Search

The search for neutrinoless double beta decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$) remains one of the most compelling experimental avenues for the discovery in the neutrino sector. Electroluminescent gas-phase time projection chambers are well suited to $0\nu\beta\beta$ searches due to their intrinsically precise energy resolution and topological event identification capabilities. Scalability to ton- and multi-ton masses requires readout of large-area electroluminescent regions with fine spatial resolution, low radiogenic backgrounds, and a scalable data acquisition system. This paper presents a detector prototype that records event topology in an electroluminescent xenon gas TPC via VUV image-intensified cameras. This enables an extendable readout of large tracking planes with commercial devices that reside almost entirely outside of the active medium.Following further development in intermediate scale demonstrators, this technique may represent a novel and enlargeable method for topological event imaging in $0\nu\beta\beta$., Comment: 30 Pages, 22 figures, Updated to match current JINST submission

We present a tunable metal ion beam that delivers controllable ion currents in the picoamp range for testing of dry-phase ion sensors. Ion beams are formed by sequential atomic evaporation and single or multiple electron impact ionization, followed by acceleration into a sensing region. Controllability of the ionic charge state is achieved through tuning of electrode potentials that influence the retention time in the ionization region. Barium, lead, and cobalt samples have been used to test the system, with ion currents identified and quantified using a quadrupole mass analyzer. Realization of a clean $\mathrm{Ba^{2+}}$ ion beam within a bench-top system represents an important technical advance toward the development and characterization of barium tagging systems for neutrinoless double beta decay searches in xenon gas. This system also provides a testbed for investigation of novel ion sensing methodologies for environmental assay applications, with dication beams of Pb$^{2+}$ and Cd$^{2+}$ also demonstrated for this purpose.

The tunable design of protein redox potentials promises to open a range of applications in biotechnology and catalysis. Here we introduce a method to calculate redox potential changes by combining fluctuation relations with molecular dynamics simulations. It involves the simulation of reduced and oxidized states, followed by the instantaneous conversion between them. Energy differences introduced by the perturbations are obtained using the Kubo-Onsager approach. Using a detailed fluctuation relation coupled with Bayesian inference, these are post-processed into estimates for the redox potentials in an efficient manner. This new method, denoted MD+CB, is tested on a de novo four-helix bundle heme protein (the m4D2 `maquette') and five designed mutants, including some mutants characterized experimentally in this work. The MD+CB approach is found to perform reliably, giving redox potential shifts with reasonably good correlation (0.85) to the experimental values for the mutants. The MD+CB approach also compares well with redox potential shift predictions using a continuum electrostatic method. The estimation method employed within the MD+CB approach is straightforwardly transferable to standard equilibrium MD simulations, and holds promise for redox protein engineering and design applications., Comment: 14 pages, incl. 2 figures and 1 table (+ supplementary information). Accepted version

Astroparticle physics is undergoing a profound transformation, due to a series of extraordinary new results, such as the discovery of high-energy cosmic neutrinos with IceCube, the direct detection of gravitational waves with LIGO and Virgo, and many others. This white paper is the result of a collaborative effort that involved hundreds of theoretical astroparticle physicists and cosmologists, under the coordination of the European Consortium for Astroparticle Theory (EuCAPT). Addressed to the whole astroparticle physics community, it explores upcoming theoretical opportunities and challenges for our field of research, with particular emphasis on the possible synergies among different subfields, and the prospects for solving the most fundamental open questions with multi-messenger observations., Comment: White paper of the European Consortium for Astroparticle Theory (EuCAPT). 135 authors, 400 endorsers, 133 pages, 1382 references

Using Density Matrix renormalization group (DMRG), we study the ground state properties of spin one-half fermions and scalar bosons in the soft-core limit, with weak s-wave inter and intra species interactions. We considered the system subject to one-dimensional (1D) optical lattice and a superimposed potential at zero temperature, in the framework of Bose-Fermi-Hubbard model. We found that for certain fillings and interaction parameters, a transmutation occurs between the ground states of bosons and fermions when the densities are exchanged. We too report that the density distributions of bosons and fermions overlap with each other in a bosonic and fermionic Mott plateau, when the interaction parameters fulfill the relationship $U_{BB}>U_{BF}

This paper presents a time discretization of the robust exact filtering differentiator, a sliding mode differentiator coupled to filter, which provides a suitable approximation to the derivatives of some noisy signals. This proposal takes advantage of the homogeneity of the differentiator, allowing the use of similar techniques to those of the linear systems. As in the original case, the convergence robust exact filtering differentiator depends on the bound of a higher-order derivative; nevertheless, this new realization can be implemented with or without the knowledge of such constant. It is demonstrated that the system's trajectories converge to a neighborhood of the origin with a free-noise input. Finally, comparisons between the behavior of the differentiator with different design parameters are presented., Comment: Submitted to the 2020 17th International Conference on Electrical Engineering, Computing Science and Automatic Control, Mexico

This paper deals with the design of discrete-time algorithms for the robust filtering differentiator. Two discrete-time realizations of the filtering differentiator are introduced. The first one, which is based on an exact discretization of the continuous differentiator, is an explicit one, while the second one is an implicit algorithm which enables to remove the numerical chattering phenomenon and to preserve the estimation accuracy properties. Some numerical comparisons between the proposed scheme and an existing discrete-time algorithm show the interest of the proposed implicit discrete-time realization of the filtering differentiator, especially when large sampling periods are considered.

Motivated by the possibility of guiding daughter ions from double beta decay events to single-ion sensors for barium tagging, the NEXT collaboration is developing a program of R&D to test radio frequency (RF) carpets for ion transport in high pressure xenon gas. This would require carpet functionality in regimes at higher pressures than have been previously reported, implying correspondingly larger electrode voltages than in existing systems. This mode of operation appears plausible for contemporary RF-carpet geometries due to the higher predicted breakdown strength of high pressure xenon relative to low pressure helium, the working medium in most existing RF carpet devices. In this paper we present the first measurements of the high voltage dielectric strength of xenon gas at high pressure and at the relevant RF frequencies for ion transport (in the 10 MHz range), as well as new DC and RF measurements of the dielectric strengths of high pressure argon and helium gases at small gap sizes. We find breakdown voltages that are compatible with stable RF carpet operation given the gas, pressure, voltage, materials and geometry of interest.

The LIGO discoveries have rekindled suggestions that primordial black holes (BHs) may constitute part to all of the dark matter (DM) in the Universe. Such suggestions came from 1) the observed merger rate of the BHs, 2) their unusual masses, 3) their low/zero spins, and 4) also from the independently uncovered cosmic infrared background (CIB) fluctuations signal of high amplitude and coherence with unresolved cosmic X-ray background (CXB). Here we summarize the prospects to resolve this important issue with electromagnetic observations using the instruments and tools expected in the 2020's. These prospects appear promising to make significant, and potentially critical, advances. We demonstrate that in the next decade, new space- and ground-borne electromagnetic instruments, combined with concurrent theoretical efforts, should shed critical light on the long-considered link between primordial BHs and DM. Specifically the new data and methodologies under this program will involve: I) Probing with high precision the spatial spectrum of source-subtracted CIB with Euclid and WFIRST, and its coherence with unresolved cosmic X-ray background using eROSITA and Athena, II) Advanced searches for microlensing of Galactic stars by the intervening Galactic Halo BHs with OGLE, Gaia, LSST and WFIRST, III) Supernovae (SNe) lensing in the upcoming surveys with WFIRST, LSST and also potentially with Euclid and JWST, IV) Advanced theoretical work to understand the details of PBH accretion and evolution and their influence on cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies in light of the next generation CMB experiments, V) Better new samples and theoretical understanding involving stability and properties of ultra faint dwarf galaxies, pulsar timing, and cosmological quasar lensing., Comment: Science whitepaper submitted to the Astro2020 Decadal Survey

In the context of an nonuniversal $U(1)'$ extension of the standard model free from anomalies, we introduce a complex scalar singlet candidate to be dark matter. In addition, an extra scalar doublet and a heavy scalar singlet are required to provide masses to all fermions and to break spontaneously the symmetries. From unitarity and stability of the Higgs potential, we find the full set of bounds and order relations for the scalar coupling constants. Using recent data from the CERN-LHC collider, we study the signal strenght of the diphoton Higgs decay $R_{\gamma \gamma}$, which imposes very stringent bounds to the scalar couplings and other scalar parameters. We obtain constraints in different scenarios of the space of parameters, where decays into dark matter may or may not contribute according to the mass of the scalar dark matter candidate. By assuming that the lightest scalar boson of the model corresponds to the observed Higgs boson, we evaluate deviations from the SM of the trilineal Higgs self-coupling. The conditions from unitarity, stability and Higgs diphoton decay data allow trilineal deviations in the range $0 \leq \delta g \lesssim -72\%$., Comment: Additional figures and analysis in new version

In the framework of an nonuniversal $U(1)'$ extension of the standard model, we propose an scalar candidate for cold dark matter which exhibits interactions with ordinary matter through Higgs and gauge bosons. Using limits from low energy observables, we find constraints on the new physics parameters of the model associated to the extra abelian symmetry, in particular, the mass of the additional neutral gauge boson $Z'$ and the new gauge coupling constant. We found that for the lower experimental limit $M_{Z'}=3$ TeV constrained by direct research at LHC, the ratio between the $U(1)'$ and $SU(2)_L$ gauge coupling constants is around $0.4$. Taking into account this limit and the observable relic density of the Universe, we search for new constraints on the mass of the dark matter particle of the model. We found that for a higgsphobic model, the mass of the scalar dark matter must be $M_{\sigma}=70$ GeV. We also found different kinematical threshold and resonances that enhance the dispersion of dark matter into ordinary matter for different regions of the space of parameters of the model, obtaining masses as low as $1.3$ GeV and as large as $125$ GeV with not allowed intermediate regions due to resonances., Comment: 28 pages, 6 figures

We propose a new non-universal $U(1)'$ extension of the standard model with the addition of three exotic quark singlets, two scalar singlets and one additional scalar doublet. We obtain family dependent couplings with a new $Z'$ boson in the quark sector and universal couplings with the lepton sector. From experimental data on $Z'$ research at CERN-LHC collider, we find limit regions in the $U(1)'$ free parameters ($Z'$ mass and coupling constant), which we use to obtain total decay width and invariant-mass distributions. By introducing discrete symmetries and mixing couplings between ordinary and exotic fermions, we obtain predictable mass relations in the quark sector compatible with the phenomenological values without large fine tuning of the Yukawa couplings and with few free parameters, where hierarchies between quark families can be understood from the existence of heavy beyond standard model particles., Comment: 5 figures, 2 tables. Added sections, new figures, added author. Title changed

In this paper, a set of programs enhancing the Kenzo system is presented. Kenzo is a Common Lisp program designed for computing in Algebraic Topology, in particular it allows the user to calculate homology and homotopy groups of complicated spaces. The new programs presented here entirely compute Serre and Eilenberg-Moore spectral sequences, in particular the groups and differential maps for arbitrary r. They also determine when the spectral sequence has converged and describe the filtration of the target homology groups induced by the spectral sequence.

The single particle spectral-weight function (SWF) of the ionic Hubbard model at half filling is calculated in the cluster perturbation theory approximation. An abrupt change of regime in the low-energy region, near the chemical potential, is found at a critical value, $U_{c}$, of the coupling constant (Hubbard $U$). The SWF at the Fermi points $k_{F}$=$\pm{\pi}/2$ jumps, as $U$ increases, from a two-peak structure, the gap edges, to a four-peak structure accompanied by a (non-vanishing) minimum of the charge-gap. The two inner peaks of this structure show very small dispersion (flat bands) away from the Fermi points, whereas the outer peaks mark the edges of the Hubbard bands. No other signatures of abrupt change are detected in the SWF. The two regimes are physically realized in the angle-resolved photoelectron spectra of $(TaSe_{4})_{2}I$, and the blue-bronze $K_{0.3}MoO_{3}$, respectively., Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures

The one-electron spectral-weight function of the half-filled ionic Hubbard model is calculated by means of Quantum Monte Carlo. A metallic regimen occurs between two values of the coupling constant (Hubbard U) U1 < U2 . The system is a band insulator below U1, and an increasingly antiferromagnetic (AF) insulator above U2 evolving into a Mott insulator as U tends to infinity . The intermediate regimen which is both AF and dimerized, is caused by a two-peak structure at k = 0,5 pi (the Fermi surface). As U increases both peaks approach each other, overlap, and separate again, the system becoming metallic in the overlap region.

The one-electron density of states for the half-filled Hubbard model on a triangular lattice is studied as a function of both temperature and Hubbard U using Quantum Monte Carlo. We find three regimes: (1) a strong-coupling Mott-Hubbard regime, characterized by a gap which persists even at high temperatures; (2) a weak-coupling paramagnetic regime, characterized by the absence of a pseudogap at any finite temperature; and (3) an intermediate-coupling (spiral) spin-density-wave regime, characterized by a pseudogap which appears when U is increased beyond a critical (temperature dependent) value. The behavior of the sqrt(3) times sqrt{3} adlayer structures on fourth-group semiconductor surfaces is briefly commented upon in the light of the above discussion., Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures