arXiv subjects

A. Semenov

Publications and source records attributed to A. Semenov.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

micrOMEGAs4.1: two dark matter candidates

micrOMEGAs is a code to compute dark matter observables in generic extensions of the standard model. This version of micrOMEGAs includes a generalization of the Boltzmann equations to take into account the possibility of two dark matter candidates. The modification of the relic density calculation to include interactions between the two DM sectors as well as semi-annihilation is presented. Both DM signals in direct and indirect detection are computed as well. An extension of the standard model with two scalar doublets and a singlet is used as an example.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Dark counts initiated by macroscopic quantum tunneling in NbN superconducting photon detectors

We perform measurements of the switching current distributions of three w = 120 nm wide, 4 nm thick NbN superconducting strips which are used for single-photon detectors. These strips are much wider than the diameter the vortex cores, so they are classified as quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D). We discover evidence of macroscopic quantum tunneling by observing the saturation of the standard deviation of the switching distributions at temperatures around 2 K. We analyze our results using the Kurkijarvi-Garg model and find that the escape temperature also saturates at low temperatures, confirming that at sufficiently low temperatures, macroscopic quantum tunneling is possible in quasi-2D strips and can contribute to dark counts observed in single photon detectors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

A study of decays to strange final states with GlueX in Hall D using components of the BaBar DIRC

We propose to enhance the kaon identification capabilities of the GlueX detector by constructing an FDIRC (Focusing Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov) detector utilizing the decommissioned BaBar DIRC components. The GlueX FDIRC would significantly enhance the GlueX physics program by allowing one to search for and study hybrid mesons decaying into kaon final states. Such systematic studies of kaon final states are essential for inferring the quark flavor content of hybrid and conventional mesons. The GlueX FDIRC would reuse one-third of the synthetic fused silica bars that were utilized in the BaBar DIRC. A new focussing photon camera, read out with large area photodetectors, would be developed. We propose operating the enhanced GlueX detector in Hall D for a total of 220 days at an average intensity of 5x10^7 γ/s, a program that was conditionally approved by PAC39

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2014

A superconducting NbN detector for neutral nanoparticles

We present a proof-of-principle study of superconducting single photon detectors (SSPD) for the detection of individual neutral molecules/nanoparticles at low energies. The new detector is applied to characterize a laser desorption source for biomolecules and it allows to retrieve the arrival time distribution of a pulsed molecular beam containing the amino acid tryptophan, the polypeptide gramicidin as well as insulin, myoglobin and hemoglobin. We discuss the experimental evidence that the detector is actually sensitive to isolated neutral particles.

physics.atm-clus↗

arXiv2014

Sensitivity of a superconducting nanowire detector for single ions at low energy

We report on the characterization of a superconducting nanowire detector for ions at low kinetic energies. We measure the absolute single particle detection efficiency $η$ and trace its increase with energy up to $η= 100$ %. We discuss the influence of noble gas adsorbates on the cryogenic surface and analyze their relevance for the detection of slow massive particles. We apply a recent model for the hot spot formation to the incidence of atomic ions at energies between 0.2-1 keV. We suggest how the differences observed for photons and atoms or molecules can be related to the surface condition of the detector and we propose that the restoration of proper surface conditions may open a new avenue to SSPD-based optical spectroscopy on molecules and nanoparticles.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2013

micrOMEGAs3.1 : a program for calculating dark matter observables

micrOMEGAs is a code to compute dark matter observables in generic extensions of the standard model. This new version of micrOMEGAs is a major update which includes a generalization of the Boltzmann equations to accommodate models with asymmetric dark matter or with semi-annihilation and a first approach to a generalization of the thermodynamics of the Universe in the relic density computation. Furthermore a switch to include virtual vector bosons in the final states in the annihilation cross sections or relic density computations is added. Effective operators to describe loop-induced couplings of Higgses to two-photons or two-gluons are introduced and reduced couplings of the Higgs are provided allowing for a direct comparison with recent LHC results. A module that computes the signature of DM captured in celestial bodies in neutrino telescopes is also provided. Moreover the direct detection module has been improved as concerns the implementation of the strange "content" of the nucleon. New extensions of the standard model are included in the distribution.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

An initial study of mesons and baryons containing strange quarks with GlueX

The primary motivation of the GlueX experiment is to search for and ultimately study the pattern of gluonic excitations in the meson spectrum produced in $γp$ collisions. Recent lattice QCD calculations predict a rich spectrum of hybrid mesons that have both exotic and non-exotic $J^{PC}$, corresponding to $q\bar{q}$ states ($q=u,$ $d,$ or $s$) coupled with a gluonic field. A thorough study of the hybrid spectrum, including the identification of the isovector triplet, with charges 0 and $\pm1$, and both isoscalar members, $|s\bar{s}\ >$ and $|u\bar{u}\ > + |d\bar{d}\ >$, for each predicted hybrid combination of $J^{PC}$, may only be achieved by conducting a systematic amplitude analysis of many different hadronic final states. Detailed studies of the performance of the \gx detector have indicated that identification of particular final states with kaons is possible using the baseline detector configuration. The efficiency of kaon detection coupled with the relatively lower production cross section for particles containing hidden strangeness will require a high intensity run in order for analyses of such states to be feasible. We propose to collect a total of 200 days of physics analysis data at an average intensity of $5\times 10^7$ tagged photons on target per second. This data sample will provide an order of magnitude statistical improvement over the initial GlueX running, which will allow us to begin a program of studying mesons and baryons containing strange quarks. In addition, the increased intensity will permit us to study reactions that may have been statistically limited in the initial phases of GlueX. Overall, this will lead to a significant increase in the potential for \gx to make key experimental advances in our knowledge of hybrid mesons and excited $Ξ$ baryons.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2013

Effect of the wire width on the intrinsic detection efficiency of superconducting-nanowire single-photon detectors

Thorough spectral study of the intrinsic single-photon detection efficiency in superconducting TaN and NbN nanowires with different widths shows that the experimental cut-off in the efficiency at near-infrared wavelengths is most likely caused by the local deficiency of Cooper pairs available for current transport. For both materials the reciprocal cut-off wavelength scales with the wire width whereas the scaling factor quantitatively agrees with the hot-spot detection models. Comparison of the experimental data with vortex-assisted detection scenarios shows that these models predict a stronger dependence of the cut-off wavelength on the wire width.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Highly responsive Y-Ba-Cu-O thin film THz detectors with picosecond time resolution

High-temperature superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-d (YBCO) thin-film detectors with improved responsivities were developed for fast time-domain measurements in the THz frequency range. YBCO thin films of 30 nm thickness were patterned to micro- and nanobridges and embedded into planar log-spiral THz antennas. The YBCO thin-film detectors were characterized with continuous wave radiation at 0.65 THz. Responsivity values as high as 710 V/W were found for the YBCO nanobridges. Pulsed measurements in the THz frequency range were performed at the electron storage ring ANKA from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Due to the high responsivities of the nanobridges no biasing was required for the detection of the coherent synchrotron radiation pulses achieving very good agreement between the measured pulse shapes and simulations.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

A study of meson and baryon decays to strange final states with GlueX in Hall D (A proposal to the 39th Jefferson Lab Program Advisory Committee)

The primary motivation of the GlueX experiment is to search for and ultimately study the pattern of gluonic excitations in the meson spectrum produced in gamma p collisions. Recent lattice QCD calculations predict a rich spectrum of hybrid mesons that have both exotic and non-exotic JPC, corresponding to q q-bar (q=u, d, or s) states coupled with a gluonic field. A thorough study of the hybrid spectrum, including the identification of the isovector triplet, with charges 0 and +-1, and both isoscalar members, |s s-bar> and |u u-bar> + |d d-bar>, for each predicted hybrid combination of JPC, may only be achieved by conducting a systematic amplitude analysis of many different hadronic final states. We propose the development of a kaon identification system, supplementing the existing GlueX forward time-of-flight detector, in order to cleanly select meson and baryon decay channels that include kaons. Once this detector has been installed and commissioned, we plan to collect a total of 200 days of physics analysis data at an average intensity of 5 x 10^7 tagged photons on target per second. This data sample will provide an order of magnitude statistical improvement over the initial GlueX data set and, with the developed kaon identification system, a significant increase in the potential for GlueX to make key experimental advances in our knowledge of hybrid mesons and Cascade baryons.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

Detection Efficiency of a Spiral-Nanowire Superconducting Single-Photon Detector

We investigate the detection efficiency of a spiral layout of a Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detector (SNSPD). The design is less susceptible to the critical current reduction in sharp turns of the nanowire than the conventional meander design. Detector samples with different nanowire width from 300 to 100 nm are patterned from a 4 nm thick NbN film deposited on sapphire substrates. The critical current IC at 4.2 K for spiral, meander, and simple bridge structures is measured and compared. On the 100 nm wide samples, the detection efficiency is measured in the wavelength range 400-1700 nm and the cut-off wavelength of the hot-spot plateau is determined. In the optical range, the spiral detector reaches a detection efficiency of 27.6%, which is ~1.5 times the value of the meander. In the infrared range the detection efficiency is more than doubled.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

A Wire Position Monitor System for the 1.3 GHZ Tesla-Style Cryomodule at the Fermilab New-Muon-Lab Accelerator

The first cryomodule for the beam test facility at the Fermilab New-Muon-Lab building is currently under RF commissioning. Among other diagnostics systems, the transverse position of the helium gas return pipe with the connected 1.3 GHz SRF accelerating cavities is measured along the ~15 m long module using a stretched-wire position monitoring system. An overview of the wire position monitor system technology is given, along with preliminary results taken at the initial module cool down, and during further testing. As the measurement system offers a high resolution, we also discuss options for use as a vibration detector.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2012

High Resolution BPM Upgrade for the ATF Damping Ring at KEK

A beam position monitor (BPM) upgrade at the KEK Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) damping ring has been accomplished, carried out by a KEK/FNAL/SLAC collaboration under the umbrella of the global ILC R&D effort. The upgrade consists of a high resolution, high reproducibility read-out system, based on analog and processing, and also implements a new automatic gain error correction schema. The technical concept and realization as well as results of beam studies are presented.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2012

Geometry-induced reduction of the critical current in superconducting nanowires

Reduction of the critical current in narrow superconducting NbN lines with sharp and rounded bends with respect to the critical current in straight lines was studied at different temperatures. We compare our experimental results with the reduction expected in the framework of the London model and the Ginsburg-Landau model. We have experimentally found that the reduction is significantly less than either model predicts. We also show that in our NbN lines the bends mostly contribute to the reduction of the critical current at temperatures well below the superconducting transition temperature.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Broadening of hot-spot response spectrum of superconducting NbN nanowire single-photon detector with reduced nitrogen content

The spectral detection efficiency and the dark count rate of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPD) has been studied systematically on detectors made from thin NbN films with different chemical compositions. Reduction of the nitrogen content in the 4 nm thick NbN films results in a more than two orders of magnitude decrease of the dark count rates and in a red shift of the cut-off wavelength of the hot-spot SNSPD response. The observed phenomena are explained by an improvement of uniformity of NbN films that has been confirmed by a decrease of resistivity and an increase of the ratio of the measured critical current to the depairing current. The latter factor is considered as the most crucial for both the cut-off wavelength and the dark count rates of SNSPD. Based on our results we propose a set of criteria for material properties to optimize SNSPD in the infrared spectral region.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Break-up of long-range coherence due to phase fluctuations in ultrathin superconducting NbN films

Using scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), we address the problem of the superconductor-insulator phase transition (SIT) in homogeneously disordered ultrathin (2-15 nm) films of NbN. Samples thicker than 8 nm, for which the Ioffe-Regel parameter $k_F l \geq 5.6$, manifest a conventional superconductivity : A spatially homogeneous BCS-like gap, vanishing at the critical temperature, and a vortex lattice in magnetic field. Upon thickness reduction, however, while $k_F l$ lowers, the STS revealed striking deviations from the BCS scenario, among which a progressive decrease of the coherence peak height and spatial inhomogeneities. The thinnest film (2.16 nm), while not being exactly at the SIT ($T_C \approx 0.4 T_{C-bulk}$), showed astonishingly vanishing coherence peaks and the absence of vortices. In the quasi-2D limit, such clear signatures of the loss of long-range phase coherence strongly suggest that, at the SIT the superconductivity is destroyed by phase fluctuations.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Non-thermal response of YBCO thin films to picosecond THz pulses

The photoresponse of YBa2Cu3O7-d thin film microbridges with thicknesses between 15 and 50 nm was studied in the optical and terahertz frequency range. The voltage transients in response to short radiation pulses were recorded in real time with a resolution of a few tens of picoseconds. The bridges were excited by either femtosecond pulses at a wavelength of 0.8 μm or broadband (0.1 - 1.5 THz) picosecond pulses of coherent synchrotron radiation. The transients in response to optical radiation are qualitatively well explained in the framework of the two-temperature model with a fast component in the picosecond range and a bolometric nanosecond component whose decay time depends on the film thickness. The transients in the THz regime showed no bolometric component and had amplitudes up to three orders of magnitude larger than the two-temperature model predicts. Additionally THz-field dependent transients in the absence of DC bias were observed. We attribute the response in the THz regime to a rearrangement of vortices caused by high-frequency currents.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Bunch-by-bunch detection of coherent transverse modes from digitized single-bpm signals in the Tevatron

A system was developed for bunch-by-bunch detection of transverse proton and antiproton coherent oscillations based on the signal from a single beam-position monitor (BPM) located in a region of the ring with large amplitude functions. The signal is digitized over a large number of turns and Fourier-analyzed offline with a dedicated algorithm. To enhance the signal, the beam is excited with band-limited noise for about one second, and this was shown not to significantly affect the circulating beams even at high luminosity. The system is used to measure betatron tunes of individual bunches and to study beam- beam effects. In particular, it is one of the main diagnostic tools in an ongoing study of nonlinear beam-beam compensation studies with Gaussian electron lenses. We present the design and operation of this tool, together with results obtained with proton and antiproton bunches.

physics.acc-ph↗