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K. Huang

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Published work

93 published item(s)

preprint2026arXiv

Enhancing Train-Free Infinite-Frame Generation for Consistent Long Videos

Without incurring significant computational overhead, train-free long video generation aims to enable foundation video generation models to produce longer videos. Frame-level autoregressive frameworks, e.g., FIFO-diffusion, offer the advantage of generating infinitely long videos with constant memory consumption. However, the mismatch between training and inference, coupled with the challenge of maintaining long-term consistency, limits the effective utilization of foundation models. To mitigate these concerns, we propose \textbf{MIGA}, a novel infinite-frame long video generation method. Firstly, we propose an effective two-stage alignment mechanism that mitigates the training-inference gap by reducing the excessive noise span fed to the model. We then introduce an innovative dual consistency enhancement mechanism, where the self-reflection approach corrects early high-noise frames and the long-range frame guidance approach leverages later low-noise frames with broad coverage to steer generation, jointly improving temporal consistency. Extensive experiments on VBench and NarrLV demonstrate the state-of-the-art performance of MIGA. Our project page is available at https://xiaokunfeng.github.io/miga_homepage/.

preprint2023arXiv

Measurement of the $B^{0} \rightarrow D^{*-} \ell^{+} ν_{\ell}$ branching ratio and $|V_{cb}|$ with a fully reconstructed accompanying $B$ meson in 2019-2021 Belle II data

We present a measurement of the $B^{0} \rightarrow D^{*-} \ell^{+} ν_{\ell}$ ($\ell=e,μ$) branching ratio and of the CKM parameter $|V_{cb}|$ using signal decays accompanied by a fully reconstructed $B$ meson. The Belle II data set of electron-positron collisions at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance, corresponding to 189.3$\,$fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity, is analyzed. With the Caprini-Lellouch-Neubert form factor parameterization, the parameters $η_{\rm EW} F(1) |V_{cb}|$ and $ρ^{2}$ are extracted, where $η_{\rm EW}$ is an electroweak correction, $F(1)$ is a normalization factor and $ρ^{2}$ is a form factor shape parameter. We reconstruct 516 signal decays and thereby obtain $\mathcal{B} (B^{0} \rightarrow D^{*-} \ell^{+} ν_{\ell} ) = \left(5.27 \pm 0.22~\rm{\left(stat\right)} \pm 0.38~\rm{\left(syst\right)}\right) \%$, $η_{EW} F(1) |V_{cb}| \times 10^{3} = 34.6 \pm 1.8~\rm{\left(stat\right)} \pm 1.7~\rm{\left(syst\right)}$, and $ρ^{2} = 0.94 \pm 0.18~\rm{\left(stat\right)} \pm 0.11~\rm{\left(syst\right)}$.

preprint2022arXiv

First decay-time-dependent analysis of $B^{0} \to K_{S}^{0} π^{0}$ at Belle II

We report measurements of the branching fraction ($\mathcal{B}$) and direct $CP$-violating asymmetry ($A_{CP}$) of the charmless decay $B^{0} \to K^0 π^0$ at Belle II. A sample of $e^{+} e^{-}$ collisions, corresponding to $189.8 fb^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity, recorded at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance is used for the first decay-time-dependent analysis of these decays within the experiment. We reconstruct about 135 signal candidates, and measure $\mathcal{B}(B^{0} \to K^{0} π^{0})= [11.0 \pm 1.2 (stat) \pm 1.0 (syst)] \times 10^{-6}$ and $A_{CP} (B^{0} \to K^{0} π^{0})= -0.41_{-0.32}^{+0.30} (stat) \pm 0.09 (syst)$.

preprint2022arXiv

Measurement of Branching Fraction and Longitudinal Polarization in $B^0 \to ρ^+ ρ^-$ Decays at Belle II

We present a measurement of the branching fraction and longitudinal polarization of $B^0 \to ρ^+ ρ^-$ decays. SuperKEKB electron-positron collision data corresponding to 189~fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity and containing $198 \times 10^6 B\bar{B}$ pairs collected with the Belle II detector are used. We obtain \begin{eqnarray*} \mathcal{B}(B^0\toρ^+ρ^-) &=& [2.67\pm0.28\,(\mathrm{stat})\,\pm0.28\,(\mathrm{syst})] \times 10^{-5}, \end{eqnarray*} \begin{eqnarray*} f_L &=& 0.956\pm0.035\,(\mathrm{stat})\,\pm 0.033\,(\mathrm{syst}), \end{eqnarray*} These results are consistent with previous measurements and can be used to constrain penguin pollution and to extract the quark-mixing angle $ϕ_2$.

preprint2022arXiv

Measurement of the branching fraction of the $B^0 \to K_S^0 π^0 γ$ decay using 190 fb$^{-1}$ of Belle II data

We report the measurement of the branching fraction of the $B^0 \to K_S^0 π^0 γ$ decay in $e^+ e^- \to Υ(4S) \to B \overline{B}$ data recorded by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy collider and corresponding to 190 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. The signal yield is measured to be $121\pm 29\,\hbox{(stat.)}$, leading to the branching fraction ${\cal B}\left(B^0 \to K_S^0 π^0 γ\right) = \left(7.3 \pm 1.8\,\hbox{(stat.)} \pm 1.0\,\hbox{(syst.)} \right)\times 10^{-6}$, which agrees with the known value.

preprint2022arXiv

Observation of non-trivial topological electronic structure of orthorhombic SnSe

Topological electronic structures are key to the topological classification of quantum materials and play an important role in their physical properties and applications. Recently, SnSe has attracted great research interests due to its superior thermoelectric performance. However, it's topological nature has long been ignored. In this work, by combining synchrotron-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and ab-initio calculations, we systematically investigated the topological electronic structure of orthorhombic SnSe. By identifying the continuous gap in the valence bands due to the band inversion and the topological surface states on its (001) surface, we establish SnSe as a strong topological insulator. Furthermore, we studied the evolution of the topological electronic structure and propose the topological phase diagram in SnSe1-xTex. Our work reveals the topological non-trivial nature of SnSe and provides new understandings of its intriguing transport properties.

preprint2021arXiv

$τ$ lepton mass measurement at Belle II

The reconstruction of tau-pair production, $e^{+}e^{-} \to τ^{+}τ^{-}$, from the subsequent 3-prong ($τ^{+} \rightarrow π^{+} π^{-} π^{+} \barν_τ$) and 1-prong ($τ^{-} \to \ell^{-} \barν_{\ell} ν_τ$, $τ^{-} \to h^{-} ν_τ$ or $τ^{-} \to π^{-} π^0 ν_τ$) decays, is presented using 8.8 fb$^{-1}$ of $e^{+}e^{-}$ collision data of Belle II at the center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = m_{Υ(4S)}$. The pseudomass technique developed by the ARGUS experiment is used to measure the $τ$-lepton mass $m_τ$ in the 3-prong $τ^{+} \to π^{+} π^{-} π^{+} \barν_τ $ decay, resulting in $m_τ = 1777.28 \pm 0.75~{\rm (stat.)} \pm 0.33 ~{\rm (sys.)}~{\rm{MeV}/\rm{c}^2}$.

preprint2021arXiv

Search for lepton-number- and baryon-number-violating tau decays at Belle

We search for lepton-number- and baryon-number-violating decays $τ^{-}\to\overline{p}e^{+}e^{-}$, $pe^{-}e^{-}$, $\overline{p}e^{+}μ^{-}$, $\overline{p}e^{-}μ^{+}$, $\overline{p}μ^{+}μ^{-}$, and $pμ^{-}μ^{-}$ using 921 fb$^{-1}$ of data, equivalent to $(841\pm12)\times 10^6$ $τ^{+}τ^{-}$ events, recorded with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^{+}e^{-}$ collider. In the absence of a signal, $90\%$ confidence-level upper limits are set on the branching fractions of these decays in the range $(1.8$-$4.0)\times 10^{-8}$. We set the world's first limits on the first four channels and improve the existing limits by an order of magnitude for the last two channels.

preprint2020arXiv

A calibration of the Belle II hadronic tag-side reconstruction algorithm with $B \rightarrow X\ell ν$ decays

Tag-side reconstruction is an important method for reconstructing $B$ meson decays with missing energy. The Belle II tag-side reconstruction algorithm, Full Event Interpretation, relies on a hierarchical reconstruction of $B$ meson decays with multivariate classification employed at each stage of reconstruction. Given the large numbers of classifiers employed and decay chains reconstructed, the performance of the algorithm on data and simulation differs significantly. Here, calibration factors are derived for hadronic tag-side $B$ decays by measuring a signal side decay, $B \rightarrow X\ell ν$, in $34.6$ fb$^{-1}$ of Belle II data. For a very loose selection on the tag-side $B$ multivariate classifier, the calibration factors are $0.65 \pm 0.02$ and $0.83 \pm 0.03$ for tag-side $B^{+}$ and $B^{0}$ mesons, respectively.

preprint2020arXiv

Cation controlled wetting properties of vermiculite membranes and its potential for fouling resistant oil-water separation

The surface free energy is one of the most fundamental properties of solids, hence, manipulating the surface energy and thereby the wetting properties of solids, has tremendous potential for various physical, chemical, biological as well as industrial processes. Typically, this is achieved by either chemical modification or by controlling the hierarchical structures of surfaces. Here we report a phenomenon whereby the wetting properties of vermiculite laminates are controlled by the hydrated cations on the surface and in the interlamellar space. We find that by exploiting this mechanism, vermiculite laminates can be tuned from superhydrophillic to hydrophobic simply by exchanging the cations; hydrophilicity decreases with increasing cation hydration free energy, except for lithium. Lithium, which has a higher hydration free energy than potassium, is found to provide a superhydrophilic surface due to its anomalous hydrated structure at the vermiculite surface. Building on these findings, we demonstrate the potential application of superhydrophilic lithium exchanged vermiculite as a thin coating layer on microfiltration membranes to resist fouling, and thus, we address a major challenge for oil-water separation technology.

preprint2020arXiv

Charmless $B$ decay reconstruction in 2019 Belle II data

We report on the reconstruction of various charmless $B$ decays from electron-positron collisions at the energy corresponding to the $Υ(4S)$ resonance collected with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB collider. We use simulation to devise optimized event selections and apply them to the full data set collected in 2019, corresponding to 8.7\,fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. We fit the difference between half of the collision energy and the $B$ candidate energy (in the $Υ(4S)$ frame) for events restricted to a signal-rich range in beam-energy-constrained mass to search for charmless signals. Signal yields of approximately 80, 15, 20, 30, 90, and 160 decays are reconstructed for the channels $B^0 \to K^+π^-$, $B^0 \to π^+π^-$, $B^+ \to K^0_S(\to π^+π^-)π^+$, $B^+ \to K^+π^0(\to γγ)$, $B^+ \to K^+K^-K^+$, and $B^+ \to K^+π^-π^+$, respectively. Yields and background contaminations are compatible with those expected from simulation and comparable with those obtained by the Belle experiment. The results show a good understanding of the detector performance and offer a reliable basis to assess projections for future reach.

preprint2020arXiv

Exclusive $B^0 \to π^- \ell^+ ν_\ell$ Decays with Hadronic Full Event Interpretation Tagging in 34.6 fb$^{-1}$ of Belle II Data

We present the results of the re-discovery of the decay $B^0 \to π^- \ell^+ ν_\ell$ in 34.6 fb$^{-1}$ of Belle II data using hadronic $B$-tagging via the Full Event Interpretation algorithm. We observe 21 signal events on a background of 155 in a fit to the distribution of the square of the missing mass, $M_{\mathrm{miss}}^2$, with a significance of 5.69$σ$, and determine a total branching fraction of (1.58 $\pm$ 0.43$_{\mathrm{stat}}$ $\pm$ 0.07$_{\mathrm{sys}}$) $\times 10^{-4}$.

preprint2020arXiv

First flavor tagging calibration using 2019 Belle II data

We report on the first calibration of the standard Belle II $B$-flavor tagger using the full data set collected at the $Υ(4{\rm S})$ resonance in 2019 with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB collider, corresponding to 8.7 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. The calibration is performed by reconstructing various hadronic charmed $B$-meson decays with flavor-specific final states. We use simulation to optimize our event selection criteria and to train the flavor tagging algorithm. We determine the tagging efficiency and the fraction of wrongly identified tag-side $B$~candidates from a measurement of the time-integrated $B^0-\overline{B}^0$ mixing probability. The total effective efficiency is measured to be $\varepsilon_{\rm eff} = \big(33.8 \pm 3.6(\text{stat}) \pm 1.6(\text{sys})\big)\%$, which is in good agreement with the predictions from simulation and comparable with the best one obtained by the Belle experiment. The results show a good understanding of the detector performance and offer a basis for future calibrations.

preprint2020arXiv

Measurement of Hadronic Mass Moments $\langle M_X^n \rangle $ in $B \rightarrow X_c \ell ν$ Decays at Belle II

We present measurements of the first six hadronic mass moments in semileptonic $B \rightarrow X_c \ell ν$ decays. The hadronic mass moments, together with other observables of inclusive $B$ decays, can be used to determine the CKM matrix element $|{V_{cb}}|$ and mass of the $b$-quark $m_b$ in the context of Heavy Quark Expansions of QCD. The Belle~II data recorded at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance in 2019 and 2020 (March-July), corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $34.6\;\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$, is used for this measurement. The decay $Υ(4S) \rightarrow B \overline{B}$ is reconstructed by applying the hadronic tagging algorithm provided by the Full Event Interpretation to fully reconstruct one $B$ meson. The second $B$ meson is reconstructed inclusively by selecting a high-momentum lepton. The $X_c$ system is identified by the remaining reconstructed tracks and clusters in the electromagnetic calorimeter. We report preliminary results for the hadronic mass moments $\langle M_X^n \rangle $ with $n=1,\dots,6$, measured as a function of a lower cut on the lepton momentum in the signal $B$ rest frame.

preprint2020arXiv

Measurement of the $B^0$ lifetime using fully reconstructed hadronic decays in the 2019 Belle II dataset

This document presents the measurement of $B^0$ meson lifetimes using the 2019 Belle II dataset that corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $8.7 \pm 0.2$ fb$^{-1}$. Each candidate is fully reconstructed with hadronic decay final states on the signal side, while the rest-of-event technique allows to infer the decay vertex position on the other (tag) side. $B^0$ lifetime is extracted from an unbinned maximum likelihood fit to the distribution of the difference between the signal side $B^0$ candidate and the tag side decay times. The measured lifetime is $τ_{B^0} = 1.48 \pm 0.28 \pm 0.06 $ ps, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.

preprint2020arXiv

Measurement of the branching fraction ${\cal B}(\bar B^0\to D^{*+}\ell^-\barν_\ell)$ with early Belle II data

We measure the branching fractions for the decays $\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} e^{-} \barν_e$ and $\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} μ^{-} \barν_μ$ using $8.70 \pm 0.09~{\rm fb}^{-1}$ of data collected by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider. Candidate signal decays are reconstructed with the subsequent decays $D^{*+}\to D^0 π^+$ and $D^0\to K^-π^+$. We obtain the results ${\cal B}(\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} e^{-} \barν_e)$ = $(4.55\pm0.14(\mathrm{stat})\pm0.35 (\mathrm{syst})) \%$ and ${\cal B}(\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} μ^{-} \barν_μ)$ = $(4.84\pm 0.13(\mathrm{stat})\pm0.37(\mathrm{syst})) \%$, in agreement with the world averages. The measurements serve to validate the full chain of detector operation and calibration, data collection and processing, and production of physics results in the case of semileptonic $B$-meson decays.

preprint2020arXiv

Measurement of the semileptonic $\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} \ell^{-} ν_{\ell}$ branching fraction with fully reconstructed $B$ meson decays and 34.6 fb$^{-1}$of Belle II data

We present a first measurement of the $\bar{B^{0}} \rightarrow D^{*+} \ell^{-} ν_{\ell}$ branching fraction using fully reconstructed $B$ meson decays employing the Full Event Interpretation algorithm. Collision events corresponding to an integrated luminosity of \lumi are analyzed, which were recorded by the Belle~II detector operated at the SuperKEKB accelerator complex. We measure$\cal{B}(\bar{B^{0}} \rightarrow D^{*+} \ell^{-} ν_{\ell}) =4.51 \pm 0.41_{stat}\pm0.27_{syst} \pm0.45_{π_s}$, with the first and second error denoting the statistical and systematic uncertainty, respectively, and the third dominant uncertainty is from the slow pion reconstruction efficiency.

preprint2020arXiv

Measurement of two-particle correlations in hadronic $e^{+}e^{-}$ collisions at Belle

The enhancement of charged-particle pairs with large pseudorapidity difference and small azimuthal angle difference, often referred to as the ``ridge signal'', is a phenomenon widely observed in high multiplicity proton-proton, proton-ion and deutron-ion collisions, which is not yet fully understood. In heavy-ion collisions, the hydrodynamic expansion of the Quark-Gluon Plasma is one of the possible explanations of the origin of the ridge signal. Measurements in the $e^+e^-$ collision system, without the complexities introduced by hadron structure in the initial state, can serve as a complementary probe to examine the formation of a ridge signal. The first measurement of two-particle angular correlation functions in high multiplicity $e^+e^-$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=10.52$ GeV is reported. The hadronic $e^+e^-$ annihilation data collected by the Belle detector at KEKB are used in this study. Two-particle angular correlation functions are measured over the full azimuth and large pseudorapidity intervals which are defined by either the electron beam axis or the event thrust as a function of charged particle multiplicity. The measurement in the event thrust analysis, with mostly outgoing quark pairs determining the reference axis, is sensitive to the region of additional soft gluon emissions. No significant ridge signal is observed with either coordinates analyses. Near side jet correlations appear to be absent in the thrust axis analysis. The measurements are compared to predictions from various event generators and expected to provide new constraints to the phenomenological models in the low energy regime.

preprint2020arXiv

Measurements of branching fractions and CP-violating charge asymmetries in charmless $B$ decays reconstructed in 2019--2020 Belle~II data

We report on first measurements of branching fractions~($\mathcal{B}$) and CP-violating charge asymmetries~($\mathcal{A}$) in charmless $B$ decays at Belle~II. We use a sample of electron-positron collisions collected in 2019 and 2020 at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance and corresponding to $34.6$\,fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. We use simulation to determine optimized event selections. The $ΔE$ distributions of the resulting samples, restricted in $M_{\rm bc}$, are fit to determine signal yields. Signal yields are corrected for efficiencies determined from simulation and control data samples to obtain branching fractions and CP-violating asymmetries for flavour-specific channels. These are the first measurements in charmless decays reported by Belle~II. Results are compatible with known determinations and show detector performance comparable with the best Belle results offering a reliable basis to assess projections for future reach.

preprint2020arXiv

Rediscovery of $B \to ϕK^{(*)}$ decays and measurement of the longitudinal polarization fraction $f_L$ in $B \to ϕK^{*}$ decays using the Summer 2020 Belle II dataset

We utilize a sample of 34.6 fb$^{-1}$, collected by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric energy $e^+e^-$ collider, to search for the $B^+ \to ϕK^+$, $B^+ \to ϕK^{*+}$, $B^0 \to ϕK^0_S$, and $B^0 \to ϕK^{*0}$ decays. Charmless hadronic $B$ decays represent an important part of the Belle II physics program, and are an ideal benchmark to test the detector capabilities in terms of tracking efficiency, charged particle identification, vertexing, and advanced analysis techniques. Each channel is observed with a significance that exceeds 5 standard deviations, and we obtain measurements of their branching ratios that are in good agreement with the world averages. For the $B \to ϕK^*$ modes, we also perform a measurement of the longitudinal polarization fraction $f_L$.

preprint2020arXiv

Search for $B^0$ Decays to Invisible Final States ($+γ$) at Belle

We report searches for $B^0\to\rm{invisible}$ and $B^0\to\rm{invisible}+γ$ decays, where the energy of the photon is required to be larger than 0.5 GeV. These results are obtained from a $711\,{\rm fb}^{-1}$ data sample that contains $772 \times 10^6 B\bar{B}$ pairs and was collected near the $Υ\,(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB $e^+ e^-$ collider. We observe no significant signal for either decay and set upper limits on their branching fractions at $90\%$ confidence level of $\mathcal{B}\,(B^0\to\rm{invisible}) < 7.8\times10^{-5}$ and $\mathcal{B}\,(B^0\to\rm{invisible}+γ) < 1.6\times10^{-5}$.

preprint2020arXiv

Search for the Decay $B_s^0 \rightarrow η^\prime η$

In the Standard Model (SM) charmless hadronic decays $B_s^0 \rightarrow η^\prime η$ proceed via tree-level $b\to u$ and penguin $b\to s$ transitions. Penguin transitions are sensitive to Beyond-the-Standard-Model (BSM) physics scenarios and could affect the branching fractions and {\it CP} asymmetries in such decays. Once branching fractions for two-body decays $B_s \to ηη, ηη^{\prime}, η^{\prime}η^{\prime} $ are measured, and the theoretical uncertainties are reduced, it would be possible to extract {\it CP} violating parameters from the data using the formalism based on SU(3)/U(3) symmetry. To achieve this goal, at least four of these six branching fractions need to be measured. Only the branching fraction for $B_s^0 \to η^{\prime}η^{\prime}$ has been measured so far.

preprint2020arXiv

Studies of the semileptonic $\bar B^0\to D^{*+}\ell^-\barν_\ell$ and $B^-\to D^{0}\ell^-\barν_\ell$ decay processes with 34.6 fb$^{-1}$ of Belle II data

We report measurements of the $\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} \ell^{-} \barν_l$ and $B^- \to D^{0} \ell^{-} \barν_l$ processes using 34.6 fb$^{-1}$ of collision events recorded by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider. For the $B^-\to D^{0}\ell^-\barν_\ell$ channel, we present first studies that isolate this decay from other semileptonic processes and backgrounds. We report a measurement of the $\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} \ell^{-} \barν_l$ branching fraction and obtain ${\cal B}(\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} \ell^{-} \barν_l) = \left(4.60 \pm 0.05_{\mathrm{stat}}\pm0.17_{\mathrm{syst}} \pm 0.45_{π_s}\right) \%$, in agreement with the world average. Here, the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and related to slow pion reconstruction, respectively. The systematic uncertainties are limited by the statistics of auxiliary measurements and will improve in the future. We also report differential branching fractions in five bins of the hadronic recoil parameter $w$ for $\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} \ell^{-} \barν_l$, unfolded to account for resolution and efficiency effects.

preprint2020arXiv

Update of inclusive cross sections of single and pairs of identified light charged hadrons

We report new measurements of the production cross sections of pairs of charged pions and kaons as a function of their fractional energies using various fractional-energy definitions. Two different fractional-energy definitions were used and compared to the conventional fractional-energy definition reported previously. The new variables aim at either identifying dihadron cross sections in terms of single-hadron fragmentation functions, or to provide a means of characterizing the transverse momentum created in the fragmentation process. The results were obtained applying the updated initial-state radiation correction used in other recent Belle publications on light-hadron production cross sections. In addition, production cross sections of single charged pions, kaons, and protons were also updated using this initial-state radiation correction. The cross sections are obtained from a $558\,{\rm fb}^{-1}$ data sample collected at the $Υ(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+ e^-$ collider.

preprint2019arXiv

Characterization of ionization injection in gas mixtures irradiated by sub-petawatt class laser pulses

Effects of ionization injection in low and high Z gas mixtures for the laser wake field acceleration of electrons are analyzed with the use of balance equations and particle-in-cell simulations via test probe particle trajectories in realistic plasma fields and direct simulations of charge loading during the ionization process. It is shown that electrons appearing at the maximum of laser pulse field after optical ionization are trapped in the first bucket of the laser pulse wake. Electrons, which are produced by optical field ionization at the front of laser pulse, propagate backwards; some of them are trapped in the second bucket, third bucket and so on. The efficiency of ionization injection is not high, several pC/mm/bucket. This injection becomes competitive with wave breaking injection at lower plasma density and over a rather narrow range of laser pulse intensity.

preprint2019arXiv

Measurement of the integrated luminosity of the Phase 2 data of the Belle II experiment

From April to July 2018, a data sample at the peak energy of the $Υ(4S)$ resonance was collected with the Belle~II detector at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider. This is the first data sample of the Belle~II experiment. Using Bhabha and digamma events, we measure the integrated luminosity of the data sample to be ($496.3 \pm 0.3 \pm 3.0$)~pb$^{-1}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This work provides a basis for future luminosity measurements at Belle~II.

preprint2019arXiv

Measurement of the muon neutrino charged-current single $π^+$ production on hydrocarbon using the T2K off-axis near detector ND280

We report the measurements of single and double differential cross section of muon neutrino charged-current interactions on carbon with a single positively charged pion in the final state at the T2K off-axis near detector using $5.56\times10^{20}$ protons on target. The analysis uses data control samples for the background subtraction and the cross section signal, defined as a single negatively charged muon and a single positively charged pion exiting from the target nucleus, is extracted using an unfolding method. The model dependent cross section, integrated over the T2K off-axis neutrino beam spectrum peaking at $0.6$~GeV, is measured to be $σ= (11.76 \pm 0.44 \text{(stat)} \pm 2.39 \text{(syst)}) \times 10^{-40} \text{cm}^2$~$\text{nucleon}^{-1}$. Various differential cross sections are measured, including the first measurement of the Adler angles for single charged pion production in neutrino interactions with heavy nuclei target.

preprint2019arXiv

Persistent gapless surface states in MnBi2Te4/Bi2Te3 superlattice antiferromagnetic topological insulator

Magnetic topological quantum materials (TQMs) provide a fertile ground for the emergence of fascinating topological magneto-electric effects. Recently, the discovery of intrinsic antiferromagnetic (AFM) topological insulator MnBi2Te4 that could realize quantized anomalous Hall effect and axion insulator phase ignited intensive study on this family of TQM compounds. Here, we investigated the AFM compound MnBi4Te7 where Bi2Te3 and MnBi2Te4 layers alternate to form a superlattice. Using spatial- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we identified ubiquitous (albeit termination dependent) topological electronic structures from both Bi2Te3 and MnBi2Te4 terminations. Unexpectedly, while the bulk bands show strong temperature dependence correlated with the AFM transition, the topological surface states show little temperature dependence and remain gapless across the AFM transition. The detailed electronic structure of MnBi4Te7 and its temperature evolution, together with the results of its sister compound MnBi2Te4, will not only help understand the exotic properties of this family of magnetic TQMs, but also guide the design for possible applications.

preprint2016arXiv

High-efficiency WSi superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors for quantum state engineering in the near infrared

We report on high-efficiency superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors based on amorphous WSi and optimized at 1064 nm. At an operating temperature of 1.8 K, we demonstrated a 93% system detection efficiency at this wavelength with a dark noise of a few counts per second. Combined with cavity-enhanced spontaneous parametric down-conversion, this fiber-coupled detector enabled us to generate narrowband single photons with a heralding efficiency greater than 90% and a high spectral brightness of $0.6\times10^4$ photons/(s$\cdot$mW$\cdot$MHz). Beyond single-photon generation at large rate, such high-efficiency detectors open the path to efficient multiple-photon heralding and complex quantum state engineering.

preprint2016arXiv

Investigation of superconducting and normal-state properties of the filled-skutterudite system PrPt$_{4}$Ge$_{12-x}$Sb$_{x}$

We report a study of the superconducting and normal-state properties of the filled-skutterudite system PrPt$_{4}$Ge$_{12-x}$Sb$_x$. Polycrystalline samples with Sb concentrations up to $x =$ 5 were synthesized and investigated by means of x-ray diffraction, electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat measurements. We observed a suppression of superconductivity with increasing Sb substitution up to $x =$ 4, above which, no signature of superconductivity was observed down to 140 mK. The Sommerfeld coefficient, $γ$, of superconducting specimens decreases with increasing $x$ up to $x =$ 3, suggesting that superconductivity may depend on the density of electronic states in this system. The specific heat for $x =$ 0.5 exhibits an exponential temperature dependence in the superconducting state, reminiscent of a nodeless superconducting energy gap. We observed evidence for a weak "rattling" mode associated with the Pr ions, characterized by an Einstein temperature $Θ_{\mathrm{E}} \sim$ 60 K for 0 $\leq x \leq$ 5; however, the rattling mode may not play any role in suppressing superconductivity.

preprint2016arXiv

Measurement of coherent $π^{+}$ production in low energy neutrino-Carbon scattering

We report the first measurement of the flux-averaged cross section for charged current coherent $π^{+}$ production on carbon for neutrino energies less than 1.5 GeV to a restricted final state phase space region in the T2K near detector, ND280. Comparisons are made with predictions from the Rein-Sehgal coherent production model and the model by Alvarez-Ruso {\it et al.}, the latter representing the first implementation of an instance of the new class of microscopic coherent models in a neutrino interaction Monte Carlo event generator. This results contradicts the null results reported by K2K and SciBooNE in a similar neutrino energy region.

preprint2016arXiv

Measurement of double-differential muon neutrino charged-current interactions on C$_8$H$_8$ without pions in the final state using the T2K off-axis beam

We report the measurement of muon neutrino charged-current interactions on carbon without pions in the final state at the T2K beam energy using 5.734$\times10^{20}$ protons on target. For the first time the measurement is reported as a flux-integrated, double-differential cross-section in muon kinematic variables ($\cosθ_μ$, $p_μ$), without correcting for events where a pion is produced and then absorbed by final state interactions. Two analyses are performed with different selections, background evaluations and cross-section extraction methods to demonstrate the robustness of the results against biases due to model-dependent assumptions. The measurements compare favorably with recent models which include nucleon-nucleon correlations but, given the present precision, the measurement does not solve the degeneracy between different models. The data also agree with Monte Carlo simulations which use effective parameters that are tuned to external data to describe the nuclear effects. The total cross-section in the full phase space is $σ= (0.417 \pm 0.047 \text{(syst)} \pm 0.005 \text{(stat)})\times 10^{-38} \text{cm}^2$ $\text{nucleon}^{-1}$ and the cross-section integrated in the region of phase space with largest efficiency and best signal-over-background ratio ($\cosθ_μ>0.6$ and $p_μ> 200$ MeV) is $σ= (0.202 \pm 0.0359 \text{(syst)} \pm 0.0026 \text{(stat)}) \times 10^{-38} \text{cm}^2$ $\text{nucleon}^{-1}$.

preprint2016arXiv

Measurement of Muon Antineutrino Oscillations with an Accelerator-Produced Off-Axis Beam

T2K reports its first measurements of the parameters governing the disappearance of $\barν_μ$ in an off-axis beam due to flavor change induced by neutrino oscillations. The quasimonochromatic $\barν_μ$ beam, produced with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV at J-PARC, is observed at the far detector Super-Kamiokande, 295 km away, where the $\barν_μ$ survival probability is expected to be minimal. Using a dataset corresponding to $4.01 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target, $34$ fully contained $μ$-like events were observed. The best-fit oscillation parameters are $\sin^2 (\barθ_{23}) = 0.45$ and $|Δ\bar{m}^2_{32}| = 2.51 \times 10^{-3}$ eV$^2$ with 68% confidence intervals of 0.38 - 0.64 and 2.26 - 2.80 $\times 10^{-3}$ eV$^2$ respectively. These results are in agreement with existing antineutrino parameter measurements and also with the $ν_μ$ disappearance parameters measured by T2K.

preprint2016arXiv

Measurements of the atmospheric neutrino flux by Super-Kamiokande: energy spectra, geomagnetic effects, and solar modulation

A comprehensive study on the atmospheric neutrino flux in the energy region from sub-GeV up to several TeV using the Super-Kamiokande water Cherenkov detector is presented in this paper. The energy and azimuthal spectra of the atmospheric $ν_e+{\barν}_e$ and $ν_μ+{\barν}_μ$ fluxes are measured. The energy spectra are obtained using an iterative unfolding method by combining various event topologies with differing energy responses. The azimuthal spectra depending on energy and zenith angle, and their modulation by geomagnetic effects, are also studied. A predicted east-west asymmetry is observed in both the $ν_e$ and $ν_μ$ samples at 8.0 σ and 6.0 σ significance, respectively, and an indication that the asymmetry dipole angle changes depending on the zenith angle was seen at the 2.2 σ level. The measured energy and azimuthal spectra are consistent with the current flux models within the estimated systematic uncertainties. A study of the long-term correlation between the atmospheric neutrino flux and the solar magnetic activity cycle is also performed, and a weak indication of a correlation was seen at the 1.1 σ level, using SK I-IV data spanning a 20 year period. For particularly strong solar activity periods known as Forbush decreases, no theoretical prediction is available, but a deviation below the typical neutrino event rate is seen at the 2.4 σ level.

preprint2016arXiv

Phase diagram and thermal expansion measurements on the system of URu_{2-x}Fe_xSi_2

Thermal expansion, electrical resistivity, magnetization, and specific heat measurements were performed on URu$_{2-x}$Fe$_{x}$Si$_{2}$ single crystals for various values of the Fe concentration $x$ in both the hidden order (HO) and large moment antiferromagnetic (LMAFM) regions of the phase diagram. Our results show that the paramagnetic (PM) to HO and LMAFM phase transitions are manifested differently in the thermal expansion coefficient. For Fe concentrations near the boundary between the HO and LMAFM phases at $x_c$ ~ 0.1, we observe two features in the thermal expansion upon cooling, one that appears to be associated with the transition from the PM to the HO phase and another one at lower temperature that may be due to the transition from the HO to the LMAFM phase. These two features have not been observed in other measurements such as specific heat or neutron scattering. In addition, the uniaxial pressure derivative of the transition temperature, based on a calculation using thermal expansion and specific heat data, changes dramatically when crossing from the HO to the LMAFM phase.

preprint2016arXiv

Proposal for an Extended Run of T2K to $20\times10^{21}$ POT

Recent measurements by the T2K neutrino oscillation experiment indicate that CP violation in neutrino mixing may be observed in the future by long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. We propose an extension to the currently approved T2K running from $7.8\times 10^{21}~\mbox{POT}$ to $20\times 10^{21}~\mbox{POT}$, aiming at initial observation of CP violation with 3$\,σ$ or higher significance for the case of maximum CP violation. The program also contains a measurement of mixing parameters, $θ_{23}$ and $Δm^2_{32}$, with a precision of 1.7$^\circ$ or better and 1%, respectively. With accelerator and beamline upgrades, as well as analysis improvements, this program would occur before the next generation of long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments that are expected to start operation in 2026.

preprint2016arXiv

Quantum critical scaling in the disordered itinerant ferromagnet UCo$_{1-x}$Fe$_x$Ge

Belitz-Kirkpatrick-Vojta (BKV) theory shows in excellent agreement with experiment that ferromagnetic quantum phase transitions (QPTs) in clean metals are generally first-order due to the coupling of the magnetization to electronic soft modes, in contrast to the classical analogue that is an archetypical second-order phase transition. For disordered metals BKV theory predicts that the second order nature of the QPT is restored because the electronic soft modes change their nature from ballistic to diffusive. Our low-temperature magnetization study identifies the ferromagnetic QPT in the disordered metal UCo$_{1-x}$Fe$_x$Ge as the first clear example that exhibits the associated critical exponents predicted by BKV theory.

preprint2016arXiv

Quantum Criticality and Inhomogeneous Magnetic Order in Fe-doped alpha-YbAlB4

The intermediate-valent polymorphs $α$- and $β$-YbAlB$_4$ exhibit quantum criticality and other novel properties not usually associated with intermediate valence. Iron doping induces quantum criticality in $α$-YbAlB$_4$ and magnetic order in both compounds. We report results of muon spin relaxation ($μ$SR) experiments in the intermediate-valent alloys $α$-YbAl$_{1-x}$Fe$_x$B$_4$, $x = 0.014$ and 0.25. For $x = 0.014$ we find no evidence for magnetic order down to 25 mK\@. The dynamic muon spin relaxation rate $λ_d$ exhibits a power-law temperature dependence $λ_d \propto T^{-a}$, $a = 0.40(4)$, in the temperature range 100 mK--2 K, in disagreement with predictions by theories of antiferromagnetic (AFM) or valence quantum critical behavior. For $x = 0.25$, where AFM order develops in the temperature range 7.5--10 K, where we find coexistence of meso- or macroscopically segregated paramagnetic and AFM phases, with considerable disorder in the latter down to 2 K.

preprint2016arXiv

Real-Time Supernova Neutrino Burst Monitor at Super-Kamiokande

We present a real-time supernova neutrino burst monitor at Super-Kamiokande (SK). Detecting supernova explosions by neutrinos in real time is crucial for giving a clear picture of the explosion mechanism. Since the neutrinos are expected to come earlier than light, a fast broadcasting of the detection may give astronomers a chance to make electromagnetic radiation observations of the explosions right at the onset. The role of the monitor includes a fast announcement of the neutrino burst detection to the world and a determination of the supernova direction. We present the online neutrino burst detection system and studies of the direction determination accuracy based on simulations at SK.

preprint2016arXiv

Search for Neutrinos in Super-Kamiokande associated with Gravitational Wave Events GW150914 and GW151226

We report the results from a search in Super-Kamiokande for neutrino signals coincident with the first detected gravitational wave events, GW150914 and GW151226, using a neutrino energy range from 3.5 MeV to 100 PeV. We searched for coincident neutrino events within a time window of $\pm$500 seconds around the gravitational wave detection time. Four neutrino candidates are found for GW150914 and no candidates are found for GW151226. The remaining neutrino candidates are consistent with the expected background events. We calculated the 90\% confidence level upper limits on the combined neutrino fluence for both gravitational wave events, which depends on event energy and topologies. Considering the upward going muon data set (1.6 GeV - 100 PeV) the neutrino fluence limit for each gravitational wave event is 14 - 37 (19 - 50) cm$^{-2}$ for muon neutrinos (muon antineutrinos), depending on the zenith angle of the event. In the other data sets, the combined fluence limits for both gravitational wave events range from 2.4$\times 10^{4}$ to 7.0$\times 10^{9}$ cm$^{-2}$.

preprint2016arXiv

Sensitivity of the T2K accelerator-based neutrino experiment with an Extended run to $20\times10^{21}$ POT

Recent measurements at the T2K experiment indicate that CP violation in neutrino mixing may be observed in the future by long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. We explore the physics program of an extension to the currently approved T2K running of $7.8\times 10^{21}$ protons-on-target to $20\times 10^{21}$ protons-on-target,aiming at initial observation of CP violation with 3$\,σ$ or higher significance for the case of maximum CP violation. With accelerator and beam line upgrades, as well as analysis improvements, this program would occur before the next generation of long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments that are expected to start operation in 2026.

preprint2016arXiv

Superconducting gap structure in ambient-pressure-grown $\mathrm{LaO_{0.5}F_{0.5}BiS_{2}}$

We have performed transverse-field muon spin relaxation (TF-$μ$SR) measurements on ambient-pressure-grown polycrystalline $\mathrm{LaO_{0.5}F_{0.5}BiS_{2}}$. From these measurements, no signature of magnetic order is found down to 25 mK. The value of the magnetic penetration depth extrapolated to 0 K is 0.89 (5) $μ$m. The temperature dependence of superconducting penetration depth is best described by either a multigap s + s-wave model with $Δ_{1}$ = 0.947 (7) meV and $Δ_{2}$ = 0.22 (4) meV or the ansiotropic s-wave model with $Δ(0)$ = 0.776 meV and anisotropic gap amplitude ratio $Δ_{min}/Δ_{max}$ = 0.34. Comparisons with other potentially multigap $\mathrm{BiS_{2}}$-based superconductors are discussed. We find that these $\mathrm{BiS_{2}}$-based superconductors, including $\mathrm{Bi_{4}O_{4}S_3}$ and the high-pressure synthesized $\mathrm{LaO_{0.5}F_{0.5}BiS_{2}}$, generally conform to the Uemura relation.

preprint2015arXiv

A Long Baseline Neutrino Oscillation Experiment Using J-PARC Neutrino Beam and Hyper-Kamiokande

Hyper-Kamiokande will be a next generation underground water Cherenkov detector with a total (fiducial) mass of 0.99 (0.56) million metric tons, approximately 20 (25) times larger than that of Super-Kamiokande. One of the main goals of Hyper-Kamiokande is the study of $CP$ asymmetry in the lepton sector using accelerator neutrino and anti-neutrino beams. In this document, the physics potential of a long baseline neutrino experiment using the Hyper-Kamiokande detector and a neutrino beam from the J-PARC proton synchrotron is presented. The analysis has been updated from the previous Letter of Intent [K. Abe et al., arXiv:1109.3262 [hep-ex]], based on the experience gained from the ongoing T2K experiment. With a total exposure of 7.5 MW $\times$ 10$^7$ sec integrated proton beam power (corresponding to $1.56\times10^{22}$ protons on target with a 30 GeV proton beam) to a $2.5$-degree off-axis neutrino beam produced by the J-PARC proton synchrotron, it is expected that the $CP$ phase $δ_{CP}$ can be determined to better than 19 degrees for all possible values of $δ_{CP}$, and $CP$ violation can be established with a statistical significance of more than $3\,σ$ ($5\,σ$) for $76%$ ($58%$) of the $δ_{CP}$ parameter space.

preprint2015arXiv

Broken Time Reversal Symmetry in Superconducting Pr1-xCexPt4Ge12

We report results of zero-field muon spin relaxation experiments on the filled-skutterudite superconductors~Pr$_{1-x}$Ce$_{x}$Pt$_4$Ge$_{12}$, $x = 0$, 0.07, 0.1, and 0.2, to investigate the effect of Ce doping on broken time-reversal symmetry (TRS) in the superconducting state. In these alloys broken TRS is signaled by the onset of a spontaneous static local magnetic field~$B_s$ below the superconducting transition temperature. We find that $B_s$ decreases linearly with $x$ and $\to 0$ at $x \approx 0.4$, close to the concentration above which superconductivity is no longer observed. The (Pr,Ce)Pt$_4$Ge$_{12}$ and isostructural (Pr,La)Os$_4$Sb$_{12}$ alloy series both exhibit superconductivity with broken TRS, and in both the decrease of $B_s$ is proportional to the decrease of Pr concentration. This suggests that Pr-Pr intersite interactions are responsible for the broken TRS\@. The two alloy series differ in that the La-doped alloys are superconducting for all La concentrations, suggesting that in (Pr,Ce)Pt$_4$Ge$_{12}$ pair-breaking by Ce doping suppresses superconductivity. For all $x$ the dynamic muon spin relaxation rate decreases somewhat in the superconducting state. This may be due to Korringa relaxation by conduction electrons, which is reduced by the opening of the superconducting energy gap.

preprint2015arXiv

Electrodynamics of the antiferromagnetic phase in URu$_2$Si$_2$

We present data on the optical conductivity of URu$_{2-x}$(Fe,Os)$_{x}$Si$_{2}$. While the parent material URu$_2$Si$_2$ enters the enigmatic hidden order phase below 17.5 K, an antiferromagnetic phase is induced by the substitution of Fe or Os onto the Ru sites. We find that both the HO and the AFM phases exhibit an identical gap structure that is characterized by a loss of conductivity below the gap energy with spectral weight transferred to a narrow frequency region just above the gap, the typical optical signature of a density wave. The AFM phase is marked by strong increases in both transition temperature and the energy of the gap associated with the transition. In the normal phase just above the transition the optical scattering rate varies as $ω^2$. We find that in both the HO and the AFM phases, our data are consistent with elastic resonant scattering of a Fermi liquid. This indicates that the appearance of a coherent state is a necessary condition for either ordered phase to emerge. Our measurements favor models in which the HO and the AFM phases are driven by the common physics of a nesting-induced density-wave-gap.

preprint2015arXiv

Experimental quantum state engineering with time-separated heraldings from a continuous-wave light source: a temporal-mode analysis

Conditional preparation is a well-established technique for quantum state engineering of light. A general trend is to increase the number of heralding detection events in such realization to reach larger photon-number states or their arbitrary superpositions. In contrast to pulsed implementations, where detections only occur within the pulse window, for continuous-wave light the temporal separation of the conditioning detections is an additional degree of freedom and a critical parameter. Based on the theoretical study by A.E.B. Nielsen and K. Molmer and on a continuous-wave two-mode squeezed vacuum from a nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator, we experimentally investigate the generation of two-photon state with tunable delay between the heralding events. The present work illustrates the temporal multimode features in play for conditional state generation based on continuous-wave light sources.

preprint2015arXiv

Limits on sterile neutrino mixing using atmospheric neutrinos in Super-Kamiokande

We present limits on sterile neutrino mixing using 4,438 live-days of atmospheric neutrino data from the Super-Kamiokande experiment. We search for fast oscillations driven by an eV$^2$-scale mass splitting and for oscillations into sterile neutrinos instead of tau neutrinos at the atmospheric mass splitting. When performing both these searches we assume that the sterile mass splitting is large, allowing $\sin^2(Δm^2 L/4E)$ to be approximated as $0.5$, and we assume that there is no mixing between electron neutrinos and sterile neutrinos ($|U_{e4}|^2 = 0$). No evidence of sterile oscillations is seen and we limit $|U_{\mu4}|^2$ to less than 0.041 and $|U_{\tau4}|^2$ to less than 0.18 for $Δm^2 > 0.8$ eV$^2$ at the 90% C.L. in a 3+1 framework. The approximations that can be made with atmospheric neutrinos allow these limits to be easily applied to 3+N models, and we provide our results in a generic format to allow comparisons with other sterile neutrino models.

preprint2015arXiv

Measurement of the $ν_μ$ CCQE cross section on carbon with the ND280 detector at T2K

The Charged-Current Quasi-Elastic (CCQE) interaction, $ν_{l} + n \rightarrow l^{-} + p$, is the dominant CC process at $E_ν\sim 1$ GeV and contributes to the signal in accelerator-based long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments operating at intermediate neutrino energies. This paper reports a measurement by the T2K experiment of the $ν_μ$ CCQE cross section on a carbon target with the off-axis detector based on the observed distribution of muon momentum ($p_μ$) and angle with respect to the incident neutrino beam ($θ_μ$). The flux-integrated CCQE cross section was measured to be $(0.83 \pm 0.12) \times 10^{-38}\textrm{ cm}^{2}$ in good agreement with NEUT MC value of ${0.88 \times 10^{-38}} \textrm{ cm}^{2}$. The energy dependence of the CCQE cross section is also reported. The axial mass, $M_A^{QE}$, of the dipole axial form factor was extracted assuming the Smith-Moniz CCQE model with a relativistic Fermi gas nuclear model. Using the absolute (shape-only) $p_μcosθ_μ$ distribution, the effective $M_A^{QE}$ parameter was measured to be ${1.26^{+0.21}_{-0.18} \textrm{ GeV}/c^{2}}$ (${1.43^{+0.28}_{-0.22} \textrm{ GeV}/c^{2}}$).

preprint2015arXiv

Measurement of the $ν_μ$ charged current quasi-elastic cross-section on carbon with the T2K on-axis neutrino beam

We report a measurement of the $ν_μ$ charged current quasi-elastic cross-sections on carbon in the T2K on-axis neutrino beam. The measured charged current quasi-elastic cross-sections on carbon at mean neutrino energies of 1.94 GeV and 0.93 GeV are $(11.95\pm 0.19(stat.)_{-1.47}^{+1.82} (syst.))\times 10^{-39}\mathrm{cm}^2/\mathrm{neutron}$ and $(10.64\pm 0.37(stat.)_{-1.65}^{+2.03} (syst.))\times 10^{-39}\mathrm{cm}^2/\mathrm{neutron}$, respectively. These results agree well with the predictions of neutrino interaction models. In addition, we investigated the effects of the nuclear model and the multi-nucleon interaction.

preprint2015arXiv

Measurement of the Electron Neutrino Charged-current Interaction Rate on Water with the T2K ND280 pi-zero Detector

This paper presents a measurement of the charged current interaction rate of the electron neutrino beam component of the beam above $1.5$~GeV using the large fiducial mass of the T2K $π^0$ detector. The predominant poriton of the $ν_e$ flux ($\sim$85 %) at these energies comes from kaon decays. The measured ratio of the observed beam interaction rate to the predicted rate in the detector with water targets filled is 0.89 $\pm$ 0.08 (stat.) $\pm$ 0.11 (sys.), and with the water targets emptied is 0.90 $\pm$ 0.09 (stat.) $\pm$ 0.13 (sys.). The ratio obtained for the interactions on water only from an event subtraction method is 0.87 $\pm$ 0.33 (stat.) $\pm$ 0.21 (sys.). This is the first measurement of the interaction rate of electron neutrinos on water, which is particularly of interest to experiments with water Cherenkov detectors.

preprint2015arXiv

Measurement of the muon neutrino inclusive charged-current cross section in the energy range of 1-3 GeV with the T2K INGRID detector

We report a measurement of the $ν_μ$-nucleus inclusive charged current cross section (=$σ^{cc}$) on iron using data from exposed to the J-PARC neutrino beam. The detector consists of 14 modules in total, which are spread over a range of off-axis angles from 0$^\circ$ to 1.1$^\circ$. The variation in the neutrino energy spectrum as a function of the off-axis angle, combined with event topology information, is used to calculate this cross section as a function of neutrino energy. The cross section is measured to be $σ^{cc}(1.1\text{ GeV}) = 1.10 \pm 0.15$ $(10^{-38}\text{cm}^2/\text{nucleon})$, $σ^{cc}(2.0\text{ GeV}) = 2.07 \pm 0.27$ $(10^{-38}\text{cm}^2/\text{nucleon})$, and $σ^{cc}(3.3\text{ GeV}) = 2.29 \pm 0.45$ $(10^{-38}\text{cm}^2/\text{nucleon})$, at energies of 1.1, 2.0, and 3.3 GeV, respectively. These results are consistent with the cross section calculated by the neutrino interaction generators currently used by T2K. More importantly, the method described here opens up a new way to determine the energy dependence of neutrino-nucleus cross sections.

preprint2015arXiv

Measurements of neutrino oscillation in appearance and disappearance channels by the T2K experiment with 6.6E20 protons on target

We report on measurements of neutrino oscillation using data from the T2K long-baseline neutrino experiment collected between 2010 and 2013. In an analysis of muon neutrino disappearance alone, we find the following estimates and 68% confidence intervals for the two possible mass hierarchies: Normal Hierarchy: $\sin^2θ_{23}=0.514^{+0.055}_{-0.056}$ and $Δm^2_{32}=(2.51\pm0.10)\times 10^{-3}$ eV$^2$/c$^4$ Inverted Hierarchy: $\sin^2θ_{23}=0.511\pm0.055$ and $Δm^2_{13}=(2.48\pm0.10)\times 10^{-3}$ eV$^2$/c$^4$ The analysis accounts for multi-nucleon mechanisms in neutrino interactions which were found to introduce negligible bias. We describe our first analyses that combine measurements of muon neutrino disappearance and electron neutrino appearance to estimate four oscillation parameters and the mass hierarchy. Frequentist and Bayesian intervals are presented for combinations of these parameters, with and without including recent reactor measurements. At 90% confidence level and including reactor measurements, we exclude the region: $δ_{CP}=[0.15,0.83]π$ for normal hierarchy and $δ_{CP}=[-0.08,1.09]π$ for inverted hierarchy. The T2K and reactor data weakly favor the normal hierarchy with a Bayes Factor of 2.2. The most probable values and 68% 1D credible intervals for the other oscillation parameters, when reactor data are included, are: $\sin^2θ_{23}=0.528^{+0.055}_{-0.038}$ and $|Δm^2_{32}|=(2.51\pm0.11)\times 10^{-3}$ eV$^2$/c$^4$.

preprint2015arXiv

Microcontroller-based locking in optics experiments

Optics experiments critically require the stable and accurate locking of relative phases between light beams or the stabilization of Fabry-Perot cavity lengths. Here, we present a simple and inexpensive technique based on a stand-alone microcontroller unit to perform such tasks. Easily programmed in C language, this reconfigurable digital locking system also enables automatic relocking and sequential functioning. Different algorithms are detailed and applied to fringe locking and to low- and high-finesse optical cavity stabilization, without the need of external modulations or error signals. This technique can readily replace a number of analog locking systems advantageously in a variety of optical experiments.

preprint2015arXiv

Neutrino Oscillation Physics Potential of the T2K Experiment

The observation of the recent electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam and the high-precision measurement of the mixing angle $θ_{13}$ have led to a re-evaluation of the physics potential of the T2K long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. Sensitivities are explored for CP violation in neutrinos, non-maximal $\sin^22θ_{23}$, the octant of $θ_{23}$, and the mass hierarchy, in addition to the measurements of $δ_{CP}$, $\sin^2θ_{23}$, and $Δm^2_{32}$, for various combinations of $ν$-mode and \(\barν\)-mode data-taking. With an exposure of $7.8\times10^{21}$~protons-on-target, T2K can achieve 1-$σ$ resolution of 0.050(0.054) on $\sin^2θ_{23}$ and $0.040(0.045)\times10^{-3}~\rm{eV}^2$ on $Δm^2_{32}$ for 100\%(50\%) neutrino beam mode running assuming $\sin^2θ_{23}=0.5$ and $Δm^2_{32} = 2.4\times10^{-3}$ eV$^2$. T2K will have sensitivity to the CP-violating phase $δ_{\rm{CP}}$ at 90\% C.L. or better over a significant range. For example, if $\sin^22θ_{23}$ is maximal (i.e $θ_{23}$=$45^\circ$) the range is $-115^\circ<δ_{\rm{CP}}<-60^\circ$ for normal hierarchy and $+50^\circ<δ_{\rm{CP}}<+130^\circ$ for inverted hierarchy. When T2K data is combined with data from the NO$ν$A experiment, the region of oscillation parameter space where there is sensitivity to observe a non-zero $δ_{CP}$ is substantially increased compared to if each experiment is analyzed alone.

preprint2015arXiv

Optical synthesis of large-amplitude squeezed coherent-state superpositions with minimal resources

We propose and experimentally realize a novel versatile protocol that allows the quantum state engineering of heralded optical coherent-state superpositions. This scheme relies on a two-mode squeezed state, linear mixing and a $n$-photon detection. It is optimally using expensive non-Gaussian resources to build up only the key non-Gaussian part of the targeted state. In the experimental case of a two-photon detection based on high-efficiency superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, the freely propagating state exhibits a 67% fidelity with a squeezed even coherent-state superposition with a size $|α|^2$=3. The demonstrated procedure and the achieved rate will facilitate the use of such superpositions in subsequent protocols, including fundamental tests and optical hybrid quantum information implementations.

preprint2015arXiv

Physics Potential of a Long Baseline Neutrino Oscillation Experiment Using J-PARC Neutrino Beam and Hyper-Kamiokande

Hyper-Kamiokande will be a next generation underground water Cherenkov detector with a total (fiducial) mass of 0.99 (0.56) million metric tons, approximately 20 (25) times larger than that of Super-Kamiokande. One of the main goals of Hyper-Kamiokande is the study of $CP$ asymmetry in the lepton sector using accelerator neutrino and anti-neutrino beams. In this paper, the physics potential of a long baseline neutrino experiment using the Hyper-Kamiokande detector and a neutrino beam from the J-PARC proton synchrotron is presented. The analysis uses the framework and systematic uncertainties derived from the ongoing T2K experiment. With a total exposure of 7.5 MW $\times$ 10$^7$ sec integrated proton beam power (corresponding to $1.56\times10^{22}$ protons on target with a 30 GeV proton beam) to a $2.5$-degree off-axis neutrino beam, it is expected that the leptonic $CP$ phase $δ_{CP}$ can be determined to better than 19 degrees for all possible values of $δ_{CP}$, and $CP$ violation can be established with a statistical significance of more than $3\,σ$ ($5\,σ$) for $76\%$ ($58\%$) of the $δ_{CP}$ parameter space. Using both $ν_e$ appearance and $ν_μ$ disappearance data, the expected 1$σ$ uncertainty of $\sin^2θ_{23}$ is 0.015(0.006) for $\sin^2θ_{23}=0.5(0.45)$.

preprint2015arXiv

Resonantly excited betatron hard X-Rays from Ionization Injected Electron Beam in a Laser Plasma Accelerator

A new scheme for bright hard x-ray emission from laser wakefield electron accelerator is reported, where pure nitrogen gas is adopted. Intense Betatron x-ray beams are generated from ionization injected K-shell electrons of nitrogen into the accelerating wave bucket. The x-ray radiation shows synchrotron-like spectrum with total photon yield 8$\times$10$^8$/shot and $10^8$ over 110keV. In particular, the betatron hard x-ray photon yield is 10 times higher compared to the case of helium gas under the same laser parameters. Particle-in-cell simulation suggests that the enhancement of the x-ray yield results from ionization injection, which enables the electrons to be quickly accelerated to the driving laser region for subsequent betatron resonance. Employing the present scheme,the single stage nitrogen gas target could be used to generate stable high brightness betatron hard x-ray beams.

preprint2015arXiv

Search for dinucleon decay into pions at Super-Kamiokande

A search for dinucleon decay into pions with the Super-Kamiokande detector has been performed with an exposure of 282.1 kiloton-years. Dinucleon decay is a process that violates baryon number by two units. We present the first search for dinucleon decay to pions in a large water Cherenkov detector. The modes $^{16}$O$(pp) \rightarrow$ $^{14}$C$π^{+}π^{+}$, $^{16}$O$(pn) \rightarrow$ $^{14}$N$π^{+}π^{0}$, and $^{16}$O$(nn) \rightarrow$ $^{14}$O$π^{0}π^{0}$ are investigated. No significant excess in the Super-Kamiokande data has been found, so a lower limit on the lifetime of the process per oxygen nucleus is determined. These limits are: $τ_{pp\rightarrowπ^{+}π^{+}} > 7.22 \times 10^{31}$ years, $τ_{pn\rightarrowπ^{+}π^{0}} > 1.70 \times 10^{32}$ years, and $τ_{nn\rightarrowπ^{0}π^{0}} > 4.04 \times 10^{32}$ years. The lower limits on each mode are about two orders of magnitude better than previous limits from searches for dinucleon decay in iron.

preprint2015arXiv

Search for neutrinos from annihilation of captured low-mass dark matter particles in the Sun by Super-Kamiokande

Super-Kamiokande (SK) can search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) by detecting neutrinos produced from WIMP annihilations occurring inside the Sun. In this analysis, we include neutrino events with interaction vertices in the detector in addition to upward-going muons produced in the surrounding rock. Compared to the previous result, which used the upward-going muons only, the signal acceptances for light (few-GeV/$c^2$ $\sim$ 200-GeV/$c^2$) WIMPs are significantly increased. We fit 3903 days of SK data to search for the contribution of neutrinos from WIMP annihilation in the Sun. We found no significant excess over expected atmospheric-neutrino background and the result is interpreted in terms of upper limits on WIMP-nucleon elastic scattering cross sections under different assumptions about the annihilation channel. We set the current best limits on the spin-dependent (SD) WIMP-proton cross section for WIMP masses below 200 GeV/$c^2$ (at 10 GeV/$c^2$, 1.49$\times 10^{-39}$ cm$^2$ for $χχ\rightarrow b \bar{b}$ and 1.31$\times 10^{-40}$ cm$^2$ for $χχ\rightarrowτ^+τ^-$ annihilation channels), also ruling out some fraction of WIMP candidates with spin-independent (SI) coupling in the few-GeV/$c^2$ mass range.

preprint2015arXiv

Search for Nucleon and Dinucleon Decays with an Invisible Particle and a Charged Lepton in the Final State at the Super-Kamiokande Experiment

Search results for nucleon decays $p \rightarrow e^+X$, $p \rightarrow μ^+X$, $n \rightarrow νγ$ (where $X$ is an invisible, massless particle) as well as dinucleon decays $np \rightarrow e^+ν$, $np \rightarrow μ^+ν$ and $np \rightarrow τ^+ν$ in the Super-Kamiokande experiment are presented. Using single-ring data from an exposure of 273.4 kton $\cdot$ years, a search for these decays yields a result consistent with no signal. Accordingly, lower limits on the partial lifetimes of $τ_{p \rightarrow e^+X} > 7.9 \times 10^{32}$ years, $τ_{p \rightarrow μ^+X} > 4.1 \times 10^{32}$ years, $τ_{n \rightarrow νγ} > 5.5 \times 10^{32}$ years, $τ_{np \rightarrow e^+ν} > 2.6 \times 10^{32}$ years, $τ_{np \rightarrow μ^+ν} > 2.2 \times 10^{32}$ years and $τ_{np \rightarrow τ^+ν} > 2.9 \times 10^{31}$ years at a $90 \% $ confidence level are obtained. Some of these searches are novel.

preprint2015arXiv

Selecting superluminous supernovae in faint galaxies from the first year of the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey

The Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) survey has obtained imaging in 5 bands (grizy_P1) over 10 Medium Deep Survey (MDS) fields covering a total of 70 square degrees. This paper describes the search for apparently hostless supernovae (SNe) within the first year of PS1 MDS data with an aim of discovering new superluminous supernovae (SLSNe). A total of 249 hostless transients were discovered down to a limiting magnitude of M_AB ~ 23.5, of which 76 were classified as Type Ia SNe. There were 57 SNe with complete light curves that are likely core-collapse SNe (CCSNe) or SLSNe and 12 of these have had spectra taken. Of these 12 hostless, non-Type Ia SNe, 7 were SLSNe of Type Ic at redshifts between 0.5-1.4. This illustrates that the discovery rate of Type Ic SLSNe can be maximised by concentrating on hostless transients and removing normal SNe Ia. We present data for two new possible SLSNe; PS1-10pm (z = 1.206) and PS1-10ahf (z = 1.1), and estimate the rate of SLSNe-Ic to be between 3^{+3}_{-2} * 10^{-5} and 8^{+2}_{-1} * 10^{-5} of the CCSNe rate within 0.3 <= z <= 1.4 by applying a Monte-Carlo technique. The rate of slowly evolving, SN2007bi-like explosions is estimated as a factor of 10 lower than this range.

preprint2015arXiv

Test of Lorentz invariance with atmospheric neutrinos

A search for neutrino oscillations induced by Lorentz violation has been performed using 4,438 live-days of Super-Kamiokande atmospheric neutrino data. The Lorentz violation is included in addition to standard three-flavor oscillations using the non-perturbative Standard Model Extension (SME), allowing the use of the full range of neutrino path lengths, ranging from 15 to 12,800 km, and energies ranging from 100 MeV to more than 100 TeV in the search. No evidence of Lorentz violation was observed, so limits are set on the renormalizable isotropic SME coefficients in the $eμ$, $μτ$, and $eτ$ sectors, improving the existing limits by up to seven orders of magnitude and setting limits for the first time in the neutrino $μτ$ sector of the SME.

preprint2014arXiv

Chemical pressure tuning of URu$_2$Si$_2$ via isoelectronic substitution of Ru with Fe

We have used specific heat and neutron diffraction measurements on single crystals of URu$_{2-x}$Fe$_x$Si$_2$ for Fe concentrations $x$ $\leq$ 0.7 to establish that chemical substitution of Ru with Fe acts as "chemical pressure" $P_{ch}$ as previously proposed by Kanchanavatee et al. [Phys. Rev. B {\bf 84}, 245122 (2011)] based on bulk measurements on polycrystalline samples. Notably, neutron diffraction reveals a sharp increase of the uranium magnetic moment at $x=0.1$, reminiscent of the behavior at the "hidden order" (HO) to large moment antiferromagnetic (LMAFM) phase transition observed at a pressure $P_x\approx$ 0.5-0.7~GPa in URu$_2$Si$_2$. Using the unit cell volume determined from our measurements and an isothermal compressibility $κ_{T} = 5.2 \times 10^{-3}$ GPa$^{-1}$ for URu$_2$Si$_2$, we determine the chemical pressure $P_{ch}$ in URu$_{2-x}$Fe$_x$Si$_2$ as a function of $x$. The resulting temperature $T$-chemical pressure $P_{ch}$ phase diagram for URu$_{2-x}$Fe$_x$Si$_2$ is in agreement with the established temperature $T$-external pressure $P$ phase diagram of URu$_2$Si$_2$.

preprint2014arXiv

First Indication of Terrestrial Matter Effects on Solar Neutrino Oscillation

We report an indication that the elastic scattering rate of solar $^8$B neutrinos with electrons in the Super-Kamiokande detector is larger when the neutrinos pass through the Earth during nighttime. We determine the day/night asymmetry, defined as the difference of the average day rate and average night rate divided by the average of those two rates, to be $(-3.2\pm1.1(\text{stat})\pm0.5(\text{syst}))\%$, which deviates from zero by 2.7 $σ$. Since the elastic scattering process is mostly sensitive to electron-flavored solar neutrinos, a non-zero day/night asymmetry implies that the flavor oscillations of solar neutrinos are affected by the presence of matter within the neutrinos' flight path. Super-Kamiokande's day/night asymmetry is consistent with neutrino oscillations for $4\times10^{-5}$eV$^2\leqΔm^2_{21}\leq7\times10^{-5}$eV$^2$ and large mixing values of $θ_{12}$, at the $68\%$ C.L.

preprint2014arXiv

Measurement of the inclusive $ν_μ$ charged current cross section on iron and hydrocarbon in the T2K on-axis neutrino beam

We report a measurement of the $ν_μ$ inclusive charged current cross sections on iron and hydrocarbon in the T2K on-axis neutrino beam. The measured inclusive charged current cross sections on iron and hydrocarbon averaged over the T2K on-axis flux with a mean neutrino energy of 1.51 GeV are $(1.444\pm0.002(stat.)_{-0.157}^{+0.189}(syst.))\times 10^{-38}\mathrm{cm}^2/\mathrm{nucleon}$, and $(1.379\pm0.009(stat.)_{-0.147}^{+0.178}(syst.))\times 10^{-38}\mathrm{cm}^2/\mathrm{nucleon}$, respectively, and their cross section ratio is $1.047\pm0.007(stat.)\pm0.035(syst.)$. These results agree well with the predictions of the neutrino interaction model, and thus we checked the correct treatment of the nuclear effect for iron and hydrocarbon targets in the model within the measurement precisions.

preprint2014arXiv

Measurement of the Inclusive Electron Neutrino Charged Current Cross Section on Carbon with the T2K Near Detector

The T2K off-axis near detector, ND280, is used to make the first differential cross-section measurements of electron neutrino charged current interactions at energies ~1 GeV as a function of electron momentum, electron scattering angle and four-momentum transfer of the interaction. The total flux-averaged $ν_e$ charged current cross-section on carbon is measured to be $1.11\pm0.09~(stat)\pm0.18~(syst)\times10^{-38} cm^2/nucleon$. The differential and total cross-section measurements agree with the predictions of two leading neutrino interaction generators, NEUT and GENIE. The NEUT prediction is $1.23\times10^{-38} cm^2/nucleon$ and the GENIE prediction is $1.08\times10^{-38} cm^2/nucleon$. The total $ν_e$ charged current cross-section result is also in agreement with data from the Gargamelle experiment.

preprint2014arXiv

Measurement of the intrinsic electron neutrino component in the T2K neutrino beam with the ND280 detector

The T2K experiment has reported the first observation of the appearance of electron neutrinos in a muon neutrino beam. The main and irreducible background to the appearance signal comes from the presence in the neutrino beam of a small intrinsic component of electron neutrinos originating from muon and kaon decays. In T2K, this component is expected to represent 1.2% of the total neutrino flux. A measurement of this component using the near detector (ND280), located 280 m from the target, is presented. The charged current interactions of electron neutrinos are selected by combining the particle identification capabilities of both the time projection chambers and electromagnetic calorimeters of ND280. The measured ratio between the observed electron neutrino beam component and the prediction is 1.01+-0.10 providing a direct confirmation of the neutrino fluxes and neutrino cross section modeling used for T2K neutrino oscillation analyses. Electron neutrinos coming from muons and kaons decay are also separately measured, resulting in a ratio with respect to the prediction of 0.68+-0.30 and 1.10+-0.14, respectively.

preprint2014arXiv

Measurement of the neutrino-oxygen neutral-current interaction cross section by observing nuclear deexcitation $γ$ rays

We report the first measurement of the neutrino-oxygen neutral-current quasielastic (NCQE) cross section. It is obtained by observing nuclear deexcitation $γ$-rays which follow neutrino-oxygen interactions at the Super-Kamiokande water Cherenkov detector. We use T2K data corresponding to $3.01 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target. By selecting only events during the T2K beam window and with well-reconstructed vertices in the fiducial volume, the large background rate from natural radioactivity is dramatically reduced. We observe 43 events in the $4-30$ MeV reconstructed energy window, compared with an expectation of 51.0, which includes an estimated 16.2 background events. The background is primarily nonquasielastic neutral-current interactions and has only 1.2 events from natural radioactivity. The flux-averaged NCQE cross section we measure is $1.55 \times 10^{-38}$ cm$^2$ with a 68\% confidence interval of $(1.22, 2.20) \times 10^{-38}$ cm$^2$ at a median neutrino energy of 630 MeV, compared with the theoretical prediction of $2.01 \times 10^{-38}$ cm$^2$.

preprint2014arXiv

Precise Measurement of the Neutrino Mixing Parameter θ_{23} from Muon Neutrino Disappearance in an Off-axis Beam

New data from the T2K neutrino oscillation experiment produce the most precise measurement of the neutrino mixing parameter theta_{23}. Using an off-axis neutrino beam with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV and a data set corresponding to 6.57 x 10^{20} protons on target, T2K has fit the energy-dependent nu_mu oscillation probability to determine oscillation parameters. Marginalizing over the values of other oscillation parameters yields sin^2 (theta_{23}) = 0.514 +0.055/-0.056 (0.511 +- 0.055), assuming normal (inverted) mass hierarchy. The best-fit mass-squared splitting for normal hierarchy is Delta m^2_{32} = (2.51 +- 0.10) x 10^{-3} eV^2/c^4 (inverted hierarchy: Delta m^2_{13} = (2.48 +- 0.10) x 10^{-3} eV^2/c^4). Adding a model of multinucleon interactions that affect neutrino energy reconstruction is found to produce only small biases in neutrino oscillation parameter extraction at current levels of statistical uncertainty.

preprint2014arXiv

Probing the superconductivity of PrPt4Ge12 through Ce substitution

We report measurements of electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and thermoelectric power on the system Pr1-xCexPt4Ge12. Superconductivity is suppressed with increasing Ce concentration up to x = 0.5, above which there is no evidence for superconductivity down to 1.1 K. The Sommerfeld coefficient γ increases with increasing x from 48 mJ/mol K^2 up to 120 mJ/mol K^2 at x = 0.5, indicating an increase in strength of electronic correlations. The temperature dependence of the specific heat at low temperatures evolves from roughly T^3 for x = 0 to e^(-Δ/T) behavior for x = 0.05 and above, suggesting a crossover from a nodal to a nodeless superconducting energy gap or a transition from multiband to single-band superconductivity. Fermi-liquid behavior is observed throughout the series in low-temperature magnetization, specific heat, and electrical resistivity measurements.

preprint2014arXiv

Search for short baseline $ν_e$ disappearance with the T2K near detector

The T2K experiment has performed a search for $ν_e$ disappearance due to sterile neutrinos using $5.9 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target for a baseline of $280 m$ in a neutrino beam peaked at about $500 MeV$. A sample of ν_e CC interactions in the off-axis near detector has been selected with a purity of 63\% and an efficiency of 26\%. The p-value for the null hypothesis is 0.085 and the excluded region at 95\% CL is approximately $sin^2 2 θ_{ee} > 0.3$ for $Δm^2_{eff} > 7 eV^2 / c^4$.

preprint2014arXiv

Search for Trilepton Nucleon Decay via $p \rightarrow e^+ νν$ and $p \rightarrow μ^+ νν$ in the Super-Kamiokande Experiment

The trilepton nucleon decay modes $p \rightarrow e^+ νν$ and $p \rightarrow μ^+ νν$ violate $|Δ(B - L)|$ by two units. Using data from a 273.4 kiloton year exposure of Super-Kamiokande a search for these decays yields a fit consistent with no signal. Accordingly, lower limits on the partial lifetimes of $τ_{p \rightarrow e^+ νν} > 1.7 \times 10^{32}$ years and $τ_{p \rightarrow μ^+ νν} > 2.2 \times 10^{32}$ years at a $90 \% $ confidence level are obtained. These limits can constrain Grand Unified Theories which allow for such processes.

preprint2014arXiv

The magnitude of the magnetic exchange interaction in the heavy fermion antiferromagnet CeRhIn$_5$

We have used high-resolution neutron spectroscopy experiments to determine the complete spin wave spectrum of the heavy fermion antiferromagnet CeRhIn$_5$. The spin wave dispersion can be quantitatively reproduced with a simple $J_1$-$J_2$ model that also naturally explains the magnetic spin-spiral ground state of CeRhIn$_5$ and yields a dominant in-plane nearest-neighbor magnetic exchange constant $J_0$ = 0.74 meV. Our results pave the way to a quantitative understanding of the rich low-temperature phase diagram of the prominent Ce$T$In$_5$ ($T$ = Co, Rh, Ir) class of heavy fermion materials.

preprint2013arXiv

Absence of a static in-plane magnetic moment in the "hidden-order" phase of URu$_2$Si$_2$

We have carried out a careful magnetic neutron scattering study of the heavy fermion compound \URuSi\ to probe the possible existence of a small magnetic moment parallel to tetragonal basal plane in the "hidden-order" phase. This small in-plane component of the magnetic moment on the uranium sites $S_\parallel$ has been postulated by two recent models (rank-5 superspin/hastatic order) aiming to explain the hidden-order phase, in addition to the well-known out-of-plane component $S_\perp ~ \approx~0.01-0.04 $μ_B$/U. In order to separate $S_\parallel$ and $S_\perp$ we take advantage of the condition that for magnetic neutron scattering only the components of the magnetic structure that are perpendicular to the scattering vector $Q$ contribute to the magnetic scattering. We find no evidence for an in-plane magnetic moment $S_\parallel$. Based on the statistics of our measurement, we establish that the upper experimental limit for the size of any possible in-plane component is $S^{\rm{max}}_\parallel ~ \leq~1\cdot 10^{-3} ~μ_B$/U.

preprint2013arXiv

Calibration of the Super-Kamiokande Detector

Procedures and results on hardware level detector calibration in Super-Kamiokande (SK) are presented in this paper. In particular, we report improvements made in our calibration methods for the experimental phase IV in which new readout electronics have been operating since 2008. The topics are separated into two parts. The first part describes the determination of constants needed to interpret the digitized output of our electronics so that we can obtain physical numbers such as photon counts and their arrival times for each photomultiplier tube (PMT). In this context, we developed an in-situ procedure to determine high-voltage settings for PMTs in large detectors like SK, as well as a new method for measuring PMT quantum efficiency and gain in such a detector. The second part describes the modeling of the detector in our Monte Carlo simulation, including in particular the optical properties of its water target and their variability over time. Detailed studies on the water quality are also presented. As a result of this work, we achieved a precision sufficient for physics analysis over a wide energy range (from a few MeV to above a TeV). For example, the charge determination was understood at the 1% level, and the timing resolution was 2.1 nsec at the one-photoelectron charge level and 0.5 nsec at the 100-photoelectron charge level.

preprint2013arXiv

Enhancement of superconductivity near the pressure-induced semiconductor-metal transition in BiS2-based compounds LnO(0.5)F(0.5)BiS2 (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd)

Measurements of electrical resistivity were performed between 3 and 300 K at various pressures up to 2.8 GPa on the BiS2-based superconductors LnO0.5F0.5BiS2 (Ln = Pr, Nd). At lower pressures, PrO0.5F0.5BiS2 and NdO0.5F0.5BiS2 exhibit superconductivity with critical temperatures Tc of 3.5 and3.9 K, respectively. As pressure is increased, both compounds undergo a transition at a pressure Pt from a low Tc superconducting phase to a high Tc superconducting phase in which Tc reaches maximum values of 7.6 and 6.4 K for PrO0.5F0.5BiS2 and NdO0.5F0.5BiS2, respectively. The pressure-induced transition is characterized by a rapid increase in Tc within a small range in pressure of ~0.3 GPa for both compounds. In the normal state of PrO0.5F0.5BiS2, the transition pressure Pt correlates with the pressure where the suppression of semiconducting behaviour saturates. In the normal state of NdO0.5F0.5BiS2, Pt is coincident with a semiconductor-metal transition. This behaviour is similar to the results recently reported for the LnO0.5F0.5BiS2 (Ln = La, Ce) compounds. We observe that Pt and the size of the jump in Tc between the two superconducting phases both scale with the lanthanide element in LnO0.5F0.5BiS2 (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd).

preprint2013arXiv

Ferromagnetic quantum critical point in UCo1-xFexGe

We have carried out a comprehensive study of the UCo1-xFexGe series across the entire range of compositions 0 <= x <= 1, and report the results of x-ray diffraction, magnetization, specific heat, and electrical resistivity to uncover the T-x phase diagram. Substitution of Fe into UCoGe initially results in an increase in the Curie temperature and a rapid destruction of the superconductivity. Near x = 0.22, the ferromagnetic transition is suppressed to zero temperature at an apparent ferromagnetic itinerant electron quantum critical point, where the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity and specific heat in this region reveal non-Fermi liquid behavior.

preprint2013arXiv

Hybridization-Driven Orthorhombic Lattice Instability in URu2Si2

We have measured the elastic constant (C11-C12)/2 in URu2Si2 by means of high-frequency ultrasonic measurements in pulsed magnetic fields H || [001] up to 61.8 T in a wide temperature range from 1.5 to 116 K. We found a reduction of (C11-C12)/2 that appears only in the temperature and magnetic field region in which URu2Si2 exhibits a heavy-electron state and hidden-order. This change in (C11-C12)/2 appears to be a response of the 5f-electrons to an orthorhombic and volume conservative strain field ε_xx-ε_yy with Γ3-symmetry. This lattice instability is likely related to a symmetry-breaking band instability that arises due to the hybridization of the localized f electrons with the conduction electrons, and is probably linked to the hidden-order parameter of this compound.

preprint2013arXiv

Identifying the Location in the Host Galaxy of the Short GRB 111117A with the Chandra Sub-arcsecond Position

We present our successful Chandra program designed to identify, with sub-arcsecond accuracy, the X-ray afterglow of the short GRB 111117A, which was discovered by Swift and Fermi. Thanks to our rapid target of opportunity request, Chandra clearly detected the X-ray afterglow, though no optical afterglow was found in deep optical observations. The host galaxy was clearly detected in the optical and near-infrared band, with the best photometric redshift of z=1.31_{-0.23}^{+0.46} (90% confidence), making it one of the highest known short GRB redshifts. Furthermore, we see an offset of 1.0 +- 0.2 arcseconds, which corresponds to 8.4 +- 1.7 kpc, between the host and the afterglow position. We discuss the importance of using Chandra for obtaining sub-arcsecond X-ray localizations of short GRB afterglows to study GRB environments.

preprint2013arXiv

Measurement of Neutrino Oscillation Parameters from Muon Neutrino Disappearance with an Off-axis Beam

The T2K collaboration reports a precision measurement of muon neutrino disappearance with an off-axis neutrino beam with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV. Near detector measurements are used to constrain the neutrino flux and cross section parameters. The Super-Kamiokande far detector, which is 295 km downstream of the neutrino production target, collected data corresponding to $3.01 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target. In the absence of neutrino oscillations, $205 \pm 17$ (syst.) events are expected to be detected and only 58 muon neutrino event candidates are observed. A fit to the neutrino rate and energy spectrum assuming three neutrino flavors, normal mass hierarchy and $θ_{23}\leq π/4$ yields a best-fit mixing angle $\sin^2(2θ_{23})=1.000$ and mass splitting $|Δm^2_{32}| =2.44 \times 10^{-3}$ eV$^2$/c$^4$. If $θ_{23}\geq π/4$ is assumed, the best-fit mixing angle changes to $\sin^2(2θ_{23})=0.999$ and the mass splitting remains unchanged.

preprint2013arXiv

Measurement of the Inclusive NuMu Charged Current Cross Section on Carbon in the Near Detector of the T2K Experiment

T2K has performed the first measurement of νμ inclusive charged current interactions on carbon at neutrino energies of ~1 GeV where the measurement is reported as a flux-averaged double differential cross section in muon momentum and angle. The flux is predicted by the beam Monte Carlo and external data, including the results from the NA61/SHINE experiment. The data used for this measurement were taken in 2010 and 2011, with a total of 10.8 x 10^{19} protons-on-target. The analysis is performed on 4485 inclusive charged current interaction candidates selected in the most upstream fine-grained scintillator detector of the near detector. The flux-averaged total cross section is <σ_CC>_ϕ=(6.91 +/- 0.13 (stat) +/- 0.84 (syst)) x10^{-39} cm^2/nucleon for a mean neutrino energy of 0.85 GeV.

preprint2013arXiv

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of pseudospin fluctuations in URu$_2$Si$_2$

We report $^{29}$Si NMR measurements in single crystals and aligned powders of URu$_2$Si$_2$ in the hidden order and paramagnetic phases. The spin-lattice-relaxation data reveal evidence of pseudospin fluctuations of U moments in the paramagnetic phase. We find evidence for partial suppression of the density of states below 30 K, and analyze the data in terms of a two component spin-fermion model. We propose that this behavior is a realization of a pseudogap between the hidden order transition $T_{HO}$ and 30 K. This behavior is then compared to other materials that demonstrate precursor fluctuations in a pseudogap regime above a ground state with long-range order.

preprint2013arXiv

Pressure-induced enhancement of superconductivity and suppression of semiconducting behavior in Ln(O0.5F0.5)BiS2 (Ln = La, Ce) compounds

Electrical resistivity measurements as a function of temperature between 1 K and 300 K were performed at various pressures up to 3 GPa on the superconducting layered compounds Ln(O0.5F0.5)BiS2 (Ln = La, Ce). At atmospheric pressure, La(O0.5F0.5)BiS2 and Ce(O0.5F0.5)BiS2 have superconducting critical temperatures, Tc, of 3.3 K and 2.3 K, respectively. For both compounds, the superconducting critical temperature Tc initially increases, reaches a maximum value of 10.1 K for La(O0.5F0.5)BiS2 and 6.7 K for CeO(0.5F0.5)BiS2, and then gradually decreases with increasing pressure. Both samples also exhibit transient behavior in the region between the lower Tc phase near atmospheric pressure and the higher Tc phase. This region is characterized by a broadening of the superconducting transition, in which Tc and the transition width, delta Tc, are reversible with increasing and decreasing pressure. There is also an appreciable pressure-induced and hysteretic suppression of semiconducting behavior up to the pressure at which the maximum value of Tc is found. At pressures above the value at which the maximum in Tc occurs, there is a gradual decrease of Tc and further suppression of the semiconducting behavior with pressure, both of which are reversible.

preprint2013arXiv

PS1-12sk is a Peculiar Supernova From a He-rich Progenitor System in a Brightest Cluster Galaxy Environment

We report on our discovery and observations of the Pan-STARRS1 supernova (SN) PS1-12sk, a transient with properties that indicate atypical star formation in its host galaxy cluster or pose a challenge to popular progenitor system models for this class of explosion. The optical spectra of PS1-12sk classify it as a Type Ibn SN (c.f. SN 2006jc), dominated by intermediate-width (3x10^3 km/s) and time variable He I emission. Our multi-wavelength monitoring establishes the rise time dt = 9-23 days and shows an NUV-NIR SED with temperature > 17x10^3 K and a peak rise magnitude of Mz = -18.9 mag. SN Ibn spectroscopic properties are commonly interpreted as the signature of a massive star (17 - 100 M_sun) explosion within a He-enriched circumstellar medium. However, unlike previous Type Ibn supernovae, PS1-12sk is associated with an elliptical brightest cluster galaxy, CGCG 208-042 (z = 0.054) in cluster RXC J0844.9+4258. The expected probability of an event like PS1-12sk in such environments is low given the measured infrequency of core-collapse SNe in red sequence galaxies compounded by the low volumetric rate of SN Ibn. Furthermore, we find no evidence of star formation at the explosion site to sensitive limits (Sigma Halpha < 2x10^-3 M_sun/yr/kpc^2). We therefore discuss white dwarf binary systems as a possible progenitor channel for SNe Ibn. We conclude that PS1-12sk represents either a fortuitous and statistically unlikely discovery, evidence for a top-heavy IMF in galaxy cluster cooling flow filaments, or the first clue suggesting an alternate progenitor channel for Type Ibn SNe.

preprint2013arXiv

Superconductivity induced by electron doping in the system La1-xMxOBiS2 (M = Ti, Zr, Hf, Th)

We report a strategy to induce superconductivity in the BiS$_2$-based compound LaOBiS$_2$. Instead of substituting F for O, we increase the charge-carrier density (electron dope) via substitution of tetravalent Th$^{+4}$, Hf$^{+4}$, Zr$^{+4}$, and Ti$^{+4}$ for trivalent La$^{+3}$. It is found that both the LaOBiS$_2$ and ThOBiS$_2$ parent compounds are bad metals and that superconductivity is induced by electron doping with \emph{T$_c$} values of up to 2.85 K. The superconducting and normal states were characterized by electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity measurements. We also demonstrate that reducing the charge-carrier density (hole doping) via substitution of divalent Sr$^{+2}$ for La$^{+3}$ does not induce superconductivity.

preprint2013arXiv

Superconductivity of F-substituted LnOBiS2 (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Yb) compounds

Polycrystalline samples of F-substituted LnOBiS2 (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Yb) compounds were synthesized by solid-state reaction. The samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction measurements and found to have the ZrCuSiAs crystal structure. Electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements were performed on all of the samples and specific heat measurements were made on those with Ln = La, Ce, and Yb. All of these compounds exhibit superconductivity in the range 1.9 K - 5.4 K, which has not previously been reported for the compounds based on Ce, Pr, and Yb. The YbO0.5F0.5BiS2 compounds was also found to exhibit magnetic order at ~2.7 K that apparently coexists with superconductivity below 5.4 K.

preprint2013arXiv

The T2K Neutrino Flux Prediction

The Tokai-to-Kamioka (T2K) experiment studies neutrino oscillations using an off-axis muon neutrino beam with a peak energy of about 0.6 GeV that originates at the J-PARC accelerator facility. Interactions of the neutrinos are observed at near detectors placed at 280 m from the production target and at the far detector -- Super-Kamiokande (SK) -- located 295 km away. The flux prediction is an essential part of the successful prediction of neutrino interaction rates at the T2K detectors and is an important input to T2K neutrino oscillation and cross section measurements. A FLUKA and GEANT3 based simulation models the physical processes involved in the neutrino production, from the interaction of primary beam protons in the T2K target, to the decay of hadrons and muons that produce neutrinos. The simulation uses proton beam monitor measurements as inputs. The modeling of hadronic interactions is re-weighted using thin target hadron production data, including recent charged pion and kaon measurements from the NA61/SHINE experiment. For the first T2K analyses the uncertainties on the flux prediction are evaluated to be below 15% near the flux peak. The uncertainty on the ratio of the flux predictions at the far and near detectors is less than 2% near the flux peak.

preprint2012arXiv

Enhancement of Betatron radiation from laser-driven Ar clustering gas

Bright betatron x-ray has been generated using an Ar clustering gas jet target irradiated with a 3 TW ultra-high contrast laser. The measured emission flux with photon energy > 2.4 keV reaches 2\times10^8 photons/shot. It is ten-fold enhancement comparing to the emission flux produced by using gas target in the same laser parameters. Observation shows that much larger electron beam charge and divergence angle lead to this improvement. Simulations point to the existence of cluster in gas results in the increasing of electron injection and much larger wiggling amplitude in wake-field, enriching the betatron x-ray photons.

preprint2012arXiv

First Muon-Neutrino Disappearance Study with an Off-Axis Beam

We report a measurement of muon-neutrino disappearance in the T2K experiment. The 295-km muon-neutrino beam from Tokai to Kamioka is the first implementation of the off-axis technique in a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. With data corresponding to 1.43 10**20 protons on target, we observe 31 fully-contained single muon-like ring events in Super-Kamiokande, compared with an expectation of 104 +- 14 (syst) events without neutrino oscillations. The best-fit point for two-flavor nu_mu -> nu_tau oscillations is sin**2(2 theta_23) = 0.98 and |Δm**2_32| = 2.65 10**-3 eV**2. The boundary of the 90 % confidence region includes the points (sin**2(2 theta_23),|Δm**2_32|) = (1.0, 3.1 10**-3 eV**2), (0.84, 2.65 10**-3 eV**2) and (1.0, 2.2 10**-3 eV**2).

preprint2011arXiv

Letter of Intent: The Hyper-Kamiokande Experiment --- Detector Design and Physics Potential ---

We propose the Hyper-Kamiokande (Hyper-K) detector as a next generation underground water Cherenkov detector. It will serve as a far detector of a long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment envisioned for the upgraded J-PARC, and as a detector capable of observing -- far beyond the sensitivity of the Super-Kamiokande (Super-K) detector -- proton decays, atmospheric neutrinos, and neutrinos from astronomical origins. The baseline design of Hyper-K is based on the highly successful Super-K, taking full advantage of a well-proven technology. (to be continued)

preprint2010arXiv

A tale of two GRB-SNe at a common redshift of z = 0.54

We present ground-based and HST optical observations of the optical transients (OTs) of long-duration Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) 060729 and 090618, both at a redshift of z = 0.54. For GRB 060729, bumps are seen in the optical light curves (LCs), and the late-time broadband spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the OT resemble those of local type Ic supernovae (SNe). For GRB 090618, the dense sampling of our optical observations has allowed us to detect well-defined bumps in the optical LCs, as well as a change in colour, that are indicative of light coming from a core-collapse SN. The accompanying SNe for both events are individually compared with SN1998bw, a known GRB-supernova, and SN1994I, a typical type Ic supernova without a known GRB counterpart, and in both cases the brightness and temporal evolution more closely resemble SN1998bw. We also exploit our extensive optical and radio data for GRB 090618, as well as the publicly-available SWIFT -XRT data, and discuss the properties of the afterglow at early times. In the context of a simple jet-like model, the afterglow of GRB 090618 is best explained by the presence of a jet-break at t-to > 0.5 days. We then compare the rest-frame, peak V -band absolute magnitudes of all of the GRB and X-Ray Flash (XRF)-associated SNe with a large sample of local type Ibc SNe, concluding that, when host extinction is considered, the peak magnitudes of the GRB/XRF-SNe cannot be distinguished from the peak magnitudes of non-GRB/XRF SNe.

preprint2010arXiv

The variability of optical \feii emission in PG QSO 1700+518

It is found that \feii emission contributes significantly to the optical and ultraviolet spectra of most active galactic nuclei. The origin of the optical/UV \feii emission is still a question open to debate. The variability of \feii would give clues to this origin. Using 7.5 yr spectroscopic monitoring data of one Palomer-Green (PG) quasi-stellar object (QSO), PG 1700+518, with strong optical \feii emission, we obtain the light curves of the continuum \lv, \feii, the broad component of \hb, and the narrow component of \hb by the spectral decomposition. Through the interpolation cross-correlation method, we calculate the time lags for light curves of \feii, the total \hb, the broad component of \hb, and the narrow component of \hb with respect to the continuum light curve. We find that the \feii time lag in PG1700+518 is $209^{+100}_{-147}$ days, and the \hb time lag cannot be determined. Assuming that \feii and \hb emission regions follow the virial relation between the time lag and the FWHM for the \hb and \feii emission lines, we can derive that the \hb time lag is $148^{+72}_{-104}$ days. The \hb time lag calculated from the empirical luminosity--size relation is 222 days, which is consistent with our measured \feii time lag. Considering the optical \feii contribution, PG 1700+518 shares the same characteristic on the spectral slope variability as other 15 PG QSOs in our previous work, i.e., harder spectrum during brighter phase.

preprint2009arXiv

Fluidization of granular media wetted by liquid $^4$He

We explore experimentally the fluidization of vertically agitated PMMA spheres wetted by liquid $^4$He. By controlling the temperature around the $λ$ point we change the properties of the wetting liquid from a normal fluid (helium I) to a superfluid (helium II). For wetting by helium I, the critical acceleration for fluidization ($Γ_c$) shows a steep increase close to the saturation of the vapor pressure in the sample cell. For helium II wetting, $Γ_c$ starts to increase at about 75% saturation, indicating that capillary bridges are enhanced by the superflow of unsaturated helium film. Above saturation, $Γ_c$ enters a plateau regime where the capillary force between particles is independent of the bridge volume. The plateau value is found to vary with temperature and shows a peak at 2.1 K, which we attribute to the influence of the specific heat of liquid helium.