arXiv subjects

H. Furuta

Publications and source records attributed to H. Furuta.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Cosmic-muon characterization and annual modulation measurement with Double Chooz detectors

A study on cosmic muons has been performed for the two identical near and far neutrino detectors of the Double Chooz experiment, placed at $\sim$120 and $\sim$300 m.w.e. underground respectively, including the corresponding simulations using the MUSIC simulation package. This characterization has allowed to measure the muon flux reaching both detectors to be (3.64 $\pm$ 0.04) $\times$ 10$^{-4}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ for the near detector and (7.00 $\pm$ 0.05) $\times$ 10$^{-5}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ for the far one. The seasonal modulation of the signal has also been studied observing a positive correlation with the atmospheric temperature, leading to an effective temperature coefficient of $α_{T}$ = 0.212 $\pm$ 0.024 and 0.355 $\pm$ 0.019 for the near and far detectors respectively. These measurements, in good agreement with expectations based on theoretical models, represent one of the first measurements of this coefficient in shallow depth installations.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Status Report (22th J-PARC PAC): Searching for a Sterile Neutrino at J-PARC MLF (E56, JSNS2)

The JSNS$^2$ (J-PARC E56) experiment aims to search for a sterile neutrino at the J-PARC Materials and Life Sciences Experimental Facility (MLF). After the submission of a proposal to the J-PARC PAC, Stage-1 approval was granted to the JSNS$^2$ experiment on April 2015.This approval followed a series of background measurements which were performed in 2014. Recently, funding (the grant-in-aid for scientific research (S)) in Japan for building one 25~ton fiducial volume detector module was approved for the experiment. Therefore, we aim to start the experiment with one detector in JFY2018-2019. We are now working to produce precise cost estimates and schedule for construction, noting that most of the detector components can be produced within one year from the date of order. This will be reported at the next PAC meeting. In parallel to the detector construction schedule, JSNS$^2$ will submit a Technical Design report (TDR) to obtain the Stage-2 approval from the J-PARC PAC.The recent progress of the R$\&$D efforts towards this TDR are shown in this report. In particular, the R$\&$D status of the liquid scintillator, cosmic ray veto system, and software are shown. We have performed a test-experiment using 1.6~L of liquid scintillator at the 3rd floor of the MLF building in order to determine the identities of non-neutrino background particles coming to this detector location during the proton bunch. This is the so-called "MLF 2015AU0001" experiment. We briefly show preliminary results from this test-experiment.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

Characterization of the Spontaneous Light Emission of the PMTs used in the Double Chooz Experiment

During the commissioning of the first of the two detectors of the Double Chooz experiment, an unexpected and dominant background caused by the emission of light inside the optical volume has been observed. A specific study of the ensemble of phenomena called "Light Noise" has been carried out in-situ, and in an external laboratory, in order to characterize the signals and to identify the possible processes underlying the effect. Some mechanisms of instrumental noise originating from the PMTs were identified and it has been found that the leading one arises from the light emission localized on the photomultiplier base and produced by the combined effect of heat and high voltage across the transparent epoxy resin covering the electric components. The correlation of the rate and the amplitude of the signal with the temperature has been observed. For the first detector in operation the induced background has been mitigated using online and offline analysis selections based on timing and light pattern of the signals, while a modification of the photomultiplier assembly has been implemented for the second detector in order to blacken the PMT bases.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

Muon capture on light isotopes in Double Chooz

Using the Double Chooz detector, designed to measure the neutrino mixing angle $θ_{13}$, the products of $μ^-$ capture on $^{12}$C, $^{13}$C, $^{14}$N and $^{16}$O have been measured. Over a period of 489.5 days, $2.3\times10^6$ stopping cosmic $μ^-$ have been collected, of which $1.8\times10^5$ captured on carbon, nitrogen, or oxygen nuclei in the inner detector scintillator or acrylic vessels. The resulting isotopes were tagged using prompt neutron emission (when applicable), the subsequent beta decays, and, in some cases, $β$-delayed neutrons. The most precise measurement of the rate of $^{12}\mathrm C(μ^-,ν)^{12}\mathrm B$ to date is reported: $6.57^{+0.11}_{-0.21}\times10^{3}\,\mathrm s^{-1}$, or $(17.35^{+0.35}_{-0.59})\%$ of nuclear captures. By tagging excited states emitting gammas, the ground state transition rate to $^{12}$B has been determined to be $5.68^{+0.14}_{-0.23}\times10^3\,\mathrm s^{-1}$. The heretofore unobserved reactions $^{12}\mathrm C(μ^-,να)^{8}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{13}\mathrm C(μ^-,ν\mathrm nα)^{8}\mathrm{Li}$, and $^{13}\mathrm C(μ^-,ν\mathrm n)^{12}\mathrm B$ are measured. Further, a population of $β$n decays following stopping muons is identified with $5.5σ$ significance. Statistics limit our ability to identify these decays definitively. Assuming negligible production of $^{8}$He, the reaction $^{13}\mathrm C(μ^-,να)^{9}\mathrm{Li}$ is found to be present at the $2.7σ$ level. Limits are set on a variety of other processes.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2016

Status Report for the 21th J-PARC PAC : Searching for a Sterile Neutrino at J-PARC MLF (J-PARC E56, JSNS2)

The JSNS2 (J-PARC E56) experiment aims to search for sterile neutrinos at the J-PARC Materials and Life Sciences Experimental Facility (MLF).After the submission of a proposal to the J-PARC PAC, stage-1 approval was granted to the JSNS2 experiment. The approval followed a series of background measurements which were performed in 2014. Subsequent for stage-1 approval, the JSNS2 collaboration has made continuous efforts to write a Technical Design Report (TDR).This TDR will include two major items as discussed in the previous status report for the 20th J-PARC PAC: (1) A realistic detector location (2) Well understood and realistic detector performance using simulation studies, primarily in consideration of fast neutron rejection. Since August we have been in discussions with MLF staff regarding an appropriate detector location. We are also in the process of setting up a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation framework in order to study detector's performance in realistic conditions. In addition, we have pursued hardware R&D work for the liquid scintillator (LS) and to improve the dynamic range of the 10" photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). The LS R&D works includes Cherenkov studies inside the LS, and a Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) study with a test-beam, performed at Tohoku University. We also estimate the PSD performance of a full-sized detector using a detailed MC simulation. In this status report, we describe progress on this work.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Measurement of $θ_{13}$ in Double Chooz using neutron captures on hydrogen with novel background rejection techniques

The Double Chooz collaboration presents a measurement of the neutrino mixing angle $θ_{13}$ using reactor $\overlineν_{e}$ observed via the inverse beta decay reaction in which the neutron is captured on hydrogen. This measurement is based on 462.72 live days data, approximately twice as much data as in the previous such analysis, collected with a detector positioned at an average distance of 1050m from two reactor cores. Several novel techniques have been developed to achieve significant reductions of the backgrounds and systematic uncertainties. Accidental coincidences, the dominant background in this analysis, are suppressed by more than an order of magnitude with respect to our previous publication by a multi-variate analysis. These improvements demonstrate the capability of precise measurement of reactor $\overlineν_{e}$ without gadolinium loading. Spectral distortions from the $\overlineν_{e}$ reactor flux predictions previously reported with the neutron capture on gadolinium events are confirmed in the independent data sample presented here. A value of $\sin^{2}2θ_{13} = 0.095^{+0.038}_{-0.039}$(stat+syst) is obtained from a fit to the observed event rate as a function of the reactor power, a method insensitive to the energy spectrum shape. A simultaneous fit of the hydrogen capture events and of the gadolinium capture events yields a measurement of $\sin^{2}2θ_{13} = 0.088\pm0.033$(stat+syst).

hep-ex↗

arXiv2015

Status Report for the 20th J-PARC PAC : A Search for Sterile Neutrino at J-PARC MLF (J-PARC E56, JSNS2)

On April 2015, the J-PARC E56 (JSNS2: J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search using neutrinos from J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) experiment officially obtained stage-1 approval from J-PARC. We have since started to perform liquid scintillator R&D for improving energy resolution and fast neutron rejection. Also, we are studying Avalanche Photo-Diodes (SiPM) inside the liquid scintillator. In addition to the R&D work, a background measurement for the proton beam bunch timing using a small liquid scintillator volume was planned, and the safety discussions for the measurement have been done. This report describes the status of the R&D work and the background measurements, in addition to the milestones required before stage-2 approval.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

On-site Background Measurements for the J-PARC E56 Experiment: A Search for Sterile Neutrino at J-PARC MLF

The J-PARC E56 experiment aims to search for sterile neutrinos at the J-PARC Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF). In order to examine the feasibility of the experiment, we measured the background rates of different detector candidate sites, which are located at the third floor of the MLF, using a detector consisting of plastic scintillators with a fiducial mass of 500 kg. The result of the measurements is described in this article. The gammas and neutrons induced by the beam as well as the backgrounds from the cosmic rays were measured.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Status Report (BKG measurement): A Search for Sterile Neutrino at J-PARC MLF

At the 17th J-PARC PAC, which was held on September 2013, we proposed the sterile neutrino search at J-PARC MLF. After reviewing the proposal, PAC recommended to have a background measurement at the detector's candidate site location in their report to investigate whether the background rates can be manageable for the real experiment or not. Therefore, we have performed the background measurements (MLF; 2013BU1301 test experiment) during the summer of 2014, also following the 18th J-PARC PAC recommendations, and the measurements results are described here.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Improved measurements of the neutrino mixing angle $θ_{13}$ with the Double Chooz detector

The Double Chooz experiment presents improved measurements of the neutrino mixing angle $θ_{13}$ using the data collected in 467.90 live days from a detector positioned at an average distance of 1050 m from two reactor cores at the Chooz nuclear power plant. Several novel techniques have been developed to achieve significant reductions of the backgrounds and systematic uncertainties with respect to previous publications, whereas the efficiency of the $\barν_{e}$ signal has increased. The value of $θ_{13}$ is measured to be $\sin^{2}2θ_{13} = 0.090 ^{+0.032}_{-0.029}$ from a fit to the observed energy spectrum. Deviations from the reactor $\barν_{e}$ prediction observed above a prompt signal energy of 4 MeV and possible explanations are also reported. A consistent value of $θ_{13}$ is obtained from a fit to the observed rate as a function of the reactor power independently of the spectrum shape and background estimation, demonstrating the robustness of the $θ_{13}$ measurement despite the observed distortion.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2014

Ortho-positronium observation in the Double Chooz Experiment

The Double Chooz experiment measures the neutrino mixing angle $θ_{13}$ by detecting reactor $\barν_e$ via inverse beta decay. The positron-neutron space and time coincidence allows for a sizable background rejection, nonetheless liquid scintillator detectors would profit from a positron/electron discrimination, if feasible in large detector, to suppress the remaining background. Standard particle identification, based on particle dependent time profile of photon emission in liquid scintillator, can not be used given the identical mass of the two particles. However, the positron annihilation is sometimes delayed by the ortho-positronium (o-Ps) metastable state formation, which induces a pulse shape distortion that could be used for positron identification. In this paper we report on the first observation of positronium formation in a large liquid scintillator detector based on pulse shape analysis of single events. The o-Ps formation fraction and its lifetime were measured, finding the values of 44$\%$ $\pm$ 12$\%$ (sys.) $\pm$ 5$\%$ (stat.) and $3.68$ns $\pm$ 0.17ns (sys.) $\pm$ 0.15ns (stat.) respectively, in agreement with the results obtained with a dedicated positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy setup.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2014

Precision Muon Reconstruction in Double Chooz

We describe a muon track reconstruction algorithm for the reactor anti-neutrino experiment Double Chooz. The Double Chooz detector consists of two optically isolated volumes of liquid scintillator viewed by PMTs, and an Outer Veto above these made of crossed scintillator strips. Muons are reconstructed by their Outer Veto hit positions along with timing information from the other two detector volumes. All muons are fit under the hypothesis that they are through-going and ultrarelativistic. If the energy depositions suggest that the muon may have stopped, the reconstruction fits also for this hypothesis and chooses between the two via the relative goodness-of-fit. In the ideal case of a through-going muon intersecting the center of the detector, the resolution is ~40 mm in each transverse dimension. High quality muon reconstruction is an important tool for reducing the impact of the cosmogenic isotope background in Double Chooz.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2014

Background-independent measurement of $θ_{13}$ in Double Chooz

The oscillation results published by the Double Chooz collaboration in 2011 and 2012 rely on background models substantiated by reactor-on data. In this analysis, we present a background-model-independent measurement of the mixing angle $θ_{13}$ by including 7.53 days of reactor-off data. A global fit of the observed neutrino rates for different reactor power conditions is performed, yielding a measurement of both $θ_{13}$ and the total background rate. The results on the mixing angle are improved significantly by including the reactor-off data in the fit, as it provides a direct measurement of the total background rate. This reactor rate modulation analysis considers antineutrino candidates with neutron captures on both Gd and H, whose combination yields $\sin^2(2θ_{13})=$ 0.102 $\pm$ 0.028(stat.) $\pm$ 0.033(syst.). The results presented in this study are fully consistent with the ones already published by Double Chooz, achieving a competitive precision. They provide, for the first time, a determination of $θ_{13}$ that does not depend on a background model.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2013

Proposal: A Search for Sterile Neutrino at J-PARC Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility

We propose a definite search for sterile neutrinos at the J-PARC Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF). With the 3 GeV Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) and spallation neutron target, an intense neutrino beam from muon decay at rest (DAR) is available. Neutrinos come from μ+ decay, and the oscillation to be searched for is (anti νμ-> anti νe) which is detected by the inverse βdecay interaction (anti νe + p -> e+ + n), followed by a gamma from neutron capture. The unique features of the proposed experiment, compared with the LSND and experiments using horn focused beams, are; (1) The pulsed beam with about 600 ns spill width from J-PARC RCS and muon long lifetime allow us to select neutrinos from μDAR only. (2) Due to nuclear absorption of π- and μ-, neutrinos from μ- decay are suppressed to about the $10^{-3}$ level. (3) Neutrino cross sections are well known. The inverse βdecay cross section is known to be a few percent accuracy. (4) The neutrino energy can be calculated from positron energy by adding ~1.8 MeV. (5) The anti νμand νe fluxes have different and well defined spectra. This allows us to separate oscillated signals from those due to μ- decay contamination. We propose to proceed with the oscillation search in steps since the region of Δm^2 to be searched can be anywhere between sub-eV^2 to several tens of eV^2. We start to examine the large Δm^2 region, which can be done with short baseline at first. At close distance to the MLF target gives a high neutrino flux, and allows us to use relatively small detector. If no definitive positive signal is found, a future option exists to cover small Δm^2 region. This needs a relatively long baseline and requires a large detector to compensate for the reduced neutrino flux.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2013

First Measurement of θ_13 from Delayed Neutron Capture on Hydrogen in the Double Chooz Experiment

The Double Chooz experiment has determined the value of the neutrino oscillation parameter $θ_{13}$ from an analysis of inverse beta decay interactions with neutron capture on hydrogen. This analysis uses a three times larger fiducial volume than the standard Double Chooz assessment, which is restricted to a region doped with gadolinium (Gd), yielding an exposure of 113.1 GW-ton-years. The data sample used in this analysis is distinct from that of the Gd analysis, and the systematic uncertainties are also largely independent, with some exceptions, such as the reactor neutrino flux prediction. A combined rate- and energy-dependent fit finds $\sin^2 2θ_{13}=0.097\pm 0.034(stat.) \pm 0.034 (syst.)$, excluding the no-oscillation hypothesis at 2.0 σ. This result is consistent with previous measurements of $\sin^2 2θ_{13}$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2013

A Global Fit Determination of Effective $Δm_{31}^2$ from Baseline Dependence of Reactor $\barν_e$ Disappearance

Recently, three reactor neutrino experiments, Daya Bay, Double Chooz and RENO have directly measured the neutrino mixing angle $θ_{13}$. In this paper, another important oscillation parameter, effective $Δm_{31}^2$ (= $Δ\tilde{m}_{31}^2$) is measured using baseline dependence of the reactor neutrino disappearance. A global fit is applied to publicly available data and $Δ\tilde{m}_{31}^2 = 2.95^{+0.42}_{-0.61} \times 10^{-3}$ eV$^2$, $\sin^22θ_{13} = 0.099^{+0.016}_{-0.012}$ are obtained by setting both parameters free. This result is complementary to $Δtilde{m}_{31}^2$ to be measured by spectrum shape analysis. The measured $Δ\tilde{m}_{31}^2$ is consistent with $Δ\tilde{m}_{32}^2$ measured by $ν_μ$ disappearance in MINOS, T2K and atmospheric neutrino experiments within errors. The minimum $χ^2$ is small, which means the results from the three reactor neutrino experiments are consistent with each other.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

First Test of Lorentz Violation with a Reactor-based Antineutrino Experiment

We present a search for Lorentz violation with 8249 candidate electron antineutrino events taken by the Double Chooz experiment in 227.9 live days of running. This analysis, featuring a search for a sidereal time dependence of the events, is the first test of Lorentz invariance using a reactor-based antineutrino source. No sidereal variation is present in the data and the disappearance results are consistent with sidereal time independent oscillations. Under the Standard-Model Extension (SME), we set the first limits on fourteen Lorentz violating coefficients associated with transitions between electron and tau flavor, and set two competitive limits associated with transitions between electron and muon flavor.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

Measurement of Effective $Δm_{31}^2$ using Baseline Differences of Daya Bay, RENO and Double Chooz Reactor Neutrino Experiments

In 2011 and 2012, three reactor neutrino experiments, Double Chooz, Daya Bay and RENO showed positive signals of reactor neutrino disappearance and measured a mixing parameter sin^2(2th13) at average baselines 1.05, 1.65 and 1.44km, respectively. It is possible to measure effective Dm31^2 from distortion of neutrino energy spectrum (E dependence of the oscillation) in those experiments. However, since it requires a precise energy calibration, such measurements have not been reported yet. Dm31^2 can also be measured from baseline (L) dependence of the neutrino oscillation. In this paper, Dm31^2 is measured from disappearance probabilities of the three reactor experiments which have different baselines, to be 2.99^{+1.13}_{-1.58}(^{+0.86}_{-0.88}) X 10^{-3}eV^2, where the errors are two (one) dimensional uncertainties. This is consistent with Dm32^2 measured by ν_μ disappearance in accelerator experiments. Importance of Dm31^2 measurement and future possibilities are also discussed.

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