arXiv subjects

V. V. Tikhomirov

Publications and source records attributed to V. V. Tikhomirov.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Beam Steering and Radiation Generation of Electrons in Bent Crystals in the Sub-GeV Domain

We present an investigation into beam steering and radiation emission by sub-GeV electrons traversing bent silicon crystals. Using 855, 600, and 300~MeV electron beams at the Mainz Microtron (MAMI), we explored orientational coherent effects and particle dynamics in a 15~$μ$m-thick crystal bent along the (111) planes. Combined experimental and simulation analyses enabled the classification and quantitative assessment of the contributions from channeling, dechanneling, rechanneling, and volume capture to both beam deflection and radiation emission. Crystal steering remained effective even at 300~MeV, with measured channeling efficiencies exceeding 50\%, a record at such low energy. Channeling and volume reflection enhanced radiation emission by up to a factor of six compared to the misaligned orientation, highlighting strong orientational coherence effects in the sub-GeV regime. These findings confirm the feasibility of using bent crystals for efficient beam manipulation and high-intensity photon generation at low energies, supporting the development of novel light sources and beam control strategies at accelerator facilities operating in this energy range.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2025

Investigation of Radiation Emitted by Sub GeV Electrons in Oriented Scintillator Crystals

The research investigates coherent interactions between sub-GeV electrons and oriented scintillator crystals, leading to enhanced electromagnetic (EM) radiation. Experiments at Mainz Mikrotron (MAMI) involved PWO, BGO, and CsI crystals oriented along $\langle100\rangle$, $\langle111\rangle$, and $\langle100\rangle$ axes. Enhanced radiation emission was observed when the beam aligned with crystal axes, especially in BGO and CsI for the first time. These findings are crucial for innovative detectors using oriented crystal scintillators, amplifying EM processes along specific crystallographic directions. Potential applications include ultra-compact, highly sensitive electromagnetic calorimeters for high-energy physics and astroparticles, as well as high-performance gamma detectors for nuclear physics and medical imaging.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

A highly-compact and ultra-fast homogeneous electromagnetic calorimeter based on oriented lead tungstate crystals

Progress in high-energy physics has been closely tied to the development of highperformance electromagnetic calorimeters. Recent experiments have demonstrated the possibility to significantly accelerate the development of electromagnetic showers inside scintillating crystals typically used in homogeneous calorimeters based on scintillating crystals when the incident beam is aligned with a crystallographic axis to within a few mrad. In particular, a reduction of the radiation length has been measured when ultrarelativistic electron and photon beams were incident on a high-Z scintillator crystal along one of its main axes. Here, we propose the possibility to exploit this physical effect for the design of a new type of compact e.m. calorimeter, based on oriented ultrafast lead tungstate (PWO-UF) crystals, with a significant reduction in the depth needed to contain electromagnetic showers produced by high-energy particles with respect to the state-of-the-art. We report results from tests of the crystallographic quality of PWO-UF samples via high-resolution X-ray diffraction and photoelastic analysis. We then describe a proof-of-concept calorimeter geometry defined with a Geant4 model including the shower development in oriented crystals. Finally, we discuss the experimental techniques needed for the realization of a matrix of scintillator crystals oriented along a specific crystallographic direction. Since the angular acceptance for e.m. shower acceleration depends little on the particle energy, while the decrease of the shower length remains pronounced at very high energy, an oriented crystal calorimeter will open the way for applications at the maximum energies achievable in current and future experiments. Such applications span from forward calorimeters, to compact beam dumps for the search for light dark matter, to source-pointing space-borne γ-ray telescopes.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

A Novel Tool for Advanced Analysis of Geant4 Simulations of Charged Particles Interactions in Oriented Crystals

We present a novel Python tool for the analysis of Geant4 simulations that enhances our understanding of coherent phenomena occurring during the interaction of charged particles with crystal planes. This tool compares the total energy of particles with the potential energy inside crystal channels, enabling a complete examination of coherent effects. By tracking the particle trajectory and classifying the dynamics at each simulation step, it provides deeper insights into how different phenomena contribute to both radiation and particle deflection. This tool can be used to improve crystal-based extraction methods and the development of gamma-ray sources using crystals.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Strong enhancement of electromagnetic shower development induced by high-energy photons in a thick oriented tungsten crystal

We have observed a significant enhancement in the energy deposition by $25$--$100~\mathrm{GeV}$ photons in a $1~\mathrm{cm}$ thick tungsten crystal oriented along its $\langle 111 \rangle$ lattice axes. At $100~\mathrm{GeV}$, this enhancement, with respect to the value observed without axial alignment, is more than twofold. This effect, together with the measured huge increase in secondary particle generation is ascribed to the acceleration of the electromagnetic shower development by the strong axial electric field. The experimental results have been critically compared with a newly developed Monte Carlo adapted for use with crystals of multi-$X_0$ thickness. The results presented in this paper may prove to be of significant interest for the development of high-performance photon absorbers and highly compact electromagnetic calorimeters and beam dumps for use at the energy and intensity frontiers.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Investigation on radiation generated by Sub-GeV electrons in ultrashort Si and Ge bent crystals

We report on the measurements of the spectra of gamma radiation generated by 855 MeV electrons in bent silicon and germanium crystals at MAMI (MAinzer MIkrotron). The crystals were 15 μm thick along the beam direction to ensure high deflection efficiency. Their (111) crystalline planes were bent by means of a piezo-actuated mechanical holder, which allowed to remotely change the crystal curvature. In such a way it was possible to investigate the radiation emitted under planar channeling and volume reflection as a function of the curvature of the crystalline planes. We show that using volume reflection, one can produce intense gamma radiation with comparable intensity but higher angular acceptance than for channeling. We studied the trade-off between radiation intensity and angular acceptance at different values of the crystal curvature. The measurements of radiation spectra have been carried out for the first time in bent Germanium crystals. In particular, the intensity of radiation in the Ge crystal is higher than in the Si one due to the higher atomic number, which is important for the development of the X-ray and gamma radiation sources based on higher-Z deformed crystals, such as crystalline undulator.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2019

Broad angular anisotropy of multiple scattering in a Si crystal

We observed reduction of multiple Coulomb scattering of 855 MeV electrons within a Si crystalline plate w.r.t. an amorphous plate with the same mass thickness. The reduction owed to complete or partial suppression of the coherent part of multiple scattering in a crystal vs crystal orientation with the beam. Experimental data were collected at Mainz Mikrotron and critically compared to theoretical predictions and Monte Carlo simulations. Our results highlighted maximal 7 % reduction of the r.m.s. scattering angle at certain beam alignment with the [100] crystal axes. However, partial reduction was recorded over a wide range of alignment of the electron beam with the crystal up to 15 deg. This evidence may be relevant to refine the modelling of multiple scattering in crystals for currently used software, which is interesting for detectors in nuclear, medical, high energy physics.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2018

Strong reduction of the effective radiation length in an axially oriented scintillator crystal

We measured a considerable increase of the emitted radiation by 120 GeV/c electrons in an axially oriented lead tungstate scintillator crystal, if compared to the case in which the sample was not aligned with the beam direction. This enhancement resulted from the interaction of particles with the strong crystalline electromagnetic field. The data collected at the external lines of CERN SPS were critically compared to Monte Carlo simulations based on the Baier Katkov quasiclassical method, highlighting a reduction of the scintillator radiation length by a factor of five in case of beam alignment with the [001] crystal axes. The observed effect opens the way to the realization of compact electromagnetic calorimeters/detectors based on oriented scintillator crystals in which the amount of material can be strongly reduced with respect to the state of the art. These devices could have relevant applications in fixed-target experiments as well as in satellite-borne gamma-telescopes.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Steering of Sub-GeV electrons by ultrashort Si and Ge bent crystals

We report the observation of the steering of 855 MeV electrons by bent silicon and germanium crystals at the MAinzer MIkrotron. 15 $μ$m long crystals, bent along (111) planes, were exploited to investigate orientational coherent effects. By using a piezo-actuated mechanical holder, which allowed to remotely change the crystal curvature, it was possible to study the steering capability of planar channeling and volume reflection vs. the curvature radius and the atomic number, Z. For silicon, the channeling efficiency exceeds 35 %, a record for negatively charged particles. This was possible due to the realization of a crystal with a thickness of the order of the dechanneling length. On the other hand, for germanium the efficiency is slightly below 10 % due to the stronger contribution of multiple scattering for a higher-Z material. Nevertheless this is the first evidence of negative beam steering by planar channeling in a Ge crystal. Having determined for the first time the dechanneling length, one may design a Ge crystal based on such knowledge providing nearly the same channeling efficiency of silicon. The presented results are relevant for crystal-based beam manipulation as well as for the generation of e.m. radiation in bent and periodically bent crystals.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2015

Planar channeling and quasichanneling oscillations in a bent crystal

Particles passing through a crystal under planar channeling experience transverse oscillations in their motion. As channeled particles approach the atomic planes of a crystal, they are likely to be dechanneled. This effect was used in ion-beam analysis with MeV energy. We studied this effect in a bent crystal for positive and negative particles within a wide range of energies in sight of application of such crystals at accelerators. We found the conditions for the appearance or not of channeling oscillations. Indeed a new kind of oscillations, strictly related to the motion of over-barrier particles, i.e. quasichanneling particles, has been predicted. Such oscillations, named planar quasichanneling oscillations, possess a different nature than channeling oscillations. Through computer simulation, we studied this effect and provided a theoretical interpretation for them. We show that channeling oscillations can be observed only for positive particles while quasichanneling oscillations can exist for particles with either sign. The conditions for experimental observation of channeling and quasichanneling oscillations at existing accelerators with available crystal has been found and optimized.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2015

Residual resistance simulation of an air spark gap switch

The numerical simulation of an air spark gap has been carried within two theoretical models. The kinetic one [1] allowed us to calculate time dependencies for the residual resistance (0.2 - 0.4 Ohm for our selection of a circuit parameters), the spark gap channel width, the electron number density, the mobility, the conductivity, the ionization degree, the magnetic field in the discharge channel, the channel inductance and the electron drift velocity. Simulating a real circuit and taking into account a spark gap residual resistance demonstrates good agreement of both models with the experimental data, while that without taking into account this resistance overestimates the maximal current in the circuit by approximately 5%.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2014

Experimental evidence of planar channeling in a periodically bent crystal

The usage of a Crystalline Undulator (CU) has been identified as a promising solution for generating powerful and monochromatic $γ$-rays. A CU was fabricated at SSL through the grooving method, i.e., by the manufacturing of a series of periodical grooves on the major surfaces of a crystal. The CU was extensively characterized both morphologically via optical interferometry at SSL and structurally via X-ray diffraction at ESRF. Then, it was finally tested for channeling with a 400 GeV/c proton beam at CERN. The experimental results were compared to Monte Carlo simulations. Evidence of planar channeling in the CU was firmly observed. Finally, the emission spectrum of the positron beam interacting with the CU was simulated for possible usage in currently existing facilities.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2014

Simulation of an axial vircator with a three-cavity resonator

We simulated an axial vircator with a three-cavity resonator and expected generation efficiency 6-7 percents. For adequate description of physical processes taking place inside a vircator we used two independent PIC codes: self-developed INPIC and free XOOPIC. Based on both the analysis of the vircator proposed in [1] and consideration of the devices operating at cathode-anode voltages under 450 kV we suggest 3 possible designs of a three-cavity resonator such that enable one to produce High Power Microwave in GW power range.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2013

Simulation of an Axial Vircator

An algorithm of particle-in-cell simulations is described and tested to aid further the actual design of simple vircators working on axially symmetric modes. The methods of correction of the numerical solution, have been chosen and jointly tested, allow the stable simulation of the fast nonlinear multiflow dynamics of virtual cathode formation and evolution, as well as the fields generated by the virtual cathode. The selected combination of the correction methods can be straightforwardly generalized to the case of axially nonsymmetric modes, while the parameters of these correction methods can be widely used to improve an agreement between the simulation predictions and the experimental data.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2013

Relativistic runaway electron breakdown and Terrestrial Gamma ray Flashes: GEANT4 simulation

Numerical simulation of a relativistic runaway electron breakdown in the upper atmosphere is performed using GEANT4 simulation toolkit. General features of a relativistic runaway electron avalanche are reconstructed and properties of radiations accompanying breakdown are obtained. It is demonstrated dependance of the high energy branch of photon spectra with respect to an altitude and shown what at the reasonable parameters hard photons have spectral index close to the observed value.

physics.ao-ph↗

arXiv2012

Two-dimensional model of intrinsic magnetic flux losses in helical flux compression generators

Helical Flux Compression Generators (HFCG) are used for generation of mega-amper current and high magnetic fields. We propose the two dimensional HFCG filament model based on the new description of the stator and armature contact point. The model developed enables one to quantitatively describe the intrinsic magnetic flux losses and predict the results of experiments with various types of HFCGs. We present the effective resistance calculations based on the non-linear magnetic diffusion effect describing HFCG performance under the strong conductor heating by currents.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2007

A narrow plane cut near the crystal surface increases the probability of capture into the stable channeling motion up to 99 percent

It is shown that a narrow plane cut near the crystal surface considerably increases the probability of capture into the stable channeling motion of positively charged particles entering a crystal at angles smaller than a quarter of the critical channeling angle with respect to the crystal planes. At smallest incidence angles the capture probability reaches 99 percent. A pair of crystals with cuts bent in orthogonal planes allows to reach a 99.9 percent efficiency of single-pass deflection of a proton beam with an ultra small divergence. Conditions necessary for efficient single-pass deflection of protons from the LHC beam halo are discussed.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2006

On the Possibility of the Strong Field QED Investigation at LHC

The interaction of high energy particles with atomic axes and planes allows to observe in crystal various effects predicted by the quantum electrodynamics of phenomena in strong electromagnetic field. In particular, the effect of electron-positron pair production by gamma-quanta in a semi-uniform field was observed for the first time in eightieth in CERN in the field of germanium crystal axes. The high energy of LHC drastically widens the possibilities of strong field QCD effect investigation in crystals allowing to observe vacuum dichroism and birefringence, electron radiative self-polarization and polarized electron-positron pair production by gamma-quanta, positron (electron) anomalous magnetic moment modification and electron spin rotation in crystal field harmonics. The effect of vacuum birefringence induced by strong electric field is considered in detail.

physics.acc-ph↗