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H. Hara

Publications and source records attributed to H. Hara.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The Sunrise Chromospheric Infrared Spectro-Polarimeter SCIP: an instrument for SUNRISE III

The Sunrise balloon-borne solar observatory is equipped with a one-meter aperture optical telescope, offering a unique platform for uninterrupted seeing-free observations across ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths from altitudes higher than 33 km. For the third flight of the upgraded Sunrise observatory conducted in 2024, now called Sunrise III, a new spectro-polarimeter called the Sunrise Chromospheric Infrared spectroPolarimeter (SCIP) was developed for observing near-infrared wavelength ranges around 770 nm and 850 nm. These wavelength ranges contain many spectral lines, including two of the Ca II infrared triplet, K I D1 and D2 lines, and multiple Fe I lines, that are sensitive to solar magnetic fields and velocities in the photosphere and chromosphere. SCIP consists of a grating spectrograph in which polarimetric measurements are conducted using a rotating waveplate as a modulator and polarizing beam splitters placed in front of the cameras. The spatial and spectral resolutions are 0.21" and 1x10^5, respectively, and a polarimetric sensitivity of 0.03% (1sigma) of the continuum intensity is achieved with a 10 s integration time per a resolution element. To achieve high-precision detection of small polarization signals, we carefully designed the optical and mechanical systems, polarization components, control electronics, and onboard data processing. Together with the other post-focus instrumentation developed for Sunrise III, the Sunrise Ultraviolet Spectropolarimeter and Imager (SUSI) and the visible imaging spectro-polarimeter Tunable Magnetograph (TuMag), SCIP provides novel observations that help elucidate energy transfer and time-dependent phenomena across the solar photosphere and chromosphere.

astro-ph.SR

Acceleration of positive muons by a radio-frequency cavity

Acceleration of positive muons from thermal energy to $100~$keV has been demonstrated. Thermal muons were generated by resonant multi-photon ionization of muonium atoms emitted from a sheet of laser-ablated aerogel. The thermal muons were first electrostatically accelerated to $5.7~$keV, followed by further acceleration to 100 keV using a radio-frequency quadrupole. The transverse normalized emittance of the accelerated muons in the horizontal and vertical planes were $0.85 \pm 0.25 ~\rm{(stat.)}~^{+0.22}_{-0.13} ~\rm{(syst.)}~\pi~$mm$\cdot$mrad and $0.32\pm 0.03~\rm{(stat.)} ^{+0.05}_{-0.02} ~\rm{(syst.)}~\pi~$mm$\cdot$mrad, respectively. The measured emittance values demonstrated phase space reduction by a factor of $2.0\times 10^2$ (horizontal) and $4.1\times 10^2$ (vertical) allowing good acceleration efficiency. These results pave the way to realize the first-ever muon accelerator for a variety of applications in particle physics, material science, and other fields.

physics.acc-ph

Quiet Sun Center to Limb Variation of the Linear Polarization Observed by CLASP2 Across the Mg II h & k Lines

The CLASP2 (Chromospheric LAyer SpectroPolarimeter 2) sounding rocket mission was launched on 2019 April 11. CLASP2 measured the four Stokes parameters of the Mg II h & k spectral region around 2800 Angstroms along a 200 arcsecond slit at three locations on the solar disk, achieving the first spatially and spectrally resolved observations of the solar polarization in this near ultraviolet region. The focus of the work presented here is the center-to-limb variation of the linear polarization across these resonance lines, which is produced by the scattering of anisotropic radiation in the solar atmosphere. The linear polarization signals of the Mg II h & k lines are sensitive to the magnetic field from the low to the upper chromosphere through the Hanle and magneto-optical effects. We compare the observations to theoretical predictions from radiative transfer calculations in unmagnetized semi-empirical models, arguing that magnetic fields and horizontal inhomogeneities are needed to explain the observed polarization signals and spatial variations. This comparison is an important step in both validating and refining our understanding of the physical origin of these polarization signatures, and also in paving the way toward future space telescopes for probing the magnetic fields of the solar upper atmosphere via ultraviolet spectropolarimetry.

astro-ph.SR

Parity violating magnetization at neutrino pair emission using trivalent lanthanoid ions

A new detection method using magnetization generated at triggered radiative emission of neutrino pairs (RENP), $ |e \rangle \rightarrow | g \rangle + γ+ \sum_{ij}ν_i \barν_j $ (atomic de-transition from state $|e \rangle $ to state $|g \rangle$ emitting sum of neutrino pairs $\sum_{ij}ν_i\barν_j$ accompanied by a photon $γ$), is investigated in order to determine unknown neutrino properties; absolute neutrino masses of $ν_i$ and Majorana/Dirac distinction. Magnetization associated with RENP events has parity violating component intrinsic to weak interaction enforced by crystal field effect in solids, and greatly helps background rejection of quantum electrodynamic (QED) origin even when these backgrounds are amplified. In proposed experiments we prepare a coherently excited body of trivalent lanthanoid ions, Er$^{3+}$ (a best candidate ion so far found), doped in a transparent dielectric crystal. The magnetic moment $μ\langle \vec{S}\cdot\vec{k} \rangle/k $ arising from generated electron spin $\vec{S}$ parallel to trigger photon direction $\vec{k}/k$ is parity odd, and is absent in QED processes. The generated magnetic field of order nano gauss is stored in crystals long after pair emission event till spin relaxation time. An improved calculation method of coherent rate and angular distribution of magnetization is developed in order to incorporate finite size effect of crystal target beyond the infinite size limit in previous calculations.

hep-ph

Neutrino mass spectroscopy using Er$^{3+}$ ions placed at inversion center of host crystals

We propose neutrino mass spectroscopy using Er$^{3+}$:Cs$_2$NaYF$_6$ or :Y$_2$O$_3$ crystal placed in hollow of a Bragg fiber as a target system. Unknown neutrino parameters and properties such as the lightest neutrino mass, Majorana/Dirac distinction, and CP violating phases can be explored by measuring scattered photons ($γ$) along the excitation (and fiber) axis by varying Raman trigger ($γ_0$) directions, in Er$^{3+}$ de-excitation process from $|e\rangle $ state to $|g\rangle $ state; $|e\rangle \,, | e\rangle + γ_0 \rightarrow | g\rangle + γ+ ν_i\barν_j$, $ν_i\,, i = 1, 2,3$ being a mass-resolved neutrino state. Rates and required level of QED background rejection are calculated using measured data of the target system.

hep-ph

Divalent lanthanoid ions in crystals for neutrino mass spectroscopy

Electron spin flip in atoms or ions can cause neutrino pair emission, which provides a method to explore still unknown important neutrino properties by measuring spectrum of emitted photon in association, when electroweak rates are amplified by a phase coherence among participating atoms. Two important remaining neutrino issues to be determined are the absolute neutrino mass (or the smallest neutrino mass in the three-flavor scheme) and the nature of neutrino masses, either of Dirac type or of Majorana type. Use of Raman scattered photon was recently proposed as a promising tool for this purpose. In the present work we continue along this line to further identify promising ion targets in crystals, calculate neutrino pair emission rates, and study how to extract neutrino properties from Raman scattered photon angular distribution. Divalent lanthanoid ions in crystals, in particular Sm$^{2+}$, are the most promising, due to (1) its large number density, (2) sharp optical lines, (3) a variety of available ionic levels. Rejection of amplified quantum electrodynamic backgrounds is made possible to controllable levels by choosing a range of Raman trigger direction, when Sm$^{2+}$ sites are at O$_h$ inversion center of host crystals such as SrF$_2$.

hep-ph

Raman stimulated neutrino pair emission

A new scheme using macroscopic coherence is proposed from a theoretical point to experimentally determine the neutrino mass matrix, in particular the absolute value of neutrino masses, and the mass type, Majorana or Dirac. The proposed process is a collective, coherent Raman scattering followed by neutrino-pair emission from an excited state $|e\rangle$ of a long lifetime to a lower energy state $|g\rangle$; $γ_0 + | e\rangle \rightarrow γ+ \sum_{ij} ν_i \bar{ν_j} + | g\rangle $ with $ ν_i \bar{ν_j}$ consisting of six massive neutrino-pairs. Calculated angular distribution has six $(ij)$ thresholds of massive neutrino-pair emission which show up as steps at different angles in the distribution. Angular locations of thresholds and event rates of the angular distribution make it possible to experimentally determine the smallest neutrino mass to the level of less than 1 meV (accordingly all three masses using neutrino oscillation data) , the mass ordering pattern , normal or inverted, and to distinguish whether neutrinos are of Majorana or Dirac type. Event rates of neutrino-pair emission, when the mechanism of macroscopic coherence amplification works, may become large enough for realistic experiments by carefully selecting certain types of target atoms or ions doped in crystals. The problem to be overcome is macro-coherently amplified quantum electrodynamic background of the process, $γ_0 + | e\rangle \rightarrow γ+γ_2 + γ_3+ | g\rangle $, when two extra photons, $γ_2\,, γ_3$, escape detection. We illustrate our idea using neutral Xe and trivalent Ho ion doped in dielectric crystals.

hep-ph

CLASP Constraints on the Magnetization and Geometrical Complexity of the Chromosphere-Corona Transition Region

The Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha Spectro-Polarimeter (CLASP) is a suborbital rocket experiment that on 3rd September 2015 measured the linear polarization produced by scattering processes in the hydrogen Ly-$α$ line of the solar disk radiation, whose line-center photons stem from the chromosphere-corona transition region (TR). These unprecedented spectropolarimetric observations revealed an interesting surprise, namely that there is practically no center-to-limb variation (CLV) in the $Q/I$ line-center signals. Using an analytical model, we first show that the geometrical complexity of the corrugated surface that delineates the TR has a crucial impact on the CLV of the $Q/I$ and $U/I$ line-center signals. Secondly, we introduce a statistical description of the solar atmosphere based on a three-dimensional (3D) model derived from a state-of-the-art radiation magneto-hydrodynamic simulation. Each realization of the statistical ensemble is a 3D model characterized by a given degree of magnetization and corrugation of the TR, and for each such realization we solve the full 3D radiative transfer problem taking into account the impact of the CLASP instrument degradation on the calculated polarization signals. Finally, we apply the statistical inference method presented in a previous paper to show that the TR of the 3D model that produces the best agreement with the CLASP observations has a relatively weak magnetic field and a relatively high degree of corrugation. We emphasize that a suitable way to validate or refute numerical models of the upper solar chromosphere is by confronting calculations and observations of the scattering polarization in ultraviolet lines sensitive to the Hanle effect.

astro-ph.SR

A Statistical Inference Method for Interpreting the CLASP Observations

On 3rd September 2015, the Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha SpectroPolarimeter (CLASP) successfully measured the linear polarization produced by scattering processes in the hydrogen Lyman-$α$ line of the solar disk radiation, revealing conspicuous spatial variations in the $Q/I$ and $U/I$ signals. Via the Hanle effect the line-center $Q/I$ and $U/I$ amplitudes encode information on the magnetic field of the chromosphere-corona transition region (TR), but they are also sensitive to the three-dimensional structure of this corrugated interface region. With the help of a simple line formation model, here we propose a statistical inference method for interpreting the Lyman-$α$ line-center polarization observed by CLASP.

astro-ph.SR

Fast X-ray detector system with simultaneous measurement of timing and energy for a single photon

We developed a fast X-ray detector system for nuclear resonant scattering (NRS) experiments. Our system employs silicon avalanche photo-diode (Si-APD) as a fast X-ray sensor. The system is able to acquire both timing and energy of a single X-ray photon simultaneously in a high rate condition, $10^6$ counts per second for one Si-APD. The performance of the system was investigated in SPring-8, a synchrotron radiation facility in Japan. Good time resolution of \SI{120}{ps} (FWHM) was achieved with a slight tail distribution in the time spectrum by a level of $10^{-9}$ at 1 ns apart from the peak. Using this system, we successfully observed the NRS from the 26.27-keV level of mercury-201, which has a half-life of $630 \pm 50$ ps. We also demonstrated the reduction of background events caused by radioactive decays in a radioactive sample by discriminating photon energy.

physics.ins-det

Nuclear resonant scattering experiment with fast time response: new scheme for observation of $^{229\rm m}$Th radiative decay

Nuclear resonant excitation of the 29.19-keV level in $^{229}$Th with high-brilliance synchrotron- radiation and detection of its decay signal, are proposed with the aim of populating the extremely low-energy isomeric state of $^{229}$Th.The proposed experiment, known as nuclear resonant scattering (NRS), has the merit of being free from uncertainties about the isomer level energy. However, it requires higher time resolution and shorter tail in the response function of the detector than that of conventional NRS experiments because of the short lifetime of the 29.19-keV state. We have fabricated an X-ray detector system which has a time resolution of 56 ps and a shorter tail function than the previously reported one. We have demonstrated an NRS experiment with the 26.27-keV nuclear level of $^{201}$Hg for feasibility assessment of the $^{229}$Th experiment. The NRS signal is clearly distinct from the prompt electronic scattering signal by the implemented detector system. The half-life of the 26.27-keV state of $^{201}$Hg is determined as 629 $\pm$ 18 ps which is better precision by a factor three than that reported to date.

nucl-ex

Discovery of Scattering Polarization in the Hydrogen Lyman-$α$ Line of the Solar Disk Radiation

There is a thin transition region (TR) in the solar atmosphere where the temperature rises from 10,000 K in the chromosphere to millions of degrees in the corona. Little is known about the mechanisms that dominate this enigmatic region other than the magnetic field plays a key role. The magnetism of the TR can only be detected by polarimetric measurements of a few ultraviolet (UV) spectral lines, the Lyman-$α$ line of neutral hydrogen at 121.6 nm (the strongest line of the solar UV spectrum) being of particular interest given its sensitivity to the Hanle effect (the magnetic-field-induced modification of the scattering line polarization). We report the discovery of linear polarization produced by scattering processes in the Lyman-$α$ line, obtained with the Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha Spectro-Polarimeter (CLASP) rocket experiment. The Stokes profiles observed by CLASP in quiet regions of the solar disk show that the $Q/I$ and $U/I$ linear polarization signals are of the order of 0.1 % in the line core and up to a few percent in the nearby wings, and that both have conspicuous spatial variations with scales of $\sim 10$ arcsec. These observations help constrain theoretical models of the chromosphere-corona TR and extrapolations of the magnetic field from photospheric magnetograms. In fact, the observed spatial variation from disk to limb of polarization at the line core and wings already challenge the predictions from three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamical models of the upper solar chromosphere.

astro-ph.SR

UV/EUV High-Throughput Spectroscopic Telescope: A Next Generation Solar Physics Mission white paper

The origin of the activity in the solar corona is a long-standing problem in solar physics. Recent satellite observations, such as Hinode, Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), show the detail characteristics of the solar atmosphere and try to reveal the energy transfer from the photosphere to the corona through the magnetic fields and its energy conversion by various processes. However, quantitative estimation of energy transfer along the magnetic field is not enough. There are mainly two reason why it is difficult to observe the energy transfer from photosphere to corona; 1) spatial resolution gap between photosphere (a few 0.1 arcsec) and corona (a few arcsec), 2) lack in temperature coverage. Furthermore, there is not enough observational knowledge of the physical parameters in the energy dissipation region. There are mainly three reason why it is difficult to observe in the vicinity of the energy dissipation region; 1) small spatial scale, 2) short time scale, 3) low emission. It is generally believed that the energy dissipation occurs in the very small scale and its duration is very short (10 second). Further, the density in the dissipation region might be very low. Therefore, the high spatial and temporal resolution UV/EUV spectroscopic observation with wide temperature coverage is crucial to estimate the energy transport from photosphere to corona quantitatively and diagnose the plasma dynamics in the vicinity of the energy dissipation region. Main Science Target for the telescope is quantitative estimation for the energy transfer from the photosphere to the corona, and clarification of the plasma dynamics in the vicinity of the energy dissipation region, where is the key region for coronal heating, solar wind acceleration, and/or solar flare, by the high spatial and temporal resolution UV/EUV spectroscopy.

astro-ph.SR

Doppler shift of the quiet region measured by meridional scans with the EUV Imaging Spectrometer onboard Hinode

Spatially averaged (> 50'') EUV spectral lines in the transition region of solar quiet regions are known to be redshifted. Because the mechanism underlying this phenomenon is unclear, we require additional physical information on the lower corona for limiting the theoretical models. To acquire this information, we measured the Doppler shifts over a wide coronal temperature range (log T[K]=5.7--6.3) using the spectroscopic data taken by the Hinode EUV Imaging Spectrometer. By analyzing the data over the center-to-limb variations covering the meridian from the south to the north pole, we successfully measured the velocity to an accuracy of 3 km/s. Below log T[K] = 6.0, the Doppler shifts of the emission lines were almost zero with an error of 1--3 km/s; above this temperature, they were blueshifted with a gradually increasing magnitude, reaching - 6.3 +/- 2.1 km/s at log T[K]=6.25.

astro-ph.SR

Evidence for Hot Fast Flow above a Solar Flare Aracade

Solar flares are one of the main forces behind space weather events. However the mechanism that drives such energetic phenomena is not fully understood. The standard eruptive flare model predicts that magnetic reconnection occurs high in the corona where hot fast flows are created. Some imaging or spectroscopic observations have indicated the presence of these hot fast flows but there have been no spectroscopic scanning observation to date to measure the two-dimensional structure quantitatively. We analyzed a flare that occurred on the west solar limb on 27 January 2012 observed by the Hinode EUV Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) and found that the hot (~30MK) fast (>500 km/s) component was located above the flare loop. This is consistent with magnetic reconnection taking place above the flare loop.

astro-ph.SR

Superconductivity in Fe1+dTe0.9Se0.1 induced by deintercalation of excess Fe using alcoholic beverage treatment

Superconductivity in polycrystalline Fe1+dTe0.9Se0.1 was enhanced by heating in alcoholic beverages. We found that part of the excess Fe was deintercalated from the interlayer sites by the treatment and the shielding volume fractions were increased with the reduction of excess Fe content in sample. This behavior is similar to the case of Fe1+dTe1-xSx. Thus the technique of alcoholic beverage treatment can be applied generally to the Fe-chalcogenide superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con

Evolution of superconductivity in LaO1-xFxBiS2 prepared by high pressure technique

Novel BiS2-based superconductors LaO1-xFxBiS2 prepared by the high pressure synthesis technique were systematically studied. It was found that the high pressure annealing strongly the lattice as compared to the LaO1-xFxBiS2 samples prepared by conventional solid state reaction at ambient pressure. Bulk superconductivity was observed within a wide F-concentration range of x = 0.2 ~ 0.7. On the basis of those results, we have established a phase diagram of LaO1-xFxBiS2.

cond-mat.supr-con