246 research outputs found
The background in the neutrinoless double beta decay experiment GERDA
The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment at the Gran Sasso underground
laboratory (LNGS) of INFN is searching for neutrinoless double beta decay of
76Ge. The signature of the signal is a monoenergetic peak at 2039 keV, the
Q-value of the decay, Q_bb. To avoid bias in the signal search, the present
analysis does not consider all those events, that fall in a 40 keV wide region
centered around Q_bb. The main parameters needed for the neutrinoless double
beta decay analysis are described. A background model was developed to describe
the observed energy spectrum. The model contains several contributions, that
are expected on the basis of material screening or that are established by the
observation of characteristic structures in the energy spectrum. The model
predicts a flat energy spectrum for the blinding window around Q_bb with a
background index ranging from 17.6 to 23.8*10^{-3} counts/(keV kg yr). A part
of the data not considered before has been used to test if the predictions of
the background model are consistent. The observed number of events in this
energy region is consistent with the background model. The background at Q-bb
is dominated by close sources, mainly due to 42K, 214Bi, 228Th, 60Co and alpha
emitting isotopes from the 226Ra decay chain. The individual fractions depend
on the assumed locations of the contaminants. It is shown, that after removal
of the known gamma peaks, the energy spectrum can be fitted in an energy range
of 200 kev around Q_bb with a constant background. This gives a background
index consistent with the full model and uncertainties of the same size
Status of the GERDA experiment
The study of neutrinoless double beta (0nbb) decay is the only one presently known approach to the fundamental question if the neutrino is a Majorana particle, i.e. its own anti-particle. The observation of 0nbb decay would prove that lepton number is not conserved, establish that neutrino has a Majorana component and, assuming that light neutrino is the dominating process, provide a method for the determination of its effective mass. GERDA is a new 0nbb decay experiment which is currently taking data at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of INFN in Italy. It implements a new shielding concept by operating bare diodes made from Ge with enriched 76Ge in high purity liquid argon supplemented by a water shield. The aim of GERDA is to verify or refute the recent claim of discovery, and, in a second phase, to achieve a two orders of magnitude lower background index than past experiments, to increase the sensitive mass and to collect an exposure of 100 kg yr. The paper will discuss design, physics reach, and status of data taking of GERDA.JRC.D.4-Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguard
Price assymetry in the Dutch retail gasoline market
This paper analyses retail price adjustments in the Dutch gasoline market. We estimate an asymmetric error correction model on weekly price changes for the years 1996 to 2001. We construct five datasets, one for each working day. The conclusions on asymmetric pricing are shown to differ over these datasets, suggesting that the choice of the day for which prices are observed matters more than commonly believed. In our view, the insufficient robustness of outcomes might explain the mixed conclusions found in the literature. Using two approaches, we also show that the effect of asymmetry on Dutch consumer costs is negligible
The recognition of early developmental stages in haemopoiesis
Almost all tissues of multicellular organisms contain cells which
have the capacity to change their proliferative activity according to
the demand. Some tissues show little or no cellular turnover under
normal steady state conditions, but they can switch to a regeneration
process in response to perturbation (e.g., mechanical injury). In
other tissues, there is continuous cell production to compensate for
cell loss due to the continuous utilization of functional cells even
under normal conditions. Variation in demand is met by variation in
the rate of cell production. The cells which generate offspring
throughout life in the continuously renewing tissues are usually designated
as stem cells. Stem cells are capable of extensive proliferation
which results in new stem cells as well as differentiating cells.
The most extensively studied stem cell systems in vertebrates are
those of the epidermis, the intestinal epithelium, the testis and the
haemopoietic tissues. These systems are commonly used for investigations
on the mechanisms of cellular differentiation. In comparison to
differentiation processes during embryogenesis, the organization of
the stem cell systems in the adult is relatively simple. In adulthood,
differentiation is restricted to one or to a limited number of cell
types, while, in embryogenesis, differentiation into a large variety
of tissues takes plac
Low exposure long-baseline neutrino oscillation sensitivity of the DUNE experiment
The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) will produce world-leading
neutrino oscillation measurements over the lifetime of the experiment. In this
work, we explore DUNE's sensitivity to observe charge-parity violation (CPV) in
the neutrino sector, and to resolve the mass ordering, for exposures of up to
100 kiloton-megawatt-years (kt-MW-yr). The analysis includes detailed
uncertainties on the flux prediction, the neutrino interaction model, and
detector effects. We demonstrate that DUNE will be able to unambiguously
resolve the neutrino mass ordering at a 3 (5) level, with a 66
(100) kt-MW-yr far detector exposure, and has the ability to make strong
statements at significantly shorter exposures depending on the true value of
other oscillation parameters. We also show that DUNE has the potential to make
a robust measurement of CPV at a 3 level with a 100 kt-MW-yr exposure
for the maximally CP-violating values \delta_{\rm CP}} = \pm\pi/2.
Additionally, the dependence of DUNE's sensitivity on the exposure taken in
neutrino-enhanced and antineutrino-enhanced running is discussed. An equal
fraction of exposure taken in each beam mode is found to be close to optimal
when considered over the entire space of interest
Identification and reconstruction of low-energy electrons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector
Measurements of electrons from interactions are crucial for the Deep
Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) neutrino oscillation program, as well as
searches for physics beyond the standard model, supernova neutrino detection,
and solar neutrino measurements. This article describes the selection and
reconstruction of low-energy (Michel) electrons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector.
ProtoDUNE-SP is one of the prototypes for the DUNE far detector, built and
operated at CERN as a charged particle test beam experiment. A sample of
low-energy electrons produced by the decay of cosmic muons is selected with a
purity of 95%. This sample is used to calibrate the low-energy electron energy
scale with two techniques. An electron energy calibration based on a cosmic ray
muon sample uses calibration constants derived from measured and simulated
cosmic ray muon events. Another calibration technique makes use of the
theoretically well-understood Michel electron energy spectrum to convert
reconstructed charge to electron energy. In addition, the effects of detector
response to low-energy electron energy scale and its resolution including
readout electronics threshold effects are quantified. Finally, the relation
between the theoretical and reconstructed low-energy electron energy spectrum
is derived and the energy resolution is characterized. The low-energy electron
selection presented here accounts for about 75% of the total electron deposited
energy. After the addition of lost energy using a Monte Carlo simulation, the
energy resolution improves from about 40% to 25% at 50~MeV. These results are
used to validate the expected capabilities of the DUNE far detector to
reconstruct low-energy electrons.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figure
Snowmass Neutrino Frontier: DUNE Physics Summary
The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment with a primary physics goal of observing neutrino and antineutrino oscillation patterns to precisely measure the parameters governing long-baseline neutrino oscillation in a single experiment, and to test the three-flavor paradigm. DUNE's design has been developed by a large, international collaboration of scientists and engineers to have unique capability to measure neutrino oscillation as a function of energy in a broadband beam, to resolve degeneracy among oscillation parameters, and to control systematic uncertainty using the exquisite imaging capability of massive LArTPC far detector modules and an argon-based near detector. DUNE's neutrino oscillation measurements will unambiguously resolve the neutrino mass ordering and provide the sensitivity to discover CP violation in neutrinos for a wide range of possible values of δCP. DUNE is also uniquely sensitive to electron neutrinos from a galactic supernova burst, and to a broad range of physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM), including nucleon decays. DUNE is anticipated to begin collecting physics data with Phase I, an initial experiment configuration consisting of two far detector modules and a minimal suite of near detector components, with a 1.2 MW proton beam. To realize its extensive, world-leading physics potential requires the full scope of DUNE be completed in Phase II. The three Phase II upgrades are all necessary to achieve DUNE's physics goals: (1) addition of far detector modules three and four for a total FD fiducial mass of at least 40 kt, (2) upgrade of the proton beam power from 1.2 MW to 2.4 MW, and (3) replacement of the near detector's temporary muon spectrometer with a magnetized, high-pressure gaseous argon TPC and calorimeter
Snowmass Neutrino Frontier: DUNE Physics Summary
The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation
long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment with a primary physics goal of
observing neutrino and antineutrino oscillation patterns to precisely measure
the parameters governing long-baseline neutrino oscillation in a single
experiment, and to test the three-flavor paradigm. DUNE's design has been
developed by a large, international collaboration of scientists and engineers
to have unique capability to measure neutrino oscillation as a function of
energy in a broadband beam, to resolve degeneracy among oscillation parameters,
and to control systematic uncertainty using the exquisite imaging capability of
massive LArTPC far detector modules and an argon-based near detector. DUNE's
neutrino oscillation measurements will unambiguously resolve the neutrino mass
ordering and provide the sensitivity to discover CP violation in neutrinos for
a wide range of possible values of . DUNE is also uniquely
sensitive to electron neutrinos from a galactic supernova burst, and to a broad
range of physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM), including nucleon decays.
DUNE is anticipated to begin collecting physics data with Phase I, an initial
experiment configuration consisting of two far detector modules and a minimal
suite of near detector components, with a 1.2 MW proton beam. To realize its
extensive, world-leading physics potential requires the full scope of DUNE be
completed in Phase II. The three Phase II upgrades are all necessary to achieve
DUNE's physics goals: (1) addition of far detector modules three and four for a
total FD fiducial mass of at least 40 kt, (2) upgrade of the proton beam power
from 1.2 MW to 2.4 MW, and (3) replacement of the near detector's temporary
muon spectrometer with a magnetized, high-pressure gaseous argon TPC and
calorimeter.Comment: Contribution to Snowmass 202
A Gaseous Argon-Based Near Detector to Enhance the Physics Capabilities of DUNE
This document presents the concept and physics case for a magnetized gaseous argon-based detector system (ND-GAr) for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) Near Detector. This detector system is required in order for DUNE to reach its full physics potential in the measurement of CP violation and in delivering precision measurements of oscillation parameters. In addition to its critical role in the long-baseline oscillation program, ND-GAr will extend the overall physics program of DUNE. The LBNF high-intensity proton beam will provide a large flux of neutrinos that is sampled by ND-GAr, enabling DUNE to discover new particles and search for new interactions and symmetries beyond those predicted in the Standard Model
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