arXiv subjects

Haohui Che

Publications and source records attributed to Haohui Che.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Comprehensive study of timing resolution in plastic scintillator detectors with wavelength-shifting fiber and silicon photomultiplier readout

We present a comprehensive study of the timing resolution achievable in plastic scintillator detectors read out through wavelength-shifting (WLS) fibers coupled to silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), combining a semi-analytical framework, toy Monte Carlo validation, and full Geant4 optical photon simulation. The analytical model traces the complete photon detection chain: scintillation emission, WLS fiber re-emission, optical transit time dispersion, SiPM single-photon time resolution, and electronics quantization. It expresses the timing resolution $\sigt$ as a function of the detected photoelectron yield $\Npe$, scintillator decay constants ($\taur$, $\taud$), WLS re-emission time ($\tauwls$), fiber numerical aperture, detector geometry, and readout electronics parameters. The analytical predictions are validated at two levels. First, toy Monte Carlo simulations ($2\times 10^5$ events per parameter point across 80 grid points spanning 8 fiber types and $\Npe$ from 5 to 200) achieve analytical-to-MC agreement of $0.9997 \pm 0.0015$. Second, full Geant4 optical photon simulations track the entire scintillation, wavelength-shifting, and fiber transport chain in realistic detector geometries, confirming the analytical timing predictions and providing first-principles photoelectron yield calibration. A comprehensive parameter scan covering 7 scintillator materials, 8 WLS fiber types, 5 SiPM models, 5 electronics configurations, 3 readout topologies, and 3 boundary conditions produces quantitative design maps and lookup tables for detector optimization.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2026

The DAMSA Experiment

DAMSA (DArk Messenger Searches at an Accelerator) is a novel short-baseline accelerator/beam dump experiment aimed at probing short-lived physics processes, including searches for evidence of a dark sector of particle physics and well-motivated rare Standard Model signals. Motivated by open questions in neutrino physics and the absence of conclusive evidence for conventional weakly interacting massive particles, DAMSA targets MeV-to-sub-GeV dark-sector messengers with feeble couplings that can be produced in abundance at a beam dump/target. By employing an ultra-short baseline, DAMSA is uniquely positioned to overcome the beam-dump "ceiling" that limits sensitivity to fast decaying particles in longer-baseline experiments. The conceptual design emphasizes a beam-dump production scheme combined with a compact detector optimized for rare decays while mitigating intense neutron-induced backgrounds, inherent to high-power proton beams. To validate the experimental strategy and detector technologies, the DAMSA Path-Finder (DPF) proof-of-concept experiment is also proposed, focusing on axion-like particles decaying to two photons, as the benchmark physics case and operating with 8 GeV electron beams at SLAC Linac-to-ESA (LESA) facility. Successful realization of DPF will establish the feasibility of the DAMSA approach, enabling a broad and powerful program to explore short-lived new physics and precision Standard Model processes in a previously inaccessible regime. This paper outlines the technical details of DAMSA's physics goals, key experimental challenges, and how to overcome them.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

DAMSA Experiment Conceptual Design White Paper

DAMSA (DArk Messenger Searches at an Accelerator) is a novel short-baseline accelerator experiment aimed at probing short-lived physics processes, including searches for evidence of a dark sector of particle physics and well-motivated Standard Model signals. Motivated by open questions in neutrino physics and the absence of conclusive evidence for conventional weakly interacting massive particles, DAMSA targets MeV-to-sub-GeV dark-sector messengers with feeble couplings that can be produced in abundance at the PIP-II LINAC. By employing an ultra-short baseline of order one meter, DAMSA is uniquely positioned to overcome the beam-dump "ceiling" that limits sensitivity to promptly decaying particles in longer-baseline experiments. The conceptual design emphasizes a beam-dump production scheme combined with a compact detector optimized for rare decays while mitigating intense neutron-induced backgrounds inherent to high-power proton beams. To validate the experimental strategy and detector technologies, the Little DAMSA Path-Finder (LDPF) proof-of-concept experiment is proposed, focusing on axion-like particles decaying to two photons and operating with 300 MeV electron beams at FAST. Successful realization of LDPF will establish the feasibility of the DAMSA approach, enabling a broad and powerful program to explore short-lived new physics and precision Standard Model processes in a previously inaccessible regime. This conceptual design document outlines the technical details of DAMSA's physics goals, the beam facility proposals, key experimental challenges and how to overcome them, and the proposed experimental staging campaigns.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Performance Benchmarks for 2-View and 3-View Fiber-Projection Fine-Grained Particle Detectors

Fine-grained scintillator detectors are critical for precision measurements in nuclear and particle physics, where accurate reconstruction of interaction vertices and secondary particle directions enables separation of signal from background events. A well-known design choice is the fiber readout geometry: traditional 2-View systems use orthogonal X and Y fibers, while next-generation 3-View designs add a third Z-fiber layer that provides unambiguous 3D voxel identification. The 2-View approach suffers from combinatorial ghost hits, that the false 3D candidates arising from fiber projection ambiguities, degrading reconstruction performance in high-multiplicity events. This paper presents comprehensive simulation benchmarks quantifying the performance difference between 2-View and 3-View geometries across key metrics. We find that the 3-View geometry reduces ghost hits by 30--90\% depending on event topology, provides robust vertex resolution across complex topologies, and maintains superior angular resolution for shower direction reconstruction. These benchmarks inform the design optimization of future detectors and provide quantitative guidance for reconstruction algorithm development across a broad range of experiments including neutrino physics, rare kaon/pion decays, and collider calorimetry.

physics.ins-det↗