetic energy in neutrino interactions on an event-by-event basis and will provide valuable data for refining neutrino interaction models and ways to reconstruct neutrino energy. Two prototypes have been exposed to the neutron beamline at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in both 2019 and 2020, with neutron energies between 0 and 800 MeV. In order to demonstrate the capability of neutron detection, the total neutron-scintillator cross section as a function of neutron energy is measured and compared to external measurements. The measured total neutron cross section in scintillator between 98 and 688 MeV is 0.36 ± 0.05 barn.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1991

Planar near-field scanning for compact range bistatic radar cross-section measurement

The design, construction, and testing of a low cost, planar scanning system to be used in a compact range environment for bistatic radar cross-section (bistatic RCS) measurement data are discussed. This scanning system is similar to structures used for measuring near-field antenna patterns. A synthetic aperture technique is used for plane wave reception. System testing entailed comparison of measured and theoretical bistatic RCS of a sphere and a right circular cylinder. Bistatic scattering analysis of the ogival target support, target and pedestal interactions, and compact range room was necessary to determine measurement validity.

Tuhela-Reuning, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Ozone absorption cross section measurements in the Wulf bands

A tandem dual-beam spectrometer has been developed to determine ozone absorption cross sections for 13 selected wavelengths between 750 and 975 nm at room temperature. The increasingly pronounced structure in this region may interfere with atmospheric trace gas transitions that are useful for remote sensing and complicate the measurement of aerosols. Ozone concentrations were determined by absorption at the common HeNe laser transition near 632.8 nm using the absolute cross section reported previously. The overall accuracy of these room temperature measurements is generally better than 2 percent. A synoptic near-IR spectrum scaled to these measurements is employed for comparison with results of previous studies.

Anderson, Stuart M.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cross section measurement of e + e − → η ψ ( 2 S ) and search for e + e − → η X ˜ ( 3872 )

The energy-dependent cross section for e + e − → η ψ ( 2 S ) is measured at 18 center of mass energies from 4.288 to 4.951 GeV using the BESIII detector. Using the same data samples, we also perform the first search for the reaction e + e − → η X ˜ ( 3872 ) , but no evidence is found for the X ˜ ( 3872 ) in the π + π − J / ψ mass distribution. At each of the 18 center of mass energies, upper limits at the 90% confidence level on the cross section for e + e − → η ψ ( 2 S ) and on the product of the e + e − → η X ˜ ( 3872 ) cross section with the branching fraction of X ˜ ( 3872 ) → π + π − J / ψ are reported. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cross Section Measurement of Exclusive ¿-Meson Electroproduction off the Proton at CLAS12

This analysis studies the exclusive ¿ meson electroproduction process ep ¿ e 'p ' at CLAS12 in the kinematic region 0.39 = Q2 = 8.38 GeV2 , 1.97 = W = 4.03 GeV, and 0.17 = -t = 7.26 GeV2 . Cross section s(Q2 , W) and differential cross section ds dt (Q2 , W, t) measurements are reported. The scaling of the overall cross section was determined to be 1/Q6.47±0.97, which is consistent with the Generalized Parton Distribution (GPD) prediction of 1/Q6 . The ratios of the longitudinal and transverse cross sections, R = sL sT , are extracted from the angular decay distributions for four values of Q2 and are found to be consistent with the GPD scaling prediction. The mean-square gluonic radius of the proton ¿b 2 ¿g is extracted from the t-dependence of the differential cross sections ds dt in the kinematic region 0.12 = xB = 0.39, the first such measurement in the valence regime.

Moran, Patrick (ORCID:0000000273437292)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Charged Current Coherent Pion Production Cross-Section Measurement at MicroBooNE

Coherent pion production, characterized by a neutrino interacting with an entire nucleus without breaking it apart, results in a forward-going muon, pion, and a low-momentum recoil nucleus. By leveraging an improved understanding of particle identification and background parameterization, we aim to achieve a new level of sensitivity to coherent interactions at low neutrino energy. The outcome of this analysis will contribute to ongoing efforts to model neutrino nucleus interactions accurately in neutrino oscillation studies and beyond Standard Model searches in MicroBooNE and future experiments, such as DUNE. We present progress towards a measurement of charged current coherent pion production cross-section on argon with the MicroBooNE liquid argon time projection chamber detector. This measurement will use MicroBooNE's full dataset collected from the Booster Neutrino Beam with a total exposure of \( 1.3 \times 10^{21} \) protons-on-target and average neutrino energy of 0.8 GeV.

Hussain, Adil [Kansas State U.]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Differential cross-section measurements of D± and Ds± meson production in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The production of D± and Ds±$$ {D}_s^{\pm } $$ charmed mesons is measured using the D±/Ds±$$ {D}_s^{\pm } $$→ ϕ(μμ)π± decay channel with 137 fb−1 of s$$ \sqrt{s} $$ = 13 TeV proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider during the years 2016–2018. The charmed mesons are reconstructed in the range of transverse momentum 12 < pT < 100 GeV and pseudorapidity |η| < 2.5. The differential cross-sections are measured as a function of transverse momentum and pseudorapidity, respectively, and compared with next-to-leading- order QCD predictions. The predictions are found to be consistent with the measurements in the visible kinematic region within the large theoretical uncertainties.

Aad, G↗
DOE OSTI2026

Direct cross section measurement of 102 Pd ⁢(𝛾,𝑝) and 102 Pd ⁢(𝛾,𝛼) for the astrophysical 𝑝 process

Background: A handful of neutron-deficient stable nuclei, known as the “p nuclei,” cannot be produced through astrophysical neutron capture processes. Instead, some of these nuclei are proposed to be produced by 𝛾-induced reactions on existing r- and s-process seeds. The specific astrophysical site or sites are not yet identified, however, with uncertainties in the cross sections of these 𝛾-induced reactions playing a role. Databases of reaction rates for astrophysical simulations often rely on theoretical statistical model calculations, such as Hauser-Feshbach, for rates where no experimental information is known. However, reasonable variations in the choice of parametrizations of various nuclear properties can create order-of-magnitude variations in the final predicted cross sections and reaction rates, which are then propagated through the models to the predicted final abundances. Purpose: To better constrain these statistical model calculations and ultimately reduce the uncertainties from the nuclear physics on our understanding of the p nuclei, a measurement of the cross sections of 𝛾-induced reactions on the p-nucleus 102 Pd was undertaken. This work represents the first measurement of its kind, using segmented silicon detectors to measure prompt charged particle emission from 𝛾-induced reactions. Methods: Quasimonoenergetic gamma beams from the High Intensity 𝛾 Source facility bombarded an enriched 102 Pd target. A segmented silicon array was arranged to detect the particles emitted from (𝛾,𝑝) and (𝛾,𝛼) reactions. Results: Reaction cross sections were deduced at multiple 𝛾-beam energies between 10 and 19 MeV, and compared to statistical model calculations using talys-1.96. The 102 Pd ⁢(𝛾,𝑝)⁢ 101 Rh reaction cross section was reasonably well reproduced by a subset of photon strength functions and level densities, though the strength to the ground state of 101 Rh was underestimated at higher incident gamma energies. The 102 Pd ⁢(𝛾,𝛼)⁢ 98 Ru was in general overpredicted by the various alpha-nucleus optical model potentials. Conclusions: While the theoretical cross sections used to model the (𝛾,𝑝) reactions for the p process may be reasonable, a more careful approach is needed in the case of (𝛾,𝛼). Further work to probe gamma-induced reaction cross sections at and near the p nuclei is warranted.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗