arXiv subjects

B. Vasilishin

Publications and source records attributed to B. Vasilishin.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

Improved exclusion limit for light dark matter from $e^+e^-$ annihilation in NA64

The current most stringent constraints for the existence of sub-GeV dark matter coupling to Standard Model via a massive vector boson $A^\prime$ were set by the NA64 experiment for the mass region $m_{A^\prime}\lesssim 250$ MeV, by analyzing data from the interaction of $2.84\cdot10^{11}$ 100-GeV electrons with an active thick target and searching for missing-energy events. In this work, by including $A^\prime$ production via secondary positron annihilation with atomic electrons, we extend these limits in the $200$-$300$ MeV region by almost an order of magnitude, touching for the first time the dark matter relic density constrained parameter combinations. Our new results demonstrate the power of the resonant annihilation process in missing energy dark-matter searches, paving the road to future dedicated $e^+$ beam efforts.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Hunting down the X17 boson at the CERN SPS

Recently, the ATOMKI experiment has reported new evidence for the excess of $e^+ e^-$ events with a mass $\sim$17 MeV in the nuclear transitions of $^4$He, that they previously observed in measurements with $^8$Be. These observations could be explained by the existence of a new vector $X17$ boson. So far, the search for the decay $X17 \rightarrow e^+ e^-$ with the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS gave negative results. Here, we present a new technique that could be implemented in NA64 aiming to improve the sensitivity and to cover the remaining $X17$ parameter space. If a signal-like event is detected, an unambiguous observation is achieved by reconstructing the invariant mass of the $X17$ decay with the proposed method. To reach this goal an optimization of the $X17$ production target, as well as an efficient and accurate reconstruction of two close decay tracks, is required. A dedicated analysis of the available experimental data making use of the trackers information is presented. This method provides independent confirmation of the NA64 published results [Phys. Rev. D101, 071101 (2020)], validating the tracking procedure. The detailed Monte Carlo study of the proposed setup and the background estimate shows that the goal of the proposed search is feasible.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Performance of Multiplexed XY Resistive Micromegas detectors in a high intensity beam

We present the performance of multiplexed XY resistive Micromegas detectors tested in the CERN SPS 100 GeV/c electron beam at intensities up to 3.3 $\times$ 10$^5$ e$^- $/(s$\cdot$cm$^2$). So far, all studies with multiplexed Micromegas have only been reported for tests with radioactive sources and cosmic rays. The use of multiplexed modules in high intensity environments was not explored due to the effect of ambiguities in the reconstruction of the hit point caused by the multiplexing feature. At the beam intensities analysed in this work and with a multiplexing factor of 5, more than 50% level of ambiguity is introduced. Our results prove that by using the additional information of cluster size and integrated charge from the signal clusters induced on the XY strips, the ambiguities can be reduced to a level below 2%. The tested detectors are used in the CERN NA64 experiment for tracking the incoming particles bending in a magnetic field in order to reconstruct their momentum. The average hit detection efficiency of each module was found to be $\sim$ 96% at the highest beam intensities. By using four modules a tracking resolution of 1.1% was obtained with $\sim$ 85% combined tracking efficiency.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

High purity 100 GeV electron identification with synchrotron radiation

In high energy experiments such as active beam dump searches for rare decays and missing energy events, the beam purity is a crucial parameter. In this paper we present a technique to reject heavy charged particle contamination in the 100 GeV electron beam of the H4 beam line at CERN SPS. The method is based on the detection with BGO scintillators of the synchrotron radiation emitted by the electrons passing through a bending dipole magnet. A 100 GeV $π^-$ beam is used to test the method in the NA64 experiment resulting in a suppression factor of $10^{-5}$ while the efficiency for electron detection is $\sim$95%. The spectra and the rejection factors are in very good agreement with the Monte Carlo simulation. The reported suppression factors are significantly better than previously achieved.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

Search for invisible decays of sub-GeV dark photons in missing-energy events at the CERN SPS

We report on a direct search for sub-GeV dark photons (A') which might be produced in the reaction e^- Z \to e^- Z A' via kinetic mixing with photons by 100 GeV electrons incident on an active target in the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS. The A's would decay invisibly into dark matter particles resulting in events with large missing energy. No evidence for such decays was found with 2.75\cdot 10^{9} electrons on target. We set new limits on the γ-A' mixing strength and exclude the invisible A' with a mass < 100 MeV as an explanation of the muon g_μ-2 anomaly.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2001

Development of Nuclotron Magnet Power Supply Control System

The magnetic field control subsystem of the Nuclotron - a superferric ion synchrotron - is described. The bending (BM), focusing (QF) and defocusing (QD) magnets are powered by three supplies. The BMs are driven by the supply of a 6.3 kA nominal current. The QFs and QDs are connected in series and powered by the 6 kA supply. An additional supply of 200 A for the QFs is used to keep the reqired ratio I(QF)/I(QD). The BM magnetic field shape is set by a pulse function generator which produceds a reference burst (Bo-train) with a 0.1 Gs resolution. A real B-train of the bending magnet field with the same (0.1 Gs) resolution is used for feedback loop and as reference function for QD and QF supplies. The QD and QF trains are utilized for feedback loop in the QD and QF supplies. The control of slow extraction system suppllies is described as well.

physics.acc-ph↗