332 research outputs found
Effects of radiation damage caused by proton irradiation on Multi-Pixel Photon Counters (MPPCs)
We have investigated the effects caused by proton-induced radiation damage on
Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC), a pixelized photon detector developed by
Hamamatsu Photonics. The leakage current of irradiated MPPC samples linearly
increases with total irradiated doses due to radiation damage, which is not
completely recovered even after a year from the irradiation. No significant
change has been observed in the gains at least up to 8.0 Gy (
n/mm in 1 MeV neutron equivalent fluence, ). The device has
completely lost its photon-counting capability due to baseline fluctuations and
noise pile-up after 21 Gy irradiation ( n/mm in ), which might be problematic for some applications, such as ring-imaging
Cherenkov detectors. We have found that the pulse-height resolution has been
slightly deteriorated after 42 Gy irradiation ( n/mm in
), where the measured sample has been illuminated with a few
hundred photons. This effect should be considered in the case of
energy-measurement applications.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figure
Determinants of the return to hometowns after the accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant: a case study for the village of Kawauchi
The Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 destroyed the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) and almost all residents in a 20 km radius from the plant eventually evacuated. FNPP reactors were stabilised in December 2011; some evacuees decided to return to their hometowns, and the other evacuees remained. Efforts were made to identify the determinants that affect the decision to return home in order to promote recovery of the surrounding area of FNPP. Seventyone residents who had not returned to hometown and 56 residents who had returned were selected. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors showed that being female [odds ratio (OR): 2.43, p=5 0.03], living in areas with relatively higher ambient doses (OR: 3.60, p=50.01) and expressing anxiety over radiation exposure (OR: 8.91, p < 0.01) were independently associated with decisions not to return. Results of this study suggest the importance of active participation by scientists and local authorities in communicating the risk to the general population involved in returning home
Search for the decay in the momentum region
We have searched for the decay in the kinematic
region with pion momentum below the peak. One event was
observed, consistent with the background estimate of . This
implies an upper limit on
(90% C.L.), consistent with the recently measured branching ratio of
, obtained using the standard model
spectrum and the kinematic region above the peak. The
same data were used to search for , where is a weakly
interacting neutral particle or system of particles with .Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Further Evidence for the Decay K+ to pi+ neutrino-antineutrino
Additional evidence for the rare kaon decay K+ to pi+ neutrino-antineutrino
has been found in a new data set with comparable sensitivity to the previously
reported result. One new event was observed in the pion momentum region
examined, 211<P<229 MeV/c, bringing the total for the combined data set to two.
Including all data taken, the backgrounds were estimated to contribute 0.15 pm
0.05 events. The branching ratio is B=1.57^{+1.75}_{-0.82} 10^{-10}.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure
Measurement of Direct Photon Emission in K^+ -> pi^+ pi^0 gamma Decay
We have performed a measurement of the K^+ -> pi^+ pi^0 gamma decay and have
observed 2 X 10^4 events. The best fit to the decay spectrum gives a branching
ratio for direct photon emission of (4.7\pm0.8\pm0.3) X 10^{-6} in the pi^+
kinetic energy region of 55 to 90 MeV and requires no component due to
interference with inner bremsstrahlung.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. To be submitted to PR
Improved Measurement of the K+ to pi+ nu nubar Branching Ratio
An additional event near the upper kinematic limit for K+ to pi+ nu nubar has
been observed by Experiment E949 at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Combining
previously reported and new data, the branching ratio is B(K+ to pi+ nu nubar)=
1.47 (+1.30, - 0.89) x 10-10 based on three events observed in the pion
momentum region 211<P<229 MeV/c. At the measured central value of the branching
ratio, the additional event had a signal-to-background ratio of 0.9
Improved measurement of the K+->pi+nu(nu)over-bar branching ratio
An additional event near the upper kinematic limit for K+-->pi(+)nu(nu) over bar has been observed by experiment E949 at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Combining previously reported and new data, the branching ratio is B(K+-->pi(+)nu(nu) over bar)=(1.47(-0.89)(+1.30))x10(-10) based on three events observed in the pion momentum region 211<P<229 MeV/c. At the measured central value of the branching ratio, the additional event had a signal-to-background ratio of 0.9
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