132 research outputs found
Branching ratios for deexcitation processes of daughter nuclei following invisible dinucleon decays in 16O
Various theories beyond the standard model of particle physics predict the existence of baryon number violating processes resulting in nucleon decay. When occurring within an atomic nucleus, such a decay will be followed by secondary decays of the daughter nucleus unless its ground state is directly populated. In this paper, we estimate branching ratios for processes associated with dinucleon decays of the 16O nucleus. To this end, we use a simple shell model for the ground state of 16O. For decays from the 1s1/2 configuration, which result in highly excited states in the daughter nucleus, we employ a statistical model with the Hauser-Feshbach theory. Our analysis indicates that the branching ratio for gamma-ray emission in the energy range between 5 and 9 MeV, which is relevant to low-threshold water Cherenkov experiments such as SNO+, is 4.53%, 35.7%, and 20.2% for the nn, pp, and pn decays in 16O, respectively. In particular, emission of 6.09 MeV and 7.01 MeV gamma-rays from 14C, and 6.45 MeV and 7.03 MeV gamma-rays from 14N, have branching ratios as large as 10.9%, 20.1%, 7.73% and 8.90%, respectively
An adjustable focusing system for a 2 MeV H- ion beam line based on permanent magnet quadrupoles
A compact adjustable focusing system for a 2 MeV H- RFQ Linac is designed,
constructed and tested based on four permanent magnet quadrupoles (PMQ). A PMQ
model is realised using finite element simulations, providing an integrated
field gradient of 2.35 T with a maximal field gradient of 57 T/m. A prototype
is constructed and the magnetic field is measured, demonstrating good agreement
with the simulation. Particle track simulations provide initial values for the
quadrupole positions. Accordingly, four PMQs are constructed and assembled on
the beam line, their positions are then tuned to obtain a minimal beam spot
size of (1.2 x 2.2) mm^2 on target. This paper describes an adjustable PMQ beam
line for an external ion beam. The novel compact design based on commercially
available NdFeB magnets allows high flexibility for ion beam applications.Comment: published in JINST (4th Feb 2013
Multiresolution fuzzy clustering of functional MRI data
Recent developments in the analysis of functional MRI data reveal a shift from hypothesis-driven statistical tests to unsupervised strategies. One of the most promising approaches is the fuzzy clustering algorithm (FCA), whose potential to detect activation patterns has already been demonstrated. But the FCA suffers from three drawbacks: first the computational complexity, second the higher sensitivity to noise and third the dependence on the random initialization. With the multiresolution approach presented here, these weak points are significantly improved, as is demonstrated in our tests with simulated and real functional MRI dat
A laserball calibration device for the SNO+ scintillator phase
Located 2 km underground in SNOLAB, Sudbury, Canada, SNO+ is a large scale
liquid scintillator experiment that primarily aims to search for neutrinoless
double beta decay. Whilst SNO+ has light and radioactive calibration sources
external to the inner volume, an internally deployed optical source is
necessary for the full characterization of the detector model. A laser diffuser
ball developed for SNO has previously demonstrated to be an effective optical
calibration device for both SNO and SNO+ water phase. Since the introduction of
liquid scintillator for SNO+, the material compatibility, cleanliness, and
radiopurity requirements of any materials in contact with the internal medium
have increased. Improving on the original SNO laserball design, a new laserball
calibration device has been developed for the SNO+ scintillator phase with the
goal of measuring the optical properties of the detector and performing routine
PMT gain and timing calibrations. Simulations have been written to model the
diffusion properties to optimise optical and temporal performance for
calibration. Prototype laserballs have been built and characterised,
demonstrating sub-ns timing resolution and a quasi-isotropic light distributionComment: 21 pages, 16 figure
Unwarping of Unidirectionally Distorted EPI Images
Echo-planar imaging (EPI) is a fast nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method. Unfortunately, local magnetic field inhomogeneities induced mainly by the subject's presence cause significant geometrical distortion, predominantly along the phase-encoding direction, which must be undone to allow for meaningful further processing. So far, this aspect has been too often neglected. In this paper, we suggest a new approach using an algorithm specifically developed for the automatic registration of distorted EPI images with corresponding anatomically correct MRI images. We model the deformation field with splines, which gives us a great deal of flexibility, while comprising the affine transform as a special case. The registration criterion is least squares. Interestingly, the complexity of its evaluation does not depend on the resolution of the control grid. The spline model gives us good accuracy thanks to its high approximation order. The short support of splines leads to a fast algorithm. A multiresolution approach yields robustness and additional speed-up. The algorithm was tested on real as well as synthetic data, and the results were compared with a manual method. A wavelet-based Sobolev-type random deformation generator was developed for testing purposes. A blind test indicates that the proposed automatic method is faster, more reliable, and more precise than the manual one
A beam monitor detector based on doped silica and optical fibres
A beam monitor detector prototype based on doped silica fibres coupled to
optical fibres has been designed, constructed and tested, mainly for
accelerators used in medical applications. Scintillation light produced by Ce
and Sb doped silica fibres moving across the beam has been measured, giving
information on beam position, shape and intensity. Mostly based on commercial
components, the detector is easy to install, to operate and no electronic
components are located near the beam. Tests have been performed with a 2 MeV
proton pulsed beam at an average current of 0.8 {\mu}A. The response
characteristics of Sb doped silica fibres have been studied for the first time
Multiplicity and transverse momentum fluctuations in inelastic proton-proton interactions at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron
Measurements of multiplicity and transverse momentum fluctuations of charged
particles were performed in inelastic p+p interactions at 20, 31, 40, 80 and
158 GeV/c beam momentum. Results for the scaled variance of the multiplicity
distribution and for three strongly intensive measures of multiplicity and
transverse momentum fluctuations \$\Delta[P_{T},N]\$, \$\Sigma[P_{T},N]\$ and
\$\Phi_{p_T}\$ are presented. For the first time the results on fluctuations
are fully corrected for experimental biases. The results on multiplicity and
transverse momentum fluctuations significantly deviate from expectations for
the independent particle production. They also depend on charges of selected
hadrons. The string-resonance Monte Carlo models EPOS and UrQMD do not describe
the data. The scaled variance of multiplicity fluctuations is significantly
higher in inelastic p+p interactions than in central Pb+Pb collisions measured
by NA49 at the same energy per nucleon. This is in qualitative disagreement
with the predictions of the Wounded Nucleon Model. Within the statistical
framework the enhanced multiplicity fluctuations in inelastic p+p interactions
can be interpreted as due to event-by-event fluctuations of the fireball energy
and/or volume.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figure
The Swiss Primary Hypersomnolence and Narcolepsy Cohort study (SPHYNCS): Study protocol for a prospective, multicentre cohort observational study
Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a disorder with well-established markers and a suspected autoimmune aetiology. Conversely, the narcoleptic borderland (NBL) disorders, including narcolepsy type 2, idiopathic hypersomnia, insufficient sleep syndrome and hypersomnia associated with a psychiatric disorder, lack well-defined markers and remain controversial in terms of aetiology, diagnosis and management. The Swiss Primary Hypersomnolence and Narcolepsy Cohort Study (SPHYNCS) is a comprehensive multicentre cohort study, which will investigate the clinical picture, pathophysiology and long-term course of NT1 and the NBL. The primary aim is to validate new and reappraise well-known markers for the characterization of the NBL, facilitating the diagnostic process. Seven Swiss sleep centres, belonging to the Swiss Narcolepsy Network (SNaNe), joined the study and will prospectively enrol over 500 patients with recent onset of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), hypersomnia or a suspected central disorder of hypersomnolence (CDH) during a 3-year recruitment phase. Healthy controls and patients with EDS due to severe sleep-disordered breathing, improving after therapy, will represent two control groups of over 50 patients each. Clinical and electrophysiological (polysomnography, multiple sleep latency test, maintenance of wakefulness test) information, and information on psychomotor vigilance and a sustained attention to response task, actigraphy and wearable devices (long-term monitoring), and responses to questionnaires will be collected at baseline and after 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. Potential disease markers will be searched for in blood, cerebrospinal fluid and stool. Analyses will include quantitative hypocretin measurements, proteomics/peptidomics, and immunological, genetic and microbiota studies. SPHYNCS will increase our understanding of CDH and the relationship between NT1 and the NBL. The identification of new disease markers is expected to lead to better and earlier diagnosis, better prognosis and personalized management of CDH
Measurements of , , , and proton production in proton-carbon interactions at 31 GeV/ with the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS
Measurements of hadron production in p+C interactions at 31 GeV/c are
performed using the NA61/ SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS. The analysis is
based on the full set of data collected in 2009 using a graphite target with a
thickness of 4% of a nuclear interaction length. Inelastic and production cross
sections as well as spectra of , , p, and are
measured with high precision. These measurements are essential for improved
calculations of the initial neutrino fluxes in the T2K long-baseline neutrino
oscillation experiment in Japan. A comparison of the NA61/SHINE measurements
with predictions of several hadroproduction models is presented.Comment: v1 corresponds to the preprint CERN-PH-EP-2015-278; v2 matches the
final published versio
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