Development of Bubble Chambers With Enhanced Stability and Sensitivity to Low-Energy Nuclear Recoils

The viability of using a Bubble Chamber for rare event searches and in particular for the detection of dark matter particle candidates is considered. Techniques leading to the deactivation of inhomogeneous nucleation centers and subsequent enhanced stability in such a detector are described. Results from prototype trials indicate that sensitivity to low-energy nuclear recoils like those expected from Weakly Interacting Massive Particles can be obtained in conditions of near total insensitivity to minimum ionizing backgrounds. An understanding of the response of superheated heavy refrigerants to these recoils is demonstrated within the context of existing theoretical models. We comment on the prospects for the detection of supersymmetric dark matter particles with a large $CF_{3}I$ chamber.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

A study of the link between cosmic rays and clouds with a cloud chamber at the CERN PS

Recent satellite data have revealed a surprising correlation between galactic cosmic ray (GCR) intensity and the fraction of the Earth covered by clouds. If this correlation were to be established by a causal mechanism, it could provide a crucial step in understanding the long-sought mechanism connecting solar and climate variability. The Earth's climate seems to be remarkably sensitive to solar activity, but variations of the Sun's electromagnetic radiation appear to be too small to account for the observed climate variability. However, since the GCR intensity is strongly modulated by the solar wind, a GCR-cloud link may provide a sufficient amplifying mechanism. Moreover if this connection were to be confirmed, it could have profound consequences for our understanding of the solar contributions to the current global warming. The CLOUD (Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets) project proposes to test experimentally the existence a link between cosmic rays and cloud formation, and to understand the microphysical mechanism. CLOUD plans to perform detailed laboratory measurements in a particle beam at CERN, where all the parameters can be precisely controlled and measured. The beam will pass through an expansion cloud chamber and a reactor chamber where the atmosphere is to be duplicated by moist air charged with selected aerosols and trace condensable vapours. An array of external detectors and mass spectrometers is used to analyse the physical and chemical characteristics of the aerosols and trace gases during beam exposure. Where beam effects are found, the experiment will seek to evaluate their significance in the atmosphere by incorporating them into aerosol and cloud models.Recent satellite data have revealed a surprising correlation between galactic cosmic ray (GCR) intensity and the fraction of the Earth covered by clouds. If this correlation were to be established by a causal mechanism, it could provide a crucial step in understanding the long-sought mechanism connecting solar and climate variability. The Earth's climate seems to be remarkably sensitive to solar activity, but variations of the Sun's electromagnetic radiation appear to be too small to account for the observed climate variability. However, since the GCR intensity is strongly modulated by the solar wind, a GCR-cloud link may provide a sufficient amplifying mechanism. Moreover if this connection were to be confirmed, it could have profound consequences for our understanding of the solar contributions to the current global warming. The CLOUD (Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets) project proposes to test experimentally the existence a link between cosmic rays and cloud formation, and to understand the microphysical mechanism. CLOUD plans to perform detailed laboratory measurements in a particle beam at CERN, where all the parameters can be precisely controlled and measured. The beam will pass through an expansion cloud chamber and a reactor chamber where the atmosphere is to be duplicated by moist air charged with selected aerosols and trace condensable vapours. An array of external detectors and mass spectrometers is used to analyse the physical and chemical characteristics of the aerosols and trace gases during beam exposure. Where beam effects are found, the experiment will seek to evaluate their significance in the atmosphere by incorporating them into aerosol and cloud models

Production of D∗+(2010)D^{*+}(2010) mesons by high energy neutrinos from the Tevatron

Charged vector $D^{*+}(2010)$ meson production is studied in a high energy neutrino bubble chamber experiment with mean neutrino energy of 141 GeV. The $D^{*+}$ are produced in $(5.6 \pm 1.8)\%$ of the neutrino charged current interactions, indicating a steep increase of cross section with energy. The mean fractional hadronic energy of the $D^{*+}$ meson is $0.55 \pm 0.06$

Physics with charm particles produced in neutrino interactions. A historical recollection

Results obtained in neutrino unteractions on charm particles are presented

The optical system for the Big European Bubble Chamber

The optical system for the new giant bubble chamber, built for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), consists of four sets of fisheye windows, each equipped with a wide-angle lens which has an aperture angle of 108 degrees , while the fifth set has a periscope for visual observation of the chamber interior. Each of the fisheye sets is assembled from three hemispherical windows. The largest hemisphere is made from Schott BK7 glass and is exposed to the temperature of liquid hydrogen. The entire optical system has been operated successfully for the past 4 years. (13 refs)

Nucléation dans les chambres à bulles

Plusieurs sources et mécanismes pour la création de bulles dans les liquides surchauffés sont discutés. Les chambres à bulles peuvent être remplies avec une grande variété de liquides, par exemple les liquides cryogéniques hydrogène, deutérium, néon, argon et azote, des mélanges néon/hydrogène et argon/azote, ou les liquides " chauds " propane et divers Fréons® comme le Fréon-13B1®. L'état surchauffé est généralement obtenu par un mouvement rapide d'un piston ou d'une membrane, mais il peut aussi être produit par des ondes ultrasoniques, de choc, ou en mettant les liquides sous tension. La formation des bulles peut être initiée par les particules ionisantes, la lumière (laser) intense ou sur les surfaces rugueuses. La création de bulles embryonnaires n'est pas complètement connue, mais la croissance macroscopique et la condensation peuvent être calculées, permettant l'estimation de la charge de chaleur dynamique