arXiv subjects

M. H. Gu

Publications and source records attributed to M. H. Gu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

Observation of the Electromagnetic Dalitz Transition $h_c \rightarrow e^+e^-η_c$

Using $(27.12\pm 0.14)\times10^8$ $ψ(3686)$ decays and data samples of $e^+e^-$ collisions with $\sqrt{s}$ from 4.130 to 4.780~GeV collected with the BESIII detector, we report the first observation of the electromagnetic Dalitz transition $h_c\to e^+e^-η_c$ with a statistical significance of $5.4σ$. We measure the ratio of the branching fractions $\frac{\mathcal{B}(h_c\rightarrow e^+e^-η_c)}{\mathcal{B}(h_c\rightarrow γη_c)}$ separately for the $h_c$ samples produced via $ψ(3686)\toπ^0h_c$ and $e^+e^-\toπ^+π^-h_c$. The average ratio is determined to be $(0.59\pm0.10(\text{stat.})\pm0.04(\text{syst.}))\%$, where the uncertainty includes both statistical and systematic components.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2024

Data quality control system and long-term performance monitor of the LHAASO-KM2A

The KM2A is the largest sub-array of the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). It consists of 5216 electromagnetic particle detectors (EDs) and 1188 muon detectors (MDs). The data recorded by the EDs and MDs are used to reconstruct primary information of cosmic ray and gamma-ray showers. This information is used for physical analysis in gamma-ray astronomy and cosmic ray physics. To ensure the reliability of the LHAASO-KM2A data, a three-level quality control system has been established. It is used to monitor the status of detector units, stability of reconstructed parameters and the performance of the array based on observations of the Crab Nebula and Moon shadow. This paper will introduce the control system and its application on the LHAASO-KM2A data collected from August 2021 to July 2023. During this period, the pointing and angular resolution of the array were stable. From the observations of the Moon shadow and Crab Nebula, the results achieved using the two methods are consistent with each other. According to the observation of the Crab Nebula at energies from 25 TeV to 100 TeV, the time averaged pointing errors are estimated to be $-0.003^{\circ} \pm 0.005^{\circ}$ and $0.001^{\circ} \pm 0.006^{\circ}$ in the R.A. and Dec directions, respectively.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2024

Constraints on Ultra Heavy Dark Matter Properties from Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies with LHAASO Observations

In this work we try to search for signals generated by ultra-heavy dark matter at the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) data. We look for possible gamma-ray by dark matter annihilation or decay from 16 dwarf spheroidal galaxies in the field of view of LHAASO. Dwarf spheroidal galaxies are among the most promising targets for indirect detection of dark matter which have low fluxes of astrophysical $γ$-ray background while large amount of dark matter. By analyzing more than 700 days observational data at LHAASO, no significant dark matter signal from 1 TeV to 1 EeV is detected. Accordingly we derive the most stringent constraints on the ultra-heavy dark matter annihilation cross-section up to EeV. The constraints on the lifetime of dark matter in decay mode are also derived.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Discovery of Very-high-energy Gamma-ray Emissions from the Low Luminosity AGN NGC 4278 by LHAASO

The first source catalog of Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory reported the detection of a very-high-energy gamma ray source, 1LHAASO J1219+2915. In this paper a further detailed study of the spectral and temporal behavior of this point-like source have been carried. The best-fit position of the TeV source ($\rm{RA}=185.05^{\circ}\pm0.04^{\circ}$, $\rm{Dec}=29.25^{\circ}\pm0.03^{\circ}$) is compatible with NGC 4278 within $\sim0.03$ degree. Variation analysis shows an indication of the variability at a few months level in the TeV band, which is consistent with low frequency observations. Based on these observations, we report the detection of TeV $γ$-ray emissions from this low-luminosity AGN NGC 4278. The observations by LHAASO-WCDA during active period has a significance level of 8.8\,$σ$ with best-fit photon spectral index $\varGamma=2.56\pm0.14$ and a flux $f_{1-10\,\rm{TeV}}=(7.0\pm1.1_{\rm{sta}}\pm0.35_{\rm{syst}})\times10^{-13}\,\rm{photons\,cm^{-2}\,s^{-1}}$, or approximately $5\%$ of the Crab Nebula. The discovery of VHE from NGC 4278 indicates that the compact, weak radio jet can efficiently accelerate particles and emit TeV photons.

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arXiv2024

LHAASO-KM2A detector simulation using Geant4

KM2A is one of the main sub-arrays of LHAASO, working on gamma ray astronomy and cosmic ray physics at energies above 10 TeV. Detector simulation is the important foundation for estimating detector performance and data analysis. It is a big challenge to simulate the KM2A detector in the framework of Geant4 due to the need to track numerous photons from a large number of detector units (>6000) with large altitude difference (30 m) and huge coverage (1.3 km^2). In this paper, the design of the KM2A simulation code G4KM2A based on Geant4 is introduced. The process of G4KM2A is optimized mainly in memory consumption to avoid memory overffow. Some simpliffcations are used to signiffcantly speed up the execution of G4KM2A. The running time is reduced by at least 30 times compared to full detector simulation. The particle distributions and the core/angle resolution comparison between simulation and experimental data of the full KM2A array are also presented, which show good agreement.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2024

Measurements of All-Particle Energy Spectrum and Mean Logarithmic Mass of Cosmic Rays from 0.3 to 30 PeV with LHAASO-KM2A

We present the measurements of all-particle energy spectrum and mean logarithmic mass of cosmic rays in the energy range of 0.3-30 PeV using data collected from LHAASO-KM2A between September 2021 and December 2022, which is based on a nearly composition-independent energy reconstruction method, achieving unprecedented accuracy. Our analysis reveals the position of the knee at $3.67 \pm 0.05 \pm 0.15$ PeV. Below the knee, the spectral index is found to be -$2.7413 \pm 0.0004 \pm 0.0050$, while above the knee, it is -$3.128 \pm 0.005 \pm 0.027$, with the sharpness of the transition measured with a statistical error of 2%. The mean logarithmic mass of cosmic rays is almost heavier than helium in the whole measured energy range. It decreases from 1.7 at 0.3 PeV to 1.3 at 3 PeV, representing a 24% decline following a power law with an index of -$0.1200 \pm 0.0003 \pm 0.0341$. This is equivalent to an increase in abundance of light components. Above the knee, the mean logarithmic mass exhibits a power law trend towards heavier components, which is reversal to the behavior observed in the all-particle energy spectrum. Additionally, the knee position and the change in power-law index are approximately the same. These findings suggest that the knee observed in the all-particle spectrum corresponds to the knee of the light component, rather than the medium-heavy components.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Study of light scalar mesons through $D_s^+ \to π^0 π^0 e^+ ν_e$ and $K_S^0 K_S^0 e^+ ν_e$ decays

Using 6.32~fb$^{-1}$ of $e^+e^-$ collision data recorded by the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies between $4.178$ to $4.226$ GeV, we present the first measurement of the decay $D_s^+\to f_0(980)e^+ν_e,\,f_0(980)\to π^0π^0$. The product branching fraction of $D_s^+\to f_0(980)e^+ν_e,\,f_0(980)\to π^0π^0$ is measured to be $(7.9\pm1.4_{\rm stat} \pm0.3_{\rm syst})\times 10^{-4}$, with a statistical significance of $7.8σ$. Furthermore, the upper limits on the product branching fractions of $D_s^+\to f_0(500)e^+ν_e$ with $f_0(500)\to π^0π^0$ and the branching fraction of $D_s^+\to K_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0}e^+ν_e$ are set to be $7.3\times 10^{-4}$ and $3.8\times 10^{-4}$ at 90\% confidence level, respectively. Our results provide valuable inputs to the understanding of the structures of light scalar mesons.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

The First LHAASO Catalog of Gamma-Ray Sources

We present the first catalog of very-high energy and ultra-high energy gamma-ray sources detected by the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). The catalog was compiled using 508 days of data collected by the Water Cherenkov Detector Array (WCDA) from March 2021 to September 2022 and 933 days of data recorded by the Kilometer Squared Array (KM2A) from January 2020 to September 2022. This catalog represents the main result from the most sensitive large coverage gamma-ray survey of the sky above 1 TeV, covering declination from $-$20$^{\circ}$ to 80$^{\circ}$. In total, the catalog contains 90 sources with an extended size smaller than $2^\circ$ and a significance of detection at $> 5σ$. Based on our source association criteria, 32 new TeV sources are proposed in this study. Among the 90 sources, 43 sources are detected with ultra-high energy ($E > 100$ TeV) emission at $> 4σ$ significance level. We provide the position, extension, and spectral characteristics of all the sources in this catalog.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Very high energy gamma-ray emission beyond 10 TeV from GRB 221009A

The highest energy gamma-rays from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have important implications for their radiation mechanism. Here we report for the first time the detection of gamma-rays up to 13 TeV from the brightest GRB 221009A by the Large High Altitude Air-shower Observatory (LHAASO). The LHAASO-KM2A detector registered more than 140 gamma-rays with energies above 3 TeV during 230$-$900s after the trigger. The intrinsic energy spectrum of gamma-rays can be described by a power-law after correcting for extragalactic background light (EBL) absorption. Such a hard spectrum challenges the synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) scenario of relativistic electrons for the afterglow emission above several TeV. Observations of gamma-rays up to 13 TeV from a source with a measured redshift of z=0.151 hints more transparency in intergalactic space than previously expected. Alternatively, one may invoke new physics such as Lorentz Invariance Violation (LIV) or an axion origin of very high energy (VHE) signals.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Does or did the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A operate as a PeVatron?

For decades, supernova remnants (SNRs) have been considered the prime sources of Galactic Cosmic rays (CRs). But whether SNRs can accelerate CR protons to PeV energies and thus dominate CR flux up to the knee is currently under intensive theoretical and phenomenological debate. The direct test of the ability of SNRs to operate as CR PeVatrons can be provided by ultrahigh-energy (UHE; $E_γ\geq 100$~TeV) $γ$-rays. In this context, the historical SNR Cassiopeia A (Cas A) is considered one of the most promising target for UHE observations. This paper presents the observation of Cas A and its vicinity by the LHAASO KM2A detector. The exceptional sensitivity of LHAASO KM2A in the UHE band, combined with the young age of Cas A, enabled us to derive stringent model-independent limits on the energy budget of UHE protons and nuclei accelerated by Cas A at any epoch after the explosion. The results challenge the prevailing paradigm that Cas A-type SNRs are major suppliers of PeV CRs in the Milky Way.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Observation of $J/ψ$ decays to $e^{+}e^{-}e^{+}e^{-}$ and $e^{+}e^{-}μ^{+}μ^{-}$

Using a data sample of $4.481\times 10^8 ψ^\prime$ events collected with the BESIII detector, we report the first observation of the four-lepton-decays $J/ψ\to e^+e^-e^+e^-$ and $J/ψ\to e^+e^-μ^+μ^-$ utilizing the process $ψ^\prime\to π^+π^- J/ψ$. The branching fractions are determined to be $[5.48\pm0.31~(\rm stat)\pm0.45~(\rm syst)]\times 10^{-5}$ and $[3.53~\pm0.22~(\rm stat)\pm0.13~(\rm syst)]\times 10^{-5}$, respectively. The results are consistent with theoretical predictions. No significant signal is observed for $J/ψ\to μ^+μ^-μ^+μ^-$, and an upper limit on the branching fraction is set at $1.6\times 10^{-6}$ at the 90$\%$ confidence level. A CP asymmetry observable is constructed for the first two channels, which is measured to be $(-0.012\pm0.054\pm0.010)$ and $(0.062\pm0.059\pm0.006)$, respectively. No evidence for CP violation is observed in this process.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

Search for $\barΛ$-$Λ$ oscillations in the decay $J/ψ\to p K^- \barΛ+c.c.$

We report the first search for $\barΛ$--$Λ$ oscillations in the decay $J/ψ\to p K^- \barΛ + c.c.$ by analyzing $1.31\times10^9$ $J/ψ$ events accumulated with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The $J/ψ$ events are produced using $e^+e^-$ collisions at a center of mass energy $\sqrt{s}= 3.097$~GeV. No evidence for hyperon oscillations is observed. The upper limit for the oscillation rate of $\barΛ$ to $Λ$ hyperons is determined to be $\mathcal{P}(Λ)=\frac{\mathcal{B}(J/ψ\to pK^-Λ+c.c.)}{\mathcal{B}(J/ψ\to pK^-\barΛ+c.c.)}<4.4\times10^{-6}$ corresponding to an oscillation parameter $δm_{Λ\barΛ}$ of less than $3.8\times10^{-18}$~GeV at the 90\% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

Measurement of ultra-high-energy diffuse gamma-ray emission of the Galactic plane from 10 TeV to 1 PeV with LHAASO-KM2A

The diffuse Galactic $γ$-ray emission, mainly produced via interactions between cosmic rays and the interstellar medium and/or radiation field, is a very important probe of the distribution, propagation, and interaction of cosmic rays in the Milky Way. In this work we report the measurements of diffuse $γ$-rays from the Galactic plane between 10 TeV and 1 PeV energies, with the square kilometer array of the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). Diffuse emissions from the inner ($15^{\circ} 10$~TeV). The energy spectrum in the inner Galaxy regions can be described by a power-law function with an index of $-2.99\pm0.04$, which is different from the curved spectrum as expected from hadronic interactions between locally measured cosmic rays and the line-of-sight integrated gas content. Furthermore, the measured flux is higher by a factor of $\sim3$ than the prediction. A similar spectrum with an index of $-2.99\pm0.07$ is found in the outer Galaxy region, and the absolute flux for $10\lesssim E\lesssim60$ TeV is again higher than the prediction for hadronic cosmic ray interactions. The latitude distributions of the diffuse emission are consistent with the gas distribution, while the longitude distributions show clear deviation from the gas distribution. The LHAASO measurements imply that either additional emission sources exist or cosmic ray intensities have spatial variations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Study of the $h_c$($1^1P_1$) meson via $ψ(2S) \rightarrow π^0 h_c$ decays at BESIII

Using 448 million $ψ(2S)$ events, the spin-singlet $P$-wave charmonium state $h_c$(1$^1P_1$) is studied via the $ψ(2S) \rightarrow π^0 h_c$ decay followed by the $h_c \to γη_c$ transition. The branching fractions are measured to be $\mathcal{B}_{\rm Inc}(ψ(2S) \rightarrow π^0h_c) \times \mathcal{B}_{\rm Tag}(h_c \rightarrow γη_c) = (4.22 ^{+0.27}_{-0.26} \pm 0.19) \times 10^{-4}$ , $\mathcal{B}_{\rm Inc}(ψ(2S) \rightarrow π^0h_c) = (7.32 \pm 0.34 \pm 0.41) \times 10^{-4}$, and $\mathcal{B}_{\rm Tag}(h_c \rightarrow γη_c) = (57.66 ^{+3.62}_{-3.50} \pm 0.58)\%$, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The $h_c$(1$^1P_1$) mass and width are determined to be $M = (3525.32 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.15)~\rm{MeV}/c^{\rm{2}}$ and ${\mathit Γ} = (0.78 ^{+0.27}_{-0.24} \pm 0.12)~\rm{MeV}$. Using the center of gravity mass of the three $χ_{cJ}$(1$^3 P_J$) mesons ($M(\rm c.o.g.)$), the $1P$ hyperfine mass splitting is estimated to be $Δ_{\rm hyp} = M(h_c) - M(\rm c.o.g.) = (0.03 \pm 0.06 \pm 0.15) ~ \rm{MeV}/c^{\rm{2}}$, which is consistent with the expectation that the $1P$ hyperfine splitting is zero at the lowest-order.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

Partial wave analysis of $J/ψ\rightarrowγηη'$

Based on a sample of (10.09$\pm$0.04)$\times$10$^{9}$ $J/ψ$ events collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring, a partial wave analysis of the decay $J/ψ\rightarrow γηη'$ is performed. An isoscalar state with exotic quantum numbers $J^{PC}=1^{-+}$, denoted as $η_1(1855)$, has been observed for the first time with statistical significance larger than 19$σ$. Its mass and width are measured to be (1855$\pm$9$_{-1}^{+6}$)~MeV/$c^{2}$ and (188$\pm$18$_{-8}^{+3}$)~MeV, respectively. The product branching fraction ${\cal B}(J/ψ$$\rightarrow$$ γη_1(1855)$$\rightarrow$$γηη')$ is measured to be (2.70$\pm 0.41 _{-0.35}^{+0.16}) \times$10$^{-6}$. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. In addition, an upper limit on the branching ratio ${\cal B}(f_0(1710)$$\rightarrow$$ηη')$/${\cal B}(f_0(1710)$$\rightarrow$$ππ)$ is determined to be $1.61 \times 10^{-3}$ at 90\% confidence level, which lends support to the hypothesis that the $f_0(1710)$ has a large glueball component.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

Observation of an isoscalar resonance with exotic $J^{PC}=1^{-+}$ quantum numbers in $J/ψ\rightarrowγηη'$

Using a sample of (10.09$\pm$0.04)$\times$10$^{9}$ $J/ψ$ events collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring, a partial wave analysis of the decay $J/ψ\rightarrow γηη'$ is performed. The first observation of an isoscalar state with exotic quantum numbers $J^{PC}=1^{-+}$, denoted as $η_1(1855)$, is reported in the process $J/ψ\rightarrow γη_1(1855)$ with $η_1(1855)\rightarrowηη'$. Its mass and width are measured to be (1855$\pm$9$_{-1}^{+6}$)MeV/$c^{2}$ and (188$\pm$18$_{-8}^{+3}$)MeV, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic, and its statistical significance is estimated to be larger than 19$σ$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Amplitude analysis of $D_s^{+} \rightarrow π^{+} π^{-} π^{+}$

Utilizing the data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3.19$ fb$^{-1}$ collected by the BESIII detector at a center-of-mass energy of 4.178 GeV, we perform an amplitude analysis of the $D_s^+\toπ^+π^-π^+$ decay. The sample contains 13,797 candidates with a signal purity of $\sim$80%. The amplitude and phase of the contributing $ππ$ ${\cal S}$ wave are measured based on a quasi-model-independent approach, along with the amplitudes and phases of the ${\cal P}$ and ${\cal D}$ waves parametrized by Breit-Wigner models. The fit fractions of different intermediate decay channels are also reported.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Flux Variations of Cosmic Ray Air Showers Detected by LHAASO-KM2A During a Thunderstorm on 10 June 2021

The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) has three sub-arrays, KM2A, WCDA and WFCTA. The flux variations of cosmic ray air showers were studied by analyzing the KM2A data during the thunderstorm on 10 June 2021. The number of shower events that meet the trigger conditions increases significantly in atmospheric electric fields, with maximum fractional increase of 20%. The variations of trigger rates (increases or decreases) are found to be strongly dependent on the primary zenith angle. The flux of secondary particles increases significantly, following a similar trend with that of the shower events. To better understand the observed behavior, Monte Carlo simulations are performed with CORSIKA and G4KM2A (a code based on GEANT4). We find that the experimental data (in saturated negative fields) are in good agreement with simulations, assuming the presence of a uniform upward electric field of 700 V/cm with a thickness of 1500 m in the atmosphere above the observation level. Due to the acceleration/deceleration and deflection by the atmospheric electric field, the number of secondary particles with energy above the detector threshold is modified, resulting in the changes in shower detection rate.

astro-ph.HE↗