arXiv subjects

Barak Schmookler

Publications and source records attributed to Barak Schmookler.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A Second EIC Detector: Physics Case and Conceptual Design

This document is the closeout report for LDRD 23-050, a type-A LDRD project awarded in FY2022 under the title "A Second EIC Detector: Physics Case and Conceptual Design". The project was motivated by the strong interest within the EIC community in a second general-purpose detector and interaction region, and by the recognition that such a detector is essential to fully exploit the scientific potential of the EIC over its multi-decade lifetime. The key goals of the LDRD were to (i) strengthen the case for a second EIC detector, building on the community Yellow Report; (ii) develop a realistic detector concept complementary to the project detector, ePIC, in terms of physics reach, precision, and control of systematics; and (iii) broaden the overall EIC physics program. Since a possible second detector is expected to be realized with a delay of several years relative to the first detector, the project explicitly aimed at identifying technologies that are not yet sufficiently mature for ePIC but could be deployed on the later timescale of a second detector, thereby providing genuine complementarity and room for innovation. As envisioned in the original proposal, the expected outcome was a document detailing the physics potential and requirements of a second EIC detector, accompanied by a conceptual design and an outline of the remaining R&D needs. This report summarizes progress toward these goals, consolidating the physics studies, detector concepts, and technology assessments developed under this LDRD, and situating them within the broader context of worldwide detector R&D. Despite evolving EIC priorities and the effort devoted to ePIC, the work documented here is intended to provide a foundation and reference for future efforts toward a second detector. We hope this report will serve as a useful guide for colleagues advancing this program in the near- and mid-term future.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of SiPM Dark Currents and Annealing Recovery for Fluences Expected in ePIC Calorimeters at the Electron-Ion Collider

Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) will be used to read out all calorimeters in the ePIC experiment at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). A thorough characterization of the radiation damage expected for SiPMs under anticipated EIC fluences is essential for accurate simulations, detector design, and effective operational strategies. In this study, we evaluate radiation damage for the specific SiPM models chosen for ePIC across the complete fluence range anticipated at the EIC, $10^8$ to $10^{12}$ 1-MeV $n_{\mathrm{eq}}$/cm$^2$ per year, depending on the calorimeter location. The SiPMs were irradiated using a 64 MeV proton beam provided by the University of California, Davis 76" Cyclotron. We measured the SiPM dark-current as a function of fluence and bias voltage and investigated the effectiveness of high-temperature annealing to recover radiation damage. These results provide a comprehensive reference for the design, simulation, and operational planning of all ePIC calorimeter systems.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Design of a SiPM-on-Tile ZDC for the future EIC and its Performance with Graph Neural Networks

We present a design for a high-granularity zero-degree calorimeter (ZDC) for the upcoming Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). The design uses SiPM-on-tile technology and features a novel staggered-layer arrangement that improves spatial resolution. To fully leverage the design's high granularity and non-trivial geometry, we employ graph neural networks (GNNs) for energy and angle regression as well as signal classification. The GNN-boosted performance metrics meet, and in some cases, significantly surpass the requirements set in the EIC Yellow Report, laying the groundwork for enhanced measurements that will facilitate a wide physics program. Our studies show that GNNs can significantly enhance the performance of high-granularity CALICE-style calorimeters by automating and optimizing the software compensation algorithms required for these systems. This improvement holds true even in the case of complicated geometries that pose challenges for image-based AI/ML methods.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Feasibility Study of Measuring $Λ^0\to nπ^{0}$ Using a High-Granularity Zero-Degree Calorimeter at the Future Electron-Ion Collider

Key measurements at the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), including first-of-their-kind studies of kaon structure, require the detection of $Λ^0$ at forward angles. We present a feasibility study of $Λ^0 \to nπ^0$ measurements using a high-granularity Zero Degree Calorimeter to be located about 35 m from the interaction point. We introduce a method to address the unprecedented challenge of identifying $Λ^0$s with energy $O(100)$ GeV that produce displaced vertices of $O(10)$ m. In addition, we present a reconstruction approach using graph neural networks. We find that the energy and angle resolution for $Λ^0$ is similar to that for neutrons, both of which meet the requirements outlined in the EIC Yellow Report.Furthermore, we estimate performance for measuring the neutron's direction in the $Λ^0$ rest frame, which reflects the $Λ^0$ spin polarization. We estimate that the neutral-decay channel $Λ^0 \to nπ^0$ will greatly extend the measurable energy range for the charged-decay channel $Λ^0 \to pπ^-$, which is limited by the location of small-angle trackers and the accelerator magnets. This work paves the way for EIC studies of kaon structure and spin phenomena.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2024

Impact of Inclusive Electron Ion Collider Data on Collinear Parton Distributions

A study is presented of the impact of simulated inclusive Electron Ion Collider Deep Inelastic Scattering data on the determination of the proton and nuclear parton distribution functions (PDFs) at next-to-next-to-leading and next-to-leading order in QCD, respectively. The influence on the proton PDFs is evaluated relative to the HERAPDF2.0 set, which uses inclusive HERA data only, and also relative to the global fitting approach of the MSHT20 PDFs. The impact on nuclear PDFs is assessed relative to the EPPS21 global fit and is presented in terms of nuclear modification ratios. For all cases studied, significant improvements in the PDF uncertainties are observed for several parton species. The most striking impact occurs for the nuclear PDFs in general and for the region of high Bjorken $x$ in the proton PDFs, particularly for the valence quark distributions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Extraction of the strong coupling with HERA and EIC inclusive data

Sensitivity to the strong coupling $α_S(M^2_Z)$ is investigated using existing Deep Inelastic Scattering data from HERA in combination with projected future measurements from the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) in a next-to-next-to-leading order QCD analysis. A potentially world-leading level of precision is achievable when combining simulated inclusive neutral current EIC data with inclusive charged and neutral current measurements from HERA, with or without the addition of HERA inclusive jet and dijet data. The result can be obtained with substantially less than one year of projected EIC data at the lower end of the EIC centre-of-mass energy range. Some questions remain over the magnitude of uncertainties due to missing higher orders in the theoretical framework.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

A Few-Degree Calorimeter for the future Electron-Ion Collider

Measuring the region $0.1 < Q^{2} < 1.0$ GeV$^{2}$ is essential to support searches for gluon saturation at the future Electron-Ion Collider. Recent studies have revealed that covering this region at the highest beam energies is not feasible with current detector designs, resulting in the so-called $Q^{2}$ gap. In this work, we present a design for the Few-Degree Calorimeter (FDC), which addresses this issue. The FDC uses SiPM-on-tile technology with tungsten absorber and covers the range of $-4.6 < η< -3.6$. It offers fine transverse and longitudinal granularity, along with excellent time resolution, enabling standalone electron tagging. Our design represents the first concrete solution to bridge the $Q^{2}$ gap at the EIC.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

A high-granularity calorimeter insert based on SiPM-on-tile technology at the future Electron-Ion Collider

We present a design for a high-granularity calorimeter insert for future experiments at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). The sampling-calorimeter design uses scintillator tiles read out with silicon photomultipliers. It maximizes coverage close to the beampipe, while solving challenges arising from the beam-crossing angle and mechanical integration. It yields a compensated response that is linear over the energy range of interest for the EIC. Its energy resolution meets the requirements set in the EIC Yellow Report even with a basic reconstruction algorithm. Moreover, this detector will provide 5D shower data (position, energy, and time), which can be exploited with machine-learning techniques. This detector concept has the potential to unleash the power of imaging calorimetry at the EIC to enable measurements at extreme kinematics in electron-proton and electron-nucleus collisions.

physics.ins-det↗