arXiv subjects

S. Robertson

Publications and source records attributed to S. Robertson.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Optical calibration systems of the Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment

This work presents the design and performance characterization of the optical calibration systems produced for the Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment (P-ONE), which target gain, energy and time calibration in the detector. These systems include novel light-pulse driver circuitry based on gallium nitride field-effect transistor technology and its application to directional and isotropic, self-monitoring optical calibration instruments. A total of 330 directional light pulsers and two isotropic, 17-inch calibration modules (P-CALs) were produced for the first P-ONE line. We present the designs and performance of both the directional and isotropic calibration devices and perform detailed optical characterizations of both full-production batches. In a wavelength range of $365 - 520\,$nm, our developed driver circuits achieve emission intensities up to $10^{11}\,$photons and pulse widths as small as $1.4\,$ns, respectively. Light-pulse drivers and self-monitoring electronics in the P-CAL were characterized using the same experimental setup, and the instrument's optical-isotropy design was optimized in combination with a dedicated GEANT4-based simulation framework. The optimized P-CAL achieves a simulated isotropy grade of $1.00 \pm 0.01$ across the entire $4\pi\,$solid angle range. These simulation investigations were explicitly confirmed by dedicated measurements in both air and water using two independent experimental setups, and we report the results. With this, a detailed performance estimate for deployed P-CAL modules in P-ONE was possible.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Long term study of sedimentation and biofouling at Cascadia Basin, the site of the Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment

STRings for Absorption Length in Water (STRAW)-a and b were pathfinder instruments deployed to characterize the anticipated site of the Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment (P-ONE), which is a future neutrino telescope that will be located in the North Pacific Ocean. Measurements of the evolution of the optical transmission efficiency from STRAW-a showed a decline over the detector's lifetime for the upward-facing modules. Video footage of the pathfinders strongly suggested this decline was caused by biofouling and sedimentation. We measure the effect of biofouling and sedimentation to be a decrease in the transparency of upward-facing optical surfaces over 5 years of operations. A majority of downward-facing optical surfaces, which will dominate P-ONE's sensitivity to astrophysical sources, showed no visible biofouling. Extrapolations motivated by biological growth models estimated that these losses started around 2.5 years after deployment, and suggest a reduction in transparency ranging from 35$\%$ of the original to complete obscuration for the upward-facing modules. Samples of biofouling were taken in order to identify the microbial diversity of these organisms and inform potential intervention strategies. Results of the microbial samples and a candidate anti-biofouling strategy that will be tested on upcoming P-ONE instruments are discussed.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Prototype acoustic positioning system for the Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment

We present the design and initial performance characterization of the prototype acoustic positioning system intended for the Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment. It comprises novel piezo-acoustic receivers with dedicated filtering- and amplification electronics installed in P-ONE instruments and is complemented by a commercial system comprised of cabled and autonomous acoustic pingers for sub-sea installation manufactured by Sonardyne Ltd. We performed an in-depth characterization of the acoustic receiver electronics and their acoustic sensitivity when integrated into P-ONE pressure housings. These show absolute sensitivities of up to $-125\,$dB re V$^2/\mu$Pa$^2$ in a frequency range of $10-40\,$kHz. We furthermore conducted a positioning measurement campaign in the ocean by deploying three autonomous acoustic pingers on the seafloor, as well as a cabled acoustic interrogator and a P-ONE prototype module deployed from a ship. Using a simple peak-finding detection algorithm, we observe high accuracy in the tracking of relative ranging times at approximately $230-280\,\mu$s at distances of up to $1600\,$m, which is sufficient for positioning detectors in a cubic-kilometer detector and which can be further improved with more involved detection algorithms. The tracking accuracy is further confirmed by independent ranging of the Sonardyne system and closely follows the ship's drift in the wind measured by GPS. The absolute positioning shows the same tracking accuracy with its absolute precision only limited by the large uncertainties of the deployed pinger positions on the seafloor.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Measuring the Neutrino Cross Section Using 8 years of Upgoing Muon Neutrinos Observed with IceCube

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory detects neutrinos at energies orders of magnitude higher than those available to current accelerators. Above 40 TeV, neutrinos traveling through the Earth will be absorbed as they interact via charged current interactions with nuclei, creating a deficit of Earth-crossing neutrinos detected at IceCube. The previous published results showed the cross section to be consistent with Standard Model predictions for 1 year of IceCube data. We present a new analysis that uses 8 years of IceCube data to fit the $\nu_\mu$ absorption in the Earth, with statistics an order of magnitude better than previous analyses, and with an improved treatment of systematic uncertainties. It will measure the cross section in three energy bins that span the range 1 TeV to 100 PeV. We will present Monte Carlo studies that demonstrate its sensitivity.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

The Next-Generation Radio Neutrino Observatory -- Multi-Messenger Neutrino Astrophysics at Extreme Energies

RNO is the mid-scale discovery instrument designed to make the first observation of neutrinos from the cosmos at extreme energies, with sensitivity well beyond current instrument capabilities. This new observatory will be the largest ground-based neutrino telescope to date, enabling the measurement of neutrinos above $10^{16}$ eV, determining the nature of the astrophysical neutrino flux that has been measured by IceCube at higher energies, similarly extending the reach of multi-messenger astrophysics to the highest energies, and enabling investigations of fundamental physics at energies unreachable by particle accelerators on Earth.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Farewell to black hole horizons and singularities?

We consider the fundamental issues which dominate the question about the existence or non-existence of black hole horizons and singularities from both of the theoretical and observational points of view, and discuss some of the ways that black hole singularities can be prevented from forming at a classical level, i.e. without arguments of quantum gravity. In this way, we argue that black holes could have a different nature with respect the common belief. In fact, even remaining very compact astrophysics objects, they could be devoid of horizons and singularities. Our analysis represents a key point within the debate on the path to unification of theories. As recently some scientists partially retrieved the old Einstein's opinion that quantum mechanics has to be subjected to a more general deterministic theory, a way to find solutions to the problem of black hole horizons and singularities at a semi-classical level, i.e. without discussions of quantum gravity, becomes a fundamental framework.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2008

Proceedings of SuperB Workshop VI: New Physics at the Super Flavor Factory

The sixth SuperB Workshop was convened in response to questions posed by the INFN Review Committee, evaluating the SuperB project at the request of INFN. The working groups addressed the capability of a high-luminosity flavor factory that can gather a data sample of 50 to 75 /ab in five years to elucidate New Physics phenomena unearthed at the LHC. This report summarizes the results of the Workshop.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

B, D and K decays

With the advent of the LHC, we will be able to probe New Physics (NP) up to energy scales almost one order of magnitude larger than it has been possible with present accelerator facilities. While direct detection of new particles will be the main avenue to establish the presence of NP at the LHC, indirect searches will provide precious complementary information, since most probably it will not be possible to measure the full spectrum of new particles and their couplings through direct production. In particular, precision measurements and computations in the realm of flavour physics are expected to play a key role in constraining the unknown parameters of the Lagrangian of any NP model emerging from direct searches at the LHC. The aim of Working Group 2 was twofold: on one hand, to provide a coherent, up-to-date picture of the status of flavour physics before the start of the LHC; on the other hand, to initiate activities on the path towards integrating information on NP from high-pT and flavour data.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

A CH3CN and HCO+ survey towards southern methanol masers associated with star formation

We present the initial results of a 3-mm spectral line survey towards 83 methanol maser selected massive star-forming regions. Here we report observations of the J=5-4 and 6-5 rotational transitions of methyl cyanide (CH3CN) and the J=1-0 transition of HCO+and H13CO+. CH3CN emission is detected in 58 sources (70 %) of our sample). We estimate the temperature and column density for 37 of these using the rotational diagram method. The temperatures we derive range from 28-166 K, and are lower than previously reported temperatures, derived from higher J transitions. We find that CH3CN is brighter and more commonly detected towards ultra-compact HII (UCHII) regions than towards isolated maser sources. Detection of CH3CN towards isolated maser sources strongly suggests that these objects are internally heated and that CH3CN is excited prior to the UCHII phase of massive star-formation. HCO+ is detected towards 82 sources (99 % of our sample), many of which exhibit asymmetric line profiles compared to H13CO+. Skewed profiles are indicative of inward or outward motions, however, we find approximately equal numbers of red and blue-skewed profiles among all classes. Column densities are derived from an analysis of the HCO+ and H13CO+ line profiles. 80 sources have mid-infrared counterparts: 68 seen in emission and 12 seen in absorption as `dark clouds'. Seven of the twelve dark clouds exhibit asymmetric HCO+ profiles, six of which are skewed to the blue, indicating infalling motions. CH3CN is also common in dark clouds, where it has a 90 % detection rate.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Report of Snowmass 2001 Working Group E2 : Electron-positron Colliders from the $ϕ$ to the Z

We report on the status and plans of experiments now running or proposed for electron-positron colliders at energies between the $ϕ$ and the Z. The $e^{+}e^{-}$ B and charm factories we considered were PEP-II/BABAR, KEKB/Belle, superKEK, SuperBABAR, and CESR-c/CLEO-c. We reviewed the programs at the $ϕ$ factory at Frascati and the proposed PEP-N facility at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. We studied the prospects for B physics with a dedicated linear collider Z factory, associated with the TESLA high energy linear collider. In all cases, we compared the physics reach of these facilities with that of alternative experiments at hadron colliders or fixed target facilities.

hep-ex↗