arXiv subjects

S. Banik

Publications and source records attributed to S. Banik.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

First Dark Matter Constraints from a SuperCDMS Single-Charge Sensitive Detector

We present the first limits on inelastic electron-scattering dark matter and dark photon absorption using a prototype SuperCDMS detector having a charge resolution of 0.1 electron-hole pairs (CDMS HVeV, a 0.93 gram CDMS HV device). These electron-recoil limits significantly improve experimental constraints on dark matter particles with masses as low as 1 MeV/$\mathrm{c^2}$. We demonstrate a sensitivity to dark photons competitive with other leading approaches but using substantially less exposure (0.49 gram days). These results demonstrate the scientific potential of phonon-mediated semiconductor detectors that are sensitive to single electronic excitations.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

First and second-order dust-ion-acoustic rogue waves in non-thermal plasma

A nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) has been derived by employing reductive perturbation method for investigating the modulational instability of dust-ion-acoustic waves (DIAWs) in a four-component plasma having stationary negatively charged dust grains, inertial warm ions, and inertialess non-thermal electrons and positrons. It is observed that under consideration, the plasma system supports both modulationally stable and unstable domains, which are determined by the sign of the dispersive and nonlinear coefficients of NLSE, of the DIAWs. It is also found that the nonlinearity as well as the height and width of the first and second-order rogue waves increases with the non-thermality of electron and positron. The relevancy of our present investigation to the observations in space plasmas is pinpointed.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Simulation of neutron background for a dark matter search experiment at JUSL

Dark matter search experiments demand low to ultralow radiation background to operate. It is very important to understand the nature of the radiation background including knowledge about the sources contributing to it. Sometimes, evaluation of the background becomes very specific to the site chosen for the experiment, and also to the experimental configuration. A dark matter search experiment is proposed to be set up at the Jaduguda Underground Science Laboratory (JUSL) in India. The laboratory will be located inside an existing mine with 555 m of vertical rock overburden. Neutrons produced from $(α,n)$ reactions, spontaneous fission of natural radioactive impurities in the rocks, and also from cosmic muon induced reactions are considered as the main background which can affect the sensitivity and outcome of the experiment. In this work, simulations based on GEANT4 are done to understand both the radiogenic neutron background caused by natural radioactivity of the surrounding rock and the cosmogenic neutron background due to interaction of the deeply penetrating cosmic muons with the rock. The muon flux in the cavern is obtained to be $4.49(\pm0.25)\times10^{-7} $cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ and the fluxes of radiogenic and cosmogenic neutrons above an energy threshold of 1 MeV in the cavern are obtained to be $5.75(\pm0.58)\times10^{-6}$cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ and $7.25(\pm0.65)\times 10^{-9}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ respectively. The values obtained are comparable with estimates and measurements done for DAMA, WIPP and dark matter experiments at Boulby mine. The effectiveness of different shielding materials are also investigated to obtain the best possible neutron background reduction for a dark matter search experiment at JUSL. We also estimate the sensitivity of a CsI based detector for Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) dark matter search at JUSL considering the estimated neutron background.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2020

Modulational instability of ion-acoustic waves and associated envelope solitons in a multi-component plasma

A generalized plasma model having warm ions, iso-thermal electrons, super-thermal electrons and positrons is considered to theoretically investigate the modulational instability (MI) of ion-acoustic waves (IAWs). A standard nonlinear Schrödinger equation is derived by applying reductive perturbation method to study the MI of IAWs. It is observed that the MI criteria of the IAWs are significantly modified by various plasma parameters. The present results should be useful in understanding the conditions for MI of IAWs which are relevant to both space and laboratory plasma system.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2019

Production Rate Measurement of Tritium and Other Cosmogenic Isotopes in Germanium with CDMSlite

Future direct searches for low-mass dark matter particles with germanium detectors, such as SuperCDMS SNOLAB, are expected to be limited by backgrounds from radioactive isotopes activated by cosmogenic radiation inside the germanium. There are limited experimental data available to constrain production rates and a large spread of theoretical predictions. We examine the calculation of expected production rates, and analyze data from the second run of the CDMS low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) to estimate the rates for several isotopes. We model the measured CDMSlite spectrum and fit for contributions from tritium and other isotopes. Using the knowledge of the detector history, these results are converted to cosmogenic production rates at sea level. The production rates in atoms/(kg$\cdot$day) are 74$\pm$9 for $^3$H, 1.5$\pm$0.7 for $^{55}$Fe, 17$\pm$5 for $^{65}$Zn, and 30$\pm$18 for $^{68}$Ge.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Nuclear-recoil energy scale in CDMS II silicon dark-matter detectors

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS II) experiment aims to detect dark matter particles that elastically scatter from nuclei in semiconductor detectors. The resulting nuclear-recoil energy depositions are detected by ionization and phonon sensors. Neutrons produce a similar spectrum of low-energy nuclear recoils in such detectors, while most other backgrounds produce electron recoils. The absolute energy scale for nuclear recoils is necessary to interpret results correctly. The energy scale can be determined in CDMS II silicon detectors using neutrons incident from a broad-spectrum $^{252}$Cf source, taking advantage of a prominent resonance in the neutron elastic scattering cross section of silicon at a recoil (neutron) energy near 20 (182) keV. Results indicate that the phonon collection efficiency for nuclear recoils is $4.8^{+0.7}_{-0.9}$% lower than for electron recoils of the same energy. Comparisons of the ionization signals for nuclear recoils to those measured previously by other groups at higher electric fields indicate that the ionization collection efficiency for CDMS II silicon detectors operated at $\sim$4 V/cm is consistent with 100% for nuclear recoils below 20 keV and gradually decreases for larger energies to $\sim$75% at 100 keV. The impact of these measurements on previously published CDMS II silicon results is small.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Results from the Super Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (SuperCDMS) experiment at Soudan

We report the result of a blinded search for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) using the majority of the SuperCDMS Soudan dataset. With an exposure of 1690 kg days, a single candidate event is observed, consistent with expected backgrounds. This analysis (combined with previous Ge results) sets an upper limit on the spin-independent WIMP--nucleon cross section of $1.4 \times 10^{-44}$ ($1.0 \times 10^{-44}$) cm$^2$ at 46 GeV/$c^2$. These results set the strongest limits for WIMP--germanium-nucleus interactions for masses $>$12 GeV/$c^2$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Critical mass, moment of inertia and universal relations of rapidly rotating neutron stars with exotic matter

We calculate moment of inertia of neutron star with different exotic constituents such as hyperons and (anti)kaon condensates and study its variation with mass and spin frequency. The sets of equation of state, generated within the framework of relativistic mean field model with density-dependent couplings are adopted for the purpose. We follow the quasi-stationary evolution of rotating stars along the constant rest mass sequences, that varies considerably with different constituents in the equation of state. We also explore the universal relations associated with some of the normalised properties, such as critical mass and moment of inertia for specific EoS or as a matter of fact constituents of the dense matter. Deviations in the universal relations for moment of inertia are observed at higher compactness. This study presents important results concerning the properties of neutron stars, that could be observationally verified in the near future using Square Kilometer Array telescope.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

Melting of antikaon condensate in protoneutron stars

We study the melting of a $K^-$ condensate in hot and neutrino-trapped protoneutron stars. In this connection, we adopt relativistic field theoretical models to describe the hadronic and condensed phases. It is observed that the critical temperature of antikaon condensation is enhanced as baryon density increases. For a fixed baryon density, the critical temperature of antikaon condensation in a protoneutron star is smaller than that of a neutron star. We also exhibit the phase diagram of a protoneutron star with a $K^-$ condensate.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2008

Theoretical prediction and experimental study of a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy: Ga_2MnNi

We predict the existence of a new ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ga_2MnNi using density functional theory. The martensitic start temperature (T_M) is found to be approximately proportional to the stabilization energy of the martensitic phase (deltaE_tot) for different shape memory alloys. Experimental studies performed to verify the theoretical results show that Ga_2MnNi is ferromagnetic at room temperature and the T_M and T_C are 780K and 330K, respectively. Both from theory and experiment, the martensitic transition is found to be volume conserving that is indicative of shape memory behavior.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2008

Magnetoresistance behavior of a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy: Ni_1.75Mn_1.25Ga

A negative-positive-negative switching behavior of magnetoresistance (MR) with temperature is observed in a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ni_1.75Mn_1.25Ga. In the austenitic phase between 300 and 120 K, MR is negative due to s-d scattering. Curiously, below 120K MR is positive, while at still lower temperatures in the martensitic phase, MR is negative again. The positive MR cannot be explained by Lorentz contribution and is related to a magnetic transition. Evidence for this is obtained from ab initio density functional theory, a decrease in magnetization and resistivity upturn at 120 K. Theory shows that a ferrimagnetic state with anti-ferromagnetic alignment between the local magnetic moments of the Mn atoms is the energetically favoured ground state. In the martensitic phase, there are two competing factors that govern the MR behavior: a dominant negative trend up to the saturation field due to the decrease of electron scattering at twin and domain boundaries; and a weaker positive trend due to the ferrimagnetic nature of the magnetic state. MR exhibits a hysteresis between heating and cooling that is related to the first order nature of the martensitic phase transition.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

Investigation of unoccupied electronic states of LaCoO$_3$ and PrCoO$_3$ using inverse photoemission spectroscopy and GGA + $U$ calculations

The unoccupied electronic states of LaCoO$_3$ and PrCoO$_3$ are studied using room temperature inverse photoemission spectroscopy and \emph{ab initio} GGA+$\emph{U}$ band structure calculations. A fairly good agreement between experiment and theory is obtained. The intensity of the peak just above the Fermi-level is found to be very much sensitive to the hybridization of Co 3$d$ and O 2$p$ orbitals. Moreover, the band just above the Fermi-level is of Co 3$d$ character with little contribution from O 2$p$ states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Martensitic transition, ferrimagnetism and Fermi surface nesting in Mn_2NiGa

The electronic structure of Mn_2NiGa has been studied using density functional theory and photoemission spectroscopy. The lower temperature tetragonal martensitic phase with c/a= 1.25 is more stable compared to the higher temperature austenitic phase. Mn_2NiGa is ferrimagnetic in both phases. The calculated valence band spectrum, the optimized lattice constants and the magnetic moments are in good agreement with experiment. The majority-spin Fermi surface (FS) expands in the martensitic phase, while the minority-spin FS shrinks. FS nesting indicates occurrence of phonon softening and modulation in the martensitic phase.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

Optimal operating conditions and characteristics of acetone/CaF_2 detector for inverse photoemission spectroscopy

Performance and characteristics of a band-pass photon detector using acetone gas and CaF_2 window (acetone/CaF_2) have been studied and compared with an ethanol/MgF_2 detector. The optimal operating conditions are found to be 4 mbar acetone pressure and 745+/-20 V anode voltage. The count rate obtained by us is about a factor of 3 higher than what has been reported earlier for the acetone detector. Unlike other gas filled detectors, this detector works in the proportional region with very small dead time (4 micro sec). A detector band-pass of 0.48+/-0.01 eV FWHM is obtained.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Influence of Ni doping on the electronic structure of Ni_2MnGa

The modifications in the electronic structure of Ni_{2+x}Mn_{1-x}Ga by Ni doping have been studied using full potential linearized augmented plane wave method and ultra-violet photoemission spectroscopy. Ni 3d related electron states appear due to formation of Ni clusters. We show the possibility of changing the minority-spin DOS with Ni doping, while the majority-spin DOS remains almost unchanged. The total magnetic moment decreases with excess Ni. The total energy calculations corroborate the experimentally reported changes in the Curie temperature and the martensitic transition temperature with x.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗