arXiv subjects

R. Dey

Publications and source records attributed to R. Dey.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Rare Event Searches Using Cryogenic Detectors via Direct Detection Methods

Cryogenic detectors are at the forefront of rare-event search experiments, including direct detection of dark matter, coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering, neutrinoless double-beta decay, and searches for fractionally charged particles. Their unique ability to achieve ultra-low energy thresholds, typically O(eV-100 eV), together with excellent energy resolution and effective background suppression, makes them sensitive to extremely faint signals from rare interactions. These rare particle interactions produce phonons, ionization, or scintillation, depending on the target medium, which are registered by specialized sensors and converted into measurable signals. This review summarizes the underlying detection principles, surveys major experiments and recent results, examines forthcoming initiatives, and outlines the evolving role of cryogenic detectors in advancing the frontiers of rare-event physics.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

CE$\nu$NS Search with Cryogenic Sapphire Detectors at MINER: Results from the TRIGA reactor data and Future Sensitivity at HFIR

We report on a search for coherent elastic neutrino--nucleus scattering (CE$\nu$NS) using cryogenic sapphire (Al$_2$O$_3$) detectors deployed at the Mitchell Institute Neutrino Experiment at Reactor (MINER), located near the 1~MW$_\text{th}$ TRIGA research reactor at Texas A\&M University. The experiment operated with a primary detector mass of 72~g and achieved a baseline energy resolution of $\sim 40$~eV. Using exposures of 158~g-days (reactor-on) and 381~g-days (reactor-off), we performed a statistical background subtraction in the energy region of 0.25--3~keV. A GEANT4 simulation has been performed to understand the reactor-correlated background present in the data and it agrees with our observations. The resulting best-fit ratio of the observed CE$\nu$NS rate to the Standard Model prediction after rejecting the reactor induced background from the data with the help of simulation, is $\rho = 0.26\pm 1534.74~\mathrm{(stat)} \pm 0.05~\mathrm{(sys)}$ with a significance of $0.007 \pm 0.022~\mathrm{(stat)} \pm 0.001~\mathrm{(sys)}$. This low significance indicates a high background rate at low energies. To have enhanced sensitivity, the MINER collaboration plans to relocate the experiment to the 85~MW$_\text{th}$ High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). With improved shielding, increased detector mass, and higher antineutrino flux, the upgraded setup is projected to achieve a 3$\sigma$ CE$\nu$NS detection within 30~kg$\cdot$days of exposure.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Study of neutron response using time of flight technique in ISMRAN detector

We report the measurements of the fast neutron energy response in Indian Scintillator Matrix for Reactor Anti-Neutrinos (ISMRAN) detector consisting of an array of 9$\times$10 Plastic Scintillator Bars (PSBs) at BARC, Mumbai. ISMRAN is an above ground detector setup at $\sim$13 m from the Dhruva reactor core for the detection of reactor anti-neutrinos (${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e}$) via the inverse beta decay (IBD) process. The dominant sources of reactor-related background in the vicinity of the detector are high energy $\gamma$-rays and fast neutrons. Therefore, a good understanding of fast neutron response in PSB is an essential pre-requisite for suppression and discrimination of the fast neutron background from IBD events. Kinetic energies of the fast neutron were determined using the Time-of-Flight (TOF) technique, which is used to get the scintillation light yield due to recoiling proton in PSB. We also measured the fast neutron capture time distribution in ISMRAN array using a novel technique involving TOF of the measured fast neutrons. The observed characteristic neutron capture time ( $\tau$ ) of 68.29 $\pm$ 9.48 $\mu$s is in good agreement with GEANT4 based MC simulation. These experimentally measured results will be useful for discriminating correlated and uncorrelated (accidental) background events from the true IBD events in reactor ON and OFF conditions inside the reactor hall.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

MINER Reactor Based Search for Axion-Like Particles Using Sapphire (Al2O3) Detectors

The absence of definitive results for WIMP dark matter has sparked growing interest in alternative dark matter candidates, such as axions and Axion-Like Particles (ALPs), which also provide insight into the strong CP problem. The Mitchell Institute Neutrino Experiment at Reactor (MINER), conducted at the Nuclear Science Center of Texas A&M University, investigated ALPs near a 1 MW TRIGA nuclear reactor core, positioned approximately 4 meters away. This experiment employed cryogenic sapphire detectors with a low detection threshold (approximately 100 eV), equipped with a Transition Edge Sensor capable of detecting athermal phonons. Due to the low-background environment, we were able to exclude ALPs with axion-photon coupling and axion-electron coupling as small as $g_{a\gamma\gamma} = 10^{-5}$ and $g_{aee} = 10^{-7}$, respectively. Energy depositions below 3 keV were not considered and remain blinded for our Coherent Elastic Neutrino Nucleus Scattering (CEvNS) analysis. This is the first result demonstrating the MINER experiment's potential to probe low-mass ALPs, enabled by its low-threshold detector and proximity to a reactor.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Coupling of Alfv\'en and magnetosonic waves in rotating Hall magnetoplasmas

We study the linear theory of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves, namely the Alfv{\'e}n and the fast and slow magnetosonic modes in a rotating Hall-MHD plasma with the effects of the obliqueness of the external magnetic field and the Coriolis force and show that these waves can be coupled either by the influence of the Coriolis force or the Hall effects. To this end, we derive a general form of the linear dispersion relation for these coupled modes by the combined influence of the Coriolis force and the Hall effects and analyze numerically their characteristics in three different plasma-$\beta$ regimes: $\beta\sim1$, $\beta>1$, and $\beta<1$, including some particular cases. We show that while the coupling between the Alfv{\'e}n and the fast magnetosonic modes is strong in the low-$\beta$ $(\beta\lesssim1)$ regime and the wave dispersion appears in the form of a thumb curve, in the high-$\beta~(\beta>1)$ regime, the strong coupling can occur between the Alfv{\'e}n and the slow magnetosonic modes and the dispersion appears in the form of a teardrop curve. Switching of the coupling in the regime of $\beta\sim1$ can occur, i.e., instead of a thumb curve, a teardrop curve appears when the obliqueness of propagation and rotational angle are close to $70^\circ$ or more (but less than $90^\circ$). Implications of our results to solar and fusion plasmas are briefly discussed.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of cosmic muon-induced neutron background with ISMRAN detector in a non-reactor environment

The Indian Scintillator Matrix for Reactor Anti-Neutrinos (ISMRAN) is an above-ground, very short baseline reactor anti-neutrino (${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e}$) experiment, located inside the Dhruva research reactor facility, Mumbai, India. The primary goal of the ISMRAN experiment is the indirect detection of reactor ${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e}$ through an inverse beta decay (IBD) process, using a cluster of 90 optically segmented plastic scintillator detectors, weighing $\sim$1 ton. In this work, we present the neutron capture time response and energy deposition of neutron capture signals generated by cosmic muons in the ISMRAN geometry, and we compare these experimental results with Geant4-based Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The obtained mean capture time of fast neutrons is 74.46 $\pm$ 5.98 $\mathrm{\mu}$s and is comparable with the MC simulation results. The efficiency-corrected rate of muon-induced neutron background inside the ISMRAN geometry, due to the presence of a passive shielding structure of 10 cm lead followed by 10 cm borated polyethylene with a surface area of 600 $\mathrm{cm^{2}}$, deployed on top of the ISMRAN setup, is reported to be 1334 $\pm$ 64 (stat.) $\pm$ 70 (sys.) per day. This result shows good agreement with the expected background rate from MC simulations using Geant4. We also estimate the muon-induced fast-neutron rate in the ISMRAN geometry for the actual shielding configuration of 9000 $\mathrm{cm^{2}}$ surface area to be 3335 $\pm$ 160 (stat.) $\pm$ 175 (sys.) neutrons $\mathrm{day^{-1}}$ through an extrapolation, after incorporating the model dependent acceptance correction factor from the Geant4 MC simulation. Finally, using these results, we evaluate the neutron production yield due to the composite shielding in the ISMRAN geometry, which is 2.81$\times$$\mathrm{10^{-5}}$ neutrons per $\mu$ per (g/$\mathrm{cm^{2}}$) at sea level.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2024

Rayleigh-Taylor instability in inhomogeneous relativistic classical and degenerate electron-ion magnetoplasmas

We study the Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) of electrostatic plane wave perturbations in compressible relativistic magnetoplasma fluids with thermal ions under gravity in three different cases of when (i) electrons are in isothermal equilibrium, i.e., classical or nondegenerate, (ii) electrons are fully degenerate (with $T_e=0$), and (iii) electrons are partially degenerate or have finite temperature degeneracy (with $T_e\neq0$). While in the cases of (i) and (iii), we focus on the regimes where the particle's thermal energy is more or less than the rest mass energy, i.e., $\beta_e \equiv k_{\mathrm B}T_e/{m_ec^2}<1~\rm{or}~>1$, the case (ii) considers from weakly to ultra-relativistic degenerate regimes. A general expression of the growth rate of instability is obtained and analyzed in the three different cases relevant to laboratory and astrophysical plasmas, which generalize and advance the previous theory on RTI.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2023

Sterile neutrino searches with reactor antineutrinos using coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering experiments

We present an analysis on the sensitivity to the active-sterile neutrino mixing with Germanium (Ge) and Silicon (Si) detectors in the context of the proposed coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus experiment in India. The study has been carried out with 3 (active) $+$ 1 (sterile) neutrino oscillation model. It is observed that the measurements that can be carried out with the Ge detector exhibit better sensitivity to the active-sterile neutrino mixing as compared to the Si detector. Both detectors are able to exclude most of the anomaly regions observed by the GALLIUM experiment. The Ge detector with mass 10 kg, can observe the active-sterile neutrino oscillation at 95$\%$ confidence level, provided that $\sin^{2}2\theta_{14}\geq 0.09$ at $\Delta m^{2}_{41}$ = 1.0 eV$^{2}$ for an exposure of 1-yr. At higher values of $\Delta m^{2}_{41}$, a better sensitivity is obtained at a short baseline. It is also found that the threshold as well as resolution of the detectors play a crucial role on the measurements of active-sterile neutrino mixing parameters.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Ion-acoustic solitons in a relativistic Fermi plasma at finite temperature

The theory of ion-acoustic solitons in nonrelativistic fully degenerate plasmas and nonrelativistic and ultra-relativistic degenerate plasmas at low temperatures is known. We consider a multi-component relativistic degenerate electron-positron-ion plasma at finite temperatures. Specifically, we focus on the intermediate region where the particle's thermal energy $(k_BT)$ and the rest-mass energy $(mc^2)$ do not differ significantly, i.e., $k_BT\sim mc^2$. However, the Fermi energy $(k_BT_F)$ is larger than the thermal energy and the normalized chemical energy ($\xi=\mu/k_BT$) is positive and finite. Two different parameter regimes with $\beta\equiv k_BT/mc^2<1$ and $\beta>1$, relevant for astrophysical plasmas, are defined, and the existence of small amplitude ion-acoustic solitons in these regimes are studied, including the critical cases where the known KdV (Korteweg-de Vries) theory fails. We show that while the solitons with both the positive (compressive) and negative (rarefactive) potentials coexist in the case of $\beta<1$, only compressive solitons can exist in the other regime $(\beta>1)$. Furthermore, while the rarefactive solitons within the parameter domains of $\beta$ and $\xi$ can evolve with increasing amplitude and hence increasing energy, the energy of compressive solitons reaches a steady state.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2022

Background measurements and detector response studies for ISMRAN experiment

We report the measurement of the non-reactor environmental backgrounds and the detector response with the Indian Scintillator Matrix for Reactor Anti-Neutrinos (ISMRAN), which is $\sim$1 ton detector setup by volume, consisting of 10$\times$9 (10 rows and 9 columns) Plastic Scintillator Bars (PSBs) array at BARC, Mumbai, India. ISMRAN is an above-ground anti-neutrino ($\mathrm{\overline\nu_{e}}$) experiment at very short baseline located at Dhruva research reactor facility. It is enclosed by a shielding made of 10 cm thick lead and 10 cm thick borated polyethylene to minimize the backgrounds and is mounted on a movable base structure, situated at $\sim$ 13 m away from the reactor core. These measurements are useful in the context of the ISMRAN detector setup that will be used to detect the reactor $\mathrm{\overline\nu_{e}}$ and measure its energy spectrum through the inverse beta decay (IBD) process. In this paper, we present the energy resolution model and energy non-linearity model of PSB and the cosmogenic muon-induced background, based on the sum of their energy depositions and number of hit bars. Reconstructed sum energy spectrum and number of hit bars distribution for $\mathrm{{}^{22}Na}$ radioactive source has been compared with Geant4 based Monte Carlo simulations. These experimentally measured results will be useful for discriminating the correlated and uncorrelated background events from the true IBD events in reactor ON and OFF conditions inside the reactor hall.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Evaluation of the response of plastic scintillator bars and measurement of neutron capture time in non-reactor environment for the ISMRAN experiment

We present a detailed study on detector response to different radioactive sources and the measurements of non-reactor environmental backgrounds with the Indian Scintillator Matrix for Reactor Anti-Neutrinos (ISMRAN) detector setup consisting of 9$\times$10 Plastic Scintillator Bars (PSBs) array at BARC, Mumbai. These measurements are useful in the context of the ISMRAN detector setup, which will be used to detect the reactor anti-neutrinos (${\bar{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e}$) and measure its energy spectra, through the inverse beta decay (IBD) process. A GEANT4 based Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is used to understand the optical transmission, energy resolution and energy non-linearity of the ISMRAN detector. A detailed analysis procedure has been developed to understand the natural radioactive, cosmogenic and cosmic muon-induced backgrounds with the ISMRAN detector setup in a non-reactor environment, based on their energy deposition, number of bars hit as well as topological event selection criteria in position and time for triggered events. Data and MC simulated distributions of reconstructed sum energy and number of bars hit has been compared for the radioactive $\gamma$ + positron source such as $\mathrm{{}^{22}Na}$ placed at the center of the ISMRAN array. Fast neutron energy response and capture time distribution in ISMRAN array has been studied using a novel technique involving Time of Flight (TOF) of the measured fast neutrons. The observed characteristic neutron capture time ( $\tau$ ) of 68.29 $\pm$ 9.48 $\mu$s is in good agreement with $\sim$65 $\mu$s obtained from MC simulation. These experimentally measured results will be useful for discriminating the correlated and uncorrelated background events from the true IBD events in reactor ON and OFF conditions inside the reactor hall.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Measurements using a prototype array of plastic scintillator bars for reactor based electron anti-neutrino detection

We report measurement of reactor based electron anti-neutrinos from a prototype array of plastic scintillator bars ( mini-ISMRAN ) located inside Dhruva research reactor hall, BARC. The detector setup took data for 128 days for reactor on (RON) and 51 days for reactor off (ROFF) condition. A detailed analysis procedure is developed to select the anti-neutrino candidate events based on the energy deposition, number of bars hit as well as topological event selection criteria in position and time. Each of these selection criteria are compared with Monte Carlo based simulations and further an embedding technique is used to estimate the efficiencies from a data driven background study. The obtained anti-neutrino like events in RON condition are 218 $\pm$ 50 (stat) $\pm$ 37 (sys) after background subtraction. The obtained results are compared with theoretical estimation which yields 214 $\pm$ 32 (sys) anti-neutrino events for the RON condition.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2021

Cosmic ray measurements using the ISMRAN setup in a non-reactor environment

The cosmic rays data collected using a large area plastic scintillator array ISMRAN (Indian Scintillator Matrix for Reactor AntiNeutrino) are presented. The data collected serve as a useful benchmark of cosmogenic background in a non-reactor environment for the future measurements of electron-antineutrinos to be performed using the ISMRAN setup. The zenith angle distribution of the atmospheric muons has been measured and compared with Monte Carlo expectations. The detector setup was further used to measure the lifetime distribution of stopped muons and extract their rates inside the detector matrix. The measured spectra of decaying muons and associated electrons show a good agreement with the MC simulations performed through GEANT4 simulation.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2021

Characterization of plastic scintillator bars using fast neutrons from D-D and D-T reactions

We report results of fast neutron response in plastic scintillator (PS) bars from deuterium-deuterium (D-D) and deuterium-tritium (D-T) reactions using Purnima Neutron Generator Facility, BARC, Mumbai. These measurements are useful in context of Indian Scintillator Matrix for Reactor Anti-Neutrino (ISMRAN) detection, an array of 10x10 PS bars, used to measure reactor anti-neutrinos through inverse beta decay (IBD) signal. ISMRAN detector, an above-ground experiment close to the reactor core (~13m), deals with an active fast neutron background inside the reactor hall. A good understanding of fast neutron response in PS bars is an essential pre-requisite for suppression and discrimination of fast neutron background from IBD events. A monoenergetic neutron beam from the fusion reaction of D-D at 2.45 MeV and D-T at 14.1 MeV are used to characterize the energy response in these bars. The neutron energy response function has been simulated using the GEANT4 package and are compared with the measured data. A reasonable agreement of deposited energies by fast neutrons in PS bars between data and simulation are obtained for these reactions. The ratio of energy deposition in adjacent bars is used to discriminate between prompt IBD, fast neutron and neutron capture cascade gamma events.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Laser induced suppression of transmission in magnetically strained black phosphorus

Charge transport through a rectangular vector potential barrier modulated by a continuum laser in monolayer phosphorene is studied theoretically in the ballistic regime along the line of Floquet formalism. Laser free transmission profile displays strong directional behavior exhibiting collimation depending on the incident energy and width of the barrier. However, the application of laser, polarized along the zig-zag direction, creates a sharp anti-resonance in the transmission spectrum and reveals a strong light matter interaction due to broken symmetry in presence of the magnetic vector potential. Transmission properties through a vector barrier are found to be sensitive particularly for lower frequency and higher intensity of the laser. For a thin barrier, the laser assisted conductance is suppressed remarkably in contrast to its oscillatory nature for a thicker one.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Interaction and propagation characteristics of two counter and co-propagating Mach cones in a dusty plasma

We theoretically investigate the interaction and propagation characteristics of two co/counter propagating Mach cones triggered by two projectile particles moving with supersonic velocities in the same/opposite directions through a dusty plasma medium. The Mach cone solutions are obtained by solving a model set of fluid equations for a heavily charged dust fluid that includes the contributions of the projectile particles in the Poisson equation. The density profiles and velocity vector maps of the Mach wings show interesting structural changes when they interact with each other and form patterns similar to interference fringes. Compared to the co-propagating Mach cones, the wings of counter propagating Mach cones produce a larger number of maxima and minima in the pattern resulting from their mutual interaction. In addition the time duration of the formation of two maxima or minima at a particular point decreases due to the interactions of Mach cones. Another notable feature is that the spacing between adjacent maxima increases while the fringe angle decreases with the increase of relative velocity of the counter propagating projectile particles.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Effect of polarization force on the Mach cones in a complex plasma

We report the modifications of compressional Mach cone propagation characteristics due to \textcolor{black}{the} polarization force acting on micron size dust particles embedded in a non-uniform plasma. We solve the hydrodynamic fluid equations for highly charged dust particles to investigate the Mach cone by incorporating the polarization force in the momentum equation and observe the structural change on lateral wakes at different polarization force for a given Mach number and Epstein drag force. We also notice that the maximum amplitude of normalized dust density perturbation decreases with the increase of polarization interaction when the other parameters remain constant.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Dynamics of compressional Mach cones in a strongly coupled complex plasma

Using a Generalised-Hydrodynamic (GH) fluid model we study the influence of strong coupling induced modification of the fluid compressibility on the dynamics of compressional Mach cones in a dusty plasma medium. A significant structural change of lateral wakes for a given Mach number and Epstein drag force is found in the strongly coupled regime. With the increase of fluid compressibility, the peak amplitude of the normalised perturbed dust density first increases and then decreases monotonically after reaching its maximum value. It is also noticed that the opening angle of the cone structure decreases with the increase of the compressibility of the medium and the arm of the Mach cone breaks up into small structures in the velocity vector profile when the coupling between the dust particles increases.

physics.plasm-ph↗