Search

Future $e^+e^-$ colliders are called to play a fundamental role in measuring Standard Model (SM) parameters with unprecedented precision and the discovery of physics beyond the SM (BSM). This study focus on a QCD-like Hidden Valley (HV) scenario, with relatively light v-quarks ($\lesssim 100$ GeV), perturbing the QCD partonic cascade and increasing azimuthal and (pseudo)rapidity correlations of final-state SM hadrons. Using Pythia8 and detector fast simulation tools we study $ridge$-$like$ structures arising in the two-particle angular correlation function, including selection cuts and detector effects.

The analysis of angular particle correlations can yield valuable insights into the initial state of matter in high-energy collisions, thereby potentially revealing the existence of Beyond the Standard Model scenarios such as Hidden Valley (HV). In this study, we focus on a QCD-like hidden sector with relatively massive HV quarks ($\lesssim 100$~GeV) which might enlarge and strengthen azimuthal correlations of final-state SM hadrons. In particular, we study the formation and possible observation of \textit{ridge-like} structures in the angular two-particle correlation function at future $e^+e^-$ colliders, with a much cleaner environment than in hadron colliders, such as the LHC., Comment: Talk presented at the International Workshop on Future Linear Colliders (LCWS 2023), 15-19 May 2023. C23-05-15.3

Context. The existence of a maximum correlation angle ($\theta_{max} \gtrsim 60^{\circ}$) in the two-point angular temperature correlations of cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, measured by WMAP and Planck, stands in sharp contrast to the prediction of standard inflationary cosmology, in which the correlations should extend across the full sky (i.e., $180^{\circ}$). The introduction of a hard lower cutoff ($k_{min}$) in the primordial power spectrum, however, leads naturally to the existence of $\theta_{max}$. Among other cosmological anomalies detected in these data, an apparent dominance of odd-over-even parity multipoles has been seen in the angular power spectrum of the CMB. This feature, however, may simply be due to observational contamination in certain regions of the sky. Aims. In attempting to provide a more detailed assessment of whether this odd-over-even asymmetry is intrinsic to the CMB, we therefore proceed in this paper, first, to examine whether this odd-even parity imbalance also manifests itself in the angular correlation function and, second, to examine in detail the interplay between the presence of $\theta_{max}$ and this observed anomaly. Methods. We employed several parity statistics and recalculated the angular correlation function for different values of the cutoff $k_{min}$ in order to optimize the fit to the different Planck 2018 data. Results. We find a phenomenological connection between these features in the data, concluding that both must be considered together in order to optimize the theoretical fit to the Planck 2018 data. Conclusions. This outcome is independent of whether the parity imbalance is intrinsic to the CMB, but if it is, the odd-over-even asymmetry would clearly point to the emergence of new physics., Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures

There is a large body of evidence that atomic nuclei can undergo octupole distortion and assume the shape of a pear. This phenomenon is important for measurements of electric-dipole moments of atoms, which would indicate CP violation and hence probe physics beyond the standard model of particle physics. Isotopes of both radon and radium have been identified as candidates for such measurements. Here, we have observed the low-lying quantum states in $^{224}$Rn and $^{226}$Rn by accelerating beams of these radioactive nuclei. We report here additional states not assigned in our 2019 publication. We show that radon isotopes undergo octupole vibrations but do not possess static pear-shapes in their ground states. We conclude that radon atoms provide less favourable conditions for the enhancement of a measurable atomic electric-dipole moment., Comment: Updated from Nat. Comm. 10 (2019) 2473

There is sparse direct experimental evidence that atomic nuclei can exhibit stable pear shapes arising from strong octupole correlations. In order to investigate the nature of octupole collectivity in radium isotopes, electric octupole ($E3$) matrix elements have been determined for transitions in $^{222,228}$Ra nuclei using the method of sub-barrier, multi-step Coulomb excitation. Beams of the radioactive radium isotopes were provided by the HIE-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The observed pattern of $E$3 matrix elements for different nuclear transitions is explained by describing $^{222}$Ra as pear-shaped with stable octupole deformation, while $^{228}$Ra behaves like an octupole vibrator., Comment: to be published in Physical Review Letters

In the high luminosity era of the Large Hadron Collider, the HL-LHC, the instantaneous luminosity is expected to reach unprecedented values, resulting in about 200 proton-proton interactions in a typical bunch crossing. To cope with the resultant increase in occupancy, bandwidth and radiation damage, the ATLAS Inner Detector will be replaced by an all-silicon system, the Inner Tracker (ITk). The ITk consists of a silicon pixel and a strip detector and exploits the concept of modularity. Prototyping and testing of various strip detector components has been carried out. This paper presents the developments and results obtained with reduced-size structures equivalent to those foreseen to be used in the forward region of the silicon strip detector. Referred to as petalets, these structures are built around a composite sandwich with embedded cooling pipes and electrical tapes for routing the signals and power. Detector modules built using electronic flex boards and silicon strip sensors are glued on both the front and back side surfaces of the carbon structure. Details are given on the assembly, testing and evaluation of several petalets. Measurement results of both mechanical and electrical quantities are shown. Moreover, an outlook is given for improved prototyping plans for large structures., Comment: 22 pages for submission for Journal of Instrumentation

An ultra thin silicon detector called U3DTHIN has been designed and built for neutral particle analyzers (NPA) and thermal neutron detection. The main purpose of this detector is to provide a state-of-the-art solution for detector system of NPAs for the ITER experimental reactor and to be used in combination with a Boron conversion layer for the detection of thermal neutrons. Currently the NPAs are using very thin scintillator - photomultiplier tube, and their main drawbacks are poor energy resolution, intrinsic scintillation nonlinearity, relative low count rate capability and finally poor signal to background discrimination power for the low energy channels. The proposed U3DTHIN detector is based on very thin sensitive substrate which will provide nearly 100% detection efficiency for ions and at the same time very low sensitivity for the neutron and gamma radiation. To achieve a very fast charge collection of the carriers generated by the ions detection a 3D electrode structure[5] has been introduced in the sensitive volume of the detector. One of the most innovative features of these detectors has been the optimal combination of the thin entrance window and the sensitive substrate thickness, to accommodate very large energy dynamic range of the detected ions. An entrance window with a thickness of tens of nanometers together with a sensitive substrate thickness varying from less than 5 microns, to detect the lowest energetic ions to 20 microns for the height ones has been selected after simulations with GEANT4. To increase the signal to background ratio the detector will operate in spectroscopy regime allowing to perform pulse-height analysis. The technology used to fabricate these 3D ultra thin detectors developed at Centro Nacional de Microelectronica in Barcelona and the first signals from an alpha source (241Am) will presented

Laser-plasma acceleration is an emerging technique for accelerating electrons to high energies over very short distances. The accelerated electron bunches have femtosecond duration, making them particularly relevant for applications such as ultrafast imaging or femtosecond X-ray generation. Current laser-plasma accelerators are typically driven by Joule-class laser systems that have two main drawbacks: their relatively large scale and their low repetition-rate, with a few shots per second at best. The accelerated electron beams have energies ranging from 100 MeV to multi-GeV, however a MeV electron source would be more suited to many societal and scientific applications. Here, we demonstrate a compact and reliable laser-plasma accelerator producing high-quality few-MeV electron beams at kilohertz repetition rate. This breakthrough was made possible by using near-single-cycle light pulses, which lowered the required laser energy for driving the accelerator by three orders of magnitude, thus enabling high repetition-rate operation and dramatic downsizing of the laser system. The measured electron bunches are collimated, with an energy distribution that peaks at 5 MeV and contains up to 1 pC of charge. Numerical simulations reproduce all experimental features and indicate that the electron bunches are only $\sim 1$ fs long. We anticipate that the advent of these kHz femtosecond relativistic electron sources will pave the way to wide-impact applications, such as ultrafast electron diffraction in materials with an unprecedented sub-10 fs resolution.

Background:The design of new nuclear reactors and transmutation devices requires to reduce the present neutron cross section uncertainties of minor actinides. Purpose: Reduce the $^{243}$Am(n,$\gamma$) cross section uncertainty. Method: The $^{243}$Am(n,$\gamma$) cross section has been measured at the n_TOF facility at CERN with a BaF$_{2}$ Total Absorption Calorimeter, in the energy range between 0.7 eV and 2.5 keV. Results: The $^{243}$Am(n,$\gamma$) cross section has been successfully measured in the mentioned energy range. The resolved resonance region has been extended from 250 eV up to 400 eV. In the unresolved resonance region our results are compatible with one of the two incompatible capture data sets available below 2.5 keV. The data available in EXFOR and in the literature has been used to perform a simple analysis above 2.5 keV. Conclusions: The results of this measurement contribute to reduce the $^{243}$Am(n,$\gamma$) cross section uncertainty and suggest that this cross section is underestimated up to 25% in the neutron energy range between 50 eV and a few keV in the present evaluated data libraries.