Probing dark matter particles from evaporating primordial black holes via electron scattering in the CDEX-10 experiment

Dark matter(DM)is a major constituent of the Universe.However,no definite evidence of DM particles(denoted as“χ”)has been found in DM direct detection(DD)experiments to date.There is a novel concept of detectingχfrom evaporating primordial black holes(PBHs).We search forχemitted from PBHs by investigating their interaction with target electrons.The examined PBH masses range from 1×10^(15)to 7×10^(16)g under the current limits of PBH abundance fPBH.Using 205.4 kg·day data obtained from the CDEX-10 experiment conducted in the China Jinping Underground Laboratory,we exclude theχ-electron(χ-e)elastic-scattering cross sectionσ_(χe)~5×10^(-29)cm^(2)forχwith a mass■keV from our results.With the higher radiation background but lower energy threshold(160 eV),CDEX-10 fills a part of the gap in the previous work.If(m_(χ),σ_(χe))can be determined in the future,DD experiments are expected to impose strong constraints on fPBHfor large MPBHs.

Measurement of the neutron total cross section of^(9)Be at the Back-n white neutron source of CSNS

The neutron total cross section data of^(9)Be are essential in the nuclear structure model research of light nuclei and nuclear power installations.The neutron total cross section of^(9)Be in the 0.3 eV−120 MeV energy region has been measured using time-of-flight and transmission methods with the Neutron Total Cross Sectional Spectrometer(NTOX)based on the multi-cell fast fission chamber at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS)-Back-n white neutron source(Back-n).The fission count-neutron energy distributions of ^(235)U and ^(238)U without samples and with Be samples with three thicknesses were measured in the double-bunch operation mode for a beam power of 100 kW.The Bayesian method was used to eliminate the influence of the double-bunch problem on neutron measurement in the energy region above 10 keV.The neutron total cross section of^(9)Be results was consistent with ENDF/B-VIII.0 evaluation library data in the 0.3 eV−20 MeV energy region.In the energy ranges of 0.3 eV to 10 keV and 0.01 to 20 MeV,the deviations between our results and the evaluation results of ENDF/B-VIII.0 were within 2.5%and 15%,respectively.In the resonance energy region,the measured resonance energies in our experiment were 0.63,0.82,and 2.8 MeV,respectively.The results showed that the total cross section uncertainties of three Be samples were within 2.2%in the energy region below 1 MeV.The total cross section uncertainty of 30 mm Be from ^(235)U was the smallest and less than 5%in the energy region of 0.3 eV−120 MeV.The results of this experiment can provide technical support for further data analysis and related nuclear data evaluation.

JUNO sensitivity on proton decay p→νK^(+)searches

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory(JUNO)is a large liquid scintillator detector designed to explore many topics in fundamental physics.In this study,the potential of searching for proton decay in the p→νK^(+)mode with JUNO is investigated.The kaon and its decay particles feature a clear three-fold coincidence signature that results in a high efficiency for identification.Moreover,the excellent energy resolution of JUNO permits suppression of the sizable background caused by other delayed signals.Based on these advantages,the detection efficiency for the proton decay via p→νK^(+)is 36.9%±4.9%with a background level of 0.2±0.05(syst)±0.2(stat)events after 10 years of data collection.The estimated sensitivity based on 200 kton-years of exposure is 9.6×1033 years,which is competitive with the current best limits on the proton lifetime in this channel and complements the use of different detection technologies.

Progress of Jinping Underground laboratory for Nuclear Astrophysics(JUNA)

Jinping Underground laboratory for Nuclear Astrophysics(JUNA) will take the advantage of the ultra-low background of CJPL lab and high current accelerator based on an ECR source and a highly sensitive detector to directly study for the first time a number of crucial reactions occurring at their relevant stellar energies during the evolution of hydrostatic stars. In its first phase, JUNA aims at the direct measurements of^(25)Mg(p,γ)^(26)Al,^(19)F(p,α)^(16)O,^(13)C(α,n)^(16)O and ^(12)C(α,γ)^(16)O reactions. The experimental setup,which includes an accelerator system with high stability and high intensity, a detector system, and a shielding material with low background, will be established during the above research. The current progress of JUNA will be given.

First results on ^(76)Ge neutrinoless double beta decay from CDEX-1 experiment

We report the first results on 76Ge neutrinoless double beta decay from stage one of the China dark-matter experiment （CDEX）. A p-type point-contact high-purity germanium detector with a mass of 994g has been installed to detect neutrinoless double beta decay events, as well as to directly detect dark matter particles. An exposure of 304kgd has been analyzed over a wide spectral band from 500keV to 3MeV. The average event rate obtained was about 0.012 counts per keV per kg per day over the 2.039MeV energy range. The half-life of76Ge neutrinoless double beta decay derived based on this result is 70v2〉6.4× 1022 yr （90%C.L.）. An upper limit on the effective Majorana-neutrino mass of 5.0eV has been achieved.

First experimental constraints on WIMP couplings in the effective field theory framework from CDEX

We present weakly interacting massive particles(WIMPs) search results performed using two approaches of effective field theory from the China Dark Matter Experiment(CDEX), based on the data from both CDEX-1B and CDEX-10 stages. In the nonrelativistic effective field theory approach, both time-integrated and annual modulation analyses were used to set new limits for the coupling of WIMP-nucleon effective operators at 90% confidence level(C.L.) and improve over the current bounds in the low mχregion. In the chiral effective field theory approach, data from CDEX-10 were used to set an upper limit on WIMP-pion coupling at 90% C.L. We for the first time extended the limit to the m_(χ)<6 GeV/c^(2) region.

The C_(6)D_(6)detector system on the Back-n beam line of CSNS

Introduction The neutron capture cross sections are very important in the field of nuclear device design and basic physics research.Hydrogen-free liquid scintillator such as C_(6)D_(6)detectors are widely used in the neutron capture cross-sectional measurements for the low neutron sensitivity and fast time response.The Back-n white neutron source at China Spallation Neutron Source is the first spallation white neutron source in China,and it is suitable for neutron capture cross-sectional measurement.Materials and methods A C_(6)D_(6)detector system was built in the Back-n experimental station.The pulse height weighting technique was used to determine the system’s detection efficiency.The response to gamma rays of the C_(6)D_(6)detector was measured,and the energy resolution function was determined.Monte Carlo simulation with Geant4 code was carried out to get the weighting function of this C_(6)D_(6)detector system.Additionally,the systematic uncertainty of the weighting function was also determined.Conclusion According to the experimental and simulation results,this C_(6)D_(6)detector system can be used to measure neutron capture cross section.

Measurement of the differential cross sections and angle-integrated cross sections of the ~6Li(n,t)~4 He reaction from 1.0 eV to 3.0 MeV at the CSNS Back-n white neutron source

The^6 Li(n,t)~4 He reaction was measured as the first experiment involving neutron-induced charged particle emission reactions at the CSNS(China Spallation Neutron Source)Back-n white neutron source.The differential cross-sections of the^6 Li(n,t)~4 He reaction at 15 detection angles ranging from 19.2°to 160.8°are obtained from 1.0 eV to 3.0 MeV at 80 neutron energy points;for 50 energy points below 0.1 MeV they are reported for the first time.The results indicate that the anisotropy of the emitted tritium is noticeable above E_n=100 eV.The angle-integrated cross-sections are also obtained.The present differential cross-sections agree in general with the previous evaluations,but there are some differences in the details.More importantly,the present results indicate that the cross-sections of the^6 Li(n,t)~4 He reaction might be overestimated by most evaluations in the 0.5-3.0 MeV region,although they are recommended as standards below 1.0 MeV.

Performances of a prototype point-contact germanium detector immersed in liquid nitrogen for light dark matter search

The CDEX-10 experiment searches for light weakly interacting massive particles, a form of dark matter, at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory, where approximately 10 kg of germanium detectors are arranged in an array and immersed in liquid nitrogen. Herein, we report on the experimental apparatus, detector characterization, and spectrum analysis of one prototype detector. Owing to the higher rise-time resolution of the CDEX-10 prototype detector as compared with CDEX-1 B, we identified the origin of an observed category of extremely fast events. For data analysis of the CDEX-10 prototype detector, we introduced and applied an improved bulk/surface event discrimination method. The results of the new method were compared to those of the CDEX-1 B spectrum. Both sets of results showed good consistency in the 0-12 ke Vee energy range, except for the 8.0 keV K-shell X-ray peak from the external copper.

Gradient Wetting Transition from the Wenzel to Robust Cassie-Baxter States along Nanopillared Cicada Wing and Underlying Mechanism

Gradient wettability is important for some living organisms.Herein,the dynamic responses of water droplets impacting on the surfaces of four regions along the wing vein of cicada Cryptotympana atratafabricius are investigated.It is revealed that a gradient wetting behavior from hydrophilicity(the Wenzel state)to hydrophobicity and further to superhydrophobicity(the Cassie-Baxter state)appears from the foot to apex of the wing.Water droplets impacting on the hydrophilic region of the wing cannot rebound,whereas those impacting on the hydrophobic region can retract and completely rebound.The hydrophobic region exhibits robust water-repelling performance during the dynamic droplet impact.Moreover,a droplet sitting on the hydrophobic region can recover its spherical shape after squeezed to a water film as thin as 0.45 mm,and lossless droplet transportation can be achieved at the region.Based on the geometric parameters of the nanopillars at the hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on the cicada wing,two wetting models are developed for elucidating the mechanism for the gradient wetting behavior.This work directs the design and fabrication of surfaces with gradient wetting behavior by mimicking the nanopillars on cicada wing surface.

Neutron capture cross section of ^(169)Tm measured at the CSNS Back-n facility in the energy region from 30 to 300 keV

The capture cross sections of the ^(169)Tm(n,γ)reaction were measured at the back streaming white neutron beam line(Back-n)of the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS)using four C_(6)D_(6) liquid scintillation detectors.The background subtraction,normalization,and correction were carefully considered in the data analysis to obtain accurate cross sections.For the resonance at 3.9 eV,the R-matrix code SAMMY was used to determine the resonance parameters with the internal normalization method.The average capture cross sections of ^(169)Tm for energy between 30 and 300 keV were extracted relative to the ^(197)Au(n,γ)reaction.The measured cross sections of the ^(169)Tm(n,γ)reaction were reported in logarithmically equidistant energy bins with 20 bins per energy decade with a total uncertainty of 5.4%-7.0% in this study and described in terms of average resonance parameters using a Hauser-Feshbach calculation with fluctuations.The point-wise cross sections and the average resonance parameters showed fair agreement with the evaluated values of the ENDF/B-Ⅷ.0 library in the energy region studied.

Feasibility and physics potential of detecting ^(8)B solar neutrinos at JUNO

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory(JUNO)features a 20 kt multi-purpose underground liquid scintillator sphere as its main detector.Some of JUNO's features make it an excellent location for^8B solar neutrino measurements,such as its low-energy threshold,high energy resolution compared with water Cherenkov detectors,and much larger target mass compared with previous liquid scintillator detectors.In this paper,we present a comprehensive assessment of JUNO's potential for detecting^8B solar neutrinos via the neutrino-electron elastic scattering process.A reduced 2 MeV threshold for the recoil electron energy is found to be achievable,assuming that the intrinsic radioactive background^(238)U and^(232)Th in the liquid scintillator can be controlled to 10^(-17)g/g.With ten years of data acquisition,approximately 60,000 signal and 30,000 background events are expected.This large sample will enable an examination of the distortion of the recoil electron spectrum that is dominated by the neutrino flavor transformation in the dense solar matter,which will shed new light on the inconsistency between the measured electron spectra and the predictions of the standard three-flavor neutrino oscillation framework.IfDelta m^(2)_(21)=4.8times10^(-5);(7.5times10^(-5))eV^(2),JUNO can provide evidence of neutrino oscillation in the Earth at approximately the 3sigma(2sigma)level by measuring the non-zero signal rate variation with respect to the solar zenith angle.Moreover,JUNO can simultaneously measureDelta m^2_(21)using^8B solar neutrinos to a precision of 20% or better,depending on the central value,and to sub-percent precision using reactor antineutrinos.A comparison of these two measurements from the same detector will help understand the current mild inconsistency between the value of Delta m^2_(21)reported by solar neutrino experiments and the KamLAND experiment.

Measurements of differential and angle-integrated cross sections for the 10B（n, α）7Li reaction in the neutron energy range from 1.0 eV to 2.5 MeV

Differential and angle-integrated cross sections for the 10B(n,α)^7 Li,10B(n,α0)^7 Li and 10B(n,α1)^7 Li^*reactions have been measured at CSNS Back-n white neutron source.Two enriched(90%)10B samples 5.0 cm in diameter and^85.0μg/cm^2 in thickness each with an aluminum backing were prepared,and back-to-back mounted at the sample holder.The charged particles were detected using the silicon-detector array of the Light-charged Particle Detector Array(LPDA)system.The neutron energy En was determined by TOF(time-of-flight)method,and the valid a events were extracted from the En-Amplitude two-dimensional spectrum.With 15 silicon detectors,the differential cross sections of a-particles were measured from 19.2°to 160.8°.Fitted with the Legendre polynomial series,the(n,a)cross sections were obtained through integration.The absolute cross sections were normalized using the standard cross sections of the 10B(n,α)^7 Li reaction in the 0.3-0.5 MeV neutron energy region.The measurement neutron energy range for the 10B(n,α)^7 Li reaction is 1.0 eV≤En<2.5 Me V(67 energy points),and that for the 10B(n,α0)^7 Li and10B(n,α1)^7 Li^*reactions is 1.0 eV≤En<1.0 MeV(59 energy points).The present results have been analyzed by the resonance reaction mechanism and the level structure of the 11B compound system,and compared with existing measurements and evaluations.

Cross-section measurements for the^(58,60,61)Ni(n,α)^(55,57,58)Fe reactions at 8.50,9.50 and 10.50 MeV neutron energies

Cross sections of the^(58,60,61)Ni(n,α)^(55,57,58)Fe reactions were measured at 8.50,9.50 and 10.50 MeV neutron energies based on the HI-13 tandem accelerator of China Institute of Atomic Energy(CIAE)with enriched^(58)Ni,^(60)Ni,and^(61)Ni foil samples with backings.A twin gridded ionization chamber(GIC)was used as the charged particle detector,and an EJ-309 liquid scintillator was used to obtain the neutron energy spectra.The relative and absolute neutron fluxes were determined via three highly enriched^(238)U_(3)O_(8)samples inside the GIC.The uncertainty of the present data of the^(58)Ni(n,α)^(55)Fe reaction is smaller than most existing measurements.The present data of^(60)Ni(n,α)^(57)Fe and^(61)Ni(n,α)^(58)Fe reactions are the first measurement results above 8 MeV.The present experimental data could be reasonably reproduced by calculations with TALYS-1.9 by adjusting several default values of theoretical model parameters.

Initial years'neutron-induced cross-section measurements at the CSNS Back-n white neutron source

The Back-n white neutron source(known as Back-n)is based on back-streaming neutrons from the spallation target at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS).With its excellent beam properties,e.g.,a neutron flux of approximately 1.8×107 n/cm2/s at 55 m from the spallation target,energy range spanning from 0.5 eV to 200 MeV,and time-of-flight resolution of a few per thousand,along with the equipped physical spectrometers,Back-n is considered to be among the best facilities in the world for carrying out nuclear data measurements.Since its completion and commencement of operation in May 2018,five types of cross-section measurements concerning neutron capture cross-sections,fission cross-sections,total cross-sections,light charged particle emissions,in-beam gamma spectra,and more than forty nuclides have been measured.This article presents an overview of the experimental setup and result analysis on the neutron-induced cross-section measurements and gamma spectroscopy at Back-n in the initial years.

Sub-percent precision measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters with JUNO

JUNO is a multi-purpose neutrino observatory under construction in the south of China.This publication presents new sensitivity estimates for the measurement of the △m_(31)^(2),△m_(21)^(2),sin^(2)θ_(12),and sin^(2)θ_(13) oscillation parameters using reactor antineutrinos,which is one of the primary physics goals of the experiment.The sensitivities are obtained using the best knowledge available to date on the location and overburden of the experimental site,the nuclear reactors in the surrounding area and beyond,the detector response uncertainties,and the reactor antineutrino spectral shape constraints expected from the TAO satellite detector.It is found that the △m_(21)^(2) and sin^(2)θ_(12) oscillation parameters will be determined to 0.5%precision or better in six years of data collection.In the same period,the △m_(31)^(2) parameter will be determined to about 0.2%precision for each mass ordering hypothesis.The new precision represents approximately an order of magnitude improvement over existing constraints for these three parameters.

Measurement of differential cross sections of neutron-induced deuteron production reactions on carbon from 25 to 52 MeV

The angle-differential cross sections of neutron-induced deuteron production from carbon were measured at six neutron energies from 25 to 52 MeV relative to those of n-p elastic scattering at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS)Back-n white neutron source.By employing theΔE-E telescopes of the Light-charged Particle Detector Array(LPDA)system at 15.1°to 55.0°in the laboratory system,ratios of the angle-differential cross sections of the ^(12)C(n,xd)reactions to those of the n-p scattering were measured,and then,the angle-differential cross sections of the ^(12)C(n,xd)reactions were obtained using the angle-differential cross sections of the n-p elastic scattering from the JENDL-4.0/HE-2015 library as the standard.The obtained results are compared with data from previous measurements,all of which are based on mono-energic neutrons,the evaluated data from the JENDL-4.0/HE-2015 library and the ENDF-B/VIII.0 library,and those from theoretical calculations based on INCA code and Talys-1.9 code.Being the first white-neutron-source-based systematic measurement of the angle-differential cross sections of neutron-induced deuteron production reactions on carbon in several tens of MeV,the present work can provide a reference to the data library considering the lack of experimental data.