arXiv subjects

K. Nishikawa

Publications and source records attributed to K. Nishikawa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

NA61/SHINE facility at the CERN SPS: beams and detector system

NA61/SHINE (SPS Heavy Ion and Neutrino Experiment) is a multi-purpose experimental facility to study hadron production in hadron-proton, hadron-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron. It recorded the first physics data with hadron beams in 2009 and with ion beams (secondary 7Be beams) in 2011. NA61/SHINE has greatly profited from the long development of the CERN proton and ion sources and the accelerator chain as well as the H2 beamline of the CERN North Area. The latter has recently been modified to also serve as a fragment separator as needed to produce the Be beams for NA61/SHINE. Numerous components of the NA61/SHINE set-up were inherited from its predecessors, in particular, the last one, the NA49 experiment. Important new detectors and upgrades of the legacy equipment were introduced by the NA61/SHINE Collaboration. This paper describes the state of the NA61/SHINE facility - the beams and the detector system - before the CERN Long Shutdown I, which started in March 2013.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2013

Calibration of the Super-Kamiokande Detector

Procedures and results on hardware level detector calibration in Super-Kamiokande (SK) are presented in this paper. In particular, we report improvements made in our calibration methods for the experimental phase IV in which new readout electronics have been operating since 2008. The topics are separated into two parts. The first part describes the determination of constants needed to interpret the digitized output of our electronics so that we can obtain physical numbers such as photon counts and their arrival times for each photomultiplier tube (PMT). In this context, we developed an in-situ procedure to determine high-voltage settings for PMTs in large detectors like SK, as well as a new method for measuring PMT quantum efficiency and gain in such a detector. The second part describes the modeling of the detector in our Monte Carlo simulation, including in particular the optical properties of its water target and their variability over time. Detailed studies on the water quality are also presented. As a result of this work, we achieved a precision sufficient for physics analysis over a wide energy range (from a few MeV to above a TeV). For example, the charge determination was understood at the 1% level, and the timing resolution was 2.1 nsec at the one-photoelectron charge level and 0.5 nsec at the 100-photoelectron charge level.

physics.ins-det↗

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

Measurements of Production Properties of K0S mesons and Lambda hyperons in Proton-Carbon Interactions at 31 GeV/c

Spectra of K0S mesons and Lambda hyperons were measured in p+C interactions at 31 GeV/c with the large acceptance NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS. The data were collected with an isotropic graphite target with a thickness of 4% of a nuclear interaction length. Interaction cross sections, charged pion spectra, and charged kaon spectra were previously measured using the same data set. Results on K0S and Lambda production in p+C interactions serve as reference for the understanding of the enhancement of strangeness production in nucleus-nucleus collisions. Moreover, they provide important input for the improvement of neutrino flux predictions for the T2K long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment in Japan. Inclusive production cross sections for K0S and Lambda are presented as a function of laboratory momentum in intervals of the laboratory polar angle covering the range from 0 up to 240 mrad. The results are compared with predictions of several hadron production models. The K0S mean multiplicity in production processes and the inclusive cross section for K0S production were measured and amount to 0.127 +- 0.005 (stat) +- 0.022 (sys) and 29.0 +- 1.6 (stat) +- 5.0 (sys) mb, respectively.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2013

A Search for Nucleon Decay via $n \rightarrow \barν π^{0}$ and $p \rightarrow \barν π^{+}$ in Super-Kamiokande

We present the results of searches for nucleon decay via bound neutron to antineutrino plus pizero and proton to antineutrino plus piplus using data from a combined 172.8 kiloton-years exposure of Super-Kamiokande-I, -II, and -III. We set lower limits on the partial lifetime for each of these modes. For antineutrino pizero, the partial lifetime is >1.1x10^{33} years; for antineutrino piplus, the partial lifetime is >3.9x10^{32} years at 90% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

Solar neutrino results in Super-Kamiokande-III

The results of the third phase of the Super-Kamiokande solar neutrino measurement are presented and compared to the first and second phase results. With improved detector calibrations, a full detector simulation, and improved analysis methods, the systematic uncertainty on the total neutrino flux is estimated to be ?2.1%, which is about two thirds of the systematic uncertainty for the first phase of Super-Kamiokande. The observed 8B solar flux in the 5.0 to 20 MeV total electron energy region is 2.32+/-0.04 (stat.)+/-0.05 (sys.) *10^6 cm^-2sec^-1, in agreement with previous measurements. A combined oscillation analysis is carried out using SK-I, II, and III data, and the results are also combined with the results of other solar neutrino experiments. The best-fit oscillation parameters are obtained to be sin^2 θ12 = 0.30+0.02-0.01(tan^2 θ12 = 0.42+0.04 -0.02) and Δm2_21 = 6.2+1.1-1.9 *10^-5eV^2. Combined with KamLAND results, the best-fit oscillation parameters are found to be sin^2 θ12 = 0.31+/-0.01(tan^2 θ12 = 0.44+/-0.03) and Δm2_21 = 7.6?0.2*10^-5eV^2 . The 8B neutrino flux obtained from global solar neutrino experiments is 5.3+/-0.2(stat.+sys.)*10^6cm^-2s^-1, while the 8B flux becomes 5.1+/-0.1(stat.+sys.)*10^6cm^-2s^-1 by adding KamLAND result. In a three-flavor analysis combining all solar neutrino experiments, the upper limit of sin^2 θ13 is 0.060 at 95% C.L.. After combination with KamLAND results, the upper limit of sin^2 θ13 is found to be 0.059 at 95% C.L..

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

Pion emission from the T2K replica target: method, results and application

The T2K long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment in Japan needs precise predictions of the initial neutrino flux. The highest precision can be reached based on detailed measurements of hadron emission from the same target as used by T2K exposed to a proton beam of the same kinetic energy of 30 GeV. The corresponding data were recorded in 2007-2010 by the NA61/SHINE experiment at the CERN SPS using a replica of the T2K graphite target. In this paper details of the experiment, data taking, data analysis method and results from the 2007 pilot run are presented. Furthermore, the application of the NA61/SHINE measurements to the predictions of the T2K initial neutrino flux is described and discussed.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

An Indirect Search for WIMPs in the Sun using 3109.6 days of upward-going muons in Super-Kamiokande

We present the result of an indirect search for high energy neutrinos from WIMP annihilation in the Sun using upward-going muon (upmu) events at Super-Kamiokande. Datasets from SKI-SKIII (3109.6 days) were used for the analysis. We looked for an excess of neutrino signal from the Sun as compared with the expected atmospheric neutrino background in three upmu categories: stopping, non-showering, and showering. No significant excess was observed. The 90% C.L. upper limits of upward-going muon flux induced by WIMPs of 100 GeV/c$^2$ were 6.4$\times10^{-15}$ cm$^{-2}$ sec$^{-1}$ and 4.0$\times10^{-15}$ cm$^{-2}$ sec$^{-1}$ for the soft and hard annihilation channels, respectively. These limits correspond to upper limits of 4.5$\times10^{-39}$ cm$^{-2}$ and 2.7$\times10^{-40}$ cm$^{-2}$ for spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon scattering cross sections in the soft and hard annihilation channels, respectively.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

Search for Nucleon Decay into Charged Anti-lepton plus Meson in Super-Kamiokande I and II

Searches for a nucleon decay into a charged anti-lepton (e^+ or μ^+) plus a light meson (π^0, π^-, η, ρ^0, ρ^-, ω) were performed using the Super-Kamiokande I and II data. Twelve nucleon decay modes were searched for. The total exposure is 140.9 kiloton \cdot years, which includes a 91.7 kiloton \cdot year exposure (1489.2 live days) of Super-Kamiokande-I and a 49.2 kiloton \cdot year exposure (798.6 live days) of Super-Kamiokande-II. The number of candidate events in the data was consistent with the atmospheric neutrino background expectation. No significant evidence for a nucleon decay was observed in the data. Thus, lower limits on the nucleon partial lifetime at 90% confidence level were obtained. The limits range from 3.6 \times 10^31 to 8.2 \times 10^33 years, depending on the decay modes.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

Performance of a 250L liquid Argon TPC for sub-GeV charged particle identification

We have constructed a liquid Argon TPC detector with fiducial mass of 150 kg as a part of the R&D program of the next generation neutrino and nucleon decay detector. This paper describes a study of particle identification performance of the detector using well-defined charged particles (pions, kaons, and protons) with momentum of ~800 MeV/$c$ obtained at J-PARC K1.1BR beamline.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2012

Search for Proton Decay into Muon plus Neutral Kaon in Super-Kamiokande I, II, and III

We have searched for proton into muon plus neutral kaon using data from a 91.7 kiloton-year exposure of Super-Kamiokande-I, a 49.2 kiloton-year exposure of Super-Kamiokande-II, and a 31.9 kiloton-year exposure of Super-Kamiokande-III. The number of candidate events in the data was consistent with the atmospheric neutrino background expectation and no evidence for proton decay in this mode was found. We set a partial lifetime lower limit of 1.6x10^33 years at the 90% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2012

Search for GUT Monopoles at Super-Kamiokande

GUT monopoles captured by the Sun's gravitation are expected to catalyze proton decays via the Callan-Rubakov process. In this scenario, protons, which initially decay into pions, will ultimately produce ν_{e}, ν_μ and \barν_μ. After undergoing neutrino oscillation, all neutrino species appear when they arrive at the Earth, and can be detected by a 50,000 metric ton water Cherenkov detector, Super-Kamiokande (SK). A search for low energy neutrinos in the electron total energy range from 19 to 55 MeV was carried out with SK and gives a monopole flux limit of F_M(σ_0/1 mb) < 6.3 \times 10^{-24} (β_M/10^{-3})^2 cm^{-2} s^{-1} sr^{-1} at 90% C.L., where β_M is the monopole velocity in units of the speed of light and σ_0 is the catalysis cross section at β_M=1. The obtained limit is more than eight orders of magnitude more stringent than the current best cosmic-ray supermassive monopole flux limit, F_M < 1 \times 10^{-15} cm^{-2} s^{-1} sr^{-1} for β_M < 10^{-3} and also two orders of magnitude lower than the result of the Kamiokande experiment, which used a similar detection method.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2011

Measurement of Production Properties of Positively Charged Kaons in Proton-Carbon Interactions at 31 GeV/c

Spectra of positively charged kaons in p+C interactions at 31 GeV/c were measured with the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS. The analysis is based on the full set of data collected in 2007 with a graphite target with a thickness of 4% of a nuclear interaction length. Interaction cross sections and charged pion spectra were already measured using the same set of data. These new measurements in combination with the published ones are required to improve predictions of the neutrino flux for the T2K long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment in Japan. In particular, the knowledge of kaon production is crucial for precisely predicting the intrinsic electron neutrino component and the high energy tail of the T2K beam. The results are presented as a function of laboratory momentum in 2 intervals of the laboratory polar angle covering the range from 20 up to 240 mrad. The kaon spectra are compared with predictions of several hadron production models. Using the published pion results and the new kaon data, the K+/π+ ratios are computed.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2011

Supernova Relic Neutrino Search at Super-Kamiokande

A new Super-Kamiokande (SK) search for Supernova Relic Neutrinos (SRNs) was conducted using 2853 live days of data. Sensitivity is now greatly improved compared to the 2003 SK result, which placed a flux limit near many theoretical predictions. This more detailed analysis includes a variety of improvements such as increased efficiency, a lower energy threshold, and an expanded data set. New combined upper limits on SRN flux are between 2.8 and 3.0 nu_e cm^-2 s^-1 > 16 MeV total positron energy (17.3 MeV E_nu).

hep-ex↗

arXiv2011

Search for Differences in Oscillation Parameters for Atmospheric Neutrinos and Antineutrinos at Super-Kamiokande

We present a search for differences in the oscillations of antineutrinos and neutrinos in the Super-Kamiokande -I, -II, and -III atmospheric neutrino sample. Under a two-flavor disappearance model with separate mixing parameters between neutrinos and antineutrinos, we find no evidence for a difference in oscillation parameters. Best fit antineutrino mixing is found to be at (dm2bar, sin2 2 thetabar) = (2.0x10^-3 eV^2, 1.0) and is consistent with the overall Super-K measurement.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2011

Study of Non-Standard Neutrino Interactions with Atmospheric Neutrino Data in Super-Kamiokande I and II

In this paper we study non-standard neutrino interactions as an example of physics beyond the standard model using atmospheric neutrino data collected during the Super-Kamiokande I(1996-2001) and II(2003-2005) periods. We focus on flavor-changing-neutral-currents (FCNC), which allow neutrino flavor transitions via neutral current interactions, and effects which violate lepton non-universality (NU) and give rise to different neutral-current interaction-amplitudes for different neutrino flavors. We obtain a limit on the FCNC coupling parameter, varepsilon_{mu tau}, |varepsilon_{mu tau}|<1.1 x 10^{-2} at 90%C.L. and various constraints on other FCNC parameters as a function of the NU coupling, varepsilon_{e e}. We find no evidence of non-standard neutrino interactions in the Super-Kamiokande atmospheric data.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2011

Measurements of Cross Sections and Charged Pion Spectra in Proton-Carbon Interactions at 31 GeV/c

Interaction cross sections and charged pion spectra in p+C interactions at 31 GeV/c were measured with the large acceptance NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS. These data are required to improve predictions of the neutrino flux for the T2K long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment in Japan. A set of data collected during the first NA61/SHINE run in 2007 with an isotropic graphite target with a thickness of 4% of a nuclear interaction length was used for the analysis. The measured p+C inelastic and production cross sections are 257.2 +- 1.9 +- 8.9 mb and 229.3 +- 1.9 +- 9.0 mb, respectively. Inclusive production cross sections for negatively and positively charged pions are presented as a function of laboratory momentum in 10 intervals of the laboratory polar angle covering the range from 0 up to 420 mrad. The spectra are compared with predictions of several hadron production models.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2011

A tagged low-momentum kaon test-beam exposure with a 250L LAr TPC (J-PARC T32)

At the beginning of 2010, we presented at the J-PARC PAC an R$&$D program towards large (100 kton scale) liquid argon TPCs, suitable to investigate, in conjunction with the J-PARC neutrino beam, the possibility of CP violation in the neutrino sector and to search for nucleon decay. As a first step we proposed a test experiment to identify and measure charged kaons, including their decays, in liquid argon. The detector, a 250L LAr TPC, is exposed to charged kaons, in a momentum range of 540-800 MeV/c, in the K1.1BR beamline of the J-PARC slow extraction facility. This is especially important to estimate efficiency and background for nucleon decay searches in the charged kaon mode ($p \rightarrow \barν K^+$, etc.), where the kaon momentum is expected to be in the few hundred MeV/c range. A prototype setup has been exposed in the K1.1BR beamline in the fall of 2010. This paper describes the capabilities of the beamline, the construction and setting up of the detector prototype, along with some preliminary results.

physics.ins-det↗