arXiv subjects

Ani Aprahamian

Publications and source records attributed to Ani Aprahamian.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Compact sub-10 ps Resolution Radio Frequency Photomultiplier Tube

Experimental measurements of the radial spreading of photoelectrons emitted from a multi-alkali photocathode in a MCP-based photomultiplier tube have shown that, for photon wavelengths of 455 nm, 515 nm and 625 nm, the maximum initial energies of the emitted photoelectrons are approximately 0.3 eV, 0.2 eV and 0.1 eV respectively. Combining these experimental results with simulations performed using the SIMION simulation package, a compact radio-frequency photoelectron multiplier tube with a temporal resolution better than 10 ps is proposed. The device would be suitable for applications in several fields, particularly in medical optical instruments employing time-correlated single-photon counting.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2026

A Helical-Deflector-Based Radio-Frequency Spiral Scanning System for keV Energy Electrons

We present the design, modeling, and experimental validation of a radio-frequency based time-to-position conversion system for keV electrons incorporating a helical deflector operating in the 400-1000 MHz range. The device performs circular deflection of the electrons when driven by a single RF frequency and enables spiral scanning when two phase-locked RF voltages with slightly different frequencies are applied. The superposition of the two phase-locked RF voltages produces an amplitude-beating field whose slowly varying envelope modulates the deflection radius, transforming the circular scan into a controlled spiral on the detector plane. A detailed theoretical model describing the electron dynamics under two phase-locked RF voltages with different frequencies was derived, yielding analytical expressions for the transverse velocity and radius-vector components at the deflector exit. The experimental studies demonstrated good agreement with the model predictions. Spiral scanning will allow measurements with picosecond resolution in a temporal dynamic range 1-2 orders of magnitude larger than the period of the circular scanning.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Picosecond Precision Heavy-Ion Detector for {\Lambda} Hypernuclei Lifetime Studies

In this paper, we present the design and preliminary performance evaluation of a new heavy-ion detector for direct measurements of heavy {\Lambda} hypernuclei lifetime. The detector employs the previously developed 10 picosecond resolution Radio Frequency (RF) Timer, which converts the temporal information of incident particles into spatial coordinates of secondary or photoelectrons on a position-sensitive detector by means of circular RF scanning in the 500-1000 MHz range. Here, we report the detector design to achieve efficient suppression of accidental background and effective separation of prompt reaction products and delayed events from {\Lambda} hypernuclei decays, results of test studies carried out with RF synchronized laser as well as preliminary results obtained by using alpha particles. Dedicated Monte-Carlo simulations have been performed to estimate the detector's performance under realistic experimental conditions at RF-driven electron, photon, or proton beams. The results confirm the feasibility of the proposed design and provide a basis for upcoming experimental measurements, based on the delayed fission detection.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Advanced Radio Frequency Timing AppaRATus (ARARAT) Technique and Applications

The development of the advanced Radio Frequency Timer of electrons is described. It is based on a helical deflector, which performs circular or elliptical sweeps of keV electrons, by means of 500 MHz radio frequency field. By converting a time distribution of incident electrons to a hit position distribution on a circle or ellipse, this device achieves extremely precise timing. Streak Cameras, based on similar principles, routinely operate in the ps and sub-ps time domain, but have substantial slow readout system. Here, we report a device, where the position sensor, consisting of microchannel plates and a delay-line anode, produces ~ns duration pulses which can be processed by using regular fast electronics. A photon sensor based on this technique, the Radio Frequency Photo-Multiplier Tube (RFPMT), has demonstrated a timing resolution of ~10 ps and a time stability of ~0.5 ps, FWHM. This makes the apparatus highly suited for Time Correlated Single Photon Counting which is widely used in optical microscopy and tomography of biological samples. The first application in lifetime measurements of quantum states of graphene, under construction at the A. I. Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory (AANL), is outlined. This is followed by a description of potential RFPMT applications in time-correlated Diffuse Optical Tomography, time-correlated Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy, hybrid FRET/STED nanoscopy and Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Origin of the Heaviest Elements: the Rapid Neutron-Capture Process

The production of about half of the heavy elements found in nature is assigned to a specific astrophysical nucleosynthesis process: the rapid neutron capture process (r-process). Although this idea has been postulated more than six decades ago, the full understanding faces two types of uncertainties/open questions: (a) The nucleosynthesis path in the nuclear chart runs close to the neutron-drip line, where presently only limited experimental information is available, and one has to rely strongly on theoretical predictions for nuclear properties. (b) While for many years the occurrence of the r-process has been associated with supernovae, more recent studies have cast substantial doubts on this environment. Alternative scenarios include the mergers of neutron stars, neutron-star black hole mergers, but possibly also rare classes of supernovae as well as hypernovae/collapsars with polar jet ejecta and also accretion disk outflows related to the collapse of fast rotating massive stars with high magnetic fields. Stellar r-process abundance observations, have provided insights into, and constraints on the frequency of and conditions in the responsible stellar production sites. One of them, neutron star mergers, was just identified and related to the Gravitational Wave event GW170817. High resolution observations, increasingly more precise due to improved experimental atomic data, have been particularly important in defining the heavy element abundance patterns of the old halo stars, and thus determining the extent, and nature, of the earliest nucleosynthesis in our Galaxy. Combining new results and important breakthroughs in the related nuclear, atomic and astronomical fields of science, this review attempts to provide an answer to the question "How Were the Elements from Iron to Uranium Made?" (Abridged)

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Quenching Measurements and Modeling of a Boron-Loaded Organic Liquid Scintillator

Organic liquid scintillators are used in a wide variety of applications in experimental nuclear and particle physics. Boron-loaded scintillators are particularly useful for detecting neutron captures, due to the high thermal neutron capture cross section of $^{10}$B. These scintillators are commonly used in neutron detectors, including the DarkSide-50 neutron veto, where the neutron may produce a signal when it scatters off protons in the scintillator or when it captures on $^{10}$B. Reconstructing the energy of these recoils is complicated by scintillation quenching. Understanding how nuclear recoils are quenched in these scintillators is an important and difficult problem. In this article, we present a set of measurements of neutron-induced proton recoils in a boron-loaded organic liquid scintillator at recoil energies ranging from 57--467 keV, and we compare these measurements to predictions from different quenching models. We find that a modified Birks' model whose denominator is quadratic in $dE/dx$ best describes the measurements, with $χ^2$/NDF$=1.6$. This result will help model nuclear recoil scintillation in similar detectors and can be used to improve their neutron tagging efficiency.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Scintillation efficiency measurement of Na recoils in NaI(Tl) below the DAMA/LIBRA energy threshold

The dark matter interpretation of the DAMA modulation signal depends on the NaI(Tl) scintillation efficiency of nuclear recoils. Previous measurements for Na recoils have large discrepancies, especially in the DAMA/LIBRA modulation energy region. We report a quenching effect measurement of Na recoils in NaI(Tl) from 3keV$_{\text{nr}}$ to 52keV$_{\text{nr}}$, covering the whole DAMA/LIBRA energy region for light WIMP interpretations. By using a low-energy, pulsed neutron beam, a double time-of-flight technique, and pulse-shape discrimination methods, we obtained the most accurate measurement of this kind for NaI(Tl) to date. The results differ significantly from the DAMA reported values at low energies, but fall between the other previous measurements. We present the implications of the new quenching results for the dark matter interpretation of the DAMA modulation signal.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2005

Nuclear isomers: structures and applications

Isomeric states in the nuclei along the rapid proton capture process path are studied by the projected shell model. Emphasis is given to two waiting point nuclei Se-68 and Kr-72 that are characterized by shape coexistence. Energy surface calculations indicate that the ground state of these nuclei corresponds to an oblate-deformed minimum, while the lowest state at the prolate-deformed minimum can be considered as a shape isomer. Due to occupation of the orbitals with large K-components, states built upon two-quasiparticle excitations at the oblate-deformed minimum may form high $K$-isomers. The impact of the isomer states on isotopic abundance in X-ray bursts is studied in a multi-mass-zone X-ray burst model by assuming an upper-lower limit approach.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2005

Low energy 0+ excitations in 158Gd

High precision (p,t) studies of the deformed nucleus 158Gd allowed the observation of 13 excited 0+ states below an excitation energy of 3.1 MeV. This high density of low energy states, and particularly their measured B(E2) transition strengths to the first excited 2+ state challenge nuclear models. The pseudo SU(3) model, which successfully describes many excited bands in Dy isotopes, is used to analyze this nuclei. We have fairly good reproduction of most of the states but the absence of actively including nucleons occupying intruders orbits may be the reason for the observed limitations of the model.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2005

Nuclear structure of the exotic mass region along the rp process path

Isomeric states in the nuclei along the rapid proton capture process path are studied by the projected shell model. Emphasis is given to two waiting point nuclei 68Se and 72Kr that are characterized by shape coexistence. Energy surface calculations indicate that the ground state of these nuclei corresponds to an oblate-deformed minimum, while the lowest state at the prolate-deformed minimum can be considered as a shape isomer. The impact of these isomer states on isotopic abundance in x-ray bursts is studied in a multi-mass-zone x-ray burst model by assuming an upper-lower limit approach.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2003

Nature of excited 0+ states in 158Gd described by the projected shell model

Excited 0+ states are studied in the framework of the projected shell model, aiming at understanding the nature of these states in deformed nuclei in general, and the recently observed 13 excited 0+ states in 158Gd in particular. The model, which contains projected two- and four-quasiparticle states as building blocks in the basis, is able to reproduce reasonably well the energies for all the observed 0+ states. The obtained B(E2) values however tend to suggest that these 0+ states might have a mixed nature of quasiparticle excitations coupled to collective vibrations.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2001

N=Z Waiting Point Nucleus $^{68}$Se: Collective Rotation and High-K Isomeric States

The structure of collective states and quasi-particle excitations in $^{68}$Se is analyzed by using the projected shell model. It is found that the $g_{9/2}$ orbitals play a decisive role for the structure of this nucleus. At the prolate minimum, alignment of the low-K states causes the observed first backbending in moment of inertia and we predict a second backbending that has not yet been reported. At the oblate minimum, quasi-particles having high-K can form long-lived isomeric states. The structure of $^{68}$Se is discussed with respect to the isomers and their possible impact on the determination of its nuclear mass.

nucl-th↗