arXiv subjects

L. Paulucci

Publications and source records attributed to L. Paulucci.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Modeling Light Signals Using Data from the First Pulsed Neutron Source Program at the DUNE Vertical Drift ColdBox Test Facility at CERN Neutrino Platform

In this paper, we present a first quantitative test of detected light signals produced in a pulsed neutron source run in a small vertical drift LArTPC at the CERN neutrino platform ColdBox test facility. The ColdBox cryostat, detectors, neutron sources, and particle interactions are modeled and simulated using Fluka. A good agreement is found in the detected number of photoelectrons, with values below 650 photoelectrons in both data and simulation, for all four X-ARAPUCA photodetectors on the cathode in the LArTPC. A time constant is also fitted from the neutron-beam-off light signal spectrum and found consistent between data and MC. Several important systematic effects are discussed and serve as guides for future runs at larger LArTPCs.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Updated parameters of the LArQL model

The need for a microscopic description of scintillation light generation in liquid argon becomes increasingly desirable with the upcoming operation of large scale LArTPCs in the next decade. While a detailed mathematical account of the process is still to be achieved, a phenomenological model for simultaneously treating ionization and scintillation, LArQL, has been successfully employed to describe the range of electric fields from 0 to 0.75 kV/cm and dE/dx from 2 to 40 MeV/cm providing the anti-correlation between the free ionization charge and scintillation light. A reanalysis of the original model parameter values has been performed within a global fit procedure and is presented.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Counting States: A Combinatorial Analysis of SQM Fragmentation

The Strange Quark matter (SQM) hypothesis states that at extreme pressure and density conditions a new ground state of matter would arise, in which half of the \textit{down} quarks become strange quarks. If true, it would mean that at least the core of neutron stars is made of SQM. In this hypothesis, SQM would be released in the inter-stellar medium when two of these objects merge. It is estimated that $10^{-2} M\odot$ of SQM would be released this way. This matter will undergo a sequence of processes that should result in a fraction of the released SQM becoming heavy nuclei through \textit{r-process}. In this work we are interested in characterizing the fragmentation of SQM, with the novelty of keeping track of the \textit{quark configuration} of the fragmented matter. This is accomplished by developing a methodology to estimate the energy of each fragment as the sum of its \textit{constituent quarks}, the Coulomb interaction among the quarks and fragments' momenta. The determination of the fragmentation output is crucial to fully characterize the subsequent nucleosynthesis.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

LArQL: A phenomenological model for treating light and charge generation in liquid argon

Experimental data shows that both ionization charge and scintillation light in LAr depend on the deposited energy density ($dE/dx$) and electric field ($\mathcal{E}$). Moreover, free ionization charge and scintillation light are anticorrelated, complementary at a given ($dE/dx$, $\mathcal{E}$) pair. We present LArQL, a phenomenological model that provides the anticorrelation between light and charge and its dependence on the deposited energy as well as on the electric field applied. It modifies the Birks' charge model considering the contribution from the escape electrons at null and low electric fields, and reconciles with Birks' model prediction at higher fields. Deviations from current Birks' model are observed for LArTPCs operating at low $\mathcal{E}$ and for heavily ionizing particles. The LArQL model presents a satisfactory description at $dE/dx$ and field ranges for interacting particles in LArTPCs and fits well the available data. Improvements via data sets compilation and global fits are also interesting features of the model.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Measurement of the ($π^-$, Ar) total hadronic cross section at the LArIAT experiment

We present the first measurement of the negative pion total hadronic cross section on argon, which we performed at the Liquid Argon In A Testbeam (LArIAT) experiment. All hadronic reaction channels, as well as hadronic elastic interactions with scattering angle greater than 5~degrees are included. The pions have a kinetic energies in the range 100-700~MeV and are produced by a beam of charged particles impinging on a solid target at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility. LArIAT employs a 0.24~ton active mass Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) to measure the pion hadronic interactions. For this measurement, LArIAT has developed the ``thin slice method", a new technique to measure cross sections with LArTPCs. While generally higher than the prediction, our measurement of the ($π^-$,Ar) total hadronic cross section is in agreement with the prediction of the Geant4 model when considering a model uncertainty of $\sim$5.1\%.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Liquid argon characterization of the X-ARAPUCA with alpha particles, gamma rays and cosmic muons

The X-ARAPUCA device is the baseline choice for the photon detection system of the first far detector module of the DUNE experiment. We present the results of the first complete characterization of a small scale X-ARAPUCA prototype, which is a slice of a full DUNE module. Its total detection efficiency in liquid argon was measured with three different ionizing radiations: $α$ particles, $γ$'s and muons and resulted to be $\sim$2.2% when the active silicon photomultipliers were biased at +5.0 V of over voltage, corresponding to a Photon Detection Efficiency around 50% at room temperature. This value comfortably satisfies the requirements of the first DUNE far detector module (detection efficiency $>$2.0%) and allows to achieve an energy resolution comparable to the one achievable with the Time Projection Chambers for energies below 10 MeV, which is the region relevant for Supernova neutrino detection.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Cosmic Background Removal with Deep Neural Networks in SBND

In liquid argon time projection chambers exposed to neutrino beams and running on or near surface levels, cosmic muons and other cosmic particles are incident on the detectors while a single neutrino-induced event is being recorded. In practice, this means that data from surface liquid argon time projection chambers will be dominated by cosmic particles, both as a source of event triggers and as the majority of the particle count in true neutrino-triggered events. In this work, we demonstrate a novel application of deep learning techniques to remove these background particles by applying semantic segmentation on full detector images from the SBND detector, the near detector in the Fermilab Short-Baseline Neutrino Program. We use this technique to identify, at single image-pixel level, whether recorded activity originated from cosmic particles or neutrino interactions.

physics.data-an↗

arXiv2020

The Liquid Argon In A Testbeam (LArIAT) Experiment

The LArIAT liquid argon time projection chamber, placed in a tertiary beam of charged particles at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility, has collected large samples of pions, muons, electrons, protons, and kaons in the momentum range 300-1400 MeV/c. This paper describes the main aspects of the detector and beamline, and also reports on calibrations performed for the detector and beamline components.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Calorimetry for low-energy electrons using charge and light in liquid argon

Precise calorimetric reconstruction of 5-50 MeV electrons in liquid argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs) will enable the study of astrophysical neutrinos in DUNE and could enhance the physics reach of oscillation analyses. Liquid argon scintillation light has the potential to improve energy reconstruction for low-energy electrons over charge-based measurements alone. Here we demonstrate light-augmented calorimetry for low-energy electrons in a single-phase LArTPC using a sample of Michel electrons from decays of stopping cosmic muons in the LArIAT experiment at Fermilab. Michel electron energy spectra are reconstructed using both a traditional charge-based approach as well as a more holistic approach that incorporates both charge and light. A maximum-likelihood fitter, using LArIAT's well-tuned simulation, is developed for combining these quantities to achieve optimal energy resolution. A sample of isolated electrons is simulated to better determine the energy resolution expected for astrophysical electron-neutrino charged-current interaction final states. In LArIAT, which has very low wire noise and an average light yield of 18 pe/MeV, an energy resolution of $σ/E \simeq 9.3\%/\sqrt{E} \oplus 1.3\%$ is achieved. Samples are then generated with varying wire noise levels and light yields to gauge the impact of light-augmented calorimetry in larger LArTPCs. At a charge-readout signal-to-noise of S/N $\simeq$ 30, for example, the energy resolution for electrons below 40 MeV is improved by $\approx$ 10%, $\approx$ 20%, and $\approx$ 40% over charge-only calorimetry for average light yields of 10 pe/MeV, 20 pe/MeV, and 100 pe/MeV, respectively.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Measuring light with light dependent resistors: an easy approach for optics experiments

We entertain the use of light dependent resistors as a viable option as measuring sensors in optics laboratory experiments or classroom demonstrations. The main advantages of theses devices are essentially very low cost, easy handling and commercial availability which can make them interesting for instructors with limited resources. Simple calibration procedures were developed indicating a precision of $\sim 5\% $ for illuminance measurements. Optical experiments were carried out as proof of feasibility for measurements of reflected and transmitted light and its quality results are presented. In particular, the sensor measurements allowed to verify the angular distribution of a Lambertian reflective material, to observe transmitted and reflected specular light on a glass slab as function of the incoming angle of a light beam, and to estimate glass refractive index with values averaging $1.51\pm0.06$ in satisfactory agreement with the expected 1.52 value.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2018

Liquid Argon test of the ARAPUCA device

The ARAPUCA is a novel concept for liquid argon scintillation light detection which has been proposed for the photon detection system of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. The test in liquid argon of one of the first ARAPUCA prototypes is presented in this work, where the working principle is experimentally demonstrated. The prototype has an acceptance window of 9 cm$^2$ and is read-out by a single SiPM with active area of 0.36 cm$^2$. Its global detection efficiency was estimated by exposing it to a $^{238}U$ $α$ source and to cosmic rays and was found to be 1.15\% $\pm$ 0.15\%, in good agreement with the prediction of a detailed Monte Carlo simulation of the device. Several other ARAPUCA prototypes of bigger dimensions and read-out by arrays of SiPMs have been built and are actually under test. In particular 32 ARAPUCA cells have been installed inside the protoDUNE detector, which is being assembled at CERN and will be operated in the second half of 2018.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Numerical characterization of the ARAPUCA: a new approach for LAr scintillation light detection

The ARAPUCA concept has been proposed as a simple and neat solution for increasing the effective collection area of SiPMs through the shifting and trapping of scintillation light in noble liquids, thus with great potential for improving timing and calorimetry resolution in neutrino and dark matter search experiments using time projection chambers. It is expected to achieve a single photon detection efficiency larger than 1\%. The initial design consists of a box made of highly reflective internal surface material and with an acceptance window for photons composed of two shifters and a dichroic filter. The first shifter converts liquid argon scintillation VUV light to a photon of wavelength smaller than the dichroic cutoff, so the surface is highly transparent to it. When passing through the dichroic filter, it reaches the second shifter which allows the photon to be shifted to the visible region and be detected by the SiPM nested inside it. When it enters the box, the photon will likely reflect a few times, including on the dichroic filter surface, before being detected. We present a full numerical description of the device using a Monte Carlo framework, including characterization of the acceptance window, models of reflection of different materials, and sensor quantum efficiency, that can now be used to further improve the detection efficiency by comparing different geometries, positions of SiPM and materials. Estimates of simulated efficiencies, number of reflections and acquisition time are presented and compared to analytical calculations. Those are very promising results, giving a total efficiency for the detection of scintillation light in liquid argon of 1.7$\rm \pm$0.3\%. Comparison of the estimated total efficiency with a preliminary result from an experimental test with an ARAPUCA prototype made in Brazil is also presented.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

The X-ARAPUCA: An improvement of the ARAPUCA device

The ARAPUCA is a novel technology for the detection of liquid argon scintillation light, which has been proposed for the far detector of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. The X-ARAPUCA is an improvement to the original ARAPUCA design, retaining the original ARAPUCA concept of photon trapping inside a highly reflective box while using a wavelength shifting slab inside the box to increase the probability of collecting trapped photons onto a silicon photomultiplier array. The X-ARAPUCA concept is presented and its performances are compared to those of a standard ARAPUCA by means of analytical calculations and Monte Carlo simulations.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

Kinematic measurements using an infrared sensor

The use of an infrared sensor as a new alternative to measure position as a function of time in kinematic experiments was investigated using a microcontroller as data acquisition and control device. These are versatile sensors that offer advantages over the typical ultrasound devices. The setup described in this paper enables students to develop their own experiments promoting opportunities for learning physical concepts such as the different types of forces that can act on a body (gravitational, elastic, drag, etc.) and the resulting types of movements with good sensitivity within the $\rm 4-30~cm$ range. As proof of concept we also present the application of a prototype designed to record the kinematics of mass-spring systems.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2015

Crystalline chiral condensates as a component of compact stars

We investigate the influence of spatially inhomogeneous chiral symmetry-breaking condensates in a magnetic field background on the equation of state for compact stellar objects. After building a hybrid star composed of nuclear and quark matter using the Maxwell construction, we find, by solving the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equations for stellar equilibrium, that our equation of state supports stars with masses around 2 $M_\odot$ for values of the magnetic field that are in accordance with those inferred from magnetar data. The inclusion of a weak vector interaction term in the quark part allows one to reach 2 solar masses for relatively small central magnetic fields, making this composition a viable possibility for describing the internal degrees of freedom of this class of astrophysical objects.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Gluon effects on the equation of state of color superconducting strange stars

Compact astrophysical objects are a window for the study of strongly interacting nuclear matter given the conditions in their interiors, which are not reproduced in a laboratory environment. Much has been debated about their composition with possibilities ranging from a simple mixture of mostly protons and neutrons to deconfined quark matter. Recent observations on the mass of two pulsars, PSR J1614-2230 and PSR J0348+0432, have posed a great restriction on their composition, since the equation of state must be hard enough to support masses of about at least two solar masses. The onset of quarks tends to soften the equation of state, but it can get substantially stiffer since in the high-dense medium a repulsive vector interaction channel is opened. Nevertheless, we show that once gluon effects are considered, the equation of state of quark matter in the color-flavor-locked phase of color superconductivity becomes softer decreasing the maximum stellar mass that can be reached when not considering their influence. This may indicate that stars made entirely of color superconducting matter can only be favored to describe compact stars if the repulsive vector constant is high enough.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Superconducting phases of strange quark matter in the NJL model

We analyze the color-flavor-locked phase of strange quark matter modelled by the three-flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) framework with and without magnetic field and discuss some additional constraints on the stability scenario when a high magnetic field is applied. We compare the results obtained by employing the MIT Bag Model and discuss the pairing gap behavior and its influence on the equation of state.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2011

Self-bound models of compact stars and recent mass-radius measurements

The exact composition of a specific class of compact stars, historically referred to as "neutron stars", is still quite unknown. Possibilities ranging from hadronic to quark degrees of freedom, including self-bound versions of the latter have been proposed. We specifically address the suitability of strange star models (including pairing interactions) in this work, in the light of new measurements available for four compact stars. The analysis shows that these data might be explained by such an exotic equation of state, actually selecting a small window in parameter space, but still new precise measurements and also further theoretical developments are needed to settle the subject.

astro-ph.SR↗