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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Tritium β decay and proton-proton fusion in pionless effective field theory

The Gamow-Teller and Fermi matrix elements, 〈 GT 〉 and 〈 F 〉 , respectively, for tritium β decay are calculated to next-to-leading order (NLO) in pionless effective field theory in the absence of Coulomb interactions and isospin violation giving the leading order predictions 〈 GT 〉 0 = 0.9807 and 〈 F 〉 0 = 1 . Using an experimentally determined value for the tritium β decay GT matrix element, the two-body axial current low energy constant is fixed at NLO yielding L 1 , A = 6.01 ± 2.08 fm 3 at the renormalization scale of the physical pion mass, which agrees with predictions based on naive dimensional analysis. The impact of L 1 , A on proton-proton fusion is also discussed. Finally, the consequences of Wigner-SU(4) spin-isospin symmetry are considered for the Gamow-Teller matrix element. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Test of lepton flavor universality in semileptonic 𝐵$^+_𝑐$ meson decays in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{𝑠}$ = 13 TeV

A measurement of the ratio of branching fractions 𝑅⁢(𝐽/𝜓) =ℬ⁡(𝐵$^+_𝑐$ →𝐽/𝜓⁢𝜏 + ⁢𝜈 𝜏 )/ℬ⁡(𝐵$^+_𝑐$ →𝐽/𝜓⁢𝜇 + ⁢𝜈 𝜇 ) in the 𝐽/𝜓 →𝜇 + ⁢𝜇 − , 𝜏 + →𝜇 + ⁢𝜈 𝜇 ⁢$\bar{𝜈}$ 𝜏 decay channel is presented. This measurement uses a sample of proton-proton collision data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the CMS experiment in 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 59.7 fb −1 . The measured ratio, 𝑅⁢(𝐽/𝜓) = 0.1⁢7$^{+0.18}_{−0.17}⁢$(stat)$^{+0.21}_{−0.22⁢}$(syst)$^{+0.19}_{−0.18}$⁢(theo) =0.17 ± 0.33, agrees with the value of 0.2582 ± 0.0038 predicted by the standard model, which assumes lepton flavor universality. By testing lepton flavor universality, this measurement is a probe of new physics using 𝐵$^+_𝑐$ mesons, which are currently only produced at the LHC.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1985

Direct observation of the excited-state proton transfer and decay kinetics of internally hydrogen-bonded photostabilizers in copolymer films

The excited-state dynamics of a 2-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole (HPB) photostabilizer copolymerized with polystyrene are reported. HPB fluorescence from these copolymer films is observed at approximately 630 nm, characteristic of the proton-transferred excited state of HPB, and it has a risetime of less than 10 ps and a decay time of 28 + or - 4 ps at room temperature. Measurement of the relative fluorescence quantum yield as a function of temperature gives the activation energy for nonradiative decay of this state to be E/hc = 259 + or 25/cm.

Oconnor, D. B.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nucleon Decays into Light New Particles in Neutrino Detectors

Proton and neutron decays into light new particles 𝑋 can drastically change the experimental signatures and benefit from the complementarity of large water-Cherenkov neutrino detectors such as Super- and Hyper-Kamiokande and tracking detectors such as JUNO and DUNE. The proton decays 𝑝 → ℓ + ⁢𝑋 and 𝑝 → 𝜋 + ⁢𝑋 with 𝑚 𝑋 near phase-space closure lead to charged particles below the Cherenkov threshold, rendering them practically invisible in Super- and Hyper-Kamiokande but not in JUNO and DUNE, which are therefore uniquely positioned for these baryon-number-violating signatures despite their smaller size. As an additional signature, such nucleon decays in the Earth can produce a sizable flux of 𝑋 particles in underground detectors. We present a simple model in which nucleons decay into sub-GeV sterile neutrinos that subsequently decay through active-sterile neutrino mixing, with a promisingly large number of events in Super-Kamiokande even in the seesaw-motivated parameter space.

Baryon & lepton number symmetries↗
DOE OSTI2022

Modeling the Dynamics of Energetic Protons in Earth's Inner Magnetosphere

Recently, Van Allen Probes data have revealed the interesting energy-dependent dynamics of energetic protons in Earth's inner magnetosphere. To quantify the role of radial diffusion and charge exchange to the observed energy-dependent dynamics of ring current protons, a 1D radial diffusion model with charge exchange loss is implemented. The observed proton flux over the long-term period of November 2012 to September 2013 is first converted to phase space densities, which are then simulated by our model driven by an outer boundary condition at L* = 5.5 derived from the data. The simulation results show that our model generally captures the transport and acceleration of energetic protons at μ = 30, 50, and 80 MeV/G and K = 0.11 G 1/2 R E , suggesting that radial diffusion is the dominant source mechanism for >75 keV protons at L* = 3.5–5.5. Additionally, the observed fast decay of protons at lower μ and slow decay at higher μ are well captured by the model, demonstrating the dominant role of charge exchange in explaining the observed energy-dependent proton decay. For higher μ protons, prompt losses of protons on the time scale of hours are observed over a wide range of L*, which is too fast to be explained by charge exchange. Some of the prompt losses at high L* regions are reproduced by the model with outward radial diffusion to the outer boundary. However, many prompt losses observed at lower L* regions are not captured by the model, which could be due to other loss mechanisms including electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave scattering and field line curvature scattering.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Solving the Puzzles of the Decay of the Heaviest Known Proton-Emitting Nucleus 185 Bi

Two long-standing puzzles in the decay of 185 Bi, the heaviest known proton-emitting nucleus are revisited. These are the non-observation of the 9/2 – state, which is the ground state of all heavier odd-A Bi isotopes, and the hindered nature of proton and α decays of its presumed 60-μs 1/2 + ground state. The 185 Bi nucleus has now been studied with the 95 Mo( 93 Nb; 3n) reaction in complementary experiments using the Fragment Mass Analyzer and Argonne Gas-Filled Analyzer at Argonne National Laboratory’s ATLAS facility. The experiments have established the existence of two states in 185 Bi; the short-lived T 1/2 = $2.8$$^{+2.3}_{–1.0}$ μs, proton- and α-decaying ground state, and a 58(2)–μs γ-decaying isomer, the half-life of which was previously attributed to the ground state. The reassignment of the ground-state lifetime results in a proton-decay spectroscopic factor close to unity and represents the only known example of a ground-state proton decay to a daughter nucleus ( 184 Pb) with a major shell closure. Furthermore, the data also demonstrate that the ordering of low- and high-spin states in 185 Bi is reversed relative to the heavier odd-A Bi isotopes, with the intruder-based 1/2 + configuration becoming the ground state, similar to the lightest At nuclides.

150 ≤ A ≤ 189↗
DOE OSTI2026

Measurement of the Higgs boson total decay width using the 𝐻 → 𝑊⁢𝑊 → 𝑒⁢𝜈⁢𝜇⁢𝜈 decay channel in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} =13$ TeV

The Higgs boson (H) decay width is determined from the ratio of off- and on-shell production of 𝐻 → 𝑊⁢𝑊 → 𝑒⁢𝜈⁢𝜇⁢𝜈 using proton–proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb −1 collected at $\sqrt{s} =13$ TeV by the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The off-shell signal strength is measured as 𝜇 off−shell = $1.2^{+0.8}_{−0.7}$. The Higgs boson total decay width is Γ 𝐻 = $3.9^{+2.7}_{−2.2}$ MeV, in agreement with the standard model prediction. The uncertainty in this result represents a factor of 3 improvement over the previous CMS result in this decay channel.

Hayrapetyan, A. [Yerevan Physics Institute]↗
DOE OSTI2026

A measurement of the Higgs boson mass in the diphoton decay channel in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

A measurement of the Higgs boson mass in the diphoton decay channel is performed using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data set recorded with the CMS detector between 2016 and 2018 is used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. A refined detector calibration and new analysis techniques are employed to improve the precision of the results compared to earlier measurements. The Higgs boson mass is measured to be $m_\mathrm{H}$ = 125.13 $\pm$ 0.15 GeV = 125.13 $\pm$ 0.10 (stat) $\pm$ 0.12 (syst) GeV. In addition, a combination with the mass measurement at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV in the diphoton final state is performed resulting in $m_\mathrm{H}$ = 125.06 $\pm$ 0.14 GeV = 125.06 $\pm$ 0.09 (stat) $\pm$ 0.11 (syst) GeV.

FOS: Physical sciences↗
DOE OSTI2024

Observation of the $\Lambda_\text{b}^0\to J/\psi\Xi^-K^+$ decay

Using proton–proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $140\hbox { fb}^{-1}$ collected by the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}= 13\,\text {Te}\hspace{-.08em}\text {V} $, the ${{{\Lambda }} _{\text {b}}^{{0}}} \rightarrow {{\text {J}/\uppsi }} {{{\Xi }} ^{{-}}} {{\text {K}} ^{{+}}} $ decay is observed for the first time, with a statistical significance exceeding 5 standard deviations. The relative branching fraction, with respect to the ${{{\Lambda }} _{\text {b}}^{{0}}} \rightarrow {{{\uppsi }} ({2\textrm{S}})} {{\Lambda }} $ decay, is measured to be $\mathcal {B}({{{\Lambda }} _{\text {b}}^{{0}}} \rightarrow {{\text {J}/\uppsi }} {{{\Xi }} ^{{-}}} {{\text {K}} ^{{+}}} )/\mathcal {B}({{{\Lambda }} _{\text {b}}^{{0}}} \rightarrow {{{\uppsi }} ({2\textrm{S}})} {{\Lambda }} ) = [3.38\pm 1.02\pm 0.61\pm 0.03]\%$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is related to the uncertainties in $\mathcal {B}({{{\uppsi }} ({2\textrm{S}})} \rightarrow {{\text {J}/\uppsi }} {{{\uppi }} ^{{+}}} {{{\uppi }} ^{{-}}} )$ and $\mathcal {B}({{{\Xi }} ^{{-}}} \rightarrow {{\Lambda }} {{{\uppi }} ^{{-}}} )$.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Search for Higgs boson production at high transverse momentum in the WW decay channel in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

A search for Higgs boson (H) production at high transverse momentum (p T ) in the WW decay channel is presented. The analysis uses proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV recorded by the CMS experiment in 2016–2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb −1 . The visible decay products of the Higgs boson are reconstructed as a single large-radius jet with one isolated lepton or none (1ℓ and 0ℓ, respectively; ℓ = e, μ). The H-candidate jets are identified using an advanced transformer-based algorithm and are calibrated with the Lund jet plane reweighting technique. The 1ℓ channel is further split into gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, and associated production with hadronically decaying vector boson categories, while the 0ℓ channel considers all production processes inclusively. The measured cross section times the H → WW branching fraction relative to the standard model expectation is $\mu =-{0.19}_{-0.46}^{+0.48}$, indicating no evidence of a signal above the background. This measurement represents the first dedicated study of highly Lorentz-boosted H → WW decays, complementing earlier searches for high-p T Higgs boson in other decay channels.

Hadron-Hadron Scattering↗
DOE OSTI2023

Measurements of the Higgs boson production cross section and couplings in the W boson pair decay channel in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13\,\text {Te\hspace{-.08em}V} $

Production cross sections of the standard model Higgs boson decaying to a pair of W bosons are measured in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13$\,\text {Te\hspace{-.08em}V}$. The analysis targets Higgs bosons produced via gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, and in association with a W or Z boson. Candidate events are required to have at least two charged leptons and moderate missing transverse momentum, targeting events with at least one leptonically decaying W boson originating from the Higgs boson. Results are presented in the form of inclusive and differential cross sections in the simplified template cross section framework, as well as couplings of the Higgs boson to vector bosons and fermions. The data set collected by the CMS detector during 2016–2018 is used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$. The signal strength modifier $\mu $, defined as the ratio of the observed production rate in a given decay channel to the standard model expectation, is measured to be $\mu = 0.95^{+0.10}_{-0.09}$. All results are found to be compatible with the standard model within the uncertainties.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Search for Higgs boson pair production in the $ \textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}}{\textrm{W}}^{+}{\textrm{W}}^{-} $ decay mode in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV

A search for Higgs boson pair (HH) production with one Higgs boson decaying to two bottom quarks and the other to two W bosons are presented. The search is done using proton-proton collisions data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$ recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC from 2016 to 2018. The final states considered include at least one leptonically decaying W boson. No evidence for the presence of a signal is observed and corresponding upper limits on the HH production cross section are derived. The limit on the inclusive cross section of the nonresonant HH production, assuming that the distributions of kinematic observables are as expected in the standard model (SM), is observed (expected) to be 14 (18) times the value predicted by the SM, at 95% confidence level. The limits on the cross section are also presented as functions of various Higgs boson coupling modifiers, and anomalous Higgs boson coupling scenarios. In addition, limits are set on the resonant HH production via spin-0 and spin-2 resonances within the mass range 250–900 GeV.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Decay spectroscopy at the two-proton drip line: Radioactivity of the new nuclides 160 Os and 156 W

The radioactivity of $^{160}_{76}$Os 84 and $^{156}_{74}$W 82 that lie at the two-proton drip line has been measured in an experiment performed at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä. The 160 Os nuclei were produced using fusion-evaporation reactions induced by a beam of 310 MeV 58 Ni ions bombarding a 106 Cd target. The 160 Os ions were separated in flight using the recoil separator MARA and implanted into a double-sided silicon strip detector, which was used to measure their decays. The α decays of the ground state of 160 Os (Ε α = 7092(15) keV, t 1/2 = 97$^{+97}_{-32}$ μs) and its isomeric state (Ε α = 8890(10) keV, t 1/2 = 41$^{+15}_{-9}$ μs) were measured, allowing the excitation energy of the isomer to be determined as 1844(18) keV. These α-decay properties and the excitation energy of the isomer are compared with systematics. The α decays were correlated with subsequent decays to investigate the β decays of the ground state of 156 W, revealing that unlike its isotones, both low-lying isomers were populated in its daughter nuclide, 156 Ta. An improved value for the half-life of the proton-decaying high-spin isomeric state in $^{156}_{73}$Ta 83 of 333$^{+25}_{-22}$ ms was obtained in a separate experiment using the same experimental systems with a 102 Pd target. This result was employed to improve the precision of the half-life determined for 156 W, which was measured as 157$^{+57}_{-34}$ ms.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Measurement of simplified template cross sections of the Higgs boson produced in association with W or Z bosons in the H → b b ¯ decay channel in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV

Differential cross sections are measured for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with vector bosons (W, Z) and decaying to a pair of b quarks. Measurements are performed within the framework of the simplified template cross sections. The analysis relies on the leptonic decays of the W and Z bosons, resulting in final states with 0, 1, or 2 electrons or muons. The Higgs boson candidates are either reconstructed from pairs of resolved b-tagged jets, or from single large-radius jets containing the particles arising from two b quarks. Proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ =13 TeV, collected by the CMS experiment in 2016–2018 and corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 138 fb -1 , are analyzed. The inclusive signal strength, defined as the product of the observed production cross section and branching fraction relative to the standard model expectation, combining all analysis categories, is found to be μ = $1.15^{+0.22}_{-0.20}$. This corresponds to an observed (expected) significance of 6.3 (5.6) standard deviations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measurement of the $\textrm{t}\overline{\textrm{t}}\textrm{H}$ and tH production rates in the H → $\textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}}$ decay channel using proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

An analysis of the production of a Higgs boson (H) in association with a top quark-antiquark pair ($\textrm{t}\overline{\textrm{t}}\textrm{H}$) or a single top quark (tH) is presented. The Higgs boson decay into a bottom quark-antiquark pair (H → $\textrm{b}\overline{\textrm{b}}$) is targeted, and three different final states of the top quark decays are considered, defined by the number of leptons (electrons or muons) in the event. The analysis utilises proton-proton collision data collected at the CERN LHC with the CMS experiment at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV in 2016–2018, which correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb −1 . The observed $\sqrt{s}$ production rate relative to the standard model expectation is 0.33 ± 0.26 = 0.33 ± 0.17(stat) ± 0.21(syst). Additionally, the $\textrm{t}\overline{\textrm{t}}\textrm{H}$ production rate is determined in intervals of Higgs boson transverse momentum. An upper limit at 95% confidence level is set on the tH production rate of 14.6 times the standard model prediction, with an expectation of ${19.3}_{-6.0}^{+9.2}$. Finally, constraints are derived on the strength and structure of the coupling between the Higgs boson and the top quark from simultaneous extraction of the $\textrm{t}\overline{\textrm{t}}\textrm{H}$ and tH production rates, and the results are combined with those obtained in other Higgs boson decay channels.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗