SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

Yoshiki Wada

Publications and source records attributed to Yoshiki Wada.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Measurement of ambient neutrons in an underground laboratory at Kamioka Observatory and future plan

Ambient neutrons are one of the most serious backgrounds for underground experiments in search of rare events. The ambient neutron flux in an underground laboratory of Kamioka Observatory was measured using a $\mathrm{^3He}$ proportional counter with various moderator setups. Since the detector response largely depends on the spectral shape, the energy spectra of the neutrons transported from the rock to the laboratory were estimated by Monte-Carlo simulations. The ratio of the thermal neutron flux to the total neutron flux was found to depend on the thermalizing efficiency of the rock. Thus, the ratio of the count rate without a moderator to that with a moderator was used to determine this parameter. Consequently, the most-likely neutron spectrum predicted by the simulations for the parameters determined by the experimental results was obtained. The result suggests an interesting spectral shape, which has not been indicated in previous studies. The total ambient neutron flux is $(23.5 \pm 0.7 \ \mathrm{_{stat.}} ^{+1.9}_{-2.1} \ \mathrm{_{sys.}}) \times 10^{-6}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. In this paper, we explain our method of the result and discuss our future plan.

physics.ins-det

An On-Chip Quad-Wavelength Pyroelectric Sensor for Spectroscopic Infrared Sensing

Merging photonic structures and optoelectronic sensors into a single chip may yield a sensor-on-chip spectroscopic device that can measure the spectrum of matters. In this work, we propose and realize an on-chip concurrent multi-wavelength infrared (IR) sensor. The fabricated quad-wavelength IR sensors exhibit four different narrowband spectral responses at normal incidence following the pre-designed resonances in the mid-wavelength infrared region that corresponds to the atmospheric window. The device can be applied for practical spectroscopic applications such as non-dispersive IR sensors, IR chemical imaging devices, pyrometers, and spectroscopic thermography imaging.

physics.app-ph

Measurement of ambient neutrons in an underground laboratory at Kamioka Observatory

Ambient neutrons are one of the most serious backgrounds for underground experiments searching for rare events. The ambient neutron flux in an underground laboratory of Kamioka Observatory was measured using a $\mathrm{^3He}$ proportional counter with various moderator setups. Since the detector response largely depends on the spectral shape, the energy spectra of the neutrons transported from the rock to the laboratory are estimated by Monte-Carlo simulations. The ratio of the thermal neutron flux to the total neutron flux was found to depend on the thermalizing efficiency of the rock. Therefore, the ratio of the count rate without a moderator to that with a moderator was used to determine this parameter. Consequently, the most-likely neutron spectrum predicted by the simulations for the parameters determined by the experimental results was obtained. The result suggests an interesting spectral shape, which has not been indicated in previous studies. The total ambient neutron flux is $(23.52 \pm 0.68 \ \mathrm{_{stat.}} ^{+1.87}_{-2.13} \ \mathrm{_{sys.}}) \times 10^{-6}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. This result, especially the energy spectrum information, could be a new and important input for estimating the background in current and future experiments in the underground laboratory at Kamioka Observatory.

physics.ins-det