High-energy-density plasma in femtosecond-laser-irradiated nanowire-array targets for nuclear reactions

In this work,the high-energy-density plasmas(HEDP)evolved from joule-class-femtosecond-laser-irradiated nanowire-array(NWA)targets were numerically and experimentally studied.The results of particle-in-cell simulations indicate that ions accelerated in the sheath field around the surfaces of the nanowires are eventually confined in a plasma,contributing most to the high energy densities.The protons emitted from the front surfaces of the NWA targets provide rich information about the interactions that occur.We give the electron and ion energy densities for broad target parameter ranges.The ion energy densities from NWA targets were found to be an order of magnitude higher than those from planar targets,and the volume of the HEDP was several-fold greater.At optimal target parameters,8%of the laser energy can be converted to confined protons,and this results in ion energy densities at the GJ/cm^(3) level.In the experiments,the measured energy of the emitted protons reached 4 MeV,and the changes in energy with the NWA’s parameters were found to fit the simulation results well.Experimental measurements of neutrons from 2H(d,n)3He fusion with a yield of(24±18)×10^(6)/J from deuterated polyethylene NWA targets also confirmed these results.

Erratum:A Search for Solar Axions and Anomalous Neutrino Magnetic Moment with the Complete PandaX-Ⅱ Data[CHIN.PHYS.LETT.38(2021)011301]

In our published letter,[1]we have identified a minor error in Figs.2 and 3.Instead,we have 2111 events in these two plots with 646,249,382,and 834 events in Run 9(20.0 ton·day),Run 10(19.4 ton·day),Run 11–1(24.2 ton·day),and Run 11–2(37.1 ton·day).The mistake is due to an incorrect application of a small energy non-linearity(known as the BLS non-linearity)in making plots,but has no impact to the final results.Figures 2 and 3 are now updated in this note.

A Search for Solar Axions and Anomalous Neutrino Magnetic Moment with the Complete Panda X-Ⅱ Data

We report a search for new physics signals using the low energy electron recoil events in the complete data set from PandaX-Ⅱ,in light of the recent event excess reported by XENON1 T.The data correspond to a total exposure of 100.7 ton·day with liquid xenon.With robust estimates of the dominant background spectra,we perform sensitive searches on solar axions and neutrinos with enhanced magnetic moment.It is found that the axionelectron coupling gAe<4.6×10^(-12) for an axion mass less than 0.1 keV/c^(2) and the neutrino magnetic moment μv<4.9×10^(-11)μB at 90%confidence level.The observed excess from XENON1 T is within our experimental constraints.

2022年原子核物理科技热点回眸

作为连接微观粒子物理与介观原子分子物理的桥梁,核科学是一个广泛而多样的学科。从宇宙大爆炸后几个微秒内生成的夸克-胶子等离子体,到质子和中子的形成开始以及元素的合成与演化,再到天体核过程的恒星爆炸和中子星并合,原子核物理学是我们理解宇宙的基础。同时,经过百余年的发展,核物理领域仍有蓬勃的生命力,大量未知现象的发现与科技的发展为人类带来了新的机遇与挑战。简要回顾了2022年原子核物理科技发展的前沿与热点,其中不乏国内引领的优秀工作。而这些方向的突破也为基础科学的发展、国家安全的保障和其他社会应用开辟了新的途径。

Machine learning in nuclear physics at low and intermediate energies

Machine learning(ML)is becoming a new paradigm for scientific research in various research fields due to its exciting and powerful capability of modeling tools used for big-data processing tasks.In this review,we first briefly introduce the different methodologies used in ML algorithms and techniques.As a snapshot of many applications by ML,some selected applications are presented,especially for low-and intermediate-energy nuclear physics,which include topics on theoretical applications in nuclear structure,nuclear reactions,properties of nuclear matter,and experimental applications in event identification/reconstruction,complex system control,and firmware performance.Finally,we present a summary and outlook on the possible directions of ML use in low-intermediate energy nuclear physics and possible improvements in ML algorithms.

acSB:Anti-Collision Selective-Based Broadcast Protocol in CRAdHocs

As a fundamental operation in ad hoc networks,broadcast could achieve efficient message propagations.Particularl y in the cognitive radio ad hoc network where unlicensed users have different sets of available channels,broadcasts are carried out on multiple channels.Accordingly,channel selection and collision avoidance are challenging issues to balance the efficiency against the reliability of broadcasting.In this paper,an anticollision selective broadcast protocol,called acSB,is proposed.A channel selection algorithm based on limited neighbor information is considered to maximize success rates of transmissions once the sender and receiver have the same channel.Moreover,an anticollision scheme is adopted to avoid simultaneous rebroadcasts.Consequently,the proposed broadcast acSB outperforms other approaches in terms of smaller transmission delay,higher message reach rate and fewer broadcast collisions evaluated by simulations under different scenarios.

New opportunities for nuclear and atomic physics on the femto-to nanometer scale with ultra-high-intensity lasers

There are a number of puzzles concerning physics on the scale of nanometers to femtometers,including the neutron lifetime,the proton charge radius,and the possible existence of the deep Dirac level.With the development of high-intensity laser technology,lasers today can induce extremely strong electromagnetic fields.Electrons in the deep shells of atoms as well as the atomic nucleus itself can be affected by these fields.This may provide a new experimental platform for studies of physical processes on the femto-to nanometer scale,where atomic physics and nuclear physics coexist.In this paper,we review possible new opportunities for studying puzzles on the femto-to nanometer scale using highintensity lasers.

Dark matter direct search sensitivity of the PandaX-4T experiment

The Panda X-4T experiment, a 4-ton scale dark matter direct detection experiment, is being planned at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. In this paper we present a simulation study of the expected background in this experiment. In a 2.8-ton fiducial mass and the signal region between 1-10 keV electron equivalent energy, the total electron recoil background is found to be 4.9 × 10^(-5) kg^(-1) d^(-1) keV^(-1). The nuclear recoil background in the same region is 2.8 × 10^(-7) kg^(-1) d^(-1) keV^(-1). With an exposure of 5.6 ton-years, the sensitivity of Panda X-4 T could reach a minimum spin-independent dark matter-nucleon cross section of 6 × 10^(-48) cm^2 at a dark matter mass of 40 Ge V/c^2.

Constraining self-interacting dark matter with the full dataset of PandaX-II

Self-interacting dark matter(SIDM)is a leading candidate proposed to solve discrepancies between predictions of the prevailing cold dark matter theory and observations of galaxies.Many SIDM models predict the existence of a light force carrier that mediates strong dark matter self-interactions.If the mediator couples to the standard model particles,it could produce characteristic signals in dark matter direct detection experiments.We report searches for signals of SIDM models with a light mediator using the full dataset of the PandaX-II experiment,basing on a total exposure of 132 tonne-days.No significant excess over background is found,and our likelihood analysis leads to a strong upper limit on the dark matter-nucleon coupling strength.We further combine the PandaX-II constraints and those from observations of the light element abundances in the early universe,and show that direct detection and cosmological probes can provide complementary constraints on dark matter models with a light mediator.

Results of dark matter search using the full PandaX-Ⅱ exposure

We report the dark matter search results obtained using the full 132 ton·day exposure of the PandaX-II experiment,including all data from March 2016 to August 2018.No significant excess of events is identified above the expected background.Upper limits are set on the spin-independent dark matter-nucleon interactions.The lowest 90%confidence level exclusion on the spin-independent cross section is 2.2×10−46 cm2 at a WIMP mass of 30 GeV/c2.

Determination of Double Beta Decay Half-Life of 136Xe with the PandaX-4T Natural Xenon Detector

Precise measurement of two-neutrino double beta decay(DBD)half-life is an important step for the searches of Majorana neutrinos with neutrinoless double beta decay.We report the measurement of DBD half-life of 136xe using the Pandax-4T dual-phase Time Projection Chamber(TPC)with 3.7-tonne natural xenon and the first 94.9-day physics data release.

Electron-ion collider in China

Lepton scattering is an established ideal tool for studying inner structure of small particles such as nucleons as well as nuclei.As a future high energy nuclear physics project,an Electron-ion collider in China(EicC)has been proposed.It will be constructed based on an upgraded heavy-ion accelerator,High Intensity heavy-ion Accelerator Facility(HIAF)which is currently under construction,together with a new electron ring.The proposed collider will provide highly polarized electrons(with a po-larization of 80%)and protons(with a polarization of 70%)with variable center of mass energies from 15 to 20 GeV and the luminosity of(2–3)×1033 cm^(−2)·s^(−1).Polarized deuterons and Helium-3,as well as unpolarized ion beams from Carbon to Uranium,will be also available at the EicC.The main foci of the EicC will be precision measurements of the structure of the nucleon in the sea quark region,including 3D tomography of nucleon;the partonic structure of nuclei and the parton interaction with the nuclear environment;the exotic states,especially those with heavy flavor quark contents.In addition,issues fundamental to understanding the origin of mass could be addressed by measurements of heavy quarkonia near-threshold production at the EicC.In order to achieve the above-mentioned physics goals,a hermetical detector system will be constructed with cutting-edge technologies.This document is the result of collective contributions and valuable inputs from experts across the globe.The EicC physics program complements the ongoing scientific programs at the Jefferson Laboratory and the future EIC project in the United States.The success of this project will also advance both nuclear and particle physics as well as accelerator and detector technology in China.

Explore the QCD phase transition phenomena from a multiphase transport model

We study the phase structure of QCD matter in the framework of a multiphase transport model by implementing a strong local parton density fluctuation scenario. Our calculations on the beam energy dependence of net-proton high moment show that local parton density fluctuation only has a small effect. But it becomes important when all baryons are included. We then study the effect on elliptic flow and find that an enhanced local parton density fluctuation leads to a significant effect on protons but a small effect on pions. Our study provides a reference of transport dynamics on QCD phase transition phenomena and will be relevant for the upcoming phase II of the beam energy scan program at RHIC.

Searching for neutrino-less nouble neta necay of 136Xe with PandaX-Ⅱ liquid xenon detector

We report the Neutrino-less Double Beta Decay(NLDBD)search results from PandaX-II dual-phase liquid xenon time projection chamber.The total live time used in this analysis is 403.1 days from June 2016 to August 2018.With NLDBD-optimized event selection criteria,we obtain a fiducial mass of 219 kg of natural xenon.The accumulated xenon exposure is 242 kg·yr,or equivalently 22.2 kg·yr of 136Xe exposure.At the region around 136Xe decay Q-value of 2458 keV,the energy resolution of PandaX-II is 4.2%.We find no evidence of NLDBD in PandaX-II and establish a lower limit for decay half-life of 2.1 ×10^23 yr at the 90%confidence level,which corresponds to an effective Majorana neutrino mass mββ<(1.4-3.7) eV.This is the first NLDBD result reported from a dual-phase xenon experiment.

A possible Zpif's law in the nuclear disassembly

Zpif’s law in the field of linguistics is tested in the nuclear disassembly within the framework of isospin dependent lattice gas model. It is found that the average cluster charge (or mass) of rank n in the charge (or mass) list shows exactly an inverse order to its rank, i.e., Zpif’s law appears at the phase transition temperature. This novel criterion shall be helpful in searching the nuclear liquid gas phase transition.

An improved evaluation of the neutron background in the PandaX-Ⅱ experiment

In dark matter direct detection experiments,neutron is a serious source of background,which can mimic the dark matter-nucleus scattering signals.In this paper,we present an improved evaluation of the neutron background in the PandaX-II dark matter experiment by a novel approach.Instead of fully relying on the Monte Carlo simulation,the overall neutron background is determined from the neutron-induced high energy signals in the data.In addition,the probability of producing a dark-matter-like background per neutron is evaluated with a complete Monte Carlo generator,where the correlated emission of neutron(s)andγ(s)in the(α,n)reactions and spontaneous fissions is taken into consideration.With this method,the neutron backgrounds in the Run 9(26-ton-day)and Run 10(28-ton-day)data sets of PandaX-II are estimated to be(0.66±0.24)and(0.47±0.25)events,respectively.

Determination of responses of liquid xenon to low energy electron and nuclear recoils using a PandaX-Ⅱ detector

We present a systematic determination of the responses of PandaX-Ⅱ,a dual phase xenon time projection chamber detector,to low energy recoils.The electron recoil(ER) and nuclear recoil(NR) responses are calibrated,respectively,with injected tritiated methane or 220Rn source,and with 241Am-Be neutron source,in an energy range from 1-25 keV(ER) and 4-80 keV(NR),under the two drift fields,400 and 317 V/cm.An empirical model is used to fit the light yield and charge yield for both types of recoils.The best fit models can describe the calibration data significantly.The systematic uncertainties of the fitted models are obtained via statistical comparison to the data.

Study of background from accidental coincidence signals in the PandaX-Ⅱexperiment

Ⅰ.INTRODUCTION The direct detection of dark matter particles,especially the weakly interacting massive particles(WIMPs),is being actively carried out by a couple of experiments worldwide[1].In recent years,the PandaX-Ⅱ experiment located in the China Jinping Underground Laboratory(CJPL)[1-3],which uses the technology of dual phase liquid xenon time projection chambers(TPCs),has pushed the limits of the cross section between WIMPs and nucleons to a new level for most of the possible WIMP masses;other experiments of the same type are also being performed[4–10].

Neutron-induced nuclear recoil background in the PandaX-4T experiment

Neutron-induced nuclear recoil background is critical to dark matter searches in the PandaX-4T liquid xenon experiment.In this study,we investigate the features of neutron background in liquid xenon and evaluate its contribution in single scattering nuclear recoil events using three methods.The first method is fully based on Monte Carlo simulations.The last two are data-driven methods that also use multiple scattering signals and high energy signals in the data.In the PandaX-4T commissioning data with an exposure of 0.63 tonne-year,all these methods give a consistent result,i.e.,there are 1.15±0.57 neutron-induced backgrounds in the dark matter signal region within an approximated nuclear recoil energy window between 5 and 100 keV.