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H. Kakuno

Publications and source records attributed to H. Kakuno.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

The Super Fine-Grained Detector for the T2K neutrino oscillation experiment

The magnetised near detector ND280 of the long-baseline neutrino experiment T2K has been upgraded to improve its detection performance and, consequently, enhance our understanding of neutrino-nucleus interactions, reducing the systematic uncertainties in measurements of the neutrino oscillation parameters. A key component of the upgrade is a novel segmented plastic scintillator detector, called the Super Fine-Grained Detector (SuperFGD), made of approximately 2 million optically isolated 1 cm$^3$ cubes read out by three orthogonal wavelength-shifting (WLS) fibres. Scintillation photons are detected by 55,888 Hamamatsu Multi-Pixel Photon Counters (MPPCs). The SuperFGD provides 3D images of neutrino interactions by tracking the final-state charged particles produced isotropically, including protons down to a threshold of around 330 MeV/$c$. The high light yield of SuperFGD greatly improves particle identification and the sub-nanosecond time resolution provides an excellent identification of Michel electrons. The SuperFGD is also able to detect neutrons from neutrino interactions and, for the first time in a neutrino experiment, to reconstruct their kinetic energy using a fine detector segmentation and by measuring the time-of-flight with sub-nanosecond precision. In this article the details of the detector design, construction and performance are described. The detector was installed in ND280 and successfully commissioned with cosmic data in 2023 and, later, with the T2K neutrino beam. The detector response has been characterised with the 2023 and 2024 data and the results are reported in this article.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2025

Aerogel RICH Counter at the Belle II Detector

We report on the design, operation, and performance of a novel proximity-focusing Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detector equipped with a multilayer focusing aerogel radiator, developed for the forward region of the Belle II spectrometer at the SuperKEKB $e^+e^-$ collider. The system achieves effective separation of charged pions, kaons, and protons across the full kinematic range of the experiment, from 0.5 GeV/c to 4 GeV/c. To date, the detector has successfully operated in data-taking, contributing to the collection and analysis of nearly 600/fb of Belle II $e^+e^-$ collision data.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2025

Introducing a Markov Chain-Based Time Calibration Procedure for Multi-Channel Particle Detectors: Application to the SuperFGD and ToF Detectors of the T2K Experiment

Inter-channel mis-synchronisation can be a limiting factor to the time resolution of high performance timing detectors with multiple readout channels and independent electronics units. In these systems, time calibration methods employed must be able to efficiently correct for minimal mis-synchronisation between channels and achieve the best detector performance. We present an iterative time calibration method based on Markov Chains, suitable for detector systems with multiple readout channels. Starting from correlated hit pairs alone, and without requiring an external reference time measurement, the method solves for fixed per-channel offsets, with precision limited only by the intrinsic single-channel resolution. A mathematical proof that the method is able to find the correct time offsets to be assigned to each detector channel in order to achieve inter-channel synchronisation is given, and it is shown that the number of iterations to reach convergence within the desired precision is controllable with a single parameter. Numerical studies are used to confirm unbiased recovery of true offsets. Finally, the application of the calibration method to the Super Fine-Grained Detector (SuperFGD) and the Time of Flight (TOF) detector at the upgraded T2K near detector (ND280) shows good improvement in overall timing resolution, demonstrating the effectiveness in a real-world scenario and scalability.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2024

Characterization of the optical model of the T2K 3D segmented plastic scintillator detector

The magnetised near detector (ND280) of the T2K long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment has been recently upgraded aiming to satisfy the requirement of reducing the systematic uncertainty from measuring the neutrinonucleus interaction cross section, which is the largest systematic uncertainty in the search for leptonic charge-parity symmetry violation. A key component of the upgrade is SuperFGD, a 3D segmented plastic scintillator detector made of approximately 2,000,000 optically-isolated 1 cm3 cubes. It will provide a 3D image of GeV neutrino interactions by combining tracking and stopping power measurements of final state particles with sub-nanosecond time resolution. The performance of SuperFGD is characterized by the precision of its response to charged particles as well as the systematic effects that might affect the physics measurements. Hence, a detailed Geant4 based optical simulation of the SuperFGD building block, i.e. a plastic scintillating cube read out by three wavelength shifting fibers, has been developed and validated with the different datasets collected in various beam tests. In this manuscript the description of the optical model as well as the comparison with data are reported.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Search for $X(3872)\toπ^+π^-π^0$ at Belle

We present a search for the decay $X(3872) \to π^+π^-π^0$ in the $(772\pm11)\times10^6$ $Υ(4S)\to B \bar B$ data sample collected at the Belle detector, where the $X(3872)$ is produced in $B^{\pm}\to K^{\pm}X(3872)$ and $B^{0}\to K_{S}^0 X(3872)$ decays. We do not observe a signal, and set 90\% credible upper limits for two different models of the decay processes: if the decay products are distributed uniformly in phase space, $\mathcal{B}(X(3872) \to π^+π^-π^0) < 1.3\%$; if $M(π^+π^-)$ is concentrated near the mass of the $D^0 \bar D^0$ pair in the process $X(3872)\to D^0\bar{D}^{*0}+c.c.\to D^0 \bar D^{0}π^0\toπ^+ π^- π^0$, $\mathcal{B}(X(3872) \to π^+π^-π^0) < 1.2\times10^{-3}$.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

Measurement of two-photon decay width of $χ_{c2}(1P)$ in $ γγ\rightarrow χ_{c2}(1P) \rightarrow J/ψγ$ at Belle

We report the measurement of the two-photon decay width of $χ_{c2}(1P)$ in two-photon processes at the Belle experiment. We analyze the process $ γγ\rightarrow χ_{c2}(1P) \rightarrow J/ψγ$, $J/ψ\rightarrow \ell^{+} \ell^{-}$ $(\ell = e \ {\rm or} \ μ)$ using a data sample of 971 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB $e^{+} e^{-}$ collider. In this analysis, the product of the two-photon decay width of $χ_{c2}(1P)$ and the branching fraction is determined to be $Γ_{γγ}(χ_{c2}(1P)) \mathcal{B}( χ_{c2}(1P) \rightarrow J/ψ\, γ)\mathcal{B}( J/ψ\rightarrow \ell^+\ell^- ) = {\rm 14.8}$ $\pm$ ${\rm 0.3}({\rm stat.})$ $\pm$ ${\rm 0.7}({\rm syst.})$ eV, which corresponds to $ Γ_{γγ}(χ_{c2}(1P)) $ = 653 $\pm$ 13(stat.) $\pm$ 31(syst.) $\pm$ 17(B.R.) eV, where the third uncertainty is from $\mathcal{B}( χ_{c2}(1P) \rightarrow J/ψ\, γ)$ and $\mathcal{B}( J/ψ\rightarrow \ell^+\ell^- )$.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2023

SuperFGD prototype time resolution studies

The SuperFGD will be a part of the ND280 near detector of the T2K and Hyper Kamiokande projects, that will help to reduce systematic uncertainties related with neutrino flux and cross-section modeling. The upgraded ND280 will be able to perform a full exclusive reconstruction of the final state from neutrino-nucleus interactions, including measurements of low momentum protons, pions and, for the first time, event-by event measurements of neutron kinematics. The time resolution defines the neutron energy resolution. We present the results of time resolution measurements made with the SuperFGD prototype that consists of 9216 plastic scintillator cubes (cube size is 1 cm$^3$) readout with 1728 wavelength-shifting fibers going along three orthogonal directions. We use data from the muon beam exposure at CERN. The time resolution of 0.97 ns was obtained for one readout channel after implementing the time calibration with a correction for the time-walk effect. The time resolution improves with energy deposited in a scintillator cube. Averaging two readout channels for one scintillator cube improves the time resolution to 0.68 ns which means that signals in different channels are not synchronous. Therefore the contribution from the time recording step of 2.5 ns is averaged as well. Averaging time values from N channels improves the time resolution by $\sim 1/\sqrt{N}$. Therefore a very good time resolution should be achievable for neutrons since neutron recoils hit typically several scintillator cubes and in addition produce larger amplitudes than muons. Measurements performed with a laser and a wide-bandwidth oscilloscope demonstrated that the time resolution obtained with the muon beam is not far from its expected limit. The intrinsic time resolution of one channel is 0.67 ns for signals of 56 photo-electron typical for minimum ionizing particles.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2022

Search for $B^{0} \to K_S^{0}K_S^{0}γ$ decays at Belle

We report the first search for the penguin-dominated process $B^0 \rightarrow K_S^0 K_S^0 γ$ using the full data sample of $772\times 10^6$ $B\bar{B}$ pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider. We do not observe any statistically significant signal yield in the $K_S^0$-pair invariant mass range 1 GeV/$c^2 < M_{K_S^0 K_S^0} < $ 3 GeV/$c^2$, and set the following upper limits at 90% confidence level: $\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to K_S^0 K_S^0 γ) < 5.8\times10^{-7}$, $\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to f_2 γ)\times \mathcal{B}(f_2 (1270) \to K_S^0 K_S^0 ) < 3.1\times10^{-7}$, and $\mathcal{B}(B^0 \to f_2^{\prime} γ)\times \mathcal{B}(f_2^{\prime} (1525) \to K_S^0 K_S^0 ) < 2.1\times10^{-7}$. Further, 90% confidence upper limits have also been set in the range of [0.7-2.9]$\times10^{-7}$ on the $B^0 \rightarrow K_S^0 K_S^0 γ$ branching fraction in bins of $M_{K_S^0 K_S^0}$.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2020

T2K measurements of muon neutrino and antineutrino disappearance using $3.13\times 10^{21}$ protons on target

We report measurements by the T2K experiment of the parameters $θ_{23}$ and $Δm^2_{32}$ which govern the disappearance of muon neutrinos and antineutrinos in the three-flavor PMNS neutrino oscillation model at T2K's neutrino energy and propagation distance. Utilizing the ability of the experiment to run with either a mainly neutrino or a mainly antineutrino beam, muon-like events from each beam mode are used to measure these parameters separately for neutrino and antineutrino oscillations. Data taken from $1.49 \times 10^{21}$ protons on target (POT) in neutrino mode and $1.64 \times 10^{21}$ POT in antineutrino mode are used. The best-fit values obtained by T2K were $\sin^2\left(θ_{23}\right)=0.51^{+0.06}_{-0.07} \left(0.43^{+0.21}_{-0.05}\right)$ and $Δm^2_{32}=2.47^{+0.08}_{-0.09} \left(2.50^{+0.18}_{-0.13}\right)$\evmass for neutrinos (antineutrinos). No significant differences between the values of the parameters describing the disappearance of muon neutrinos and antineutrinos were observed. An analysis using an effective two-flavor neutrino oscillation model where the sine of the mixing angle is allowed to take non-physical values larger than 1 is also performed to check the consistency of our data with the three-flavor model. Our data were found to be consistent with a physical value for the mixing angle.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2020

Performance evaluation of the aerogel RICH counter for the Belle II spectrometer using early beam collision data

The Aerogel Ring Imaging Cherenkov (ARICH) counter serves as a particle identification device in the forward end-cap region of the Belle II spectrometer. It is capable of identifying pions and kaons with momenta up to $4 \, {\rm GeV}/c$ by detecting Cherenkov photons emitted in the silica aerogel radiator. After the detector alignment and calibration of the probability density function, we evaluate the performance of the ARICH counter using early beam collision data. Event samples of $D^{\ast +} \to D^0 π^+ (D^0 \to K^-π^+)$ were used to determine the $π(K)$ efficiency and the $K(π)$ misidentification probability. We found that the ARICH counter is capable of separating kaons from pions with an identification efficiency of $93.5 \pm 0.6 \, \%$ at a pion misidentification probability of $10.9 \pm 0.9 \, \%$. This paper describes the identification method of the counter and the evaluation of the performance during its early operation.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2016

Particle identification performance of the prototype Aerogel RICH counter for the Belle II experiment

We have developed a new type of particle identification device, called an Aerogel Ring Imaging Cherenkov (ARICH) counter, for the Belle II experiment. It uses silica aerogel tiles as Cherenkov radiators. For detection of Cherenkov photons, Hybrid Avalanche Photo-Detectors (HAPDs) are used. The designed HAPD has a high sensitivity to single photons under a strong magnetic field. We have confirmed that the HAPD provides high efficiency for single-photon detection even after exposure to neutron and gamma-ray radiation that exceeds the levels expected in the 10-year Belle II operation. In order to confirm the basic performance of the ARICH counter system, we carried out a beam test at the DESY using a prototype of the ARICH counter with six HAPD modules. The results are in agreement with our expectations and confirm the suitability of the ARICH counter for the Belle II experiment. Based on the in-beam performance of the device, we expect that the identification efficiency at 3.5 GeV/c is 97.4% and 4.9% for pions and kaons, respectively. This paper summarizes the development of the HAPD for the ARICH and the evaluation of the performance of the prototype ARICH counter built with the final design components.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2014

Letter of Intent to Construct a nuPRISM Detector in the J-PARC Neutrino Beamline

As long-baseline neutrino experiments enter the precision era, the difficulties associated with understanding neutrino interaction cross sections on atomic nuclei are expected to limit experimental sensitivities to oscillation parameters. In particular, the ability to relate experimental observables to neutrino energy in previous experiments has relied solely on theoretical models of neutrino-nucleus interactions, which currently suffer from very large theoretical uncertainties. By observing charged current $ν_μ$ interactions over a continuous range of off-axis angles from 1 to 4 degrees, the nuPRISM water Cherenkov detector can provide a direct measurement of the far detector lepton kinematics for any given set of oscillation parameters, which largely removes neutrino interaction modeling uncertainties from T2K oscillation measurements. This naturally provides a direct constraint on the relationship between lepton kinematics and neutrino energy. In addition, nuPRISM is a sensitive probe of sterile neutrino oscillations with multiple energy spectra, which provides unique constraints on possible background-related explanations of the MiniBooNE anomaly. Finally, high-precision measurements of neutrino cross sections on water are possible, including $ν_e$ measurements and the first ever measurements of neutral current interactions as a function of neutrino energy. The nuPRISM detector also benefits the proposed Hyper-Kamiokande project. A demonstration that neutrino interaction uncertainties can be controlled will be important to understanding the physics reach of Hyper-K. In addition, nuPRISM will provide an easily accessible prototype detector for many of the new hardware components currently under consideration for Hyper-K. The following document presents the configuration, physics impact, and preliminary cost estimates for a nuPRISM detector in the J-PARC neutrino beamline.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2014

Measurement of Time-Dependent $CP$ Violation in $B^0\to η'K^0$ Decays

We present a measurement of the time-dependent $CP$ violation parameters in $B^0\toη'K^0$ decays. The measurement is based on the full data sample containing $772\times 10^6$ $B\bar{B}$ pairs collected at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance using the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider. The measured values of the mixing-induced and direct $CP$ violation parameters are: \begin{align} \sin 2 ϕ^{\rm eff}_1 &= +0.68\pm 0.07 \pm 0.03, \nonumber \\ \mathcal{A}_{η'K^0} &= +0.03\pm 0.05\pm 0.04, \nonumber \end{align} where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The values obtained are the most accurate to date. Furthermore, these results are consistent with our previous measurements and with the world-average value of $\sin 2ϕ_1$ measured in $B^0\to J/ψK^0$ decays.}

hep-ex↗
arXiv2013

Performance of a Remotely Located Muon Radiography System to Identify the Inner Structure of a Nuclear Plant

The performance of a muon radiography system designed to image the inner structure of a nuclear plant located at a distance of 64 m was evaluated. We concluded absence of the fuel in the pressure vessel during the measurement period and succeeded in profiling the fuel material placed in the storage pool. The obtained data also demonstrated the sensitivity of the system to water level changes in the reactor well and the dryer-separator pool. It is expected that the system could reconstruct a 2 m cubic fuel object easily. By operating multiple systems, typically four identical systems, viewing the reactor from different directions simultaneously, detection of a 1 m cubic object should also be achievable within a few month period.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2012

Study of Three-Body Y(10860) Decays

We report preliminary results on the analysis of the three-body Y(10860)=> B barB pi, Y(10860) => (B barB* + c.c.) pi and Y(10860)=> B* barB* pi decays including an observation of the Y(10860)=> Zb(10610)+- pi-+ => [B barB*+c.c]+- pi-+ and Y(10860)=> Zb(10650)+- pi-+ => [B* barB*]+- pi-+ decays as intermediate channels. We measure branching fractions of the three-body decays to be Br(Y(10860)=> [B barB*+c.c.]+- pi-+)=(28.3+-2.9+-4.6)x10^{-3} and Br(Y(10860)=> [B* barB*]+- pi-+)=(14.1+-1.9+-2.4)x10^{-3} and set 90% C.L. upper limit Br(Y(10860)=> [B barB]+- pi-+)<4.0x10^{-3}. We also report results on the amplitude analysis of the three-body Y(10860)=>Y(nS)pi+pi-, n=1,2,3 decays and the analysis of the internal structure of the three-body Y(10860)=>hb(mP)pi+pi-, m=1,2 decays. The results are based on a 121.4 1/fb data sample collected with the Belle detector at a center-of-mass energy near the Y(10860).

hep-ex↗
arXiv2012

Evidence for a Zb0(10610) in Dalitz analysis of Y(5S) -> Y(nS) pi0 pi0

We report the first observation of Y(5S) -> Y(1,2S) pi0 pi0 decays. Evidence for the Zb0(10610) with 4.9sigma significance is found in a Dalitz plot analysis of Y(5S) -> Y(2S) pi0 pi0 decays. The results are obtained with a 121.4 fb^-1 data sample collected with the Belle detector at the Y(5S) resonance at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2004

Measurement of |V_ub| using inclusive B -> X_u l nu decays with a novel X_u-reconstruction method

We report the measurement of an inclusive partial branching fraction for charmless semileptonic B decay and the extraction of |V_ub|. Candidates for B -> X_u l nu are identified with a novel X_u-reconstruction method based on neutrino reconstruction via missing 4-momentum and a technique called ``simulated annealing.'' Based on 86.9/fb of data taken with the Belle detector, we obtain Br (B -> X_u l nu ; M_X<1.7 GeV/c^2, q^2>8.0 GeV^2/c^2) = (7.37 +- 0.89(stat.) +- 1.12(syst.) +- 0.55(b -> c) +- 0.24(b -> u)) x 10^(-4) and determine |V_ub| = (4.66 +- 0.28(stat.) +- 0.35(syst.) +- 0.17(b -> c) +- 0.08(b -> u) +- 0.58(theory)) x 10^(-3).

hep-ex↗