arXiv subjects

M. Asai

Publications and source records attributed to M. Asai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

ePIC Early Science Report

This Early Science Report from the ePIC Collaboration outlines the compelling physics program achievable during the first years of operation of the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), prior to the establishment of the full design luminosity and energy range. The analyses are based on realistic early-running beam configurations and detailed Geant4 ePIC detector simulations, hit digitization and data reconstruction. The projected studies from the physics working groups of ePIC span inclusive, semi-inclusive, exclusive, diffractive and tagging, as well as jet and heavy flavor measurements in both electron-proton and electron-ion collisions. Even before the collider reaches its full design performance, these measurements will constrain parton distribution functions in nucleons and nuclei, access transverse-momentum-dependent and spin-dependent observables, probe gluon dynamics in nuclei, and initiate a program of imaging of quarks and gluons. Each measurement is directly connected to the core science pillars of the EIC, identified in the 2018 report by the National Academy of Sciences: understanding the origin of the nucleon mass, unraveling the spin structure of the nucleon, and exploring the emergent properties of dense gluonic matter. The results presented here provide examples that demonstrate that the early years of EIC running with ePIC will deliver novel world-leading insights into Quantum Chromodynamics. In addition, the early science program will establish measurement and analysis methodologies that will pave the way to the subsequent full EIC physics program.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2021

Science Requirements and Detector Concepts for the Electron-Ion Collider: EIC Yellow Report

This report describes the physics case, the resulting detector requirements, and the evolving detector concepts for the experimental program at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). The EIC will be a powerful new high-luminosity facility in the United States with the capability to collide high-energy electron beams with high-energy proton and ion beams, providing access to those regions in the nucleon and nuclei where their structure is dominated by gluons. Moreover, polarized beams in the EIC will give unprecedented access to the spatial and spin structure of the proton, neutron, and light ions. The studies leading to this document were commissioned and organized by the EIC User Group with the objective of advancing the state and detail of the physics program and developing detector concepts that meet the emerging requirements in preparation for the realization of the EIC. The effort aims to provide the basis for further development of concepts for experimental equipment best suited for the science needs, including the importance of two complementary detectors and interaction regions. This report consists of three volumes. Volume I is an executive summary of our findings and developed concepts. In Volume II we describe studies of a wide range of physics measurements and the emerging requirements on detector acceptance and performance. Volume III discusses general-purpose detector concepts and the underlying technologies to meet the physics requirements. These considerations will form the basis for a world-class experimental program that aims to increase our understanding of the fundamental structure of all visible matter

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Preliminary results in using Deep Learning to emulate BLOB, a nuclear interaction model

Purpose: A reliable model to simulate nuclear interactions is fundamental for Ion-therapy. We already showed how BLOB ("Boltzmann-Langevin One Body"), a model developed to simulate heavy ion interactions up to few hundreds of MeV/u, could simulate also $^{12}$C reactions in the same energy domain. However, its computation time is too long for any medical application. For this reason we present the possibility of emulating it with a Deep Learning algorithm. Methods: The BLOB final state is a Probability Density Function (PDF) of finding a nucleon in a position of the phase space. We discretised this PDF and trained a Variational Auto-Encoder (VAE) to reproduce such a discrete PDF. As a proof of concept, we developed and trained a VAE to emulate BLOB in simulating the interactions of $^{12}$C with $^{12}$C at 62 MeV/u. To have more control on the generation, we forced the VAE latent space to be organised with respect to the impact parameter ($b$) training a classifier of $b$ jointly with the VAE. Results: The distributions obtained from the VAE are similar to the input ones and the computation time needed to use the VAE as a generator is negligible. Conclusions: We show that it is possible to use a Deep Learning approach to emulate a model developed to simulate nuclear reactions in the energy range of interest for Ion-therapy. We foresee the implementation of the generation part in C++ and to interface it with the most used Monte Carlo toolkit: Geant4.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2016

Dark matter effective field theory scattering in direct detection experiments

We examine the consequences of the effective field theory (EFT) of dark matter-nucleon scattering for current and proposed direct detection experiments. Exclusion limits on EFT coupling constants computed using the optimum interval method are presented for SuperCDMS Soudan, CDMS II, and LUX, and the necessity of combining results from multiple experiments in order to determine dark matter parameters is discussed. We demonstrate that spectral differences between the standard dark matter model and a general EFT interaction can produce a bias when calculating exclusion limits and when developing signal models for likelihood and machine learning techniques. We also discuss the implications of the EFT for the next-generation (G2) direct detection experiments and point out regions of complementarity in the EFT parameter space.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

WIMP-Search Results from the Second CDMSlite Run

The CDMS low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) uses cryogenic germanium detectors operated at a relatively high bias voltage to amplify the phonon signal in the search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Results are presented from the second CDMSlite run with an exposure of 70 kg days, which reached an energy threshold for electron recoils as low as 56 eV. A fiducialization cut reduces backgrounds below those previously reported by CDMSlite. New parameter space for the WIMP-nucleon spin-independent cross section is excluded for WIMP masses between 1.6 and 5.5 GeV/$c^2$.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Improved WIMP-search reach of the CDMS II germanium data

CDMS II data from the 5-tower runs at the Soudan Underground Laboratory were reprocessed with an improved charge-pulse fitting algorithm. Two new analysis techniques to reject surface-event backgrounds were applied to the 612 kg days germanium-detector WIMP-search exposure. An extended analysis was also completed by decreasing the 10 keV analysis threshold to $\sim$5 keV, to increase sensitivity near a WIMP mass of 8 GeV/$c^2$. After unblinding, there were zero candidate events above a deposited energy of 10 keV and 6 events in the lower-threshold analysis. This yielded minimum WIMP-nucleon spin-independent scattering cross-section limits of $1.8 \times 10^{-44}$ and $1.18 \times 10 ^{-41}$ cm$^2$ at 90\% confidence for 60 and 8.6 GeV/$c^2$ WIMPs, respectively. This improves the previous CDMS II result by a factor of 2.4 (2.7) for 60 (8.6) GeV/$c^2$ WIMPs.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2014

A model for the interaction of high-energy particles in straight and bent crystals implemented in Geant4

A model for the simulation of orientational effects in straight and bent periodic atomic structures is presented. The continuum potential approximation has been adopted.The model allows the manipulation of particle trajectories by means of straight and bent crystals and the scaling of the cross sections of hadronic and electromagnetic processes for channeled particles. Based on such a model, an extension of the Geant4 toolkit has been developed. The code has been validated against data from channeling experiments carried out at CERN.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2014

Semiconductor phonon and charge transport Monte Carlo simulation using Geant4

A phonon and charge transport simulation based on the Geant4 Monte Carlo toolkit is presented. The transport code is capable of propagating acoustic phonons, electrons and holes in cryogenic crystals. Anisotropic phonon propagation, oblique carrier propagation and phonon emission by accelerated carriers are all taken into account. The simulation successfully reproduces theoretical predictions and experimental observations such as phonon caustics, heat pulse propagation times and mean carrier drift velocities. Implementation of the transport code using the Geant4 toolkit ensures availability to the wider scientific community.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2014

Search for Low-Mass WIMPs with SuperCDMS

We report a first search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) using the background rejection capabilities of SuperCDMS. An exposure of 577 kg-days was analyzed for WIMPs with mass < 30 GeV/c2, with the signal region blinded. Eleven events were observed after unblinding. We set an upper limit on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section of 1.2e-42 cm2 at 8 GeV/c2. This result is in tension with WIMP interpretations of recent experiments and probes new parameter space for WIMP-nucleon scattering for WIMP masses < 6 GeV/c2.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2013

CDMSlite: A Search for Low-Mass WIMPs using Voltage-Assisted Calorimetric Ionization Detection in the SuperCDMS Experiment

SuperCDMS is an experiment designed to directly detect Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), a favored candidate for dark matter ubiquitous in the Universe. In this paper, we present WIMP-search results using a calorimetric technique we call CDMSlite, which relies on voltage- assisted Luke-Neganov amplification of the ionization energy deposited by particle interactions. The data were collected with a single 0.6 kg germanium detector running for 10 live days at the Soudan Underground Laboratory. A low energy threshold of 170 eVee (electron equivalent) was obtained, which allows us to constrain new WIMP-nucleon spin-independent parameter space for WIMP masses below 6 GeV/c2.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2009

Expected Performance of the ATLAS Experiment - Detector, Trigger and Physics

A detailed study is presented of the expected performance of the ATLAS detector. The reconstruction of tracks, leptons, photons, missing energy and jets is investigated, together with the performance of b-tagging and the trigger. The physics potential for a variety of interesting physics processes, within the Standard Model and beyond, is examined. The study comprises a series of notes based on simulations of the detector and physics processes, with particular emphasis given to the data expected from the first years of operation of the LHC at CERN.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2007

Measurements of total and partial charge-changing cross sections for 200-400 MeV/nucleon 12C in water and polycarbonate

We have studied charged nuclear fragments produced by 200 - 400 MeV/nucleon carbon ions, interacting with water and polycarbonate, using a newly developed emulsion detector. Total and partial charge-changing cross sections for the production of B, Be, and Li fragments were measured and compared with both previously published measurements, and model predictions. This study is of importance for validating and improving carbon ion therapy treatment planning systems, and for estimating the radiological risks for personnel on space missions, since carbon is a significant component of the Galactic Cosmic Rays.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2004

Magnetocapacitance and exponential magnetoresistance in manganite-titanate heterojunctions

We present a rectifying manganite-titanate heterojunction exhibiting a magnetic field tunable depletion layer. This creates a large positive magnetocapacitance, a direct measure of the field-induced reduction of the effective depletion width across the junction. Furthermore, the reduction of the junction barrier shifts the forward bias characteristics, giving exponentially-enhanced differential magnetoresistance, occurring despite the absence of a spin filter. These results provide a unique probe of a Mott insulator/band insulator interface, and further suggest new electronic devices incorporating the magnetic field sensitivity of these strongly correlated electron materials.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2003

Interfacing the JQMD and JAM Nuclear Reaction Codes to Geant4

Geant4 is a toolkit for the simulation of the passage of particles through matter. It provides a comprehensive set of tools for geometry, tracking, detector response, run, event and track management, visualization and user interfaces. Geant4 also has an abundant set of physics models that handle the diverse interactions of particles with matter across a wide energy range. However, there are also many well-established reaction codes currently used in the same fields where Geant4 is applied. In order to take advantage of these codes, we began to investigate their use from within the framework of Geant4. The first codes chosen for this investigation were the Jaeri Quantum Molecular Dynamics (JQMD) and Jet AA Microscopic Transportation Model (JAM) codes. JQMD is a QMD model code which is widely used to analyze various aspects of heavy ion reactions. JAM is a hadronic cascade model code which explicitly treats all established hadronic states, including resonances with explicit spin and isospin, as well as their anti-particles. We successfully developed interfaces between these codes and Geant4. These allow a user to construct a detector using the powerful material and geometrical capabilities of Geant4, while at the same time implementing nuclear reactions handled by the JQMD and JAM models and the Hadronic framework of Geant4 proved its flexibility and expandability.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2003

Development of an Interface for Using EGS4 Physics Processes in Geant4

As simulation system, the variety of physics processes implemented is one of the most important functionalities. In that sense, Geant4 is one of the most powerful simulation toolkits. Its flexibility and expansibility brought by object-oriented approach make it possible for us to easily assimilate external simulation packages into the Geant4 system as modules of physics processes. We developed an interface for using EGS4, which is another of the most well-known simulation package for electromagnetic physics, in Geant4. By means of this interface, EGS4 users can share Geant4 powerful resources, such as geometry, tracking, etc. It is also important that it can provide a common environment for comparison tests between EGS4 and Geant4. In this paper, we describe our design and implementation of the interface.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv1999

Experimental search for the decay mode K_L -> pi^0 gamma e^+ e^-

We report on results of a search for the decay mode K_L -> pi^0 gamma e^+ e^- conducted by the E162 experiment at KEK. We observed no events and set a 90% confidence level upper limit of Br(K_L -> pi^0 gamma e^+ e^-)< 7.1x10^{-7} for its branching ratio. This is the first published experimental result on this decay mode.

hep-ex↗

arXiv1998

A handy method to monitor outputs from a pulsed light source and its application to photomultiplier's rate effect studies

In order to study photomultiplier's short-term gain stability at high counting rate, we constructed an LED pulsed light source and its output monitor system. For the monitor system, we employed a photon counting method using a photomultiplier as a monitor photon detector. It is found that the method offers a simple way to monitor outputs from a pulsed light source and that, together with an LED light source, it provides a handy way to investigate photomultiplier's rate effects.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv1998

Observation of the decay mode K_L -> pi^+ pi^- e^+ e^-

We report on results of an experimental search for the K_L -> pi^+ pi^- e^+ e^- decay mode. We found 13.5 +- 4.0 events and determined its branching ratio to be (4.4 +- 1.3(stat) +- 0.5(syst))*10^{-7}. The result agrees well with the theoretical prediction.

hep-ex↗