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A. Ianni

Publications and source records attributed to A. Ianni.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2008

Improved analysis of SN1987A antineutrino events

We propose a new parameterization of the antineutrino flux from core collapse supernovae, that allows an interpretation of its astrophysical parameters within the Bethe and Wilson scenario for the explosion, and that leads to a reasonable (smooth) behavior of the average energy and of the luminosity curve. We apply it to analyze the events observed by Kamiokande-II, IMB and Baksan detectors in correlation with SN1987A. For the first time, we consider in the same analysis all data characteristics: times, energies and angles of the observed events. We account for the presence of background and evaluate the impact of neutrino oscillations. The hypothesis that the initial luminous phase of emission (accretion) is absent can be rejected at the 2 % significance level. Without the need to impose external priors in the likelihood analysis, the best-fit values of the astrophysical parameters are found to be in remarkable agreement with the expectations of the standard core-collapse scenario; in particular, the electron antineutrino-sphere radius is 16 km, the duration of the accretion phase is found to be 0.55 s, and the initial accreting mass is 0.22 M(sun). Similarly the total energy emitted in neutrinos is 2.2*10^{53} erg, again close to the expectations. The errors on the parameters are evaluated and found to be relatively large, consistently with the limited number of detected events; the two dimensional confidence regions, that demonstrate the main correlations between the parameters, are also given.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2007

Nuclear physics inputs needed for geo-neutrino studies

Geo-neutrino studies are based on theoretical estimates of geo-neutrino spectra. We propose a method for a direct measurement of the energy distribution of antineutrinos from decays of long-lived radioactive isotopes.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2007

The first second of SN1987A neutrino emission

A large fraction of SN1987A electron antineutrino events has been recorded in the first second. We study how this observation fits into the conventional paradigm for neutrino emission, and show that there is a 3.2 sigma hint for an initial accretion phase. This phase involves a large fraction of the energy emitted in neutrinos and antineutrinos, about 20 % or larger. The occurrence of neutrino oscillations strengthens these inferences. We discuss why three flavor oscillations with normal mass hierarchy are completely acceptable, whereas oscillations with inverted mass hierarchy require more troublesome interpretations, if theta(13) is above 0.5-1 degrees.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2007

Comment on the statistical analysis in "A new experimental limit for the stability of the electron" by H.V. Klapdor-Kleingrothaus, I.V. Krivosheina and I.V. Titkova

We point out the evident errors in statistical analysis of the data, performed by Klapdor-Kleingrothaus et al in recently published paper to establish a limit on the stability of electron with respect to the decay into $ν+γ$. We performed the reestimation of the sensitivity of the experimental setups to the 256 keV gamma emitted in the hypothetical electron decay, and show that in [1] the limits on the electron stability and charge nonconservation parameter $ε_{eνγ}^{2}$ are overestimated by at least a factor of 5. We have revealed evident errors in the statistical analysis, performed by Klapdor-Kleingrothaus et al in a recently published paper [1] to establish a limit on the stability of electron with respect to the decay into $ν+γ$. The performed reestimation of the sensitivity of the experimental setups to the 256 keV gamma emitted in the hypothetical electron decay, has shown that the limits on the electron stability and charge nonconservation parameter $ε_{eνγ}^{2}$ presented in [1], have been overestimated by at least a factor of 5.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2007

First results from a Dark Matter search with liquid Argon at 87 K in the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory

A new method of searching for dark matter in the form of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP) has been developed with the direct detection of the low energy nuclear recoils observed in a massive target (ultimately many tons) of ultra pure Liquid Argon at 87 K. A high selectivity for Argon recoils is achieved by the simultaneous observation of both the VUV scintillation luminescence and of the electron signal surviving columnar recombination, extracted through the liquid-gas boundary by an electric field. First physics results from this method are reported, based on a small 2.3 litre test chamber filled with natural Argon and an accumulated fiducial exposure of about 100 kg x day, supporting the future validity of this method with isotopically purified 40Ar and for a much larger unit presently under construction with correspondingly increased sensitivities.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2005

How to observe 8B solar neutrinos in liquid scintillator detectors

We show that liquid organic scintillator detectors (e.g., KamLAND and Borexino) can measure the 8B solar neutrino flux by means of the nu_e charged current interaction with the 13C nuclei naturally contained in the scintillators. The neutrino events can be identified by exploiting the time and space coincidence with the subsequent decay of the produced 13N nuclei. We perform a detailed analysis of the background in KamLAND, Borexino and in a possible liquid scintillator detector at SNOLab, showing that the 8B solar neutrino signal can be extracted with a reasonable uncertainty in a few years of data taking. KamLAND should be able to extract about 18 solar neutrino events from the already collected data. Prospects for gigantic scintillator detectors (such as LENA) are also studied.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2004

Cosmogenic 11C production and sensitivity of organic scintillator detectors to pep and CNO neutrinos

Several possible background sources determine the detectability of pep and CNO solar neutrinos in organic liquid scintillator detectors. Among such sources, the cosmogenic 11C nuclide plays a central role. 11C is produced underground in reactions induced by the residual cosmic muon flux. Experimental data available for the effective cross section for 11C by muons indicate that 11C will be the dominant source of background for the observation of pep and CNO neutrinos. 11C decays are expected to total a rate 2.5 (20) times higher than the combined rate of pep and CNO neutrinos in Borexino (KamLAND) in the energy window preferred for the pep measurement, between 0.8 and 1.3 MeV. This study examines the production mechanism of 11C by muon-induced showers in organic liquid scintillators with a novel approach: for the first time, we perform a detailed ab initio calculation of the production of a cosmogenic nuclide, 11C, taking into consideration all relevant production channels. Results of the calculation are compared with the effective cross sections measured by target experiments in muon beams. This paper also discusses a technique for reduction of background from 11C in organic liquid scintillator detectors, which allows to identify on a one-by-one basis and remove from the data set a large fraction of 11C decays. The background reduction technique hinges on an idea proposed by Martin Deutsch, who suggested that a neutron must be ejected in every interaction producing a 11C nuclide from 12C. 11C events are tagged by a three-fold coincidence with the parent muon track and the subsequent neutron capture on protons.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2004

The photomultiplier tube testing facility for the Borexino experiment at LNGS

A facility to test the photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) for the solar neutrino detector Borexino was built at the Gran Sasso laboratory. Using the facility 2200 PMTs with optimal characteristics were selected from the 2350 delivered from the manufacturer. The details of the hardware used are presented.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2003

Maximum likelihood analysis of the first KamLAND results

A maximum likelihood approach has been used to analize the first results from KamLAND emphasizing the application of this method for low statistics samples. The goodness of fit has been determined exploiting a simple Monte Carlo approach in order to test two different null hytpotheses. It turns out that with the present statistics the neutrino oscillation hypothesis has a significance of about 90% (the best-fit for the oscillation parameters from KamLAND are found to be: $δm_{12}^2 \sim 7.1 \times 10^{-5}$ eV$^2$ and $\sin^2 θ_{12} = 0.424/0.576$), while the no-oscillation hypothesis of about 50%. Through the likelihood ratio the hypothesis of no disappearence is rejected at about 99.9% C.L. with the present data from the positron spectrum. A comparison with other analyses is presented.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

Test of non-standard neutrino properties with the BOREXINO source experiments

We calculate the event rates induced by high-intensity radioactive sources of nu_e (51Cr) and of anti-nu_e (90Sr), to be located near the BOREXINO detector. Calculations are performed both in the standard case and assuming non-standard properties of neutrinos, including flavor oscillations, neutrino electromagnetic interactions, and deviations from the standard vector and axial couplings in the nu_e-e interaction. It is shown that, in some cases, the current limits on non-standard neutrino properties can be significantly improved.

hep-ex↗