arXiv subjects

A. F. Zarnecki

Publications and source records attributed to A. F. Zarnecki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Search for effective Lorentz and CPT violation using ZEUS data

Lorentz and CPT symmetry in the quark sector of the Standard Model are studied in the context of an effective field theory using ZEUS $e^{\pm} p$ data. Symmetry-violating effects can lead to time-dependent oscillations of otherwise time-independent observables, including scattering cross sections. An analysis using five years of inclusive neutral-current deep inelastic scattering events corresponding to an integrated HERA luminosity of $372\; \text{pb}^{-1}$ at $\sqrt{s} = 318$ Gev has been performed. No evidence for oscillations in sidereal time has been observed within statistical and systematic uncertainties. Constraints, most for the first time, are placed on 42 coefficients parameterising dominant CPT-even dimension-four and CPT-odd dimension-five spin-independent modifications to the propagation and interaction of light quarks.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Azimuthal correlations in photoproduction and deep inelastic $\boldsymbol{ep}$ scattering at HERA

Collective behaviour of final-state hadrons, and multiparton interactions are studied in high-multiplicity $ep$ scattering at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=318$ GeV with the ZEUS detector at HERA. Two- and four-particle azimuthal correlations, as well as multiplicity, transverse momentum, and pseudorapidity distributions for charged-particle multiplicities $N_{\textrm ch} \geq 20$ are measured. The dependence of two-particle correlations on the virtuality of the exchanged photon shows a clear transition from photoproduction to neutral current deep inelastic scattering. For the multiplicities studied, neither the measurements in photoproduction processes nor those in neutral current deep inelastic scattering indicate significant collective behaviour of the kind observed in high-multiplicity hadronic collisions at RHIC and the LHC. Comparisons of PYTHIA predictions with the measurements in photoproduction strongly indicate the presence of multiparton interactions from hadronic fluctuations of the exchanged photon.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Simulating hard photon production with WHIZARD

One of the important goals of the proposed future $e^+e^-$ collider experiments is the search for dark matter particles using different experimental approaches. The most general search approach is based on the mono-photon signature, which is expected when production of the invisible final state is accompanied by a hard photon from initial state radiation. Analysis of the energy spectrum and angular distributions of those photons can shed light on the nature of dark matter and its interactions. Therefore, it is crucial to be able to simulate the signal and background samples in a uniform framework, to avoid possible systematic biases. The WHIZARD program is a flexible tool, which is widely used by $e^+e^-$ collaborations for simulation of many different "new physics" scenarios. We propose the procedure of merging the matrix element calculations with the lepton ISR structure function implemented in WHIZARD. It allows us to reliably simulate the mono-photon events, including the two main Standard Model background processes: radiative neutrino pair production and radiative Bhabha scattering. We demonstrate that cross sections and kinematic distributions of mono-photon in neutrino pair-production events agree with corresponding predictions of the KKMC, a Monte Carlo generator providing perturbative predictions for SM and QED processes, which has been widely used in the analysis of LEP data.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Transition from Fireball to Poynting-flux-dominated Outflow in Three-Episode GRB 160625B

The ejecta composition is an open question in gamma-ray bursts (GRB) physics. Some GRBs possess a quasi-thermal spectral component in the time-resolved spectral analysis, suggesting a hot fireball origin. Others show a featureless non-thermal spectrum known as the "Band" function, consistent with a synchrotron radiation origin and suggesting that the jet is Poynting-flux-dominated at the central engine and likely in the emission region as well. There are also bursts showing a sub-dominant thermal component and a dominant synchrotron component suggesting a likely hybrid jet composition. Here we report an extraordinarily bright GRB 160625B, simultaneously observed in gamma-rays and optical wavelengths, whose prompt emission consists of three isolated episodes separated by long quiescent intervals, with the durations of each "sub-burst" being $\sim$ 0.8 s, 35 s, and 212 s, respectively. Its high brightness (with isotropic peak luminosity L$_{\rm p, iso}\sim 4\times 10^{53}$ erg/s) allows us to conduct detailed time-resolved spectral analysis in each episode, from precursor to main burst and to extended emission. The spectral properties of the first two sub-bursts are distinctly different, allowing us to observe the transition from thermal to non-thermal radiation between well-separated emission episodes within a single GRB. Such a transition is a clear indication of the change of jet composition from a fireball to a Poynting-flux-dominated jet.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

Top physics at high-energy lepton colliders

A summary is presented of the workshop "top physics at linear colliders" that was held at IFIC Valencia from the 30th of June to the 3rd July 2015. We present an up-to-date status report of studies into the potential for top quark physics of lepton colliders with an energy reach that exceeds the top quark pair production threshold, with a focus on the linear collider projects ILC and CLIC. This summary shows that such projects can offer very competitive determinations of top quark properties (mass, width) and its interactions with other Standard Model particles, in particular electroweak gauge bosons and the Higgs boson. In both areas the prospects exceed the LHC potential significantly - often by an order of magnitude.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2015

Astrophysics of "extreme" solar-like stars

Only a few red dwarf flaring stars in the solar neighbourhood have undergone exceptional events called superflares. They have been detected with high-energy satellites (i.e. Swift) and have been proven to be powerful events (both in intensity and energy) and potentially hazardous for any extraterrestial life. The physics of these events can be understood as an extrapolation of the (much) weaker activity already occurring in the most powerful solar flares occurring in the Sun. Nevertheless, the origin (why?) these superflares occur is currently unknown. A recent study presents the optical and X-ray long-term evolution of the emission by the super-flare from the red-dwarf star DG CVn undertaken in 2014. In that paper we comment on the context of these observations and on the properties that can be derived through the analysis of them.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Early optical follow-up of the nearby active star DG CVn during its 2014 superflare

DG CVn is a binary system in which one of the components is an M type dwarf ultra fast rotator, only three of which are known in the solar neighborhood. Observations of DG CVn by the Swift satellite and several ground-based observatories during its super-flare event on 2014 allowed us to perform a complete hard X-ray - optical follow-up of a super-flare from the red-dwarf star. The observations support the fact that the super-flare can be explained by the presence of (a) large active region(s) on the surface of the star. Such activity is similar to the most extreme solar flaring events. This points towards a plausible extrapolation between the behaviour from the most active red-dwarf stars and the processes occurring in the Sun.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

PSF modelling for very wide-field CCD astronomy

One of the possible approaches to detecting optical counterparts of GRBs requires monitoring large parts of the sky. This idea has gained some instrumental support in recent years, such as with the "Pi of the Sky" project. The broad sky coverage of the "Pi of the Sky" apparatus results from using cameras with wide-angle lenses (20x20 deg field of view). Optics of this kind introduce significant deformations of the point spread function (PSF), increasing with the distance from the frame centre. A deformed PSF results in additional uncertainties in data analysis. Our aim was to create a model describing highly deformed PSF in optical astronomy, allowing uncertainties caused by image deformations to be reduced. Detailed laboratory measurements of PSF, pixel sensitivity, and pixel response functions were performed. These data were used to create an effective high quality polynomial model of the PSF. Finally, tuning the model and tests in applications to the real sky data were performed. We have developed a PSF model that accurately describes even very deformed stars in our wide-field experiment. The model is suitable for use in any other experiment with similar image deformation, with a simple tuning of its parameters. Applying this model to astrometric procedures results in a significant improvement over standard methods, while basic photometry precision performed with the model is comparable to the results of an optimised aperture algorithm. Additionally, the model was used to search for a weak signal -- namely a possible gamma ray burst optical precursor -- showing very promising results. Precise modelling of the PSF function significantly improves the astrometric precision and enhances the discovery potential of a wide-field system with lens optics.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2010

Absolute properties of BG Ind - a bright F3 system just leaving the Main Sequence

We present photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the bright detached eclipsing binary BG Ind. The masses of the components are found to be 1.428 +- 0.008 and 1.293 +- 0.008 Msun and the radii to be 2.290+-0.017 and 1.680+-0.038 Rsun for primary and secondary stars, respectively. Spectra- and isochrone-fitting coupled with color indices calibration yield [Fe/H]=-0.2+-0.1. At an age of 2.65+-0.20 Gyr BG Ind is well advanced in the main-sequence evolutionary phase - in fact, its primary is at TAMS or just beyond it. Together with three similar systems (BK Peg, BW Aqr and GX Gem) it offers an interesting opportunity to test the theoretical description of overshooting in the critical mass range 1.2-1.5 Msun.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2009

Prompt optical observations of GRBs with "Pi of the Sky" system

The "Pi of the Sky" prototype apparatus observed prompt optical emission from extremely bright GRB080319B since the very beginning of the gamma emission. The burst occurred at redshift z=0.937 and set the record of optical luminosity reaching 5.3 mag. The position of the burst was observed before, during and after the explosion by several telescopes and unprecedented coverage of optical light curve has been achieved. The combination of these unique optical data with simultaneous gamma-ray observations provides a powerful diagnostic tool for the physics of the GRB explosion within seconds of its start. The "Pi of the Sky" prototype, working since 2004 in Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, consists of 2 cameras observing same 20x20 deg^2 fields in the sky with time resolution of 10 seconds. The prototype reacts to GCN alerts, but it has also its own algorithm for identification of optical flashes. The final system covering field of view of Swift or Fermi satellite will consist of 2 arrays of 16 cameras installed in a distance of about 100 km. The system is currently under construction. It will be a powerful tool for early optical observations of GRBs, allowing for optical observation of GRBs before, during and after the gamma emission. With the on-line data analysis in real time, it will identify short optical flashes autonomously and will be able to distribute this information among the community. In this contribution the general idea of the final version of the experiment and the most interesting results from the prototype are presented.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Realistic Simulation of the MAPS Response

The MAPS technology is considered as a possible choice for the ILC Vertex Detector. Test results of MIMOSA-5 sensors indicate that the pixel multiplicity and the single point resolution depend significantly on the incident particle angle. We propose a simple model describing charge distribution in the detector, which can be used for detailed simulation of the Vertex Detector response. Good agreement with beam test data is obtained. A new class for Track Detailed Simulation (TDS) has been developed and implemented in the EUTelescope software framework.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2008

GRB 080319B: A Naked-Eye Stellar Blast from the Distant Universe

Long duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) release copious amounts of energy across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, and so provide a window into the process of black hole formation from the collapse of a massive star. Over the last forty years, our understanding of the GRB phenomenon has progressed dramatically; nevertheless, fortuitous circumstances occasionally arise that provide access to a regime not yet probed. GRB 080319B presented such an opportunity, with extraordinarily bright prompt optical emission that peaked at a visual magnitude of 5.3, making it briefly visible with the naked eye. It was captured in exquisite detail by wide-field telescopes, imaging the burst location from before the time of the explosion. The combination of these unique optical data with simultaneous gamma-ray observations provides powerful diagnostics of the detailed physics of this explosion within seconds of its formation. Here we show that the prompt optical and gamma-ray emissions from this event likely arise from different spectral components within the same physical region located at a large distance from the source, implying an extremely relativistic outflow. The chromatic behaviour of the broadband afterglow is consistent with viewing the GRB down the very narrow inner core of a two-component jet that is expanding into a wind-like environment consistent with the massive star origin of long GRBs. These circumstances can explain the extreme properties of this GRB.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

H and A Discrimination using Linear Polarization of Photons at the PLC

First realistic estimate of the usefulness of the Photon Linear Collider with linearly polarized photons as analyzer of the CP-parity of Higgs bosons is presented. MSSM Higgs bosons H and A with 300 GeV mass, for the model parameters corresponding to the so called "LHC wedge" region, are considered. When switching from circular to linear photon polarization a significant increase in heavy quark production background, which is no longer suppressed by helicity conservation, and decrease of the Higgs boson production cross sections by a factor of two is expected. Nevertheless, after three years of Photon Linear Collider running heavy scalar and pseudoscalar Higgs bosons in MSSM can be distinguished at a 4.5 sigma level.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

EUDET Telescope Geometry and Resolution Studies

Construction of EUDET pixel telescope will significantly improve the test beam infrastructure for the ILC vertex detector studies. The telescope, based on the Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS), will consist of up to six readout planes and will be initially installed at an electron beam line at DESY. A dedicated study was performed to understand the position measurement in the telescope and optimize its performance by suggesting the best plane setup. The approach based on the analytical track fitting method allows for determination of the expected measurement uncertainty and for comparison of different telescope setups without time consuming event simulation. The proposed method also turns out to be little sensitive to the possible telescope misalignment.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2006

Heavy neutral MSSM Higgs Bosons at the PLC - a comparison of two analyses

Measurement of the heavy neutral MSSM Higgs bosons H and A production in the process gamma gamma --> A, H --> b anti-b at the Photon Linear Collider has been considered in two independent analyses for the parameter range corresponding to the so-called "LHC wedge". Significantly different conclusions were obtained; signal to background ratio 36 vs 2. Here assumptions and results of these two analyses are compared. We have found that differences in the final results are mainly due to different assumptions on gamma-gamma-luminosity spectra, jet definitions and selection cuts.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Extended analysis of the MSSM Higgs boson production at the Photon Collider

New analysis of the heavy, neutral MSSM Higgs bosons H and A production at the Photon Collider is presented for M_A = 200, 250, 300 and 350 GeV in the parameter range corresponding to the so called "LHC wedge" and beyond. The expected precision of the cross section measurement for the process gamma+gamma->A,H->b+bbar and the "discovery reach" of the Photon Collider are compared for different MSSM scenarios. The analysis takes into account all relevant theoretical and experimental issues which could affect the measurement. For MSSM Higgs bosons A and H, for M_A = 200-350 GeV and tan(beta)=7, the statistical precision of the cross-section determination is estimated to be 8-34%, after one year of Photon Collider running, for four considered MSSM parameters sets. As heavy neutral Higgs bosons in this scenario may not be discovered at LHC or at the first stage of the e+e- collider, an opportunity of being a discovery machine is also studied for the Photon Collider.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Determination of the Higgs-boson couplings and H-A mixing in the generalized SM-like Two Higgs Doublet Model

The feasibility of measuring the Higgs-boson properties at the Photon Collider at TESLA has been studied in detail for masses between 200 and 350 GeV, using realistic luminosity spectra and detector simulation. We consider the Two Higgs Doublet Model (II) with SM-like Yukawa couplings for h, parametrized by only one parameter (tan(beta)). The combined measurement of the invariant-mass distributions in the ZZ and W+W- decay-channels is sensitive to both the two-photon width Gamma_{gamma gamma} and phase Phi_{gamma gamma}. From the analysis including systematic uncertainties we found out that after one year of Photon Collider running with nominal luminosity the expected precision in the measurement of tan(beta) is of the order of 10%, for both light (h) and heavy (H) scalar Higgs bosons. The H-A mixing angle Phi_{HA}, characterizing a weak CP violation in the model with two Higgs doublets, can be determined to about 100 mrad, for low tan(beta).

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Model-Independent Determination of CP Violation from Angular Distributions in Higgs Boson Decays to WW and ZZ at the Photon Collider

The model-independent determination of the Higgs-boson CP properties at the Photon Collider at TESLA has been studied in detail, for masses between 200 and 350 GeV, using realistic luminosity spectra and detector simulation. We consider a generic model with the CP violating Higgs tensor couplings to gauge bosons. We introduce a new variable describing angular distributions of the secondary WW and ZZ decay products which is very sensitive to the CP properties of the Higgs-boson. Understanding of the detector performance turns out to be crucial, as the influence of the acceptance corrections is similar to the effects of CP violation. From the combined measurement of invariant mass distributions and various angular distributions the phase describing a CP violation can be determined to about 50 mrad after one year of Photon Collider running.

hep-ph↗