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D. A. Bryman

Publications and source records attributed to D. A. Bryman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2024

Measurement of the response function of the PIENU calorimeter

Measurements of the response function of the PIENU NaI(T$\ell$) and CsI crystal calorimeter using a monochromatic 70 MeV/c positron beam at various incidence angles are described. The experimental setup and relevant physical processes involved were simulated using Geant4 to reproduce positron energy spectra. Monte Carlo simulations were compared with experimental data across ten calorimeter-beam angles and showed good agreement. This allowed the validation of simulation parameters that were essential for precise measurements of pion decays.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2021

Search for three body pion decays $π^+{\to}l^+νX$

The three body pion decays $π^+{\rightarrow}l^+νX~(l=e,μ)$, where $X$ is a weakly interacting neutral boson, were searched for using the full data set from the PIENU experiment. An improved limit on $Γ(π^+{\to}e^+νX)/Γ(π^+{\to}μ^+ν_μ)$ in the mass range $0<m_X<120$ MeV/$c^2$ and a first result for $Γ(π^+{\to}μ^+νX)/Γ(π^+{\to}μ^+ν_μ)$ in the region $0<m_X<33.9$ MeV/$c^2$ were obtained. The Majoron-neutrino coupling model was also constrained using the current experimental result of the $π^+{\to}e^+ν_e(γ)$ branching ratio.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2020

Search for the rare decays $π^+ \to μ^+ν_μν\barν$ and $π^+ \to e^+ν_eν\barν$

The rare pion decays $π^+{\rightarrow}μ^+ν_μν\barν$ and $π^+{\rightarrow}e^+ν_{e}ν\barν$ are allowed in the Standard Model but highly suppressed. These decays were searched for using data from the PIENU experiment. A first result for $Γ(π^+{\rightarrow}μ^+ν_μν\barν)/Γ(π^+{\rightarrow}μ^+ν_μ)<8.6{\times}10^{-6}$, and an improved measurement $Γ(π^+{\rightarrow}{e}^+ν_{e}ν\barν)/Γ(π^+{\rightarrow}μ^+ν_μ)<1.6{\times}10^{-7}$ were obtained.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2020

Improved search for two body muon decay $μ^+{\rightarrow}e^+X_H$

Charged lepton flavor violating muon decay $μ^+{\rightarrow}e^+X_H$, where $X_H$ is a massive neutral boson, was sought by searching for extra peaks in the muon decay $μ^+{\rightarrow}e^+ν\barν$ energy spectrum in the $m_{X_H}$ mass region $47.8-95.1$ MeV/$c^2$. No signal was found and 90% confidence level upper limits were set on the branching ratio $Γ(μ^+{\rightarrow}e^+X_H)/Γ(μ^+{\rightarrow}e^+ν\barν)$ at the level of $10^{-5}$ for this region.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2019

Constraints on Sterile Neutrinos in the MeV to GeV Mass Range

A detailed discussion is given of the analysis of recent data to obtain improved upper bounds on the couplings $|U_{e4}|^2$ and $|U_{μ4}|^2$ for a mainly sterile neutrino mass eigenstate $ν_4$. Using the excellent agreement among ${\cal F}t$ values for superallowed nuclear beta decay, an improved upper limit is derived for emission of a $ν_4$. The agreement of the ratios of branching ratios $R^{(π)}_{e/μ}=BR(π^+ \to e^+ ν_e)/BR(π^+ \to μ^+ ν_μ)$, $R^{(K)}_{e/μ}$, $R^{(D_s)}_{e/τ}$, $R^{(D_s)}_{μ/τ}$, and $R^{(D)}_{e/τ}$, and the branching ratios $BR(B^+\rightarrow e^+ν_e)$ and $BR(B^+\rightarrow μ^+ν_μ)$ decays with predictions of the Standard Model, is utilized to derive new constraints on $ν_4$ emission covering the $ν_4$ mass range from MeV to GeV. We also discuss constraints from peak search experiments probing for emission of a $ν_4$ via lepton mixing, as well as constraints from pion beta decay, CKM unitarity, $μ$ decay, leptonic $τ$ decay, and other experimental inputs.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2019

Search for Heavy Neutrinos in $π\to μν$ Decay

Heavy neutrinos were sought in pion decays $π^+ \rightarrow μ^+ ν$ by examining the observed muon energy spectrum for extra peaks in addition to the expected peak for a massless neutrino. No evidence for heavy neutrinos was observed. Upper limits were set on the neutrino mixing matrix $|U_{μi}|^2$ in the neutrino mass region of 15.7--33.8 MeV/c$^2$, improving on previous results by an order of magnitude.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2019

Improved Constraints on Sterile Neutrinos in the MeV to GeV Mass Range

Improved upper bounds are presented on the coupling $|U_{e4}|^2$ of an electron to a sterile neutrino $ν_4$ from analyses of data on nuclear and particle decays, including superallowed nuclear beta decays, the ratios $R^{(π)}_{e/μ}=BR(π^+ \to e^+ ν_e)/BR(π^+ \to μ^+ ν_μ)$, $R^{(K)}_{e/μ}$, $R^{(D_s)}_{e/τ}$, and $B^+_{e 2}$ decay, covering the mass range from MeV to GeV.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2018

Improved Search for Heavy Neutrinos in the Decay $π\rightarrow eν$

A search for massive neutrinos has been made in the decay $π\rightarrow e^+ ν$. No evidence was found for extra peaks in the positron energy spectrum indicative of pion decays involving massive neutrinos ($π\rightarrow e^+ ν_h$). Upper limits (90 \% C.L.) on the neutrino mixing matrix element $|U_{ei}|^2$ in the neutrino mass region 60--135 MeV/$c^2$ were set, which are %representing an order of magnitude improvement over previous results.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2016

Search for the rare decay $K^+\toμ^+ν\barνν$

Evidence of the $K^+\toμ^+ν\barνν$ decay was searched for using E949 experimental data with an exposure of $1.70\times 10^{12}$ stopped kaons. The data sample is dominated by the backgrond process $K^+\toμ^+ν_μγ$. An upper limit on the decay rate $Γ(K^+\toμ^+ν\barνν)< 2.4\times 10^{-6}Γ(K^+\to all)$ at 90% confidence level was set assuming the Standard Model muon spectrum. The data are presented in such a way as to allow calculation of rates for any assumed $μ^+$ spectrum.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2015

Status of the TRIUMF PIENU Experiment

The PIENU experiment at TRIUMF aims to measure the pion decay branching ratio $R=Γ(π^+{\rightarrow}e^+ν_e(γ))/Γ(π^+{\rightarrow}μ^+ν_μ(γ))$ with precision $<0.1$% to provide a sensitive test of electron-muon universality in weak interactions. The current status of the PIENU experiment is presented.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2015

Improved measurement of the $π\rightarrow \mbox{e} ν$ branching ratio

A new measurement of the branching ratio, $R_{e/μ} =Γ(π^+ \rightarrow \mbox{e}^+ ν+ π^+ \rightarrow \mbox{e}^+ νγ)/ Γ(π^+ \rightarrow μ^+ ν+ π^+ \rightarrow μ^+ νγ)$, resulted in $R_{e/μ}^{exp} = (1.2344 \pm 0.0023 (stat) \pm 0.0019 (syst)) \times 10^{-4}$. This is in agreement with the standard model prediction and improves the test of electron-muon universality to the level of 0.1 %.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2015

Search for heavy neutrinos in $K^+\toμ^+ν_H$ decays

Evidence of a heavy neutrino, $ν_H$, in the $K^+\toμ^+ν_H$ decays was sought using the E949 experimental data with an exposure of $1.70\times 10^{12}$ stopped kaons. With the major background from the radiative $K^+\toμ^+ν_μγ$ decay understood and suppressed, upper limits (90% C.L.) on the neutrino mixing matrix element between muon and heavy neutrino, $|U_{μH}|^2$, were set at the level of $10^{-7}$ to $10^{-9}$ for the heavy neutrino mass region 175 to 300 MeV/$c^2$.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2013

Report of the Quark Flavor Physics Working Group

This report represents the response of the Intensity Frontier Quark Flavor Physics Working Group to the Snowmass charge. We summarize the current status of quark flavor physics and identify many exciting future opportunities for studying the properties of strange, charm, and bottom quarks. The ability of these studies to reveal the effects of new physics at high mass scales make them an essential ingredient in a well-balanced experimental particle physics program.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2012

Fundamental Physics at the Intensity Frontier

The Proceedings of the 2011 workshop on Fundamental Physics at the Intensity Frontier. Science opportunities at the intensity frontier are identified and described in the areas of heavy quarks, charged leptons, neutrinos, proton decay, new light weakly-coupled particles, and nucleons, nuclei, and atoms.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2011

Search for Massive Neutrinos in the Decay pi --> e nu

Evidence of massive neutrinos in the pi --> e nu decay spectrum was sought with the background pi --> mu --> e decay chain highly suppressed. Upper limits (90% C.L.) on the neutrino mixing matrix element |U_ei|^2 in the neutrino mass region 60--129 MeV/c^2 were set at the level of 10^-8.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2011

Liquid Xenon Detectors for Positron Emission Tomography

PET is a functional imaging technique based on detection of annihilation photons following beta decay producing positrons. In this paper, we present the concept of a new PET system for preclinical applications consisting of a ring of twelve time projection chambers filled with liquid xenon viewed by avalanche photodiodes. Simultaneous measurement of ionization charge and scintillation light leads to a significant improvement to spatial resolution, image quality, and sensitivity. Simulated performance shows that an energy resolution of <10% (FWHM) and a sensitivity of 15% are achievable. First tests with a prototype TPC indicate position resolution <1 mm (FWHM).

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2010

Study of a Large NaI(Tl) Crystal

Using a narrow band positron beam, the response of a large high-resolution NaI(Tl) crystal to an incident positron beam was measured. It was found that nuclear interactions cause the appearance of additional peaks in the low energy tail of the deposited energy spectrum.

physics.ins-det↗