Search

BabyIAXO is the intermediate stage of the International Axion Observatory (IAXO) to be hosted at DESY. Its primary goal is the detection of solar axions following the axion helioscope technique. Axions are converted into photons in a large magnet that is pointing to the sun. The resulting X-rays are focused by appropriate X-ray optics and detected by sensitive low-background detectors placed at the focal spot. The aim of this article is to provide an accurate quantitative description of the different components (such as the magnet, optics, and X-ray detectors) involved in the detection of axions. Our efforts have focused on developing robust and integrated software tools to model these helioscope components, enabling future assessments of modifications or upgrades to any part of the IAXO axion helioscope and evaluating the potential impact on the experiment's sensitivity. In this manuscript, we demonstrate the application of these tools by presenting a precise signal calculation and response analysis of BabyIAXO's sensitivity to the axion-photon coupling. Though focusing on the Primakoff solar flux component, our virtual helioscope model can be used to test different production mechanisms, allowing for direct comparisons within a unified framework., Comment: 36 pages, 18 figures, 4 tables, Submitted to JHEP

The radio galaxy NGC 1275, located at the central region of Perseus cluster, is a well-known very high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emitter. The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment Telescope has detected two distinct episodes of VHE (E > 80 GeV) gamma-ray emission from NGC 1275 during 2022 December and 2023 January. The second outburst, observed on 2023 January 10, was the more intense of the two, with flux reaching 58$\%$ of the Crab Nebula flux above 80 GeV. The differential energy spectrum measured between 80 GeV and 1.5 TeV can be described by a power law with a spectral index of $\Gamma = - 2.90 \pm 0.16_{stat}$ for both flaring events. The broadband spectral energy distribution derived from these flares, along with quasisimultaneous low-energy counterparts, suggests that the observed gamma-ray emission can be explained using a homogeneous single-zone synchrotron self-Compton model. The physical parameters derived from this model for both flaring states are similar. The intermediate state observed between two flaring episodes is explained by a lower Doppler factor or magnetic field, which subsequently returned to its previous value during the high-activity state observed on 2023 January 10., Comment: 7 Pages, 5 Figures, and 1 Table

We explore the impact of introducing IIIA-group element Ga in place of IIB-group element Zn in binary intermetallic GdZn on its magnetic and magnetocaloric properties, as well as explicate the modified electronic band structure of the compound. The magnetic transition temperature of the compound decreases with the increase of Ga concentration in GdZn1-xGax (x = 0-0.1) while the crystal structure (CsCl-prototype) and lattice parameters remain unchanged. Our detailed analysis of magnetization and magnetocaloric data conclusively proves that long-ranged magnetic ordering exists in the sample, despite the magnetic interaction considerably weakening with the increase of Ga. The experimental data is rationalized using both theoretical machine learning model and first-principle density functional theory.The electronic band structure of GdZn is manifested with some unusual complex features which gradually diminish with Ga doping and conventional sinusoidal feature of Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya- Yosida (RKKY)-type interactions also disappears. A mean-field theory model is developed and can successfully describe the overall magnetocaloric behavior of the GdZn1-xGax series of samples

The first FASER search for a light, long-lived particle decaying into a pair of photons is reported. The search uses LHC proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{s}=13.6~\text{TeV}$ collected in 2022 and 2023, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $57.7\text{fb}^{-1}$. A model with axion-like particles (ALPs) dominantly coupled to weak gauge bosons is the primary target. Signal events are characterised by high-energy deposits in the electromagnetic calorimeter and no signal in the veto scintillators. One event is observed, compared to a background expectation of $0.44 \pm 0.39$ events, which is entirely dominated by neutrino interactions. World-leading constraints on ALPs are obtained for masses up to $300~\text{MeV}$ and couplings to the Standard Model W gauge boson, $g_{aWW}$, around $10^{-4}$ GeV$^{-1}$, testing a previously unexplored region of parameter space. Other new particle models that lead to the same experimental signature, including ALPs coupled to gluons or photons, U(1)$_B$ gauge bosons, up-philic scalars, and a Type-I two-Higgs doublet model, are also considered for interpretation, and new constraints on previously viable parameter space are presented in this paper., Comment: 37 pages, 22 figures

Electropolishing process and cathodes have undergone modification and optimization for both low- and high-beta 650 MHz five-cell niobium cavities for PIP-II. Cavities treated with these modified electropolishing conditions exhibited smooth surfaces and good performance in baseline tests. Nonetheless, due to administrative constraints on project cavities, maximum gradient performance testing was not conducted. This paper presents a study conducted on a single-cell 650 MHz cavity utilizing the optimized electropolishing conditions, highlighting the maximum performance attained for this specific cavity. The cavity tested at 2 K in a vertical cryostat reached a superior accelerating field gradient of 53.3 MV/m at Q0 of 1.6x1010, which is the highest gradient attained for this type of large-sized cavities., Comment: 32nd Linear Accelerator Conference (LINAC 2024)

The emergence of quantum computing presents a double-edged sword for cybersecurity. While its immense power holds promise for advancements in various fields, it also threatens to crack the foundation of current encryption methods. This analysis explores the impact of quantum computing on critical infrastructure and cloud services, meticulously evaluating potential vulnerabilities across various layers, including applications, data, runtime, middleware, operating systems, virtualization, hardware, storage, and networks. We advocate for proactive security strategies and collaboration between sectors to develop and implement quantum-resistant cryptography. This crucial shift necessitates a comprehensive approach, and the paper introduces a tailored security blueprint encompassing nine critical infrastructure components. This blueprint strengthens each area's defenses against potential quantum-induced cyber threats. Our strategic vulnerability and risk assessment equips stakeholders with the knowledge to navigate the complex quantum threat landscape. This empowers them to make informed decisions about design, implementation, and policy formulation, ultimately bolstering the resilience of critical infrastructure. In essence, this analysis not only forecasts quantum threats but also offers a sophisticated, actionable framework for fortifying infrastructure and cloud environments against the multifaceted challenges of the quantum era. This proactive approach will ensure continued data security and a thriving digital landscape in the years to come

The emergence of quantum computing poses a formidable security challenge to network protocols traditionally safeguarded by classical cryptographic algorithms. This paper provides an exhaustive analysis of vulnerabilities introduced by quantum computing in a diverse array of widely utilized security protocols across the layers of the TCP/IP model, including TLS, IPsec, SSH, PGP, and more. Our investigation focuses on precisely identifying vulnerabilities susceptible to exploitation by quantum adversaries at various migration stages for each protocol while also assessing the associated risks and consequences for secure communication. We delve deep into the impact of quantum computing on each protocol, emphasizing potential threats posed by quantum attacks and scrutinizing the effectiveness of post-quantum cryptographic solutions. Through carefully evaluating vulnerabilities and risks that network protocols face in the post-quantum era, this study provides invaluable insights to guide the development of appropriate countermeasures. Our findings contribute to a broader comprehension of quantum computing's influence on network security and offer practical guidance for protocol designers, implementers, and policymakers in addressing the challenges stemming from the advancement of quantum computing. This comprehensive study is a crucial step toward fortifying the security of networked environments in the quantum age.

The rise of large-scale quantum computing poses a significant threat to traditional cryptographic security measures. Quantum attacks undermine current asymmetric cryptographic algorithms, rendering them ineffective. Even symmetric key cryptography is vulnerable, albeit to a lesser extent, suggesting longer keys or extended hash functions for security. Thus, current cryptographic solutions are inadequate against emerging quantum threats. Organizations must transition to quantum-safe environments with robust continuity plans and meticulous risk management. This study explores the challenges of migrating to quantum-safe cryptographic states, introducing a comprehensive security risk assessment framework. We propose a security risk assessment framework that examines vulnerabilities across algorithms, certificates, and protocols throughout the migration process (pre-migration, during migration, post-migration). We link these vulnerabilities to the STRIDE threat model to assess their impact and likelihood. Then, we discuss practical mitigation strategies for critical components like algorithms, public key infrastructures, and protocols. Our study not only identifies potential attacks and vulnerabilities at each layer and migration stage but also suggests possible countermeasures and alternatives to enhance system resilience, empowering organizations to construct a secure infrastructure for the quantum era. Through these efforts, we establish the foundation for enduring security in networked systems amid the challenges of the quantum era.

The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) is a large size (21m) Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT) installed at an altitude of 4270m above sea level at Hanle, Ladakh in northern India. Here we report the detection of Very High Energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from Crab Nebula above 80 GeV. We analysed ~15 hours of data collected at low zenith angle between November 2022 and February 2023. The energy spectrum is well described by a log-parabola function with a flux of ~(3.46 +/- 0.26stat) x 10-10 TeV-1 cm-2 s-1, at 400 GeV with spectral index of 2.09 +/- 0.06stat and a curvature parameter of 0.08 +/- 0.07stat. The gamma-rays are detected in an energy range spanning from 80 GeV to ~5 TeV. The energy resolution improves from ~34% at an analysis energy threshold of 80 GeV to ~21% above 1 TeV. The daily light curve and the spectral energy distribution obtained for the Crab Nebula is in agreement with previous measurements, considering statistical and systematic uncertainties., Comment: Accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physics

With the increase in legislative documents at the EU, the number of new terms and their definitions is increasing as well. As per the Joint Practical Guide of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, terms used in legal documents shall be consistent, and identical concepts shall be expressed without departing from their meaning in ordinary, legal, or technical language. Thus, while drafting a new legislative document, having a framework that provides insights about existing definitions and helps define new terms based on a document's context will support such harmonized legal definitions across different regulations and thus avoid ambiguities. In this paper, we present LexDrafter, a framework that assists in drafting Definitions articles for legislative documents using retrieval augmented generation (RAG) and existing term definitions present in different legislative documents. For this, definition elements are built by extracting definitions from existing documents. Using definition elements and RAG, a Definitions article can be suggested on demand for a legislative document that is being drafted. We demonstrate and evaluate the functionality of LexDrafter using a collection of EU documents from the energy domain. The code for LexDrafter framework is available at https://github.com/achouhan93/LexDrafter., Comment: Accepted at LREC-COLING 2024

Sign language to text is a crucial technology that can break down communication barriers for individuals with hearing difficulties. We replicate and try to improve on a recently published study. We evaluate models using BLEU and rBLEU metrics to ensure translation quality. During our ablation study, we found that the model's performance is significantly influenced by optimizers, activation functions, and label smoothing. Further research aims to refine visual feature capturing, enhance decoder utilization, and integrate pre-trained decoders for better translation outcomes. Our source code is available to facilitate replication of our results and encourage future research.

Electropolishing (EP) of 1.3 GHz niobium superconducting RF cavities is conducted to achieve a desired smooth and contaminant-free surface that yields good RF performance. Achieving a smooth surface of a large-sized elliptical cavity with the standard EP conditions was found to be challenging. This work aimed to conduct a systematic parametric EP study to understand the effects of various EP parameters on the surface of 650 MHz niobium cavities used in the Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II) linear accelerator. Parameters optimized in this study provided a smooth surface of the cavities. The electropolished cavity showed significantly a higher accelerating gradient meeting baseline requirement and qualified for further surface treatment to improve the cavity quality factor., Comment: SRF2023

The applications of terahertz metamaterials are being actively explored in recent times for applications in high-speed communication devices, miniature photonic circuits, and bio-chemical devices because of their wide advantages. The toroidal resonance, a new type of metasurface resonance, has been examined with great interest to utilize its properties in terahertz metasurface applications. The study reports a proof of concept design of a toroidal metasurface that experimentally demonstrates logic gate operations in the terahertz frequency regime by passive tuning of the split ring resonators compromising the meta-atom design. The amplitude modulation is utilized as a method of determining the Boolean logic output of the system. The proposed metasurface could be further optimized for high amplitude modulations, as well as for active logic gate operations using tunable materials including graphene and ITO. The proposed metasurface consists of three split-ring resonators, and the near-field coupling between the adjacent resonators dictates the logic gate operations. The toroidal excitation in the metasurface is determined by a multipole analysis of the scattered powers of terahertz radiation. The proposed metasurfaces experimentally define AND Boolean logic gate at 0.89 terahertz, and OR Boolean logic gate at 0.97 terahertz. Numerical simulations support the experimentally obtained results. Additionally, we numerically report the excitation of NAND gate at 0.87 THz. Such toroidal logic-gate metasurfaces in the terahertz region could find applications in digitized terahertz circuits for photonic device applications.

This paper presents a Soft Labeling and Noisy Mixup-based open intent classification model (SNOiC). Most of the previous works have used threshold-based methods to identify open intents, which are prone to overfitting and may produce biased predictions. Additionally, the need for more available data for an open intent class presents another limitation for these existing models. SNOiC combines Soft Labeling and Noisy Mixup strategies to reduce the biasing and generate pseudo-data for open intent class. The experimental results on four benchmark datasets show that the SNOiC model achieves a minimum and maximum performance of 68.72\% and 94.71\%, respectively, in identifying open intents. Moreover, compared to state-of-the-art models, the SNOiC model improves the performance of identifying open intents by 0.93\% (minimum) and 12.76\% (maximum). The model's efficacy is further established by analyzing various parameters used in the proposed model. An ablation study is also conducted, which involves creating three model variants to validate the effectiveness of the SNOiC model., Comment: 9 Pages, 6 figures