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M. Nakao

Publications and source records attributed to M. Nakao.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Timing resolution of a plastic scintillator counter read out by radiation damaged SiPMs connected in series

This paper discusses the effects of radiation damage to SiPMs on the performances of plastic scintillator counters with series-connected SiPM readout, focusing on timing measurements. The performances of a counter composed of a $120 \times 40 \times5~\mathrm{mm}^3$ scintillator tile read out by two sets of six SiPMs from AdvanSiD connected in series attached on the short sides are presented, for different combinations of SiPMs at various levels of irradiation. Firstly, six SiPMs were equally irradiated with electrons from $^{90}$Sr sources up to a fluence of $Φ_\mathrm{e^-}\approx 3 \times 10^{12}~\mathrm{cm}^{-2}$. The timing resolution of the counter gradually deteriorated by the increase in dark current. The dark current and the deterioration were reduced when the counter was cooled from 30$^\circ$C to 10$^\circ$C. Secondly, 33 SiPMs were irradiated with reactor neutrons. The characteristics of counters read out by series-connected SiPMs with non-uniform damage levels, were investigated. The signal pulse height, the time response, and the timing resolution depend on the hit position in the counter, when SiPMs' irradiation is not uniform.

physics.ins-det↗

Update of inclusive cross sections of single and pairs of identified light charged hadrons

We report new measurements of the production cross sections of pairs of charged pions and kaons as a function of their fractional energies using various fractional-energy definitions. Two different fractional-energy definitions were used and compared to the conventional fractional-energy definition reported previously. The new variables aim at either identifying dihadron cross sections in terms of single-hadron fragmentation functions, or to provide a means of characterizing the transverse momentum created in the fragmentation process. The results were obtained applying the updated initial-state radiation correction used in other recent Belle publications on light-hadron production cross sections. In addition, production cross sections of single charged pions, kaons, and protons were also updated using this initial-state radiation correction. The cross sections are obtained from a $558\,{\rm fb}^{-1}$ data sample collected at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider.

hep-ex↗

Observation of the radiative decays of $Υ(1S)$ to $χ_{c1}$

We report the first observation of the radiative decay of the $Υ(1S)$ into a charmonium state. The statistical significance of the observed signal of $Υ(1S) \to γχ_{c1}$ is 6.3 standard deviations including systematics. The branching fraction is calculated to be Br($Υ(1S) \to γχ_{c1}$) = (4.7^{+2.4}_{-1.8} (stat) ^{+0.4}_{-0.5} (sys)) * 10^{-5}. We also searched for $Υ(1S)$ radiative decays into $χ_{c0,2}$ and $η_c(1S,2S)$ and set upper limits on their branching fractions. These results are obtained from a 24.9 fb^{-1} data sample collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider at a center-of-mass energy equal to the $Υ(2S)$ mass using $Υ(1S)$ tagging by the $Υ(2S) \to Υ(1S) π^+π^-$ transitions.

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First measurement of the CKM angle $ϕ_3$ with $B^{\pm}\to D(K_{\rm S}^0π^+π^-π^0)K^{\pm}$ decays

We present the first model-independent measurement of the CKM unitarity triangle angle $ϕ_3$ using $B^{\pm}\to D(K_{\rm S}^0π^+π^-π^0)K^{\pm}$ decays, where $D$ indicates either a $D^{0}$ or $\overline{D}^{0}$ meson. Measurements of the strong-phase difference of the $D \to K_{\rm S}^0π^+π^-π^0$ amplitude obtained from CLEO-c data are used as input. This analysis is based on the full Belle data set of $772\times 10^{6}$ $B\overline{B}$ events collected at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance. We obtain $ϕ_3 = (5.7~^{+10.2}_{-8.8} \pm 3.5 \pm 5.7)^{\circ}$ and the suppressed amplitude ratio $r_{B} = 0.323 \pm 0.147 \pm 0.023 \pm 0.051$. Here the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is the experimental systematic, and the third is due to the precision of the strong-phase parameters measured from CLEO-c data. The 95% confidence interval on $ϕ_3$ is $(-29.7,~109.5)^{\circ}$, which is consistent with the current world average.

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The laser-based time calibration system for the MEG II pixelated Timing Counter

We have developed a new laser-based time calibration system for highly segmented scintillator counters like the MEG II pixelated Timing Counter (pTC), consisting of 512-centimeter scale scintillator counters read out by silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). It is difficult to apply previous laser-based calibration methods for conventional meter-scale Time-Of-Flight detectors to the MEG II pTC from the implementation and the accuracy points of view. This paper presents a new laser-based time calibration system which can overcome such difficulties. A laser pulse is split into each scintillator counter via several optical components so that we can directly measure the time offset of each counter relative to the laser-emitted time. We carefully tested all the components and procedures prior to the actual operation. The laser system was installed into the pTC and thoroughly tested under the real experimental condition. The system showed good stability and being sensitive to any change of timing larger than ~10 ps. Moreover, it showed an uncertainty of 48 ps in the determination of the time offsets, which meets our requirements. The new method provides an example of the implementation of a precise timing alignment for the new type of detectors enabled by the advance of SiPM technology.

physics.ins-det↗

Azimuthal asymmetries of back-to-back $π^\pm-(π^0,η,π^\pm)$ pairs in $e^+e^-$ annihilation

This work reports the first observation of azimuthal asymmetries around the thrust axis in $e^+e^-$ annihilation of pairs of back-to-back charged pions in one hemisphere, and $π^0$ and $η$ mesons in the opposite hemisphere. These results are complemented by a new analysis of pairs of back-to-back charged pions. The $π^0$ and $η$ asymmetries rise with the relative momentum $z$ of the detected hadrons as well as with the transverse momentum with respect to the thrust axis. These asymmetries are sensitive to the Collins fragmentation function $H_1^{\perp}$ and provide complementary information to previous measurements with charged pions and kaons in the final state. In particular, the $η$ final states will provide additional information on the flavor structure of $H_1^{\perp}$. This is the first measurement of the explicit transverse-momentum dependence of the Collins fragmentation function from Belle data. It uses a dataset of 980.4~fb$^{-1}$ collected by the Belle experiment at or near a center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV.

hep-ex↗

A Laser-based Time Calibration System for the MEG II Timing Counter

We have developed a new laser-based time calibration system for the MEG II timing counter dedicated to timing measurement of positrons. The detector requires precise timing alignment between $\sim\,$500 scintillation counters. In this study, we present the calibration system which can directly measure the time offset of each counter relative to the laser-synchronized pulse. We thoroughly tested all the optical components and the uncertainty of this method is estimated to be 24 ps. In 2017, we installed the full system into the MEG II environment and performed a commissioning run. This method shows excellent stability and consistency with another method. The proposed system provides a precise timing alignment for SiPM-based timing detectors. It also has potential in areas such as TOF-PET.

physics.ins-det↗

First measurements of absolute branching fractions of $Ξ_c^0$ at Belle

We present the first measurements of absolute branching fractions of $Ξ_c^0$ decays into $Ξ^- π^+$, $ΛK^- π^+$, and $p K^- K^- π^+$ final states. The measurements are made using a data set comprising $(772\pm 11)\times 10^{6}$ $B\bar{B}$ pairs collected at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB $e^+e^-$ collider. We first measure the absolute branching fraction for $B^- \to \barΛ_c^- Ξ_c^0$ using a missing-mass technique; the result is ${\cal B}(B^- \to \barΛ_c^- Ξ_c^0) = (9.51 \pm 2.10 \pm 0.88) \times 10^{-4}$. We subsequently measure the product branching fractions ${\cal B}(B^- \to \barΛ_c^- Ξ_c^0){\cal B}(Ξ_c^0 \to Ξ^- π^+)$, ${\cal B}( B^- \to \barΛ_c^- Ξ_c^0) {\cal B}(Ξ_c^0 \to ΛK^- π^+)$, and ${\cal B}( B^- \to \barΛ_c^- Ξ_c^0) {\cal B}(Ξ_c^0 \to p K^- K^- π^+)$ with improved precision. Dividing these product branching fractions by the result for $B^- \to \barΛ_c^- Ξ_c^0$ yields the following branching fractions: ${\cal B}(Ξ_c^0 \to Ξ^- π^+)= (1.80 \pm 0.50 \pm 0.14)\%$, ${\cal B}(Ξ_c^0 \to ΛK^- π^+)=(1.17 \pm 0.37 \pm 0.09)\%$, and ${\cal B}(Ξ_c^0 \to p K^- K^- π^+)=(0.58 \pm 0.23 \pm 0.05)\%.$ For the above branching fractions, the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. Our result for ${\cal B}(Ξ_c^0 \to Ξ^- π^+)$ can be combined with $Ξ_c^0$ branching fractions measured relative to $Ξ_c^0 \to Ξ^- π^+$ to yield other absolute $Ξ_c^0$ branching fractions.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of the branching fraction and time-dependent $CP$ asymmetry for $B^0\to J/ψπ^0$ decays

We measure the branching fraction and time-dependent $CP$-violating asymmetry for $B^0\to J/ψπ^0$ decays using a data sample of 711 ${\rm fb^{-1}}$ collected on the $Υ(4S)$ resonance by the Belle experiment running at the KEKB $e^+e^-$ collider. The branching fraction is measured to be $\mathcal{B}(B^0\to J/ψπ^0) = [1.62\,\pm 0.11~({\rm stat}) \pm0.07~({\rm syst})]\times 10^{-5}$, which is the most precise measurement to date. The measured $CP$ asymmetry parameters are $\mathcal{S} = -0.59\,\pm 0.19~({\rm stat}) \pm 0.03~({\rm syst})$ and $\mathcal{A} = -0.15\,\pm 0.14~({\rm stat})\,^{+0.04}_{-0.03}~({\rm syst})$. The mixing-induced $CP$ asymmetry ($\mathcal{S}$) differs from the case of no $CP$ violation by 3.0 standard deviations, and the direct $CP$ asymmetry ($\mathcal{A}$) is consistent with zero.

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Results from Pilot Run for MEG II Positron Timing Counter

The MEG II experiment at Paul Scherrer Institut in Switzerland will search for the lepton flavour violating muon decay, $μ^+\to e^+γ$, with a sensitivity of $4\times10^{-14}$ improving the existing limit of an order of magnitude. In 2016, we finished the construction of the MEG II Timing Counter, the subdetector dedicated to the measurement of the positron emission time. The first one-fourth of it was installed in the experimental area and we performed a pilot run with the MEG~II beam of $7\times10^{7}μ^+/$s. The timing resolution reached the design value improving by a factor of two compared to MEG.

physics.ins-det↗

The Monitoring System of the End-Cap Calorimeter in the Belle II experiment

The Belle II experiment is presently in phase-2 operation at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider in KEK (Tsukuba, Japan). The detector is an upgrade of the Belle experiment at the KEKB collider and it is optimized for the study of rare B decays, being also sensitive to signals of New Physics beyond the Standard Model. The Electromagnetic Calorimeter (ECL) is based on CsI(Tl) scintillation crystals. It splits in a barrel and two annular end-cap regions, these latter named Forward and Backward, according to the asymmetric design of the collider. CsI(Tl) crystals deliver a high light output at an affordable cost, however their yield changes with temperature and can be permanently damaged by humidity, due to the strong chemical affinity for moisture. Each ECL region is then equipped with thermistors and humidity probes to monitor environmental data. While sensors and cabling have been inherited from the original Belle design, the ECL monitoring system has been fully redesigned. In this paper, we present hardware and software architecture deployed for the 2112 CsI(Tl) crystals arranged in the Forward and Backward end-caps. Single-Board Computers (SBCs) have been designed ad-hoc for embedded applications. For sensor read-out, a data-acquisition system based on 24-bit ADCs with local processing capability has been realized and interfaced with the SBCs. EPICS applications send data across the Local Area Network for remote control and display.

physics.ins-det↗

First Measurements of Beam Backgrounds at SuperKEKB

The high design luminosity of the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider is expected to result in challenging levels of beam-induced backgrounds in the interaction region. Properly simulating and mitigating these backgrounds is critical to the success of the Belle~II experiment. We report on measurements performed with a suite of dedicated beam background detectors, collectively known as BEAST II, during the so-called Phase 1 commissioning run of SuperKEKB in 2016, which involved operation of both the high energy ring (HER) of 7 GeV electrons as well as the low energy ring (LER) of 4 GeV positrons. We describe the BEAST II detector systems, the simulation of beam backgrounds, and the measurements performed. The measurements include standard ones of dose rates versus accelerator conditions, and more novel investigations, such as bunch-by-bunch measurements of injection backgrounds and measurements sensitive to the energy spectrum and angular distribution of fast neutrons. We observe beam-gas, Touschek, beam-dust, and injection backgrounds. We do not observe significant synchrotron radiation, as expected. Measured LER beam-gas backgrounds and Touschek backgrounds in both rings are slightly elevated, on average three times larger than the levels predicted by simulation. HER beam-gas backgrounds are on on average two orders of magnitude larger than predicted. Systematic uncertainties and channel-to-channel variations are large, so that these excesses constitute only 1-2 sigma level effects. Neutron background rates are higher than predicted and should be studied further. We will measure the remaining beam background processes, due to colliding beams, in the imminent commissioning Phase 2. These backgrounds are expected to be the most critical for Belle II, to the point of necessitating replacement of detector components during the Phase 3 (full-luminosity) operation of SuperKEB.

physics.ins-det↗

The design of the MEG II experiment

The MEG experiment, designed to search for the mu+->e+ gamma decay at a 10^-13 sensitivity level, completed data taking in 2013. In order to increase the sensitivity reach of the experiment by an order of magnitude to the level of 6 x 10-14 for the branching ratio, a total upgrade, involving substantial changes to the experiment, has been undertaken, known as MEG II. We present both the motivation for the upgrade and a detailed overview of the design of the experiment and of the expected detector performance.

physics.ins-det↗

Measurement of the Decays $\boldsymbol{B\toη\ellν_\ell}$ and $\boldsymbol{B\toη^\prime\ellν_\ell}$ in Fully Reconstructed Events at Belle

We report branching fraction measurements of the decays $B^+\toη\ell^+ν_\ell$ and $B^+\toη^\prime\ell^+ν_\ell$ based on 711~fb$^{-1}$ of data collected near the $Υ(4S)$ resonance with the Belle experiment at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider. This data sample contains 772 million $B\bar B$~events. One of the two $B$~mesons is fully reconstructed in a hadronic decay mode. Among the remaining ("signal-$B$") daughters, we search for the $η$~meson in two decay channels, $η\toγγ$ and $η\toπ^+π^-π^0$, and reconstruct the $η^{\prime}$~meson in $η^\prime\toηπ^+π^-$ with subsequent decay of the $η$ into $γγ$. Combining the two $η$ modes and using an extended maximum likelihood, the $B^+\toη\ell^+ν_\ell$ branching fraction is measured to be $(4.2\pm 1.1 (\rm stat.)\pm 0.3 (\rm syst.))\times 10^{-5}$. For $B^+\toη^\prime\ell^+ν_\ell$, we observe no significant signal and set an upper limit of $0.72\times 10^{-4}$ at 90\% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

Search for $Λ_c^+\toϕp π^0$ and branching fraction measurement of $Λ_c^+\to K^-π^+ p π^0$

We have searched for the Cabibbo-suppressed decay $Λ_c^+\toϕpπ^0$ in $e^+e^-$ collisions using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 915 $\rm fb^{-1}$. The data were collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB $e^+e^-$ asymmetric-energy collider running at or near the $Υ(4S)$ and $Υ(5S)$ resonances. No significant signal is observed, and we set an upper limit on the branching fraction of $\mathcal{B}(Λ_c^+\to ϕpπ^0) <15.3\times10^{-5}$ at 90% confidence level. The contribution for nonresonant $Λ_c^+\to K^+K^- pπ^0$ decays is found to be consistent with zero and the corresponding upper limit on its branching fraction is set to be $\mathcal{B}(Λ_c^+\to K^+K^-pπ^0)_{\rm NR} <6.3\times10^{-5} $ at 90% confidence level. We also measure the branching fraction for the Cabibbo-favored decay $Λ_c^+\to K^-π^+pπ^0$; the result is $\mathcal{B}(Λ_c^+\to K^-π^+pπ^0)= (4.42\pm0.05\, (\rm stat.) \pm 0.12\, (\rm syst.) \pm 0.16\, (\mathcal{B}_{\rm Norm}))\%$, which is the most precise measurement to date. Finally, we have searched for an intermediate hidden-strangeness pentaquark decay $P^+_s\toϕp$. We see no evidence for this intermediate decay and set an upper limit on the product branching fraction of ${\cal B}(Λ_c^+\to P^+_s π^0)\times {\cal B}(P^+_s\toϕp) <8.3\times 10^{-5}$ at 90% confidence level.

hep-ex↗

Angular analysis of the $e^+ e^- \to D^{(*) \pm} D^{* \mp}$ process near the open charm threshold using initial-state radiation

We report a new measurement of the exclusive $e^+ e^- \to D^{(*) \pm} D^{*\mp}$ cross sections as a function of the center-of-mass energy from the $D^{(*) \pm} D^{* \mp}$ threshold through $\sqrt{s}=6.0$ GeV with initial-state radiation. The analysis is based on a data sample collected with the Belle detector with an integrated luminosity of $951$ fb$^{-1}$. The accuracy of the cross section measurement is increased by a factor of two over the first Belle study. We perform the first angular analysis of the $e^+ e^- \to D^{* \pm} D^{* \mp}$ process and decompose this exclusive cross section into three components corresponding to the $D^*$ helicities.

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Invariant-mass and fractional-energy dependence of inclusive production of di-hadrons in $e^+e^-$ annihilation at $\sqrt{s}=$ 10.58 GeV

The inclusive cross sections for di-hadrons of charged pions and kaons ($e^+e^- \rightarrow hhX$) in electron-positron annihilation are reported. They are obtained as a function of the total fractional energy and invariant mass for any di-hadron combination in the same hemisphere as defined by the thrust event-shape variable and its axis. Since same-hemisphere di-hadrons can be assumed to originate predominantly from the same initial parton, di-hadron fragmentation functions are probed. These di-hadron fragmentation functions are needed as an unpolarized baseline in order to quantitatively understand related spin-dependent measurements in other processes and to apply them to the extraction of quark transversity distribution functions in the nucleon. The di-hadron cross sections are obtained from a $655\,{\rm fb}^{-1}$ data sample collected at or near the $Υ(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider.

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Observation of an alternative $χ_{c0}(2P)$ candidate in $e^+ e^- \rightarrow J/ψD \bar{D}$

We perform a full amplitude analysis of the process $e^+ e^- \rightarrow J/ψD \bar{D}$, where $D$ refers to either $D^0$ or $D^+$. A new charmoniumlike state $X^*(3860)$ that decays to $D \bar{D}$ is observed with a significance of $6.5σ$. Its mass is ($3862^{+26}_{-32}{}^{+40}_{-13}$) MeV/$c^2$ and width is ($201^{+154}_{-67}{}^{+88}_{-82}$) MeV. The $J^{PC}=0^{++}$ hypothesis is favored over the $2^{++}$ hypothesis at the level of $2.5σ$. The analysis is based on the 980 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ data sample collected by the Belle detector at the asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider KEKB.

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