Numerical investigation of spallation neutrons generated from petawatt-scale laser-driven proton beams

Laser-driven neutron sources could offer a promising alternative to those based on conventional accelerator technologies in delivering compact beams of high brightness and short duration.We examine this through particle-in-cell and Monte Carlo simulations that model,respectively,the laser acceleration of protons from thin-foil targets and their subsequent conversion into neutrons in secondary lead targets.Laser parameters relevant to the 0.5 PW LMJ-PETAL and 0.6–6 PW Apollon systems are considered.Owing to its high intensity,the 20-fs-duration 0.6 PW Apollon laser is expected to accelerate protons up to above 100MeV,thereby unlocking efficient neutron generation via spallation reactions.As a result,despite a 30-fold lower pulse energy than the LMJ-PETAL laser,the 0.6 PW Apollon laser should perform comparably well both in terms of neutron yield and flux.Notably,we predict that very compact neutron pulses,of∼10 ps duration and∼100μm spot size,can be released provided the lead convertor target is thin enough(∼100μm).These sources are characterized by extreme fluxes,of the order of 10^(23) n cm^(−2) s^(−1),and even ten times higher when using the 6 PW Apollon laser.Such values surpass those currently achievable at large-scale accelerator-based neutron sources(∼10^(16) n cm^(−2) s^(−1)),or reported from previous laser experiments using low-Z converters(∼10^(18) n cm^(−2) s^(−1)).By showing that such laser systems can produce neutron pulses significantly brighter than existing sources,our findings open a path toward attractive novel applications,such as flash neutron radiography and laboratory studies of heavy-ion nucleosynthesis.

2-12 Fusion Cross Section of 13C + 12C at Sub-barrier Energies

Heavy-ion fusion reactions between light nuclei such as carbon and oxygen isotopes have been studied becauseof their importance in a wide variety of stellar burning scenarios. However, due to extremely low cross sectionsand signal/background ratio, all the measurements could only be carried out at energies well above the regionof astrophysical interest. The reaction rates in stellar environment could be estimated only by extrapolating theexisted cross sections or the astrophysical S-factors at higher energies. The situation is even more complicated bythe strong, relatively narrow resonances in some reactions, such as 12C+12C, 12C+16O. Traditionally, optical modelor equivalent square-well optical model (ESW) were used to fit the average cross section and predict the reactioncross sections at the energies of astrophysical interest[1]. Recently, a new model, the hindrance model, was proposedto provide systematic fits to fusion reaction data at extreme sub-barrier energies[2]. Lacking of experimental datawithin this energy range, large discrepancies exist among different nuclear reaction models.

Computation of products of phase space factors and nuclear matrix elements for double beta decay

Nuclear matrix elements(NME) and phase space factors(PSF) entering the half-life formulas of the double-beta decay(DBD) process are two key quantities whose accurate computation still represents a challenge. In this study, we propose a new approach of calculating these, namely the direct computation of their product as an unique formula. This procedure allows a more coherent treatment of the nuclear approximations and input parameters appearing in both quantities and avoids possible confusion in the interpretation of DBD data due to different individual expressions adopted for PSF and NME(and consequently their reporting in different units) by different authors. Our calculations are performed for both two neutrino(2 vββ) and neutrinoless(0 vββ) decay modes, for five nuclei of the most experimental interest. Further, using the most recent experimental limits for 0νββ decay half-lives,we provide new constraints on the light mass neutrino parameter. Finally, by separating the factor representing the axial-vector constant to the forth power in the half-life formulas, we advance suggestions on how to reduce the errors introduced in the calculation by the uncertain value of this constant, exploiting the DBD data obtained from different isotopes and/or decay modes.

Study of the production of Λ_b^0 band ~0 hadrons in pp collisions and first measurement of the Λ_b^0→J/ψpK^- branching fraction

The product of the ∧0/b （-B/0） differential production cross-section and the branching fraction of the decay ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-（-B/0→ J/ψ-K＊（892）0）is measured as a function of the beauty hadron transverse momentum, PT, and rapidity, y. The kinematic region of the measurements is pT〈20 GeV/c and 2.0 〈g〈4.5.The measurements use a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3fb-1 collected by the LHCb detector in pp collisions at centre-of-mass energies √s=7 TeV in 2011 and √s=8 TeV in 2012. Based on previous LHCb results of the fragmentation fraction ratio,f∧0/b/fd,the branching fraction of the decay ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-is measured to be B（∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-）=（3.17±0.04±0.07±0.34＋0.45/-0.28）×10-4,where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, the third is due to the uncertainty on the branching fraction of the decay -B/0 →J/ψ-K＊（892）0,and the fourth is due to the knowledge of f∧0/b/fd.The sum of the asymmetries in the production and decay between ∧0/b and ∧0/bis also measured as a function of PT and y.The previously published branching fraction of ∧0/b→ J/ψ pπ-,relative to that of ∧0/b→ J/ψ pK-,is updated. The branching fractions of ∧0/b→P＋c（→ J/ψp）K-are determined.

Quantitative Measurement of γ-Ray and e-Beam Effects on Fiber Rayleigh Scattering Coefficient

The effects of gamma ray(γ-ray)radiation and electron beam(e-beam)radiation on Rayleigh scattering coefficient in single-mode fiber are experimentally investigated.Utilizing an optical time domain reflectometry(OTDR),the power distribution curves of the irradiated fibers are obtained to retrieve the corresponding radiation-induced attenuation(RIA).Based on the backscattering power levels and the measured RIAs,the Rayleigh scattering coefficients can be characterized quantitatively for each fiber sample.Under the given radiation conditions,Rayleigh scattering coefficients have been changed very little while RIAs have been changed significantly.Furthermore,simulations have been implemented to verify the validity of the measured Rayleigh scattering coefficient,including the splicing points.

Computational Study of Scission Neutrons in Low-Energy Fission:Stationary and Time-Dependent Approaches

The emission of scission neutrons from fissioning nuclei is of high practical interest.To study this process we have used the sudden approximation and also a more realistic approach that takes into account the scission dynamics.Numerically,this implies the solution of the bi-dimensional Schr¨odinger equation,both stationary and time-dependent.To describe axially symmetric extremely deformed nuclear shapes,we have used the Cassini parametrization.The Hamiltonian is discretized by using finite difference approximations of the derivatives.The main computational challenges are the solution of algebraic eigenvalue problems and of linear systems with large sparse matrices.We have employed appropriate procedures(Arnoldi and bi-conjugate gradients).The numerical solutions have been used to evaluate physical quantities,like the number of emitted neutrons per scission event,the primary fragments’excitation energy and the distribution of the emission points.

Evidence of a J/ψΛstructure and observation of excited■^(-)states in the■b^(-)→J/ψΛK^(-) decay

First evidence of a structure in the J/ψΛinvariant mass distribution is obtained from an amplitude analysis of■b^(-)J/ψΛK^(-)decays.The observed structure is consistent with being due to a charmonium pentaquark with strangeness with a significance of 3.1r including systematic uncertainties and lookelsewhere effect.Its mass and width are determined to be 4458:8±2:9t4:7-1:1 MeV and 17:3±6:5t8:0-5:7 MeV,respectively,where the quoted uncertainties are statistical and systematic.The structure is also consistent with being due to two resonances.In addition,the narrow excited■^(-)states,N■(1690)and■(1820),are seen for the first time in a■b^(-)decay,and their masses and widths are measured with improved precision.The analysis is performed using pp collision data corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 9 fb^(-1),collected with the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7,8 and 13 TeV.

Search for the rare decays W^(+)→D_(s)^(+)γ and Z→D^(0)γ at LHCb

A search for the rare decays W^(+)→D_(s)^(+)γ and Z→D0γis performed using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 13TeV,corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0fb−1.No significant signal is observed for either decay mode and upper limits on their branching fractions are set using W^(+)→D_(s)^(+)γ and Z→μ+μ−decays as normalization channels.The upper limits are 6.5×10^(−4) and 2.1×10^(−3) at 95% confidence level for the W^(+)→D_(s)^(+)γ and Z→D^(0)γ decay modes,respectively.This is the first reported search for the Z→D^(0)γ decay,while the upper limit on the W+→D+sγbranching fraction improves upon the previous best limit.

Measurement of Ξcc++ production in pp collisions at s1/2=13 TeV

The production of ■baryons in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 13 TeV is measured in the transverse-momentum range 4<pT<15GeV/c and the rapidity range2.0<y<4.5.The data used in this measurement correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1.7fb^-1,recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2016.The ratio of the ■ production cross-section times the branching fraction of the■→∧^+cK^-π^+ π^+decay relative to the prompt ∧^+c production cross-section is found to be(2.22±0.27±0.29)×10^-4,assuming the central value of the measured lifetime,where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

Search for the doubly heavy baryons Ω^(0)_(bc) and E^(0)_(bc) decaying to Λ^(+)_(c)π^(-) and E^(+)_(c)π^(-)

The first search for the doubly heavyΩ^(0)_(bc)baryon and a search for the E^(0)_(bc)baryon are performed using pp collision data collected via the LHCb experiment from 2016 to 2018 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV,corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.2 fb^(-1).The baryons are reconstructed via their decays to Λ^(+)_(c)π^(-)and E^(+)_(c)π^(-).No significant excess is fbund for invariant masses between 6700 and 7300 MeV/c^(2),in a rapidity range from 2.0 to 4.5 and a transverse momentum range from 2 to 20 MeV/c.Upper limits are set on the ratio of the Ω^(0)_(bc)and E^(0)_(bc)production cross-section times the branching fraction to Λ^(+)_(c)π^(-)(E^(+)_(c)π^(-))relative to that of the Λ^(0)_(b)(E^(0)_(b))baryon,for different lifetime hypotheses,at 95%confidence level.The upper limits range from 0.5 x 10^(-4)to 2.5 x 10^(-4)for theΩ^(0)_(bc)→Λ^(+)_(c)π^(-)(E^(0)_(bc)→Λ^(+)_(c)π^(-))decay,and from 1.4x 10^(-3)to 6.9 x 10^(-3)for theΩ^(0)_(bc)→E^(+)_(c)π^(-)(E^(0)_(bc)→E^(+)_(c)π^(-))decay,depending on the considered mass and lifetime of theΩ^(0)_(bc)(E^(0)_(bc))baryon.

Search for the doubly heavy baryon Ξ_(bc)^(+)→ decaying to J/ψΞ_(c)^(+)

A first search for the Ξ_(bc)^(+)J/ψΞ_(c)^(+) decay is performed by the LHCb experiment with a data sample of proton-proton collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1 recorded at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. Two peaking structures are seen with a local (global) significance of 4.3(2.8) and 4.1(2.4) standard deviations at masses of 6571 and 6694 MeV/c2, respectively. Upper limits are set on the Ξ+bc baryon production cross-section times the branching fraction relative to that of the B+c→J/ψD+s decay at centre-of-mass energies of 8 and 13 TeV, in the Ξ+bc and in the B+c rapidity and transverse-momentum ranges from 2.0 to 4.5 and 0 to 20GeV/c, respectively. Upper limits are presented as a function of the Ξ+bc mass and lifetime.

Quantum electrodynamics experiments with colliding petawatt laser pulses

A new generation of high power laser facilities will provide laser pulses with extremely high powers of 10 petawatt(PW)and even 100 PW, capable of reaching intensities of 1023 W/cm^2 in the laser focus. These ultra-high intensities are nevertheless lower than the Schwinger intensity IS= 2.3×1029 W/cm^2 at which the theory of quantum electrodynamics(QED) predicts that a large part of the energy of the laser photons will be transformed to hard Gamma-ray photons and even to matter, via electron–positron pair production. To enable the investigation of this physics at the intensities achievable with the next generation of high power laser facilities, an approach involving the interaction of two colliding PW laser pulses is being adopted. Theoretical simulations predict strong QED effects with colliding laser pulses of 10 PW focused to intensities 10^(22) W/cm^2.

Search for the doubly charmed baryon ■

A search for the doubly charmed baryon ■^+cc is performed through its decay to theΛ^+c K^-π^+ final state,using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7,8 and 13 TeV.The data correspond to a total integrated luminosity of 9 fb^-1.No significant signal is observed in the mass range from 3.4 to 3.8 GeV/c^2.Upper limits are set at 95%credibility level on the ratio of the ■^+cc production cross-section times the branching fraction to that ofΛ^+c and ■^++cc baryons.The limits are determined as functions of the ■^+cc mass for different lifetime hypotheses,in the rapidity range from 2.0 to 4.5 and the transverse momentum range from 4 to 15 GeV/c.

Search for the rare decay B^(0)→J/ψФ

A search for the rare decay B^(0)→J/ψФis performed using Pp collision data collected with the LHCb dete-ctor at centre-of-mass energies of 7,8 and 13 TeV,corresponding to an integrated luminosity of9 fb.No significant signal of the decay is observed and an upper limitof 1.1x 10^(-7)at 90%confidence level is set on the branching fraction.