arXiv subjects

A. Alton

Publications and source records attributed to A. Alton.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

The Electronics and Data Acquisition System of the DarkSide Dark Matter Search

It is generally inferred from astronomical measurements that Dark Matter (DM) comprises approximately 27\% of the energy-density of the universe. If DM is a subatomic particle, a possible candidate is a Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP), and the DarkSide-50 (DS) experiment is a direct search for evidence of WIMP-nuclear collisions. DS is located underground at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) in Italy, and consists of three active, embedded components; an outer water veto (CTF), a liquid scintillator veto (LSV), and a liquid argon (LAr) time projection chamber (TPC). This paper describes the data acquisition and electronic systems of the DS detectors, designed to detect the residual ionization from such collisions.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2012

Combination of the top-quark mass measurements from the Tevatron collider

The top quark is the heaviest known elementary particle, with a mass about 40 times larger than the mass of its isospin partner, the bottom quark. It decays almost 100% of the time to a $W$ boson and a bottom quark. Using top-antitop pairs at the Tevatron proton-antiproton collider, the CDF and {\dzero} collaborations have measured the top quark's mass in different final states for integrated luminosities of up to 5.8 fb$^{-1}$. This paper reports on a combination of these measurements that results in a more precise value of the mass than any individual decay channel can provide. It describes the treatment of the systematic uncertainties and their correlations. The mass value determined is $173.18 \pm 0.56 \thinspace ({\rm stat}) \pm 0.75 \thinspace ({\rm syst})$ GeV or $173.18 \pm 0.94$ GeV, which has a precision of $\pm 0.54%$, making this the most precise determination of the top quark mass.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

Measurement of the differential cross section dσ/dt in elastic $p\bar{p}$ scattering at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the elastic differential cross section $dσ(p\bar{p}\rightarrow p\bar{p})/dt$ as a function of the four-momentum-transfer squared t. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $\approx 31 nb^{-1}$ collected with the D0 detector using dedicated Tevatron $p\bar{p} $ Collider operating conditions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV and covers the range $0.26 <|t|< 1.2 GeV^2$. For $|t|<0.6 GeV^2$, dσ/dt is described by an exponential function of the form $Ae^{-b|t|}$ with a slope parameter $ b = 16.86 \pm 0.10(stat) \pm 0.20(syst) GeV^{-2}$. A change in slope is observed at $|t| \approx 0.6 GeV^2$, followed by a more gradual |t| dependence with increasing values of |t|.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

First Commissioning of a Cryogenic Distillation Column for Low Radioactivity Underground Argon

We report on the performance and commissioning of a cryogenic distillation column for low radioactivity underground argon at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The distillation column is designed to accept a mixture of argon, helium, and nitrogen and return pure argon with a nitrogen contamination less than 10 ppm. In the first commissioning, we were able to run the distillation column in a continuous mode and produce argon that is 99.9% pure. After running in a batch mode, the argon purity was increased to 99.95%, with 500 ppm of nitrogen remaining. The efficiency of collecting the argon from the gas mixture was between 70% and 81%, at an argon production rate of 0.84-0.98 kg/day.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2012

Combination of CDF and D0 measurements of the W boson helicity in top quark decays

We report the combination of recent measurements of the helicity of the W boson from top quark decay by the CDF and D0 collaborations, based on data samples corresponding to integrated luminosities of 2.7 - 5.4 fb^-1 of ppbar collisions collected during Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. Combining measurements that simultaneously determine the fractions of W bosons with longitudinal (f0) and right-handed (f+) helicities, we find f0 = 0.722 \pm 0.081 [\pm 0.062 (stat.) \pm 0.052 (syst.)] and f+ = -0.033 \pm 0.046 [\pm 0.034 (stat.) \pm 0.031 (syst.)]. Combining measurements where one of the helicity fractions is fixed to the value expected in the standard model, we find f0 = 0.682 \pm 0.057 [\pm 0.035 (stat.) \pm 0.046 (syst.)] and f+ = -0.015\pm0.035 [\pm 0.018 (stat.) \pm 0.030 (syst.)]. The results are consistent with standard model expectations.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

Search for pair production of the scalar top quark in muon+tau final states

We present a search for the pair production of scalar top quarks ($\tilde{t}_{1}$), the lightest supersymmetric partners of the top quarks, in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of {7.3 $fb^{-1}$} collected with the \dzero experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. Each scalar top quark is assumed to decay into a $b$ quark, a charged lepton, and a scalar neutrino ($\tildeν$). We investigate final states arising from $\tilde{t}_{1} \bar{\tilde{t}_{1}} \rightarrow b\bar{b}μτ\tildeν \tildeν$ and $\tilde{t}_{1} \bar{\tilde{t}_{1}} \rightarrow b\bar{b}ττ\tildeν \tildeν$. With no significant excess of events observed above the background expected from the standard model, we set exclusion limits on this production process in the ($m_{\tilde{t}_{1}}$,$m_{\tildeν}$) plane.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2011

Precise measurement of the top quark mass in the dilepton channel at D0

We measure the top quark mass (mt) in ppbar collisions at a center of mass energy of 1.96 TeV using dilepton ttbar->W+bW-bbar->l+nubl-nubarbbar events, where l denotes an electron, a muon, or a tau that decays leptonically. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb-1 collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We obtain mt = 174.0 +- 1.8(stat) +- 2.4(syst) GeV, which is in agreement with the current world average mt = 173.3 +- 1.1 GeV. This is currently the most precise measurement of mt in the dilepton channel.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2005

Precise Measurement of Neutrino and Anti-neutrino Differential Cross Sections

The NuTeV experiment at Fermilab has obtained a unique high statistics sample of neutrino and anti-neutrino interactions using its high-energy sign-selected beam. We present a measurement of the differential cross section for charged-current neutrino and anti-neutrino scattering from iron. Structure functions, F_2(x,Q^2) and xF_3(x,Q^2), are determined by fitting the inelasticity, y, dependence of the cross sections. This measurement has significantly improved systematic precision as a consequence of more precise understanding of hadron and muon energy scales.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2003

A Departure from Prediction: Electroweak Physics at Nutev

The NuTeV experiment has performed precision measurements of the ratio of neutral-current to charged-current cross-sections in high rate, high energy neutrino and anti-neutrino beams on a dense, primarily steel, target. The separate neutrino and anti-neutrino beams, high statistics, and improved control of other experimental systematics, allow the determination of electroweak parameters with significantly greater precision than past neutrino-nucleon scattering experiments. Our null hypothesis test of the standard model prediction measures sin2thetaW=0.2277+/-0.0013(stat)+/-0.0009(syst), a value which is 3.0 standard deviations above the prediction. We discuss possible explanations for and implications of this discrepancy.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2003

A Precise Determination of Electroweak Parameters in Neutrino-Nucleon Scattering

The NuTeV collaboration has extracted sin^2theta_W from the ratios of neutral current to charged current neutrino and anti-neutrino cross-sections. Our value, sin^2theta_W(on-shell)=0.2277+/-0.0013(stat)+/-0.0009(syst), is three standard deviations above the standard model prediction. We also present a model independent analysis of the same data.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2002

Off the Mass Shell: Electroweak Physics at NuTeV

The NuTeV collaboration has performed precision measurements of the ratio of neutral current to charged current cross-sections in high rate, high energy neutrino and anti-neutrino beams on a dense, primarily steel, target. The separate neutrino and anti-neutrino beams, high statistics, and improved control of other experimental systematics, allow the determination of electroweak parameters with significantly greater precision than past neutrino-nucleon scattering experiments. Our null hypothesis test of the standard model prediction measures sin2thetaW=0.2277+/-0.0013(stat)+/-0.0009(syst), a value which is 3 sigma above the prediction. We discuss possible explanations for and implications of this discrepancy.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2002

A Search for Muon-neutrino to Electron-neutrino and Muon-antineutrino to Electron-antineutrino Oscillations at NuTeV

Limits on $ν_μ\to ν_e$ and $\barν_μ\to \barν_e$ oscillations are extracted using the NuTeV detector with sign-selected $ν_μ$ and $\nub_μ$ beams. In $\nub_μ$ mode, for the case of $\sin^2 2α= 1$, $Δm^2 > 2.6$ ${\rm eV^2}$ is excluded, and for $Δm^2 \gg 1000$ ${\rm eV^2}$, $\sin^2 2α> 1.1 \times 10^{-3}$. The NuTeV data exclude the high $Δm^2$ end of $\barν_μ\to \barν_e$ oscillations parameters favored by the LSND experiment without the need to assume that the oscillation parameters for $ν$ and $\nub$ are the same. We present the most stringent experimental limits for $ν_μ(\barν_μ) \to ν_e (\barν_e)$ oscillations in the large $Δm^2$ region.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2001

Extraction of R = sigma_L/sigma_T from CCFR nu_mu-Fe and nubar_mu-Fe differential cross sections

We report on the extraction of R=sigma_L/sigma_T from CCFR nu_mu-Fe and nubar_mu-Fe differential cross sections. The CCFR differential cross sections do not show the deviations from the QCD expectations that are seen in the CDHSW data at very low and very high x. R as measured in nu_mu scattering is in agreement with R as measured in muon and electron scattering. All data on R for Q^2 > 1 GeV^2 are in agreement with a NNLO QCD calculation which includes target mass effects. We report on the first measurements of R in the low x and Q^2 < 1 GeV^2 region (where an anomalous large rise in R for nuclear targets has been observed by the HERMES collaboration).

hep-ex↗

arXiv2001

Extraction of R=sigma_L/sigma_T from CCFR Neutrino and Antinetrino Differential Cross Sections

We report on the extraction of R=sigam_L/sigma_T from CCFR neutrino and antineutrino-Iron differential cross sections. R as measured in neutrno scattering is in agreement with $R$ as measured in muon and electron scattering. All data on R for Q2 > 1 GeV2 are in agreement with a NNLO QCD calculation which uses NNLO PDFs and includes target mass effects. We report on the first measurements of R in the low x and Q2 < 1 GeV2 region (where an anomalous large rise in R for nuclear targets has been observed by the HERMES collaboration).

hep-ex↗

arXiv2001

Observation of an Anomalous Number of Dimuon Events in a High Energy Neutrino Beam

A search for long-lived neutral particles (N^0's) with masses above 2.2 GeV/c^2 that decay into at least one muon has been performed using an instrumented decay channel at the NuTeV experiment at Fermilab. Data were examined for particles decaying into the final states mu mu, mu e, and mu pi. Three mu mu events were observed over an expected Standard Model background of 0.069 +/- 0.010 events; no events were observed in the other modes.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2000

Recent structure function results from neutrino scattering at Fermilab

We report on the extraction of the structure functions F_2 and Delta xF_3 = xF_3(nu)-xF_3(nubar) from CCFR nu_mu-Fe and nubar_mu-Fe different ial cross sections. The extraction is performed in a physics model independent (PMI) way. This first measurement of Delta xF_3, which is useful in testing models of heavy charm production, is higher than current theoretical predictios. The ratio of the F_2 (PMI) values measured in nu_mu and mu scattering is in agreement (within 5%) with the NLO predictions using massive charm production schemes, thus resolving the long-standing discrepancy between the two sets of data. In addition, measurements of F_L (or, equivalently, R) and 2xF_1 are reported in the kinematic region where anomalous nuclear effects in R are observed at HERMES.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2000

New Measurements of Nucleon Structure Functions from CCFR/NuTeV

We report on the extraction of the structure functions F_2 and Delta xF_3 = xF_3nu-xF_3nub from CCFR neutrino-Fe and antineutrino-Fe differential cross sections. The extraction is performed in a physics model independent (PMI) way. This first measurement for Delta xF_3, which is useful in testing models of heavy charm production, is higher than current theoretical predictions. Within 5% the F_2 (PMI) values measured in neutrino and muon scattering are in agreement with the predictions of Next-to-Leading-Order PDFs (using massive charm production schemes), thus resolving the long-standing discrepancy between the two measurements.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2000

New Measurements of Nucleon Structure Functions from the CCFR/NuTeV Collaboration

We report on the extraction of the structure functions F_2 and Delta xF_3 = xF_3nu-xF_3nubar from CCFR neutrino-Fe and antineutrino-Fe differential cross sections. The extraction is performed in a physics model independent (PMI) way. This first measurement for Delta xF_3, which is useful in testing models of heavy charm production, is higher than current theoretical predictions. The F_2 (PMI) values measured in neutrino and muon scattering are in good agreement with the predictions of Next to Leading Order PDFs (using massive charm production schemes), thus resolving the long-standing discrepancy between the two sets of data.

hep-ex↗