2016 Vol. 40, No. 6

Particles and Fields
Measurements of the center-of-mass energies at BESIII via the di-muon process
M. Ablikim, M. N. Achasov, X. C. Ai, O. Albayrak, M. Albrecht, D. J. Ambrose
2016, 40(6): 063001. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/063001
Abstract:
From 2011 to 2014, the BESIII experiment collected about 5 fb-1 data at center-of-mass energies around 4 GeV for the studies of the charmonium-like and higher excited charmonium states. By analyzing the di-muon process e+e-→γISR/FSRμ+μ-, the center-of-mass energies of the data samples are measured with a precision of 0.8 MeV. The center-of-mass energy is found to be stable for most of the time during data taking.
Study of accelerator neutrino detection at a spallation source
Ming-Yang Huang
2016, 40(6): 063002. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/063002
Abstract:
We study the detection of accelerator neutrinos produced at the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). Using the code FLUKA, we have simulated the production of neutrinos in a proton beam on a tungsten target and obtained the yield efficiency, numerical flux, and average energy of different flavors of neutrinos. Furthermore, detection of these accelerator neutrinos is investigated in two reaction channels: neutrino-electron reactions and neutrino-carbon reactions. The expected numbers of different flavors of neutrinos have also been calculated.
Finite temperature effect in infrared-improved AdS/QCD model with back reaction of bulk vacuum
Ling-Xiao Cui, Zhen Fang, Yue-Liang Wu
2016, 40(6): 063101. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/063101
Abstract:
Based on an IR-improved soft-wall AdS/QCD model for mesons, which provides a consistent prediction for the mass spectra of resonance scalar, pseudoscalar, vector and axial-vector mesons, we investigate its finite temperature effect. By analyzing the spectral function of mesons and fitting it with a Breit-Wigner form, we perform an analysis for the critical temperature of mesons. The back-reaction effects of bulk vacuum are considered and the thermal mass spectral function of resonance mesons is calculated based on the back-reaction improved action. A reasonable melting temperature is found to be Tc≈150±7 MeV, which is consistent with the recent results from lattice QCD simulations.
Associated production of Higgs boson and tt at LHC
Hong-Lei Li, Peng-Cheng Lu, Zong-Guo Si, Ying Wang
2016, 40(6): 063102. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/063102
Abstract:
One of the future goals of the LHC is to precisely measure the properties of the Higgs boson. The associated production of a Higgs boson and top quark pair is a promising process to investigate the related Yukawa interaction and the properties of the Higgs. Compared with the pure scalar sector in the Standard Model, the Higgs sector contains both scalars and pseudoscalars in many new physics models, which makes the ttH interaction more complex and provides a variety of phenomena. To investigate the ttH interaction and the properties of the Higgs, we study the top quark spin correlation observables at the LHC.
Nuclear Physics
Melting temperature of heavy quarkonium with a holographic potential up to sub-leading order
Zi-qiang Zhang, Yan Wu, De-fu Hou
2016, 40(6): 064101. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/064101
Abstract:
A calculation of the melting temperatures of heavy quarkonium states with the holographic potential was introduced in a previous work. In this paper, we consider the holographic potential at sub-leading order, which permits finite coupling corrections to be taken into account. It is found that this correction lowers the dissociation temperatures of heavy quarkonium.
Particle and Nuclear Astrophysics and Cosmology
Influence of the weakly interacting light U boson on the properties of massive protoneutron stars
Bin Hong, Huan-Yu Jia, Xue-Ling Mu, Xia Zhou
2016, 40(6): 065101. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/065101
Abstract:
Considering the octet baryons in relativistic mean field theory and selecting entropy per baryon S=1, we calculate and discuss the influence of U bosons on the equation of state, mass-radius, moment of inertia and gravitational redshift of massive protoneutron stars (PNSs). The effective coupling constant gU of U bosons and nucleons is selected from 0 to 70 GeV-2. The results indicate that U bosons will stiffen the equation of state (EOS). The influence of U bosons on the pressure is more obvious at low density than high density, while the influence of U bosons on the energy density is more obvious at high density than low density. The U bosons play a significant role in increasing the maximum mass and radius of PNS. When the value of gU changes from 0 to 70 GeV-2, the maximum mass of a massive PNS increases from 2.11M to 2.58M, and the radius of a PNS corresponding to PSR J0348+0432 increases from 13.71 km to 24.35 km. The U bosons will increase the moment of inertia and decrease the gravitational redshift of a PNS. For the PNS of the massive PSR J0348+0432, the radius and moment of inertia vary directly with gU, and the gravitational redshift varies approximately inversely with gU.
Detectors, Related Electronics and Experimental Methods
Monte Carlo predictions of proton SEE cross-sections from heavy ion test data
Kai Xi, Chao Geng, Zhan-Gang Zhang, Ming-Dong Hou, You-Mei Sun, Jie Luo, Tian-Qi Liu, Bin Wang, Bing Ye, Ya-Nan Yin, Jie Liu
2016, 40(6): 066001. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/066001
Abstract:
The limits of previous methods prompt us to design a new approach (named PRESTAGE) to predict proton single event effect (SEE) cross-sections using heavy-ion test data. To more realistically simulate the SEE mechanisms, we adopt Geant4 and a location-dependent strategy to describe the physics processes and the sensitivity of the device. Cross-sections predicted by PRESTAGE for over twenty devices are compared with the measured data. Evidence shows that PRESTAGE can calculate not only single event upsets induced by indirect proton ionization, but also direct ionization effects and single event latch-ups. Most of the PRESTAGE calculated results agree with the experimental data within a factor of 2-3.
An analogue front-end ASIC prototype designed for PMT signal readout
Jian-Feng Liu, Lei Zhao, Li Yu, Yu Liang, Jia-Jun Qin, Yun-Fan Yang, Wei-Hao Wu, Shu-Bin Liu, Qi An
2016, 40(6): 066101. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/066101
Abstract:
The Water Cherenkov Detector Array (WCDA) is one of the core detectors in the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO), and it consists of 3600 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). Both high resolution time and charge measurement are required over a large dynamic range from 1 photoelectron (P.E.) to 4000 P.E. The prototype of an analogue front-end Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) fabricated using Global Foundry 0.35 μm CMOS technology is designed to read out the PMT signal in the WCDA. This ASIC employs leading edge discrimination and an (RC)4 shaping structure. Combined with the following Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) and Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), both the arrival time and charge of the PMT signal can be measured. Initial test results indicate that time resolution is better than 350 ps and charge resolution is better than 10% at 1 P.E. and better than 1% with large input signals (300 P.E. to 4000 P.E.). Besides, this ASIC has a good channel-to-channel isolation of more than 84 dB and the temperature dependency of charge measurement is less than 5% in the range 0-50℃.
Design of a high throughput electronics module for high energy physics experiments
Chun-Jie Wang, Zhen-An Liu, Jing-Zhou Zhao, Zhao Liu
2016, 40(6): 066102. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/066102
Abstract:
High-energy physics experiments enable us to explore and understand particle properties and interactions. An increase in luminosity in the accelerator, which allows us to study particles in higher energy ranges, demands faster data transmission and processing. Aimed at this, a high throughput uTCA-compliant electronics module, based on the latest FPGAs, has been designed. It contains 48 10.0 Gb/s optical fiber input channels and 24 10.0 Gb/s optical fiber output channels, supporting up to 480 Gb/s input bandwidth and 240 Gb/s output bandwidth. It complies with the uTCA standards, providing high speed data exchange capability and functioning as a compact and key module in a trigger and DAQ system for a large experiment. A reliable 10.0 Gb/s data transmission among two boards has been verified and one functionality that merges 6 1.6 Gb/s data channels into one single 10.0 Gb/s channel has been achieved. The hardware, firmware and software together with a performance evaluation are given in this paper.
Toward a fractal spectrum approach for neutron and gamma pulse shape discrimination
Ming-Zhe Liu, Bing-Qi Liu, Zhuo Zuo, Lei Wang, Gui-Bin Zan, Xian-Guo Tuo
2016, 40(6): 066201. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/066201
Abstract:
Accurately selecting neutron signals and discriminating γ signals from a mixed radiation field is a key research issue in neutron detection. This paper proposes a fractal spectrum discrimination approach by means of different spectral characteristics of neutrons and γ rays. Figure of merit and average discriminant error ratio are used together to evaluate the discrimination effects. Different neutron and γ signals with various noise and pulse pile-up are simulated according to real data in the literature. The proposed approach is compared with the digital charge integration and pulse gradient methods. It is found that the fractal approach exhibits the best discrimination performance, followed by the digital charge integration method and the pulse gradient method, respectively. The fractal spectrum approach is not sensitive to high frequency noise and pulse pile-up. This means that the proposed approach has superior performance for effective and efficient anti-noise and high discrimination in neutron detection.
Accelerators
Some experiences with BEPCII SRF system operation
Tong-ming Huang, Hai-ying Lin, Yi Sun, Jian-ping Dai, Guang-wei Wang, Wei-min Pan, Zhong-quan Li, Qiang Ma, Qun-yao Wang, Guang-yuan Zhao, Zheng-hui Mi, Peng Sha
2016, 40(6): 067001. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/067001
Abstract:
The Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) system of the upgrade project of the Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPCII) has been in operation for almost 8 years. During operation, many problems have been encountered, such as excessive heating of the power couplers, frequent beam trips during high intensity colliding, false arc interlock trigger and so on. Among them, some has been solved successfully, some have been alleviated. This paper will describe some experiences with BEPCII SRF system operation, including the symptoms, causes and solutions of problems.
Simulation and design of an X-band overmoded input cavity
Yang Wu, Yong-Dong Chen, De-Kui Zhao
2016, 40(6): 067002. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/067002
Abstract:
The RF input cavity is an important component for velocity-modulating types of microwave device, providing velocity modulation and density modulation. Conventional RF input cavities, however, encounter the problem of power capacity in the high frequency band due to the scaling law of the working frequency and device size. In this paper, an X-band overmoded input cavity is proposed and investigated. A resonant reflector is employed to reflect the microwave and isolate the input cavity from the diode and RF extractor. The resonant property of the overmoded input cavity is proved by simulations and cold tests, with PIC simulation showing that with a beam voltage of 600 kV and current of 7 kA, an input power of 90 kW is sufficient to modulate the beam with a modulation depth of 3%.
A new method for compensation and rematch of cavity failure in the C-ADS linac
Zhou Xue, Jian-Ping Dai, Cai Meng
2016, 40(6): 067003. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/067003
Abstract:
For proton linear accelerators used in applications such as accelerator-driven systems, due to the nature of the operation, it is essential for the beam failure rate to be several orders of magnitude lower than usual performance of similar accelerators. A fault-tolerant mechanism should be mandatorily imposed in order to maintain short recovery time, high uptime and extremely low frequency of beam loss. This paper proposes an innovative and challenging way for compensation and rematch of cavity failure using fast electronic devices and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) instead of embedded computers to complete the computation of beam dynamics. A method of building an equivalent model for the FPGA, with optimization using a genetic algorithm, is shown. Results based on the model and algorithm are compared with TRACEWIN simulation to show the precision and correctness of the mechanism.
Synchrotron Radiation, Free Electron Lasers, Applications of Nuclear Technology, etc
Measurements of effective delayed neutron fraction in a fast neutron reactor using the perturbation method
Hao-Jun Zhou, Yan-Peng Yin, Xiao-Qiang Fan, Zheng-Hong Li, Yi-Kang Pu
2016, 40(6): 068201. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/068201
Abstract:
A perturbation method is proposed to obtain the effective delayed neutron fraction βeff of a cylindrical highly enriched uranium reactor. Based on reactivity measurements with and without a sample at a specified position using the positive period technique, the reactor reactivity perturbation Δρ of the sample in βeff units is measured. Simulations of the perturbation experiments are performed using the MCNP program. The PERT card is used to provide the difference dk of effective neutron multiplication factors with and without the sample inside the reactor. Based on the relationship between the effective multiplication factor and the reactivity, the equation βeff=dkρ is derived. In this paper, the reactivity perturbations of 13 metal samples at the designable position of the reactor are measured and calculated. The average βeff value of the reactor is given as 0.00645, and the standard uncertainty is 3.0%. Additionally, the perturbation experiments for βeff can be used to evaluate the reliabilities of the delayed neutron parameters. This work shows that the delayed neutron data of 235U and 238U from G.R. Keepin's publication are more reliable than those from ENDF-B6.0, ENDF-B7.0, JENDL3.3 and CENDL2.2.
Robust scatter correction method for cone-beam CT using an interlacing-slit plate
Kui-Dong Huang, Zhe Xu, Ding-Hua Zhang, Hua Zhang, Wen-Long Shi
2016, 40(6): 068202. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/40/6/068202
Abstract:
Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been widely used in medical imaging and industrial nondestructive testing, but the presence of scattered radiation will cause significant reduction of image quality. In this article, a robust scatter correction method for CBCT using an interlacing-slit plate (ISP) is carried out for convenient practice. Firstly, a Gaussian filtering method is proposed to compensate the missing data of the inner scatter image, and simultaneously avoid too-large values of calculated inner scatter and smooth the inner scatter field. Secondly, an interlacing-slit scan without detector gain correction is carried out to enhance the practicality and convenience of the scatter correction method. Finally, a denoising step for scatter-corrected projection images is added in the process flow to control the noise amplification The experimental results show that the improved method can not only make the scatter correction more robust and convenient, but also achieve a good quality of scatter-corrected slice images.