arXiv subjects

Philipp Schmidt-Wellenburg

Publications and source records attributed to Philipp Schmidt-Wellenburg.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Construction and characterization of a muon trigger detector for the PSI muEDM experiment

We present the upgraded design, construction, and beam test results for the Muon Trigger Detector (MTD) developed for the muon Electric Dipole Moment (muEDM) experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland. This experiment aims to improve the sensitivity of the muon EDM measurement by more than three orders of magnitude beyond the current limit established by the BNL Muon $g-2$ experiment. Precise identification of storable incoming muons at the entrance of the storage solenoid is essential, as the MTD must rapidly trigger a pulsed magnetic kicker to confine muons in the central region of the solenoid, where a weakly focusing magnetic field is maintained. The MTD comprises two subsystems: a \SI{0.1}{mm}-thick plastic scintillator ``gate detector'' read out by four silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and a \SI{5}{mm}-thick CNC-machined plastic scintillator ``active aperture detector'' read out by six SiPMs. The geometry of the active aperture detector was optimized through acceptance studies to maximize both storage efficiency and background veto efficiency. Integrated fast electronics generate an LVTTL trigger signal under an anti-coincidence condition -- a muon detected in the gate but not in the aperture -- ensuring selective triggering of storable muon events for the EDM measurement. The system was tested at the PSI $π$E1 beamline using \SI{22.5}{MeV/\textit{c}} muons under scaled-down conditions to characterize detector response and trigger performance. A Geant4 simulation incorporating detailed optical photon transport and SiPM response modeling was developed and reproduces the measured event topologies with ${\sim}97\%$ agreement. These results validate the detector design and demonstrate the MTD's readiness for deployment in the full muEDM Phase-1 setup.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Experimental search for electric dipole moments of light radioactive nuclei

We discuss a search for the electric dipole moment (EDM) of a light beta-radioactive ion using a compact ion trap by adapting the "frozen-spin" method. The measurement will be done on ions stripped of their valence electrons, thereby bypassing the significant Schiff screening that hinders the application of successful contemporary EDM searches using heavy neutral atoms and molecules to light nuclei. We identified $^8$Li as the most promising candidate for a proof-of-concept EDM search and we estimate that the current indirect proton EDM limit of a few $10^{-25} e\cdot$cm set by $^{199}$Hg measurements can be surpassed with a week of measurement time at existing facilities.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Bayesian optimization of beam injection and storage in the PSI muEDM Experiment

The muEDM experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute aims to measure the electric dipole moment with an unprecedented sensitivity of $6 \times 10^{-23}\,\mathrm{e}\cdot\mathrm{cm}$. A key aspect of this experiment is the injection and storage of the muon beam, which traverses a long, narrow superconducting channel before entering a solenoid magnet. The muon is then kicked by a pulsed magnetic field into a stable orbit within the solenoid's central region, where the electric dipole moment is measured. To study the beam injection and storage process, we developed a G4beamline simulation to model the dynamics of beam injection and storage, incorporating all relevant electric and magnetic fields. We subsequently employed a Bayesian optimization technique to improve the muon storage efficiency for Phase I of the muEDM experiment. The optimization is demonstrated using data simulated by G4beamline. We have observed an enhancement in the beam injection and storage efficiency, which increased to 0.556\% through the utilization of Bayesian optimization with Gaussian processes, compared to 0.324\% when employing the polynomial chaos expansion. This approach can be applied to adjust actual experimental parameters, aiding in achieving the desired performance for beam injection and storage in the muEDM experiment.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2025

Beam test performance of a prototype muon trigger detector for the PSI muEDM experiment

We report on the performance evaluation of a prototype muon trigger detector for the PSI muEDM experiment, conducted as a proof-of-principle test at the $π$E1 beamline of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) using \SI{27.5}{MeV/c} muons. The detector is designed to identify muons within the acceptance phase space of a compact storage solenoid and activate a pulsed magnetic kicker for muon storage; it was tested without the application of a magnetic field. It comprises a telescope made up of four scintillators in anticoincidence with a gate scintillator, all read out by silicon photomultipliers. The study focused on characterizing the detector's response to various muon trajectories and the light yield of its plastic scintillators. Experimental results demonstrated strong agreement with Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations that incorporate optical photon modeling, confirming the detector's concept and its potential for meeting the stringent requirements of the muEDM experiment.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Development of Fast Front-End Electronics for the Muon Trigger Detector in the PSI muEDM Experiment

This paper outlines the design and development of a fast front-end electronic readout board for the muon trigger detector in the muEDM experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute. The trigger detector, which consists of a gate and aperture detector, is strategically located at the end of the superconducting injection channel to generate trigger signals for a magnetic kicker, which activates upon the injection of muons into the central region of the storage solenoid. Within the magnetic field of the solenoid, the system configuration is optimized to meet stringent performance specifications, including minimal signal propagation delays, high detection efficiency, non-magnetic properties, and consistent operational stability under varying experimental conditions. Additionally, the design incorporates robust methods for rejecting positron contamination in the muon beamline. The results presented include performance evaluations from both bench testing and actual beam tests, highlighting the effectiveness and reliability of the electronic design.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

Status of the muEDM experiment at PSI

Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) are excellent probes of physics beyond the Standard Model, especially on new sources of CP violation. The muon EDM has recently attracted significant attention due to discrepancies in the magnetic anomaly of the muon, as well as potential violations of lepton-flavor universality in B-meson decays. At the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland, we have proposed a muon EDM search experiment employing the frozen-spin technique, where a radial electric field is exerted within a storage solenoid to cancel the muon's anomalous spin precession. Consequently, the EDM signal can be inferred from the upstream-downstream asymmetry of the decay positron count versus time. The experiment is planned to take place in two phases, anticipating an annual statistical sensitivity of $3\times10^{-21}$ $e\cdot$cm for Phase~I, and $6\times10^{-23}$ $e\cdot$cm for Phase~II. Going beyond $10^{-21}$ $e\cdot$cm will enable us to probe various Standard Model extensions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Systematic effects in the search for the muon electric dipole moment using the frozen-spin technique

At the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) we are developing a high precision instrument to measure the muon electric dipole moment (EDM). The experiment is based on the frozen-spin method in which the spin precession induced by the anomalous magnetic moment is suppressed, thus increasing the signal-to-noise ratio for EDM signals to achieve a sensitivity otherwise unattainable using conventional $g-2$ muon storage rings. The expected statistical sensitivity for the EDM after a year of data taking is $6\times 10^{-23} e\cdot$cm with the $p = 125$ MeV/c muon beam available at the PSI. Reaching this goal necessitates a comprehensive analysis on spurious effects that mimic the EDM signal. This work discusses a quantitative approach to study systematic effects for the frozen-spin method when searching for the muon EDM. Equations for the motion of the muon spin in the electromagnetic fields of the experimental system are analytically derived and validated by simulation.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

muEDM: Towards a search for the muon electric dipole moment at PSI using the frozen-spin technique

The search for a permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of the muon is an excellent probe for physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. We propose the first dedicated muon EDM search employing the frozen-spin technique at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland, with a sensitivity of $6 \times 10^{-23}~e\!\cdot\!\mathrm{cm}$, improving the current best limit set by the E821 experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory by more than three orders of magnitude. In preparation for a high precision experiment to measure the muon EDM, several R&D studies have been performed at PSI: the characterisation of a possible beamline to host the experiment for the muon beam injection study and the measurement of the multiple Coulomb scattering of positrons in potential detector materials at low momenta for the positron tracking scheme development. This paper discusses experimental concepts and the current status of the muEDM experiment at PSI.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

The search for the neutron electric dipole moment at PSI

The existence of a nonzero permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron would reveal a new source of CP violation and shed light on the origin of the matter--antimatter asymmetry of the Universe. The sensitivity of current experiments using stored ultracold neutrons (UCN) probes new physics beyond the TeV scale. Using the UCN source at the Paul Scherrer Institut, the nEDM collaboration has performed the most sensitive measurement of the neutron EDM to date, still compatible with zero ($|d_n|<1.8\times 10^{-26} \, e {\rm cm}$, C.L.90%). A new experiment designed to improve the sensitivity by an order of magnitude, n2EDM, is currently in construction.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Search for electric dipole moments

Searches for permanent electric dipole moments of fundamental particles and systems with spin are the experiments most sensitive to new CP violating physics and a top priority of a growing international community. We briefly review the current status of the field emphasizing on the charged leptons and lightest baryons.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

PicoTesla absolute field readings with a hybrid 3He/87Rb magnetometer

We demonstrate the use of a hybrid $^{3}$He / $^{87}$Rb magnetometer to measure absolute magnetic fields in the pT range. The measurements were undertaken by probing time-dependent $^3$He magnetisation using $^{87}$Rb zero-field magnetometers. Measurements were taken to demonstrate the use of the magnetometer in cancelling residual fields within a magnetic shield. It was shown that the absolute field could be reduced to the 10 pT level by using field readings from the magnetometer. Furthermore, the hybrid magnetometer was shown to be applicable for the reduction of gradient fields by optimising the effective $^3$He $T_2$ time. This procedure represents a convenient and consistent way to provide a near zero magnetic field environment which can be potentially used as a base for generating desired magnetic field configurations for use in precision measurements.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Combined explanations of $(g-2)_{μ,e}$ and implications for a large muon EDM

With the long-standing tension between experiment and Standard-Model (SM) prediction in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, $a_μ=(g-2)_μ/2$, at the level of 3-4$σ$, it is natural to ask if there could be a sizable effect in the electric dipole moment (EDM) $d_μ$ as well. In this context it has often been argued that in UV complete models the electron EDM, which is very precisely measured, excludes a large effect in $d_μ$. However, the recently observed 2.5$σ$ tension in $a_e=(g-2)_e/2$, if confirmed, requires that the muon and electron sectors effectively decouple to avoid constraints from $μ\to eγ$. We briefly discuss UV complete models that possess such a decoupling, which can be enforced by an Abelian flavor symmetry $L_μ-L_τ$. We show that, in such scenarios, there is no reason to expect a correlation between the electron and muon EDM, so that the latter can be sizable. New limits on $d_μ$ improved by up to two orders of magnitude are expected from the upcoming $(g-2)_μ$ experiments at Fermilab and J-PARC. Beyond, a proposed dedicated muon EDM experiment at PSI could further advance the limit. In this way, future improved measurements of $a_e$, $a_μ$, as well as the fine-structure constant $α$ are not only set to provide exciting precision tests of the SM, but, in combination with EDMs, to reveal crucial insights into the flavor structure of physics beyond the SM.

hep-ph↗