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P. Moskal

Publications and source records attributed to P. Moskal.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Synchronisation and calibration of the 24-modules J-PET prototype with 300~mm axial field of view

Research conducted in the framework of the J-PET project aims to develop a cost-effective total-body positron emission tomography scanner. As a first step on the way to construct a full-scale J-PET tomograph from long strips of plastic scintillators, a 24-strip prototype was built and tested. The prototype consists of detection modules arranged axially forming a cylindrical diagnostic chamber with the inner diameter of 360 mm and the axial field-of-view of 300 mm. Promising perspectives for a low-cost construction of a total-body PET scanner are opened due to an axial arrangement of strips of plastic scintillators, wchich have a small light attenuation, superior timing properties, and the possibility of cost-effective increase of the axial field-of-view. The presented prototype comprises dedicated solely digital front-end electronic circuits and a triggerless data acquisition system which required development of new calibration methods including time, thresholds and gain synchronization. The system and elaborated calibration methods including first results of the 24-module J-PET prototype are presented and discussed. The achieved coincidence resolving time equals to CRT = 490 $\pm$ 9 ps. This value can be translated to the position reconstruction accuracy $σ(Δl) =$ 18 mm which is fairly position-independent.

physics.ins-det↗

Isoscalar Single-Pion Production in the Region of Roper and $d^*(2380)$ Resonances

Exclusive measurements of the quasi-free $pn \to ppπ^-$ and $pp \to ppπ^0$ reactions have been performed by means of $pd$ collisions at $T_p$ = 1.2 GeV using the WASA detector setup at COSY. Total and differential cross sections have been obtained covering the energy region $T_p = 0.95 - 1.3$ GeV ($\sqrt s$ = 2.3 - 2.46 GeV), which includes the regions of $Δ(1232)$, $N^*(1440)$ and $d^*(2380)$ resonance excitations. From these measurements the isoscalar single-pion production has been extracted, for which data existed so far only below $T_p$ = 1 GeV. We observe a substantial increase of this cross section above 1 GeV, which can be related to the Roper resonance $N^*(1440)$, the strength of which shows up isolated from the $Δ$ resonance in the isoscalar $(Nπ)_{I=0}$ invariant-mass spectrum. No evidence for a decay of the dibaryon resonance $d^*(2380)$ into the isoscalar $(NNπ)_{I=0}$ channel is found. An upper limit of 90 $μ$b (90 $\%$ C.L.) corresponding to a branching ratio of 5 $\%$ has been deduced.

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Hit-time and hit-position reconstruction in strips of plastic scintillators using multi-threshold readouts

In this article, a new method for the reconstruction of hit-position and hit-time of photons in long scintillator detectors is investigated. This research is motivated by the recent development of the positron emission tomography scanners based on plastic scintillators. The proposed method constitutes a new way of signal processing in Multi-Voltage-Technique. It is based on the determination of the degree of similarity between the registered signals and the synchronized model signals stored in a library. The library was established for a set of well defined hit-positions along the length of the scintillator. The Mahalanobis distance was used as a measure of similarity between the two compared signals. The method was validated on the experimental data measured using two-strips J-PET prototype with dimensions of 5x9x300 mm$^3$. The obtained Time-of-Flight (TOF) and spatial resolutions amount to 325~ps (FWHM) and 25~mm (FWHM), respectively. The TOF resolution was also compared to the results of an analogous study done using Linear Fitting method. The best TOF resolution was obtained with this method at four pre-defined threshold levels which was comparable to the resolution achieved from the Mahalanobis distance at two pre-defined threshold levels. Although the algorithm of Linear Fitting method is much simpler to apply than the Mahalanobis method, the application of the Mahalanobis distance requires a lower number of applied threshold levels and, hence, decreases the costs of electronics used in PET scanner.

physics.ins-det↗

Differential Cross Sections for Neutron-Proton Scattering in the Region of the $d^*(2380)$ Dibaryon Resonance

Differential cross sections have been extracted from exclusive and kinematically complete high-statistics measurements of quasifree polarized $\vec{n}p$ scattering performed in the energy region of the $d^*(2380)$ dibaryon resonance covering the the range of beam energies $T_n$ = 0.98 - 1.29 GeV ($\sqrt s$ = 2.32 - 2.44 GeV). The experiment was carried out with the WASA-at-COSY setup having a polarized deuteron beam impinged on the hydrogen pellet target and utilizing the quasifree process $dp \to np + p_{spectator}$. That way the $np$ differential cross section $σ(Θ)$ was measured over a large angular range. The obtained angular distributions complement the corresponding analyzing power $A_y(Θ)$ measurements published previously. A SAID partial-wave analysis incorporating the new data strengthens the finding of a resonance pole in the coupled $^3D_3 - ^3G_3$ waves.

hep-ex↗

Measurement of the branching fraction for the decay $K_S \to πμν$ with the KLOE detector

Based on a sample of 300 million $K_S$ mesons produced in $ϕ\to K_L K_S$ decays recorded by the KLOE experiment at the DA$Φ$NE $e^+e^-$ collider we have measured the branching fraction for the decay $K_S \to πμν$. The $K_S$ mesons are identified by the interaction of $K_L$ mesons in the detector. The $K_S \to πμν$ decays are selected by a boosted decision tree built with kinematic variables and by a time-of-flight measurement. Signal efficiencies are evaluated with data control samples of $K_L \to πμν$ decays. A fit to the reconstructed muon mass distribution finds $7223 \pm 180$ signal events. Normalising to the $K_S \to π^+ π^-$ decay events the result for the branching fraction is $\mathcal{B}(K_S \to πμν) = (4.56 \pm 0.11_{\rm stat} \pm 0.17_{\rm syst})\times10^{-4}$.

hep-ex↗

Search for eta mesic 3He with the WASA-at-COSY facility in the pd-> 3He 2gamma and pd-> 3He 6gamma reactions

We report on the experimental search for the bound state of an $η$ meson and $^{3}\hspace{-0.03cm}\mbox{He}$ nucleus performed using the WASA-at-COSY detector setup. In order to search for the $η$-mesic nucleus decay, the $pd\rightarrow$ $^{3}\hspace{-0.03cm}\mbox{He} 2γ$ and $pd\rightarrow$ $^{3}\hspace{-0.03cm}\mbox{He} 6γ$ channels have been analysed. These reactions manifest the direct decay of $η$ meson bound in $^{3}\hspace{-0.03cm}\mbox{He}$ nucleus. This non-mesonic decay channel has been considered for the first time. When taking into account only statistical errors, the obtained excitation functions reveal a slight indication for a possible bound state signal corresponding to an $^3$He-$η$ nucleus width $Γ$ above 20 MeV and binding energy $B_s$ between 0 and 15 MeV. However, the determined cross sections are consistent with zero in the range of the systematic uncertainty. Therefore, as final result we estimate only the upper limit for the cross section of the $η$-mesic $^{3}\hspace{-0.03cm}\mbox{He}$ nucleus formation followed by the $η$ meson decay which varies between $2$ nb and $15$ nb depending on possible bound state parameters.

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Technical Design Report for the PANDA Endcap Disc DIRC

PANDA (anti-Proton ANnihiliation at DArmstadt) is planned to be one of the four main experiments at the future international accelerator complex FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) in Darmstadt, Germany. It is going to address fundamental questions of hadron physics and quantum chromodynamics using cooled antiproton beams with a high intensity and and momenta between 1.5 and 15 GeV/c. PANDA is designed to reach a maximum luminosity of 2x10^32 cm^2 s. Most of the physics programs require an excellent particle identification (PID). The PID of hadronic states at the forward endcap of the target spectrometer will be done by a fast and compact Cherenkov detector that uses the detection of internally reflected Cherenkov light (DIRC) principle. It is designed to cover the polar angle range from 5° to 22° and to provide a separation power for the separation of charged pions and kaons up to 3 standard deviations (s.d.) for particle momenta up to 4 GeV/c in order to cover the important particle phase space. This document describes the technical design and the expected performance of the novel PANDA Disc DIRC detector that has not been used in any other high energy physics experiment (HEP) before. The performance has been studied with Monte-Carlo simulations and various beam tests at DESY and CERN. The final design meets all PANDA requirements and guarantees suffcient safety margins.

physics.ins-det↗

Estimating relationship between the Time Over Threshold and energy loss by photons in plastic scintillators used in the J-PET scanner

Time-Over-Threshold (TOT) technique is being used widely due to its implications in developing the multi channel readouts mainly when fast signal processing is required. Using TOT technique as a measure of energy loss instead of charge integration methods significantly reduces the signals readout cost by combining the time and energy information. Therefore, this approach can potentially be used in J-PET tomograph which is build from plastic scintillators characterized by fast light signals. The drawback in adopting this technique is lying in the non-linear correlation between input energy loss and TOT of the signal. The main motivation behind this work is to develop the relationship between TOT and energy loss and validate it with the J-PET tomograph. The experiment was performed using the $^{22}$Na beta emitter source placed in the center of the J-PET tomograph. One can obtain primary photons of two different energies: 511 keV photon from the annihilation of positron (direct annihilation or through the formation of para-Positronim atom or pick-off process of ortho-Positronium atoms), and 1275 keV prompt photon. This allows to study the correlation between TOT values and energy loss for energy range up to 1000 keV. As the photon interacts dominantly via Compton scattering inside the plastic scintillator, there is no direct information of primary photon energy. However, using the J-PET geometry one can measure the scattering angle of the interacting photon. Since, $^{22}$Na source emits photons of two different energies, it is required to know unambiguously the energy of incident photons and its corresponding scattering angle for the estimation of energy deposition. In this work, the relationship between Time Over Threshold and energy loss by interacting photons inside the plastic scintillators used in J-PET scanner is established for a energy deposited range 100-1000 keV

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Performance assessment of the 2$γ$ positronium imaging with the total-body PET scanners

In living organisms the positron-electron annihilation (occurring during the PET imaging) proceeds in about 30% via creation of a metastable ortho-positronium atom. In the tissue, due to the pick-off and conversion processes, over 98% of ortho-positronia annihilate into two 511~keV photons. In this article we assess the feasibility for reconstruction of the mean ortho-positronium lifetime image based on annihilations into two photons. The main objectives of this work include: (i) estimation of the sensitivity of the total-body PET scanners for the ortho-positronium mean lifetime imaging using $2γ$ annihilations, and (ii) estimation of the spatial and time resolution of the ortho-positronium image as a function of the coincidence resolving time (CRT) of the scanner. Simulations are conducted assuming that radiopharmaceutical is labelled with $^{44}Sc$ isotope emitting one positron and one prompt gamma. The image is reconstructed on the basis of triple coincidence events. The ortho-positronium lifetime spectrum is determined for each voxel of the image. Calculations were performed for cases of total-body detectors build of (i) LYSO scintillators as used in the EXPLORER PET, and (ii) plastic scintillators as anticipated for the cost-effective total-body J-PET scanner. To assess the spatial and time resolution the three cases were considered assuming that CRT is equal to 140ps, 50ps and 10ps. The estimated total-body PET sensitivity for the registration and selection of image forming triple coincidences is larger by a factor of 12.2 (for LYSO PET) and by factor of 4.7 (for plastic PET) with respect to the sensitivity for the standard $2γ$ imaging by LYSO PET scanners with AFOV=20cm.

physics.ins-det↗

Study of Three-Nucleon Dynamics in the dp breakup collisions using the WASA detector

Differential cross section for the 1H(d,pp)n breakup reaction at deuteron beam energy of 340 MeV has been measured with the use of WASA detector at COSY-Juelich. The set of proton-proton coincidences registered at Forward Detector has been analysed on dense grid of kinematic variables, giving in total around 5600 data points. The cross section data are compared to theoretical predictions based on the state-of-the-art nucleon-nucleon potentials, combined with three-nucleon force, Coulomb interaction or carried out in a relativistic regime.

nucl-ex↗

Non-mesonic decay of the $η$-mesic $^{3}\hspace{-0.03cm}\mbox{He}$ via $pd\rightarrow(^{3}\hspace{-0.03cm}\mbox{He}$-$η)_{bound}\rightarrow$ $^{3}\hspace{-0.03cm}\mbox{He} 2γ(6γ$) reaction

In this article a theoretical model for the $η$-mesic $^{3}\hspace{-0.03cm}\mbox{He}$ non-mesonic decay channels is presented. We present the resultant relative momentum distribution of bound $^{3}\hspace{-0.03cm}\mbox{He}$-$η$ as well as in-medium branching ratios of $η\rightarrow 2γ$ and $η\rightarrow 3π^0$, which are crucial for the Monte Carlo simulations of measured processes and thus for the experimental data interpretation. As an example we also apply the model for the estimation of the detection efficiency of the WASA-at-COSY detector.

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Monte Carlo N-Particle simulations of an underwater chemical threats detection system using neutron activation analysis

In this paper we present Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulations of the system for underwater threat detection using neutron activation analysis developed in the SABAT project. The simulated system is based on a D-T neutron generator emitting 14~MeV neutrons without associated $α$ particle detection and equipped with a LaBr$_3$:Ce scintillation detector offering superior energy resolution and allowing for precise identification of activation $γ$ quanta. The performed simulations show that using the neutron activation analysis method with the designed geometry we are able to identify $γ$-rays from hydrogen, carbon, sulphur and chlorine originating from mustard gas in a sea water environment. Our results show that the most efficient way of mustard gas detection is to compare the integral peak ratio for Cl and H.

physics.ins-det↗

K$^-$ multi-nucleon absorption cross sections and branching ratios in $Λ$p and $Σ^0$p final states

The determination of low-energy cross sections and branching ratios of the K$^-$ multi-nucleon absorption processes in $Λ$p and $Σ^0$p final states performed by the AMADEUS collaboration is presented. Low momentum K$^-$ ($p_\mathrm{K} \simeq$ 127 MeV/c) produced at the DA$Φ$NE collider are impinged on a Carbon target within the KLOE detector and the two and three nucleon absorption processes are disentangled by comparing the experimental data to phenomenological calculations. The $Λ$p spectra are interpreted in terms of K$^-$ multi-nucleon absorption processes; the possible contribution of a K$^-$pp bound state is demonstrated to overlap with the two nucleon capture process, its absolute yield thus resulting indistinguishable.

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Simulation studies of annihilation-photon's polarisation via Compton scattering with the J-PET tomograph

J-PET is the first positron-emission tomograph (PET) constructed from plastic scintillators. It was optimized for the detection of photons from electron-positron annihilation. Such photons, having an energy of 511 keV, interact with electrons in plastic scintillators predominantly via the Compton effect. Compton scattering is at most probable at an angle orthogonal to the electric field vector of the interacting photon. Thus registration of multiple photon scatterings with J-PET enables to determine the polarization of the annihilation photons. In this contribution we present estimates on the physical limitation in the accuracy of the polarization determination of $511$~keV photons with the J-PET detector.

physics.ins-det↗

Feasibility study of the positronium imaging with the J-PET tomograph

A detection system of the conventional PET tomograph is set-up to record data from e+ e- annihilation into two photons with energy of 511 keV, and it gives information on the density distribution of a radiopharmaceutical in the body of the object. In this paper we explore the possibility of performing the three gamma photons imaging based on ortho-positronium annihilation, as well as the possibility of positronium mean lifetime imaging with the J-PET tomograph constructed from plastic scintillators. For this purposes simulations of the ortho-positronium formation and its annihilation into three photons were performed taking into account distributions of photons' momenta as predicted by the theory of quantum electrodynamics and the response of the J-PET tomograph. In order to test the proposed ortho-positronium lifetime image reconstruction method, we concentrate on the decay of the ortho-positronium into three photons and applications of radiopharmaceuticals labeled with isotopes emitting a prompt gamma quantum. The proposed method of imaging is based on the determination of hit-times and hit-positions of registered photons which enables the reconstruction of the time and position of the annihilation point as well as the lifetime of the ortho-positronium on an event-by-event basis. We have simulated the production of the positronium in a cylindrical phantom composed of a set of different materials in which the ortho-positronium lifetime varied from 2.0 ns to 3.0 ns, as expected for ortho-positronium created in the human body. The presented reconstruction method for total-body J-PET like detector allows to achieve a mean lifetime resolution of about 40 ps. Recent Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy measurements of cancerous and healthy uterine tissues show that this sensitivity may allow to study the morphological changes in cell structures.

physics.ins-det↗

Feasibility studies of the polarization of photons beyond the optical wavelength regime with the J-PET detector

J-PET is a detector optimized for registration of photons from the electron-positron annihilation via plastic scintillators where photons interact predominantly via Compton scattering. Registration of both primary and scattered photons enables to determinate the linear polarization of the primary photon on the event by event basis with a certain probability. Here we present quantitative results on the feasibility of such polarization measurements of photons from the decay of positronium with the J-PET and explore the physical limitations for the resolution of the polarization determination of 511 keV photons via Compton scattering. For scattering angles of about 82 deg (where the best contrast for polarization measurement is theoretically predicted) we find that the single event resolution for the determination of the polarization is about 40 deg (predominantly due to properties of the Compton effect). However, for samples larger than ten thousand events the J-PET is capable of determining relative average polarization of these photons with the precision of about few degrees. The obtained results open new perspectives for studies of various physics phenomena such as quantum entanglement and tests of discrete symmetries in decays of positronium and extend the energy range of polarization measurements by five orders of magnitude beyond the optical wavelength regime.

physics.ins-det↗

Commissioning of the J-PET detector in view of the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is the first PET device built from plastic scintillators. It is a multi-purpose detector designed for medical imaging and for studies of properties of positronium atoms in porous matter and in living organisms. In this article we report on the commissioning of the J-PET detector in view of studies of positronium decays. We present results of analysis of the positron lifetime measured in the porous polymer. The obtained results prove that J-PET is capable of performing simultaneous imaging of the density distribution of annihilation points as well as positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy.

physics.ins-det↗

A feasibility study of the time reversal violation test based on polarization of annihilation photons from the decay of ortho-Positronium with the J-PET detector

The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is a novel de- vice being developed at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland based on or- ganic scintillators. J-PET is an axially symmetric and high acceptance scanner that can be used as a multi-purpose detector system. It is well suited to pur- sue tests of discrete symmetries in decays of positronium in addition to medical imaging. J-PET enables the measurement of both momenta and the polarization vectors of annihilation photons. The latter is a unique feature of the J-PET detector which allows the study of time reversal symmetry violation operator which can be constructed solely from the annihilation photons momenta before and after the scattering in the detector.

physics.ins-det↗