0000000000115051
AUTHOR
Luca Doria
Search for heavy neutrinos in \(\pi ^{ + } \to \mu ^{ + }\nu \) decay and status of lepton universality test in the PIENU experiment
International audience; In the present work of the PIENU experiment, heavy neutrinos were sought in pion decays \(\pi ^{ + } \to \mu ^{ + }\nu \). No evidence for extra peak was found in the muon kinetic energy spectrum and 90% confidence level upper limits were set on the neutrino mixing matrix \(|U_{\mu i}|^{2}\) in the mass range of 15.7 to 33.8 MeV/c^2, improving an order of magnitude over previous experiments. Current status of lepton universality test is also reported.
Lowest- Q2 measurement of the γp → Δ reaction: Probing the pionic contribution
To determine nonspherical angular momentum amplitudes in hadrons at long ranges (low Q^2), data were taken for the p(\vec{e},e'p)\pi^0 reaction in the Delta region at Q^2=0.060 (GeV/c)^2 utilizing the magnetic spectrometers of the A1 Collaboration at MAMI. The results for the dominant transition magnetic dipole amplitude and the quadrupole to dipole ratios at W=1232 MeV are: M_{1+}^{3/2} = (40.33 +/- 0.63_{stat+syst} +/- 0.61_{model}) (10^{-3}/m_{\pi^+}),Re(E_{1+}^{3/2}/M_{1+}^{3/2}) = (-2.28 +/- 0.29_{stat+syst} +/- 0.20_{model})%, and Re(S_{1+}^{3/2}/M_{1+}^{3/2}) = (-4.81 +/- 0.27_{stat+syst} +/- 0.26_{model})%. These disagree with predictions of constituent quark models but are in reaso…
Improved search for two body muon decay μ+→e+XH
Charged lepton flavor violating muon decay ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{e}^{+}{X}_{H}$, where ${X}_{H}$ is a massive neutral boson, was sought by searching for extra peaks in the muon decay ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{e}^{+}\ensuremath{\nu}\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ energy spectrum in the ${m}_{{X}_{H}}$ mass region $47.8--95.1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}/{c}^{2}$. No signal was found and 90% confidence level upper limits were set on the branching ratio $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}({\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{e}^{+}{X}_{H})/\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}({\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{e}^{+}\ensuremath{\nu}\overline{…
Monte Carlo simulation of virtual Compton scattering below pion threshold
This paper describes the Monte Carlo simulation developed specifically for the VCS experiments below pion threshold that have been performed at MAMI and JLab. This simulation generates events according to the (Bethe-Heitler + Born) cross section behaviour and takes into account all relevant resolution-deteriorating effects. It determines the `effective' solid angle for the various experimental settings which are used for the precise determination of photon electroproduction absolute cross section.
Beam-normal single spin asymmetry in elastic electron scattering off 28Si and 90Zr
We report on a new measurement of the beam-normal single spin asymmetry $A_{\mathrm{n}}$ in the elastic scattering of 570 MeV transversely polarized electrons off $^{28}$Si and $^{90}$Zr at $Q^{2}=0.04\, \mathrm{GeV}^2/c^2$. The studied kinematics allow for a comprehensive comparison with former results on $^{12}$C. No significant mass dependence of the beam-normal single spin asymmetry is observed in the mass regime from $^{12}$C to $^{90}$Zr.
Determination of quadrupole strengths in the γ∗p→Δ(1232) transition at Q2=0.20(GeV/c)2
Abstract We report new precise p ( e → , e ′ p ) π 0 measurements at the peak of the Δ + ( 1232 ) resonance at Q 2 = 0.20 ( GeV / c ) 2 performed at the Mainz Microtron (MAMI). The new data are sensitive to both the electric (E2) and the Coulomb (C2) quadrupole amplitudes of the γ ∗ N → Δ transition. They yield precise quadrupole to dipole amplitude ratios: CMR = ( − 5.09 ± 0.28 stat + sys ± 0.30 model ) % and EMR = ( − 1.96 ± 0.68 stat + sys ± 0.41 model ) % for M 1 + 3 / 2 = ( 39.57 ± 0.75 stat + sys ± 0.40 model ) ( 10 −3 / m π + ) . The new results are in disagreement with Constituent Quark Model predictions and in qualitative agreement with models that account for mesonic contributions…
The liquid-argon scintillation pulseshape in DEAP-3600
AbstractDEAP-3600 is a liquid-argon scintillation detector looking for dark matter. Scintillation events in the liquid argon (LAr) are registered by 255 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), and pulseshape discrimination (PSD) is used to suppress electromagnetic background events. The excellent PSD performance of LAr makes it a viable target for dark matter searches, and the LAr scintillation pulseshape discussed here is the basis of PSD. The observed pulseshape is a combination of LAr scintillation physics with detector effects. We present a model for the pulseshape of electromagnetic background events in the energy region of interest for dark matter searches. The model is composed of (a) LAr scin…
Detector response of Cherenkov radiators for calorimetry in the energy range below 14 MeV
Abstract A study of the detector response of PbF 2 crystals and three different types of lead glass blocks to electrons from a 14-MeV beam of the Mainz Microtron MAMI is presented. For the first time, signal height, signal width, and homogeneity of the response of these Cherenkov radiators were determined for energies between 10 and 14 MeV. To complement the beam tests, optical properties of the materials, in particular measured transmittances in the near UV and visible spectrum, were studied. The measured detector responses were also compared to Monte Carlo simulations of energy-loss, light production, transport, and detection. These Cherenkov radiators are considered as active material o…
Improved search for heavy neutrinos in the decay π→eν
A search for massive neutrinos has been made in the decay π+→e+ν. No evidence was found for extra peaks in the positron energy spectrum indicative of pion decays involving massive neutrinos (π→e+νh). Upper limits (90% C.L.) on the neutrino mixing matrix element |Uei|2 in the neutrino mass region 60–135 MeV/c2 were set and are an order of magnitude improvement over previous results.
High-Precision Determination of the Electric and Magnetic Form Factors of the Proton
New precise results of a measurement of the elastic electron-proton scattering cross section performed at the Mainz Microtron MAMI are presented. About 1400 cross sections were measured with negative four-momentum transfers squared up to Q^2=1 (GeV/c)^2 with statistical errors below 0.2%. The electric and magnetic form factors of the proton were extracted by fits of a large variety of form factor models directly to the cross sections. The form factors show some features at the scale of the pion cloud. The charge and magnetic radii are determined to be r_E=0.879(5)(stat.)(4)(syst.)(2)(model)(4)(group) fm and r_M=0.777(13)(stat.)(9)(syst.)(5)(model)(2)(group) fm.
Electron beam studies of light collection in a scintillating counter with embedded fibers
The light collection of several fiber configurations embedded in a box-shaped plastic scintillating counter was studied by scanning with minimum ionizing electrons. The light was read out by silicon photomultipliers at both ends. The light yield produced by the 855-MeV beam of the Mainz Microtron showed a strong dependence on the transverse distance from the beam position to the fibers. The observations were modeled by attributing the collection of indirect light inside of the counter and of direct light reaching a fiber to the total light yield. The light collection with fibers was compared to that of a scintillating counter without fibers. These studies were carried out within the develop…
Search for three body pion decays π+→l+νX
The three body pion decays π+→l+νX(l=e,μ), where X is a weakly interacting neutral boson, were searched for using the full data set from the PIENU experiment. An improved limit on Γ(π+→e+νX)/Γ(π+→μ+νμ) in the mass range 0<mX<120 MeV/c2 and a first result for Γ(π+→μ+νX)/Γ(π+→μ+νμ) in the region 0<mX<33.9 MeV/c2 were obtained. The Majoron-neutrino coupling model was also constrained using the current experimental result of the π+→e+νe(γ) branching ratio.
In-beam tests of scintillating fibre detectors at MAMI and at GSI
The performance of scintillating fibre detectors was studied with electrons at the spectrometer facility of the Mainz microtron MAMI, as well as in a C-12 beam of 2 AGeV energy and in a beam of different particle species at GSI. Multi-anode photomultipliers were used to read out one or more bundles of 128 fibres each in different geometries. For electrons a time resolution of FWHM = 1 ns was measured in a single detector plane with a detection efficiency epsilon > 99%. A time resolution of 310 ps (FWHM) between two planes of fibres was achieved for carbon ions, leading to a FWHM = 220 ps for a single detector. The hit position residual was measured with a width of FWHM = 0.27 mm. The var…
Operation and characterization of a windowless gas jet target in high-intensity electron beams
Abstract A cryogenic supersonic gas jet target was developed for the MAGIX experiment at the high-intensity electron accelerator MESA. It will be operated as an internal, windowless target in the energy-recovering recirculation arc of the accelerator with different target gases, e.g., hydrogen, deuterium , helium, oxygen, argon, or xenon. Detailed studies have been carried out at the existing A1 multi-spectrometer facility at the electron accelerator MAMI. This paper focuses on the developed handling procedures and diagnostic tools, and on the performance of the gas jet target under beam conditions. Considering the special features of this type of target, it proves to be well suited for a n…
Measurement of propagation time dispersion in a scintillator
One contribution to the time resolution of a scintillation detector is the signal time spread due to path length variations of the detected photons from a point source. In an experimental study a rectangular scintillator was excited by means of a fast pulsed ultraviolet laser at different positions along its longitudinal axis. Timing measurements with a photomultiplier tube in a detection plane displaced from the scintillator end face showed a correlation between signal time and tube position indicating only a small distortion of photon angles during transmission. The data is in good agreement with a Monte Carlo simulation used to compute the average photon angle with respect to the detecti…
Silicon Detector Telescope for proton detection in electron scattering reactions at MAMI
Abstract A new Silicon Detector Telescope has been constructed and installed within the experimental facility of the A1 collaboration at Mainz Microtron, with the goal to detect low-energy protons. It consists of seven silicon layers for energy and angle measurement and a plastic scintillator for triggering purposes. The detector subtends a solid angle up to 88 msr, depending on the distance from the target and covers the proton kinetic energy range of 25–41 MeV with the mean energy resolution σ E = 0.47 MeV , operating at 500 kHz. Digital signal processing methods applied for energy reconstruction have been important for keeping the acceptable energy resolution at high counting rates. The…
Recoil Polarization and Beam-Recoil Double Polarization Measurement ofηElectroproduction on the Proton in the Region of theS11(1535)Resonance
The beam-recoil double polarization P{sub x{sup '}}{sup h} and P{sub z{sup '}}{sup h} and the recoil polarization P{sub y{sup '}} were measured for the first time for the p(e-vector,e{sup '}p-vector){eta} reaction at a four-momentum transfer of Q{sup 2}=0.1 GeV{sup 2}/c{sup 2} and a center of mass production angle of {theta}=120 deg. at the Mainz Microtron MAMI-C. With a center of mass energy range of 1500 MeV<W<1550 MeV the region of the S{sub 11}(1535) and D{sub 13}(1520) resonance was covered. The results are discussed in the framework of a phenomenological isobar model (Eta-MAID). While P{sub x{sup '}}{sup h} and P{sub z{sup '}}{sup h} are in good agreement with the model, P{sub y{sup '…
Instrumentation and optimization studies for a beam dump experiment (BDX) at MESA — DarkMESA
Abstract At the Institute for Nuclear Physics in Mainz the new electron accelerator MESA will go into operation within the next years. The high-power beam dump of the P2 experiment is ideally suited for a parasitic dark sector experiment — DarkMESA. In the first stage 1,000 high density Cherenkov radiators from a previous experiment will be used. The experiment is studied with a simulation based on MadGraph and Geant4 . The simulation includes an optical photon study, where the response of possible calorimeter materials – PbF 2, BGO, the Pb glasses SF5, SF6 and SF57HTultra from Schott – was investigated. The simulation outcomes are compared with the results of prototypes tested at the Mainz…
Measurement of the Neutron Electric to Magnetic Form Factor Ratio atQ2=1.58 GeV2Using the ReactionHe→3(e→,e′n)pp
A measurement of beam helicity asymmetries in the reaction $^{3}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{He}}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{e},{e}^{\ensuremath{'}}n)pp$ is performed at the Mainz Microtron in quasielastic kinematics to determine the electric to magnetic form factor ratio of the neutron ${G}_{E}^{n}/{G}_{M}^{n}$ at a four-momentum transfer ${Q}^{2}=1.58\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{GeV}}^{2}$. Longitudinally polarized electrons are scattered on a highly polarized $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ gas target. The scattered electrons are detected with a high-resolution magnetic spectrometer, and the ejected neutrons are detected with a dedicated neutron detector composed of scintillator ba…