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R. M. Gunasingha

Publications and source records attributed to R. M. Gunasingha.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2010

Search Capability for $η\to ν_{e,τ}\barν_{e,τ}$ Decays in Cubic Kilometer Neutrino Detectors

We investigate the discovery potential of cubic kilometer neutrino observatories such as IceCube to set stringent limits on the forbidden decays $η\toν_e\barν_e$ and $η\toν_τ\barν_τ$. The signatures for these decays are cascade events resulting from the charged-current reactions of $ν_e, ν_τ$, $\barν_e$ and $\barν_τ$ on nuclei in such detectors. Background cascade events are mainly due to $ν_e$'s from atmospheric $μ$, $K^+$, and $K^{0}_S$ decays and to a lesser extent from atmospheric $ν_μ$ neutral current interactions with nuclei. A direct upper limit for the branching ratio $η\to ν_{e,τ} \barν_{e,τ}$ of $4.5\times10^{-4}$ at 90% CL can be achieved.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2010

Calibration and Characterization of the IceCube Photomultiplier Tube

Over 5,000 PMTs are being deployed at the South Pole to compose the IceCube neutrino observatory. Many are placed deep in the ice to detect Cherenkov light emitted by the products of high-energy neutrino interactions, and others are frozen into tanks on the surface to detect particles from atmospheric cosmic ray showers. IceCube is using the 10-inch diameter R7081-02 made by Hamamatsu Photonics. This paper describes the laboratory characterization and calibration of these PMTs before deployment. PMTs were illuminated with pulses ranging from single photons to saturation level. Parameterizations are given for the single photoelectron charge spectrum and the saturation behavior. Time resolution, late pulses and afterpulses are characterized. Because the PMTs are relatively large, the cathode sensitivity uniformity was measured. The absolute photon detection efficiency was calibrated using Rayleigh-scattered photons from a nitrogen laser. Measured characteristics are discussed in the context of their relevance to IceCube event reconstruction and simulation efforts.

astro-ph.IM↗
arXiv2009

Cosmic Ray Proton Background Could Explain ATIC Electron Excess

We show that the excess in the Galactic electron flux recently published by Chang, et al. (Nature, 20 Nov. 2008) can have a simple methodical origin due to a contribution from misidentified proton induced electron-like events in the ATIC detector. A subtraction of the cosmic ray proton component from the published ATIC electron flux eliminates this excess in the range of 300 to 800 GeV.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2007

Relative abundances of cosmic ray nuclei B-C-N-O in the energy region from 10 GeV/n to 300 GeV/n. Results from ATIC-2 (the science flight of ATIC)

The ATIC balloon-borne experiment measures the energy spectra of elements from H to Fe in primary cosmic rays from about 100 GeV to 100 TeV. ATIC is comprised of a fully active bismuth germanate calorimeter, a carbon target with embedded scintillator hodoscopes, and a silicon matrix that is used as the main charge detector. The silicon matrix produces good charge resolution for protons and helium but only partial resolution for heavier nuclei. In the present paper, the charge resolution of ATIC was improved and backgrounds were reduced in the region from Be to Si by using the upper layer of the scintillator hodoscope as an additional charge detector. The flux ratios of nuclei B/C, C/O, N/O in the energy region from about 10 GeV/nucleon to 300 GeV/nucleon obtained from this high-resolution, high-quality charge spectra are presented, and compared with existing theoretical predictions.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2003

Search for $π^0 \to ν_μ\barν_μ$ Decay in LSND

We observe a net beam-excess of $8.7 \pm 6.3$ (stat) $\pm 2.4$ (syst) events, above 160 MeV, resulting from the charged-current reaction of $ν_μ$ and/or $\barν_μ$ on C and H in the LSND detector. No beam related muon background is expected in this energy regime. Within an analysis framework of $π^0 \to ν_μ\barν_μ$, we set a direct upper limit for this branching ratio of $Γ(π^0 \to ν_μ\barν_μ) / Γ(π^0 \to all) < 1.6 \times 10^{-6}$ at 90% confidence level.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2001

Measurements of Charged Current Reactions of $ν_e$ on $^{12}C$

Charged Current reactions of $ν_e$ on $^{12}C$ have been studied using a $μ^+$ decay-at-rest $ν_e$ beam at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. The cross section for the exclusive reaction $^{12}C(ν_e,e^-)^{12}N_{g.s.}$ was measured to be $(8.9\pm0.3\pm0.9)\times10^{-42}$ cm$^2$. The observed energy dependence of the cross section and angular distribution of the outgoing electron agree well with theoretical expectations. Measurements are also presented for inclusive transitions to $^{12}N$ excited states, $^{12}C(ν_e,e^-)^{12}N^*$ and compared with theoretical expectations. The measured cross section, $(4.3\pm0.4\pm0.6)\times10^{-42}$ cm$^2$, is somewhat lower than previous measurements and than a continuum random phase approximation calculation. It is in better agreement with a recent shell model calculation.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2001

Evidence for Neutrino Oscillations from the Observation of Electron Anti-neutrinos in a Muon Anti-Neutrino Beam

A search for muon anti-neutrino to electron anti-neutrino oscillations was conducted by the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center using muon anti-neutrinos from positive muon decay at rest. A total excess of 87.9 +/- 22.4 +/- 6.0 events consistent with electron anti-neutrino plus proton scattering to positron plus neutron was observed above the expected background. This excess corresponds to an oscillation probability of (0.264 +/- 0.067 +/- 0.045), which is consistent with an earlier analysis. In conjunction with other known limits on neutrino oscillations, the LSND data suggest that neutrino oscillations occur in the 0.2-10 eV^2/c^4 Delta-m^2 range, indicating a neutrino mass greater than 0.4 eV/c^2.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2001

Measurement of electron-neutrino electron elastic scattering

The cross section for the elastic scattering reaction nu_e+e- -> nu_e+e- was measured by the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector using a mu+ decay-at-rest nu_e beam at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. The standard model of electroweak physics predicts a large destructive interference between the charge current and neutral current channels for this reaction. The measured cross section, sigma_{nu_e e-}=[10.1 +- 1.1(stat.) +- 1.0(syst.)]x E_{nu_e} (MeV) x 10^{-45} cm^2, agrees well with standard model expectations. The measured value of the interference parameter, I=-1.01 +- 0.13(stat.) +- 0.12(syst.), is in good agreement with the standard model expectation of I^{SM}=-1.09. Limits are placed on neutrino flavor-changing neutral currents. An upper limit on the muon-neutrino magnetic moment of 6.8 x 10^{-10} mu_{Bohr} is obtained using the nu_mu and \bar{nu}_mu fluxes from pi+ and mu+ decay.

hep-ex↗
arXiv1997

Evidence for nu_mu -> nu_e Neutrino Oscillations from LSND

A search for nu_mu -> nu_e oscillations has been conducted with the LSND apparatus at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility. Using nu_mu from pi^+ decay in flight, the nu_e appearance is detected via the charged-current reaction C(nu_e,e^-)X. Two independent analyses observe a total of 40 beam-on high-energy electron events (60 < E_e < 200 MeV) consistent with the above signature. This number is significantly above the 21.9 +- 2.1 events expected from the nu_e contamination in the beam and the beam-off background. If interpreted as an oscillation signal, the observed oscillation probability of (2.6 +- 1.0 +- 0.5) x 10^{-3} is consistent with the previously reported nu_mu_bar -> nu_e_bar oscillation evidence from LSND.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1997

Evidence for nu_mu -> nu_e Oscillations from Pion Decay in Flight Neutrinos

A search for nu_mu -> nu_e oscillations has been conducted at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility using nu_mu from pi^+ decay in flight. An excess in the number of beam-related events from the C(nu_e,e^-)X inclusive reaction is observed. The excess is too large to be explained by normal nu_e contamination in the beam at a confidence level greater than 99%. If interpreted as an oscillation signal, the observed oscillation probability of (2.6 +- 1.0 +- 0.5) x 10^{-3} is consistent with the previously reported nu_mu_bar -> nu_e_bar oscillation evidence from LSND.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1997

Measurements of the reactions 12C + nu_e -> e- + 12N g.s. and 12C + nu_e -> e- + 12N

Charged current reactions of nu_e on 12C have been studied using a mu decay-at-rest nu_e beam from the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility. More than 500 events from the exclusive reaction 12C + nu_e -> e- + 12N g.s. were measured in a large Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND). The observed energy dependence of the cross section and the angular distribution of the outgoing electron agree well with theoretical expectations. Measurements are also presented for inclusive transitions to 12N excited states, 12C + nu_e -> e- + 12N and compared with theoretical expectations. Results are consistent with a recent Continuum Random Phase Approximation (CRPA) calculation.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1997

Measurements of the reactions 12C + nu_mue -> mu- + 12N g.s. and 12C + nu_mu -> mue- + 12N

Charged current scattering of nu_mu on 12C has been studied using a pi+ decay-in-flight nu_mu beam at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility. A sample of 56.8 +- 9.6 events satisfying criteria for the exclusive reaction 12C + nu_mu -> mu- + 12N_g.s. was obtained using the large Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND). The observed flux-averaged cross section, (6.6 +- 1.0 +- 1.0) x 10^-41 cm^2, agrees well with reliable theoretical expectations. A measurement was also obtained for the inclusive cross section to all accessible 12N states, 12C + nu_μ-> mu- + X. This flux-averaged cross section is (11.2 +- 0.3 +- 1.8)x 10^-40 cm^2, which is approximately half of that given by a recent Continuum Random Phase Approximation (CRPA) calculation.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1996

Evidence for $\barν_μ\to\barν_e$ Oscillations from the LSND Experiment at LAMPF

A search for $\barν_μ\to \barν_{e}$ oscillations has been conducted at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility by using $\barν_μ$ from $μ^+$ decay at rest. The $\barν_e$ are detected via the reaction $\barν_e\,p \rightarrow e^{+}\,n$, correlated with a $γ$ from $np\rightarrow dγ$ ($2.2\,{\rm MeV}$). The use of tight cuts to identify $e^+$ events with correlated $γ$ rays yields 22 events with $e^+$ energy between 36 and $60\,{\rm MeV}$ and only $4.6 \pm 0.6$ background events. A fit to the $e^+$ events between 20 and $60\,{\rm MeV}$ yields a total excess of $51.8^{+18.7}_{-16.9} \pm 8.0$ events. If attributed to $\bar ν_μ\rightarrow \bar ν_e$ oscillations, this corresponds to an oscillation probability of ($0.31^{+0.11}_{-0.10} \pm 0.05$)\%.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1996

The Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector and LAMPF Neutrino Source

A search for neutrino oscillations of the type nu_bar_mu to nu_bar_e has been conducted at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility using nu_bar_mu from muon decay at rest. Evidence for this transition has been reported previously. This paper discusses in detail the experimental setup, detector operation and neutrino source, including aspects relevant to oscillation searches in the muon decay-at-rest and pion decay in flight channels.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1996

Evidence for Neutrino Oscillations from Muon Decay at Rest

A search for nu_bar_mu to nu_bar_e oscillations has been conducted at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility using nu_bar_mu from mu+ decay at rest. The nu_bar_e are detected via the reaction (nu_bar_e,p) -> (e+,n), correlated with the 2.2 MeV gamma from (n,p) -> (d,gamma). The use of tight cuts to identify e+ events with correlated gamma rays yields 22 events with e+ energy between 36 and 60 MeV and only 4.6 (+/- 0.6) background events. The probability that this excess is due entirely to a statistical fluctuation is 4.1E-08. A chi^2 fit to the entire e+ sample results in a total excess of 51.8 (+18.7) (-16.9) (+/- 8.0) events with e+ energy between 20 and 60 MeV. If attributed to nu_bar_mu -> nu_bar_e oscillations, this corresponds to an oscillation probability (averaged over the experimental energy and spatial acceptance) of 0.0031 (+0.0011) (-0.0010) (+/- 0.0005).

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1995

Candidate Events in a Search for Muon Antineutrino to Electron Antineutrino Oscillations

A search for $\nuebar$'s in excess of the number expected from conventional sources has been made using the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector, located 30 m from a proton beam dump at LAMPF. A $\nuebar$ signal was detected via the reaction $\nuebar\,p \rightarrow e^{+}\,n$ with $e^+$ energy between 36 and $60\mev$, followed by a $γ$ from $np\rightarrow dγ$ ($2.2\mev$). Using strict cuts to identify $γ$'s correlated with positrons results in a signal of 9 events, with an expected background of $2.1 \pm 0.3$. A likelihood fit to the entire $e^+$ sample yields a total excess of $16.4^{+9.7}_{-8.9}\pm 3.3$ events, where the second uncertainty is systematic. If this excess is attributed to neutrino oscillations of the type $\numubar\rightarrow\nuebar$, it corresponds to an oscillation probability of ($0.34^{+0.20}_{-0.18}\pm 0.07$)\%.

nucl-ex↗