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DOE OSTI2024

Search For Low-Mass Quark-Antiquark Resonances Produced With an Initial State Photon at 13 TeV Using the CMS Detector

We present a search for low-mass narrow qq̅ resonances. This search uses data from LHC pp collisions at a center of mass of 13 TeV in Run 2, and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb^{-1}, currently using 10\% of data. Utilizing full Run 2 data allows the use of a lower photon pT threshold trigger than a previous analysis performed with only 2016 data, allowing this analysis to be more sensitive to resonances in the low mass region. We require an initial state photon recoiling against the narrow resonance, leading to the resonance having a high transverse momentum. The high pT decay products of the resonance collimate and are reconstructed as a single large jet with an internal two-pronged substructure. A two-pronged dijet score based on the ParticleNet tagger is used to select jets with two-pronged substructure. The background is estimated via a data-driven method using a transfer factor between the distributions which fail and pass the two-pronged substructure requirement. The new physics signal is searched for as a narrow peak excess above the Standard Model backgrounds in the jet mass spectrum.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Search For Low-Mass Quark-Antiquark Resonances Produced With an Initial State Photon at 13 TeV Using the CMS Detector

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Toward a DM Search with Phonon-Mediated MKID Devices at NEXUS

To continue the search for dark matter (DM) into the sub-GeV mass range, the development and characterization of new detectors with sub-eV thresholds is critical. Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) offer an attractive architecture for novel microcalorimeters with the requisite energy resolution and threshold for probing DM down to the fermionic thermal relic mass limit of a few keV. A phonon-sensitive MKID device featuring an aluminum resonator patterned onto a silicon substrate has been operating at the NEXUS low-background facility at Fermilab for characterization and evaluation of its efficacy for a dark matter search. Currently, our estimate of the energy resolution of this device is limited by the efficiency for phonons produced via particle interactions in the substrate to propagate to the superconductor and break Cooper pairs. In this poster, I will present our constraints on the substrate-superconductor coupling and the progress on an absolute energy calibration performed by exposing the rear of the substrate to a pulsed source of 470 nm photons. I will also review the current status and next steps of the phonon-mediated MKID effort at Fermilab.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Extracting low energy signals from raw LArTPC waveforms using deep learning techniques — A proof of concept

Here, we investigate the feasibility of using deep learning techniques, in the form of a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN), for the extraction of signals from the raw waveforms produced by the individual channels of liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) detectors. A minimal generic LArTPC detector model is developed to generate realistic noise and signal waveforms used to train and test the 1D-CNN, and evaluate its performance on low-level signals. We demonstrate that our approach overcomes the inherent shortcomings of traditional cut-based methods by extending sensitivity to signals with ADC values below their imposed thresholds. This approach exhibits great promise in enhancing the capabilities of future generation neutrino experiments like DUNE to carry out their low-energy neutrino physics programs.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2021

Extracting low energy signals from raw LArTPC waveforms using deep learning techniques -- A proof of concept

We investigate the feasibility of using deep learning techniques, in the form of a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN), for the extraction of signals from the raw waveforms produced by the individual channels of liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) detectors. A minimal generic LArTPC detector model is developed to generate realistic noise and signal waveforms used to train and test the 1D-CNN, and evaluate its performance on low-level signals. We demonstrate that our approach overcomes the inherent shortcomings of traditional cut-based methods by extending sensitivity to signals with ADC values below their imposed thresholds. This approach exhibits great promise in enhancing the capabilities of future generation neutrino experiments like DUNE to carry out their low-energy neutrino physics programs.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2022

Search for coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering at a nuclear reactor with CONNIE 2019 data

The Coherent Neutrino-Nucleus Interaction Experiment (CONNIE) is taking data at the Angra 2 nuclear reactor with the aim of detecting the coherent elastic scattering of reactor antineutrinos with silicon nuclei using charge-coupled devices (CCDs). In 2019 the experiment operated with a hardware binning applied to the readout stage, leading to lower levels of readout noise and improving the detection threshold down to 50 eV. The results of the analysis of 2019 data are reported here, corresponding to the detector array of 8 CCDs with a fiducial mass of 36.2 g and a total exposure of 2.2 kg-days. The difference between the reactor-on and reactor-off spectra shows no excess at low energies and yields upper limits at 95% confidence level for the neutrino interaction rates. In the lowest-energy range, 50 − 180 eV, the expected limit stands at 34 (39) times the standard model prediction, while the observed limit is 66 (75) times the standard model prediction with Sarkis (Chavarria) quenching factors.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2021

The Modeled Performance of the ORNL Matched Filter Detector for Seismic Signatures of Multi-Axle Tractor Trailers

The MINOS program seeks methods to passively monitor the transfer of special materials, which are reproducible and quantitatively defensible. To date, we have demonstrated that short-period seismometers deployed near vehicle tracks can detect and monitor signatures of multi-axle tractor trailers impacting small road obstacles as means to detect and identify some transfer activities. In this report, we model the seismic velocity signal output from a tractor-trailer impacting a small obstacle (a template waveform) to parameterize a matched filter that identifies signals with similar shapes buried in noise, and that indicate repeating events (target waveforms). We then use this model to perform thousands of synthetic experiments, in which we apply our detector to identify noisy waveforms output from a similarly modeled vehicle data set; we process all data in the same manner as we process real data collected from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seismic network. Our experiments, while limited, reveal that the matched filter shows a high discrimination capability, and at very low SNR values (at visibility thresholds). This means that template waveforms can match target waveforms that are sourced by models that share the same vehicle speed (target vehicles), and have a low probability of mis-identification. In particular, a matched filter designed to detect a five-axle tractor-trailer will reliably identify that target vehicle down to an SNR of 11.25 dB, and within ±0.1 km/hr, while successfully screening target vehicles with three axles.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2023

ANNIE: the Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment

The Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment (ANNIE) is a Gadolinium-loaded water Cherenkov detector placed in the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, USA. The primary physics goal of ANNIE is to perform neutrino cross-section measurements that will constrain systematic uncertainties in the next generation of long-baseline neutrino experiments. The first measurement will be the multiplicity of final-state neutrons from neutrino-nucleus interactions in water. Alongside these measurements, ANNIE has achieved the first ever deployments of two novel detector technologies in a neutrino beam: Large Area Picosecond Photodetectors (LAPPDs) and Water-based Liquid Scintillator (WbLS). LAPPDs are micro-channel-plate-based devices that provide timing resolution of ~100 picoseconds and sub-centimeter spatial resolution. WbLS combines the low attenuation and Cherenkov production of pure water with the high light-yield and low detection threshold of liquid scintillator. This talk will discuss the status of ANNIE's physics and R&D measurements.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2024

The Single Event Error (SEE) test and analysis of the CMS Endcap Timing Layer readout chip

The ETROC2, the first full size and full functionality prototype chip for the CMS Endcap Timing Layer readout, is strategically designed to meet the SEE immunity requirements of detector operation with the low power constraint. The triplicated periphery and pixel I2C configuration registers are designed with self-correction feature. The pixel readout control is centralized in the global readout and fully triplicated. The pixel readout is not triplicated, instead protected with power-efficient one-bit correction Hamming code. The TMR protection of the on-pixel threshold calibration can be turned off allowing the detection of the beam spot during the beam test by checking the bit-flips of the internal memory cells. In the initial proton beam test in January 2024, the chip readout process did not hang throughout the tests. The Hamming code correction strategy works because the error corrected TDC data were observed in the data frames. The error-injection simulation is performed to analy ze the small number of bit-flips in the configuration registers. We also performed SEE testing with a heavy ion beam in April and the data analysis is ongoing. The detailed design on the SEE immunity and the testing as well as simulation results will be presented, including follow-up SEE testing results in May and June 2024.

Gong, Datao↗

DOE OSTI2025

Harnessing the Quantum Zeno Effect in superconducting qubits for particle detection

Superconducting qubits, originally developed for quantum computing, are emerging as a potentially powerful tool for detecting low-energy particle interactions, such as dark matter and neutrinos. These devices can register energy deposits as small as a few meV, dramatically lowering the detection threshold compared to conventional sensors. However, their deployment in rare-event searches is hampered by a critical and unresolved background: Two-Level Systems (TLSes). TLSes are material defects that can scramble qubit frequencies and coherence times in a way that resembles particle energy deposits. Such false signals can critically limit the sensitivity and extend experimental runtimes for qubit-based sensors by years. This talk introduces a novel method to eliminate TLSes as a background source in superconducting qubit-based detectors. By harnessing the Quantum Zeno Effect (QZE), a well-established quantum phenomenon where frequent observation inhibits system evolution, I will discuss the possibility of “freezing” these TLS defects in place. This effectively suppresses their interference, stabilizes qubit behavior, and opens the door to using TLSes themselves as auxiliary sensors. I have already identified target TLSes and observed early signs of QZE-like dynamics in Fermilab-fabricated devices. The method builds on my existing collaborations at Fermilab’s Quantum Information Testbed (QUIET), with access to low muon flux cryogenic facilities 100 meters underground, control electronics, and expert mentors across multiple institutions. By removing a key bottleneck to superconducting sensor deployment, this research targets advancing the development of a general-purpose technique to enhance sensitivity, reduce false positives, and accelerate discovery in searches for dark matter, neutrinos, and other rare phenomena.

Seidel, Olivia [Texas U., Arlington]↗

DOE OSTI2026

Characterization of the First Prototype of the L1K65n Differential-Output Charge-Sensitive Preamplifier ASIC for High-Performance, Low-Background HPGe Detector Readout

Next-generation neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay searches require a large detector/isotope mass and very low radioactive backgrounds. The upcoming LEGEND-1000 experiment (Large Enriched Germanium Experiment for Neutrinoless double-beta Decay) constitute a ton-scale array of several hundred high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors enriched in 76Ge, the isotope of interest. It aims to reach a sensitivity beyond 10 28 years on the 0νββ decay half-life of 76Ge, necessitating an order of magnitude reduction in background with respect to the state of the art. This will require the implementation of a dedicated application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) preamplifier that will significantly lower background contribution compared to the conventional low-mass front end (LMFE) employed in the Majorana Demonstrator and LEGEND-200 experiments while maintaining or improving energy resolution and other performance parameters. Features include a high (9 MeV) dynamic range with noise low enough to achieve a trigger threshold of <1 keV, a single power supply to reduce background-inducing cabling, and a differential output to maintain signal integrity over several meters of transmission line. The chip would be optimized to operate in liquid argon (87 K) and be able to do so reliably for ten years. Following on from an earlier 180-nm prototype, we have developed a differential-output charge-sensitive preamplifier ASIC fabricated in a 65-nm process, 1×2 mm in size, that addresses these needs. Here, we present recent results from the successful testing and characterization of the first version of this device.

ASIC↗

DOE OSTI2023

Signal processing to reduce dark noise impact in precision timing

We introduce a technique to mitigate the effects of low frequency noise on precision timing. The example of Dark Count Noise Rate (DCR) in Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) is emphasized. This technique exploits the correlation between time shifts on the leading edge of a signal and the residual slope of the baseline (due to noise) which remains after baseline subtraction. In fast timing applications (such as for Time-of-flight particle ID) the signal arrival time is typically captured on the signal leading edge. The signal risetime is often fixed by the physics of the sensor and input circuit. Then accurate pulse timing can be achieved by correcting a leading edge threshold time (depending on a slope proportional to both the Amplitude and the risetime) to a “constant fraction” time. This compensation for time walk due to amplitude fluctuations breaks down once we introduce interference from low frequency noise on the leading edge. In this paper we demonstrate that an additional measurement of the slope at threshold can be used to correct for this noise jitter.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2020

A Low-Power Time-to-Digital Converter for the CMS Endcap Timing Layer (ETL) Upgrade

We present the design and test results of a Time-to-Digital-Converter (TDC). The TDC will be a part of the readout ASIC, called ETROC, to read out Low-Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs) for the CMS Endcap Timing Layer (ETL) of High-Luminosity LHC upgrade. One of the challenges of the ETROC design is that the TDC is required to consume less than 200 W for each pixel at the nominal hit occupancy of 1%. To meet the low-power requirement, we use a single delay line for both the Time of Arrival (TOA) and the Time over Threshold (TOT) measurements without delay control. A double-strobe self-calibration scheme is used to compensate for process variation, temperature, and power supply voltage. The TDC is fabricated in a 65 nm CMOS technology. The overall performances of the TDC have been evaluated. The TOA has a bin size of 17.8 ps within its effective dynamic range of 11.6 ns. The effective measurement precision of the TOA is 5.6 ps and 9.9 ps with and without the nonlinearity correction, respectively. The TDC block consumes 97 W at the hit occupancy of 1%. Over a temperature range from 23 C to 78 C and a power supply voltage range from 1.05 V to 1.35 V (the nominal value of 1.20 V), the self-calibrated bin size of the TOA varies within 0.4%. The measured TDC performances meet the requirements except that more tests will be performed in the future to verify that the TDC complies with the radiation-tolerance specifications.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2021

A Statistics-Based Threshold for the RMS-Energy Oscillation Detector

System operators and reliability coordinators currently rely on extensive baselining studies to set thresholds for their oscillation detectors. The resulting thresholds are based largely on engineering judgment and may vary significantly between organizations. In this paper, statistical distribution theory is used to derive a detection threshold for the widely deployed root-mean-square (RMS)-energy detector. This expression provides a theoretical basis for the detector's configuration, simplifies the process of selecting the threshold, and enables improved consistency among organizations that need to coordinate during system-wide events. Three methods for calculating the threshold using synchrophasor measurements are also proposed. These methods ensure that the threshold can be calculated reliably for various applications. Tests with simulated and field-measured data demonstrate that the statistics-based threshold provides consistent detection of grid disturbances while maintaining a low probability of false alarm.

Follum, James D.↗

DOE OSTI2023

Quantum Devices for Neutrino and Rare Particle Detection (Final Report)

This report summarizes the technical work completed under the DOE-QuanISED program. This grant allowed the MIT group --and associated groups on the project, including UMass Amherst and Argonne National Laboratory -- to explore the use of superconducting bolometers for the purpose of neutrino and low mass dark matter detection. These low threshold bolometric detection techniques have wide applicability in nuclear and particle physics, including searching for low mass weakly-interacting dark matter; detecting neutrinos via coherent neutrino scattering; searching for axions and nuclear non-proliferation. In addition, we explored how using techniques readily used by the quantum computing community–such as multiplexed microwave resonators and quantum amplifiers—could be used as a low noise readout scheme for an array of superconducting detectors. We briefly summarized the accomplishments under the project, and what future research directions have spawned from this research.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Low-energy astrophysics with KamLAND

We present two results of a search for MeV-scale neutrino and anti-neutrino events correlated with gravitational wave events/candidates and large solar flares with KamLAND. The KamLAND detector is a large-volume neutrino detector using liquid scintillator, which is located at 1 km underground under the top of Mt. Ikenoyama in Kamioka, Japan. KamLAND has multiple reaction channels to detect neutrinos. Electron antineutrino can be detected via inverse-beta decay with 1.8 MeV neutrino energy threshold. All flavors of neutrinos can be detected via neutrino-electron scattering without neutrino energy threshold. KamLAND has continued the neutrino observation since 2002 March. We use the data set of 60 gravitational waves provided by the LIGO/Virgo collaboration during their second and third observing runs and search for coincident electron antineutrino events in KamLAND. We find no significant coincident signals within a ±500 s timing window from each gravitational wave and present 90% C.L. upper limits on the electron antineutrino fluence between 10 8 –10 13 cm -2 for neutrino energies of 1.8–111 MeV. For a solar-flare neutrino search at KamLAND, we determine the timing window using the solar X-ray data set provided by the GOES satellite series from 2002 to 2019 and search for the excess of coincident event rate on the all-flavor neutrinos. We find no significant event rate excess in the flare time windows and get 90% C.L. upper limits on the fluence of neutrinos of all flavors (electron anti-neutrinos) between 10 10 –10 13 cm -2 (10 8 –10 13 cm -2 ) for neutrino energies in the energy range of 0.4–35 MeV.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2024

The CMOS Pseudo-Thyristor: a zero-static current discriminator circuit

We report a very low power discriminator circuit for pixelized detectors, called the Pseudo-Thyristor is described in this document. It is a positive feedback topology using regular PMOS and NMOS field-effect transistors (FET's) with zero static current. When a small charge is injected into the circuit, it flips rapidly due to the positive feedback and outputs a logic transition for further digitization. Simulation shows that in a 65 nm process, it is possible to achieve a detecting threshold below 5 fC while maintain the average power consumption below 10 micro-Watts when the hit occupancy is <10% for 40 MHz operation.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Search for Solar Boosted Dark Matter Particles at the PandaX-4T Experiment

We present a novel constraint on light dark matter utilizing 1.54 metric ton/year of data acquired from the PandaX-4T dual-phase xenon time projection chamber. This constraint is derived through detecting electronic recoil signals resulting from the interaction with solar-enhanced dark matter flux. Low-mass dark matter particles, lighter than a few MeV / c 2 , can scatter with the thermal electrons in the Sun. Consequently, with higher kinetic energy, the boosted dark matter component becomes detectable via contact scattering with xenon electrons, resulting in a few keV energy deposition that exceeds the threshold of PandaX-4T. We calculate the expected recoil energy in PandaX-4T considering the Sun’s acceleration with heavy mediators and the detection capabilities of the xenon detector. The first experimental search results using the xenon detector yield the most stringent upper limits cross section of 3.51 × 10 − 39 cm 2 at 0.08 MeV / c 2 for a solar boosted dark matter mass ranging from 0.02 to 10 MeV / c 2 , achieving a 23-fold improvement compared with earlier experimental studies. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Shen, Guofang↗