arXiv subjects

F. Šimkovic

Publications and source records attributed to F. Šimkovic.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Proposal for fiber optic data acquisition system for Baikal-GVD

The first stage of the construction of the deep underwater neutrino telescope Baikal-GVD is planned to be completed in 2024. The second stage of the detector deployment is planned to be carried out using a data acquisition system based on fibre optic technologies, which will allow for increased data throughput and more flexible trigger conditions. A dedicated test facility has been built and deployed at the Baikal-GVD site to test the new technological solutions. We present the principles of operation and results of tests of the new data acquisition system.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

Automatic data processing for Baikal-GVD neutrino observatory

Baikal-GVD is a gigaton-scale neutrino observatory under construction in Lake Baikal. It currently produces about 100 GB of data every day. For their automatic processing, the Baikal Analysis and Reconstruction software (BARS) was developed. At the moment, it includes such stages as hit extraction from PMT waveforms, assembling events from raw data, assigning timestamps to events, determining the position of the optical modules using an acoustic positioning system, data quality monitoring, muon track and cascade reconstruction, as well as the alert signal generation. These stages are implemented as C++ programs which are executed sequentially one after another and can be represented as a directed acyclic graph. The most resource-consuming programs run in parallel to speed up processing. A separate Python package based on the luigi package is responsible for program execution control. Additional information such as the program execution status and run metadata are saved into a central database and then displayed on the dashboard. Results can be obtained several hours after the run completion.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

The Baikal-GVD neutrino telescope as an instrument for studying Baikal water luminescence

We present data on the Baikal water luminescence collected with the Baikal-GVD neutrino telescope. This three-dimensional array of photo-sensors allows the observation of time and spatial variations of the ambient light field. We report on annual increase of luminescence activity in years 2018-2020. We observed a unique event of a highly luminescent layer propagating upwards with a maximum speed of 28 m/day for the first time.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Measurement of the distribution of $^{207}$Bi depositions on calibration sources for SuperNEMO

The SuperNEMO experiment will search for neutrinoless double-beta decay ($0νββ$), and study the Standard-Model double-beta decay process ($2νββ$). The SuperNEMO technology can measure the energy of each of the electrons produced in a double-beta ($ββ$) decay, and can reconstruct the topology of their individual tracks. The study of the double-beta decay spectrum requires very accurate energy calibration to be carried out periodically. The SuperNEMO Demonstrator Module will be calibrated using 42 calibration sources, each consisting of a droplet of $^{207}$Bi within a frame assembly. The quality of these sources, which depends upon the entire $^{207}$Bi droplet being contained within the frame, is key for correctly calibrating SuperNEMO's energy response. In this paper, we present a novel method for precisely measuring the exact geometry of the deposition of $^{207}$Bi droplets within the frames, using Timepix pixel detectors. We studied 49 different sources and selected 42 high-quality sources with the most central source positioning.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Quark condensate seesaw mechanism for neutrino mass

We study a mechanism of generation of Majorana neutrino mass due to spontaneous breaking of chiral symmetry (SBCS) accompanied by the formation of a quark condensate. The effect of the condensate is transmitted to the neutrino sector via Lepton-Number Violating (LNV) lepton-quark dimension-$7$ operators known in the literature as an origin of the neutrino-mass-independent mechanism of neutrinoless double-beta ($0 νββ$) decay. The smallness of neutrino masses is due to a large ratio between the LNV scale and the scale of the SBCS. This is a new realization of the seesaw mechanism, which we dub the Quark Condensate SeeSaw (QCSS). We examine the predictions of the QCSS for $0 νββ$-decay and neutrino mass spectrum. We will show that our model predicts the normal neutrino mass ordering and narrow ranges of the neutrino masses.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Search for Periodic Modulations of the Rate of Double-Beta Decay of $^{100}$Mo in the NEMO-3 Detector

Double-beta decays of $^{100}$Mo from the 6.0195-year exposure of a 6.914 kg high-purity sample were recorded by the NEMO-3 experiment that searched for neutrinoless double-beta decays. These ultra-rare transitions to $^{100}$Ru have a half-life of approximately $7\times10^{18}$ years, and have been used to conduct the first ever search for periodic variations of this decay mode. The Lomb-Scargle periodogram technique, and its error-weighted extension, were employed to look for periodic modulations of the half-life. Monte Carlo modeling was used to study the modulation sensitivity of the data over a broad range of amplitudes and frequencies. Data show no evidence of modulations with amplitude greater than 2.5% in the frequency range of $0.33225\,{\rm y^{-1}}$ to $365.25\,{\rm y^{-1}}$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2019

Detailed studies of $^{100}$Mo two-neutrino double beta decay in NEMO-3

The full data set of the NEMO-3 experiment has been used to measure the half-life of the two-neutrino double beta decay of $^{100}$Mo to the ground state of $^{100}$Ru, $T_{1/2} = \left[ 6.81 \pm 0.01\,\left(\mbox{stat}\right) ^{+0.38}_{-0.40}\,\left(\mbox{syst}\right) \right] \times10^{18}$ y. The two-electron energy sum, single electron energy spectra and distribution of the angle between the electrons are presented with an unprecedented statistics of $5\times10^5$ events and a signal-to-background ratio of ~80. Clear evidence for the Single State Dominance model is found for this nuclear transition. Limits on Majoron emitting neutrinoless double beta decay modes with spectral indices of n=2,3,7, as well as constraints on Lorentz invariance violation and on the bosonic neutrino contribution to the two-neutrino double beta decay mode are obtained.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

Bound-state double-$β$ decay

We consider new modes of two-neutrino and neutrinoless double-$β$ decays in which one $β$ electron goes over to a continuous spectrum and the other occupies a vacant bound level of the daughter ion. We calculate the corresponding phase-space factors of the final states, estimate the partial decay rates, and derive the one- and two-electron energy spectra using relativistic many-electron wave functions of atoms provided by the multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock package GRASP2K. While the bound-state neutrinoless double-$β$ decays are strongly suppressed, their two-neutrino counterparts can be observed in the next-generation double-$β$-decay experiments, most notably SuperNEMO.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Final results on $^\textbf{82}$Se double beta decay to the ground state of $^\textbf{82}$Kr from the NEMO-3 experiment

Using data from the NEMO-3 experiment, we have measured the two-neutrino double beta decay ($2νββ$) half-life of $^{82}$Se as $T_{1/2}^{2ν} = \left[ 9.39 \pm 0.17\,\left(\mbox{stat}\right) \pm 0.58\,\left(\mbox{syst}\right)\right] \times 10^{19}$ y under the single-state dominance hypothesis for this nuclear transition. The corresponding nuclear matrix element is $\left|M^{2ν}\right| = 0.0498 \pm 0.0016$. In addition, a search for neutrinoless double beta decay ($0νββ$) using 0.93 kg of $^{82}$Se observed for a total of 5.25 y has been conducted and no evidence for a signal has been found. The resulting half-life limit of $T_{1/2}^{0ν} > 2.5 \times 10^{23} \,\mbox{y} \,(90\%\,\mbox{C.L.})$ for the light neutrino exchange mechanism leads to a constraint on the effective Majorana neutrino mass of $\langle m_ν \rangle < \left(1.2 - 3.0\right) \,\mbox{eV}$, where the range reflects $0νββ$ nuclear matrix element values from different calculations. Furthermore, constraints on lepton number violating parameters for other $0νββ$ mechanisms, such as right-handed currents, majoron emission and R-parity violating supersymmetry modes have been set.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

The interpolating formula for the $0νββ$-decay half-life in the case of light and heavy neutrino mass mechanisms

We revisit the "interpolating formula" proposed in our previous publication. It allows one to calculate the neutrinoless double beta decay ($0νββ$-decay) half-life for arbitrary neutrino mass without involvement of the complicated results for nuclear matrix elements (NME) obtained within specific nuclear structure models. The formula derives from the finding that the value of a properly normalized ratio of the NMEs for the light and heavy neutrino mass mechanisms weakly depends on isotope. From this fact it follows, in particular, that the light and heavy neutrino mass mechanisms can hardly be distinguished in a model independent way searching for $0νββ$-decay of different nuclei. Here we show that this formula holds for all the known nuclear structure approaches. We give a mathematical justification of our results examining analytical properties of the NMEs. We also consider several simplified benchmark scenarios within left-right symmetric models and analyze the conditions for the dominance of the light or heavy neutrino mass mechanisms in $0νββ$-decay.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Reproduction of exact solutions of Lipkin model by nonlinear random-phase approximation

It is shown that the random-phase approximation (RPA) method with its nonlinear generalization, which was previously considered as approximation, reproduces the exact solutions of the Lipkin model. The nonlinear RPA is based on an equation nonlinear on eigenvectors and includes many-particle-many-hole components in the creation operator of the excited states. We demonstrate the exact character of solutions analytically for the particle number $N$ = 2 and, numerically, for $N$ = 20. This finding indicates that the nonlinear RPA is equivalent to the exact Schrödinger equation, which opens up new possibilities for realistic calculations in many-body problems.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2017

Calorimeter development for the SuperNEMO double beta decay experiment

SuperNEMO is a double-$β$ decay experiment, which will employ the successful tracker-calorimeter technique used in the recently completed NEMO-3 experiment. SuperNEMO will implement 100 kg of double-$β$ decay isotope, reaching a sensitivity to the neutrinoless double-$β$ decay ($0νββ$) half-life of the order of $10^{26}$ yr, corresponding to a Majorana neutrino mass of 50-100 meV. One of the main goals and challenges of the SuperNEMO detector development programme has been to reach a calorimeter energy resolution, $Δ$E/E, around 3%/$sqrt(E)$(MeV) $σ$, or 7%/$sqrt(E)$(MeV) FWHM (full width at half maximum), using a calorimeter composed of large volume plastic scintillator blocks coupled to photomultiplier tubes. We describe the R\&D programme and the final design of the SuperNEMO calorimeter that has met this challenging goal.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

The BiPo-3 detector for the measurement of ultra low natural radioactivities of thin materials

The BiPo-3 detector, running in the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc, LSC, Spain) since 2013, is a low-radioactivity detector dedicated to measuring ultra low natural radionuclide contaminations of $^{208}$Tl ($^{232}$Th chain) and $^{214}$Bi ($^{238}$U chain) in thin materials. The total sensitive surface area of the detector is 3.6 m$^2$. The detector has been developed to measure radiopurity of the selenium double $β$-decay source foils of the SuperNEMO experiment. In this paper the design and performance of the detector, and results of the background measurements in $^{208}$Tl and $^{214}$Bi, are presented, and validation of the BiPo-3 measurement with a calibrated aluminium foil is discussed. Results of the $^{208}$Tl and $^{214}$Bi activity measurements of the first enriched $^{82}$Se foils of the double $β$-decay SuperNEMO experiment are reported. The sensitivity of the BiPo-3 detector for the measurement of the SuperNEMO $^{82}$Se foils is $\mathcal{A}$($^{208}$Tl) $<2$ $μ$Bq/kg (90\% C.L.) and $\mathcal{A}$($^{214}$Bi) $<140$ $μ$Bq/kg (90\% C.L.) after 6 months of measurement.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Search for neutrinoless quadruple-$β$ decay of $^{150}$Nd with the NEMO-3 detector

We report the results of a first experimental search for lepton number violation by four units in the neutrinoless quadruple-$β$ decay of $^{150}$Nd using a total exposure of $0.19$ kg$\cdot$y recorded with the NEMO-3 detector at the Modane Underground Laboratory (LSM). We find no evidence of this decay and set lower limits on the half-life in the range $T_{1/2}>(1.1-3.2)\times10^{21}$ y at the $90\%$ CL, depending on the model used for the kinematic distributions of the emitted electrons.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Measurement of the $2νββ$ Decay Half-Life and Search for the $0νββ$ Decay of $^{116}$Cd with the NEMO-3 Detector

The NEMO-3 experiment measured the half-life of the $2νββ$ decay and searched for the $0νββ$ decay of $^{116}$Cd. Using $410$ g of $^{116}$Cd installed in the detector with an exposure of $5.26$ y, ($4968\pm74$) events corresponding to the $2νββ$ decay of $^{116}$Cd to the ground state of $^{116}$Sn have been observed with a signal to background ratio of about $12$. The half-life of the $2νββ$ decay has been measured to be $ T_{1/2}^{2ν}=[2.74\pm0.04\mbox{(stat.)}\pm0.18\mbox{(syst.)}]\times10^{19}$ y. No events have been observed above the expected background while searching for $0νββ$ decay. The corresponding limit on the half-life is determined to be $T_{1/2}^{0ν} \ge 1.0 \times 10^{23}$ y at the $90$ % C.L. which corresponds to an upper limit on the effective Majorana neutrino mass of $\langle m_ν \rangle \le 1.4-2.5$ eV depending on the nuclear matrix elements considered. Limits on other mechanisms generating $0νββ$ decay such as the exchange of R-parity violating supersymmetric particles, right-handed currents and majoron emission are also obtained.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Measurement of the 2$νββ$ decay half-life of $^{150}$Nd and a search for 0$νββ$ decay processes with the full exposure from the NEMO-3 detector

We present results from a search for neutrinoless double-$β$ ($0νββ$) decay using 36.6 g of the isotope $^{150}$Nd with data corresponding to a live time of 5.25 y recorded with the NEMO-3 detector. We construct a complete background model for this isotope, including a measurement of the two-neutrino double-$β$ decay half-life of $T^{2ν}_{1/2}=$[9.34 $\pm$ 0.22 (stat.) $^{+0.62}_{-0.60}$ (syst.)]$\times 10^{18}$ y for the ground state transition, which represents the most precise result to date for this isotope. We perform a multivariate analysis to search for \zeronu decays in order to improve the sensitivity and, in the case of observation, disentangle the possible underlying decay mechanisms. As no evidence for \zeronu decay is observed, we derive lower limits on half-lives for several mechanisms involving physics beyond the Standard Model. The observed lower limit, assuming light Majorana neutrino exchange mediates the decay, is $T^{0ν}_{1/2} >$ 2.0 $\times 10^{22}$ y at the 90% C.L., corresponding to an upper limit on the effective neutrino mass of $\langle m_ν \rangle$ $<$ 1.6 - 5.3 eV..

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Measurement of the double-beta decay half-life and search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of $^{48}{\rm Ca}$ with the NEMO-3 detector

The NEMO-3 experiment at the Modane Underground Laboratory has investigated the double-$β$ decay of $^{48}{\rm Ca}$. Using $5.25$ yr of data recorded with a $6.99\,{\rm g}$ sample of $^{48}{\rm Ca}$, approximately $150$ double-$β$ decay candidate events have been selected with a signal-to-background ratio greater than $3$. The half-life for the two-neutrino double-$β$ decay of $^{48}{\rm Ca}$ has been measured to be $T^{2ν}_{1/2}\,=\,[6.4\, ^{+0.7}_{-0.6}{\rm (stat.)} \, ^{+1.2}_{-0.9}{\rm (syst.)}] \times 10^{19}\,{\rm yr}$. A search for neutrinoless double-$β$ decay of $^{48}{\rm Ca}$ yields a null result and a corresponding lower limit on the half-life is found to be $T^{0ν}_{1/2} > 2.0 \times 10^{22}\,{\rm yr}$ at $90\%$ confidence level, translating into an upper limit on the effective Majorana neutrino mass of $< m_{ββ} > < 6.0 - 26$ ${\rm eV}$, with the range reflecting different nuclear matrix element calculations. Limits are also set on models involving Majoron emission and right-handed currents.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2015

SMWDs as SGRs/AXPs and the lepton number violation

Possible nature of strongly magnetized white dwarfs (SMWDs) is studied. It is shown that for relatively low values of the equatorial surface magnetic field $B\,\sim\,10^9\,-\,10^{11}$ G they can be good candidates for soft gamma-ray repeaters and anomalous X-ray pulsars (SGRs/AXPs). For the case of iron SMWDs the influence of a neutrinoless electron to positron conversion on the SGRs/AXPs luminosity is estimated.

astro-ph.SR↗