arXiv subjects

M. Chiu

Publications and source records attributed to M. Chiu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Estimating cosmogenic backgrounds in nEXO at SNOLAB using Geant4 and FLUKA

The nEXO experiment was designed to search for neutrinoless double beta decay in the isotope $^{136}$Xe, using a five-tonne, isotopically-enriched liquid xenon time projection chamber (TPC). To meet nEXO's sensitivity goal, significant effort is placed on background mitigation strategies. Here, we evaluate the expected cosmogenic background rate for nEXO if placed at its preferred underground host site, SNOLAB. A comparison of results from Geant4 and FLUKA Monte Carlo simulations are presented. We perform detailed Monte Carlo simulations of muons reaching the underground SNOLAB environment using both Geant4 and FLUKA to study the production of radioactive isotopes from both direct spallation reactions or subsequent neutron-induced reactions. We find that, of the isotopes produced, the only one of concern for nEXO is $^{137}$Xe, produced by neutron capture on the xenon target. We develop a veto strategy that achieves an anticipated 92\% \xe{137} rejection efficiency while keeping dead time to less than 1 day over a 10 year exposure.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Characterization of CRYO ASIC for charge readout in the nEXO experiment

nEXO is a proposed next-generation experiment searching for the neutrinoless double beta decay of $^{136}$Xe using a tonne-scale liquid xenon (LXe) time projection chamber (TPC). To image the ionization signals from events in the liquid xenon, the detector will employ metallized fused-silica charge collection tiles instrumented with cryogenic application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), referred to as CRYO ASIC, which are designed to operate directly in LXe to minimize input capacitance and pick-up noise. Here we present the performance of the CRYO ASIC mounted on an auxiliary printed circuit board and evaluated both in a cryogenic environmental chamber and in a dedicated LXe test stand. We demonstrate that the ASICs achieve the desired performance at liquid xenon temperatures, showing a gain stability better than 0.2% over 24-hour operation and reliable in-situ calibration using an on-chip pulser. In the LXe test stand, we show that boiling caused by the chip heat dissipation can be mitigated by operating the system above ~0.1 MPa. The in-LXe noise measured agrees with simulation, which indicates it the $150~e^-$ design requirement can be satisfied. These results establish CRYO ASIC as a viable low-noise in-LXe charge readout solution for nEXO.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2026

Elliptic flow of $π^0$ mesons in Cu$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV and U$+$U at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=193$ GeV

The second-order azimuthal anisotropy coefficients ($v_2$) of neutral $π$ mesons ($π^0$) have been measured as a function of the transverse momentum ($p_T$) and centrality of Cu$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV and U$+$U at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=193$ GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The analysis used experimental data collected by the PHENIX experiment at midrapidity $|η|<0.35$ over a broad $p_T$ range up to $\approx10$~GeV/$c$, and the obtained results are compared with previous PHENIX measurements in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV. In all three collision systems, the $π^0$~$v_2$ values follow the scaling with the second-order participant eccentricity and the cube root of the number of participating nucleons ($\varepsilon_2 N_{\rm part}^{1/3}$) up to $\approx4$~GeV/$c$. Furthermore, the behavior of the azimuthal-dependent $π^0$ nuclear-modification factors and associated fractional parton-energy losses are evaluated from measured nonzero $v_2$ values of $π^0$ at $p_T>5$ GeV/$c$ and found to be approximately the same for similar values of $N_{\rm part}^{1/3}$ in these collision systems. These findings demonstrate that the mechanism of $π^0$ $v_2$ generation exhibits a high degree of universality across different initial geometries of heavy-ion collisions.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Measurement of isolated prompt photon production in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV with the sPHENIX detector

The differential cross section of isolated prompt photon production is measured as a function of photon transverse energy ($E_{\mathrm{T}}^γ$) in proton--proton ($p$+$p$) collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV. The data were recorded in $2024$ with the sPHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Photons are reconstructed in $|η^γ| < 0.7$ and $12 < E_{\mathrm{T}}^γ < 32$ GeV using the electromagnetic calorimeter, and an isolation requirement is imposed using both the electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters. The measured cross section is compared with the PYTHIA Monte Carlo event generator and perturbative quantum chromodynamics (pQCD) calculations at next-to-leading and next-to-next-to-leading order. The pQCD calculations are consistent with the result within the quoted uncertainties. This measurement provides a test of pQCD calculations for a process with sensitivity to the gluon parton distribution function of the proton and establishes the $p$+$p$ baseline for forthcoming sPHENIX measurements of isolated prompt photons in heavy-ion collisions.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

Measurement of dijet transverse momentum imbalance and azimuthal acoplanarity in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV with the sPHENIX detector

This Letter reports on measurements of dijet transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$) imbalance and azimuthal acoplanarity in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$~GeV, using data recorded by the sPHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $41$~pb$^{-1}$. Jets are reconstructed using the anti-$k_t$ algorithm with radius parameters $R = 0.3$ to $0.8$ from electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeter energy deposits. The jet $p_\mathrm{T}$ resolution is determined directly in data using two independent methods. The dijet $p_\mathrm{T}$ imbalance is characterized by the ratio $x_\mathrm{J} = p_\mathrm{T,2}/p_\mathrm{T,1}$ where $p_\mathrm{T,1(2)}$ is the highest (second-highest) jet $p_\mathrm{T}$ in the event. The dijet azimuthal acoplanarity $Δϕ= |ϕ_1 - ϕ_2|$ is also reported. Results are reported for different $p_\mathrm{T,1}$ selections and jet radius parameters, normalized per dijet pair, and compared to the results of \textsc{Pythia} and \textsc{Herwig} Monte Carlo event generators. These measurements provide a stringent quantitative test of the modeling of QCD parton shower and hadronization dynamics, place important constraints on event-generator descriptions at RHIC energies, and establish a comprehensive proton-proton baseline for forthcoming measurements of jet modification in heavy ion collisions.

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arXiv2026

The nEXO Radioassay Program

Material radioactivity compilations, such as the one presented here, are important enablers of science. They are useful for the selection of radiopure materials used in the design and construction of low-energy rare-event search experiments. They allow researchers developing such experiments to save time on material studies and avoid costly duplication of effort. The data presented here were generated in support of the planned nEXO double-beta decay search. This work contains among the most restrictive constraints on the natural radioactivity content of materials of general interest to the low-radioactivity community, found in any tabulation of this kind. In this study, various techniques were employed; they are described here.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2026

Design of a high voltage delivery system for noble liquid time projection chambers

Noble liquid time projection chambers (TPCs) are a leading technology in the detection of ionizing radiation, particularly in applications such as accelerator neutrino physics, dark matter detection, and neutrinoless double beta decay. This paper addresses the design considerations for implementing stable high voltage (HV) systems within large noble liquid TPCs, with a focus on the nEXO experiment. Utilizing insights from prior HV research and experimental investigations, we outline factors influencing HV stability and discuss design choices to improve stability and prevent electrical discharges. A novel HV delivery system concept is presented, tailored for the nEXO TPC, which incorporates these design considerations while also meeting the stringent radiopurity requirements of the nEXO neutrinoless double beta decay search. These design considerations and their specific implementation towards a HV delivery system offer guidance to future experiments applying high voltage in noble liquid environments.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Possibility of Inducing $^{241}$Am Fluctuations (Primakoff Photon-Magnetic Field Coupling Experiment)

This paper reports on results from an experiment designed to search for exotic particles interacting with nuclear matter. These particles could be created through the Primakoff coupling between photons and an external magnetic field. Theory suggests this coupling leads to the production of weakly interacting particles (e.g. axions) that are important to understanding the lack of a measured neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM). The current experiment has been run to look for evidence of weakly interacting particles, created by photons propagating through a magnetic field, by studying their influence on the measured decay spectrum of Americium (241Am). The results shown here reflect a statistically significant difference (sigma > 6.0) between observed decays when the experiment was run in a mode that allowed photons to traverse a magnetic field (light mode or sP for system-Photons) when compared to a second mode where the light was blocked from entering the cavity (dark mode or sD for system-Dark). This difference was observed to impact the count rate for the release of a 59.54keV gamma from 237Np. Repeated experimentation suggests the effect is robust and not due to spurious changes in background events. This could be confirmation that the Primakoff mechanism has been observed for visible photons. As importantly, this experiment looks at the possibility to develop a novel nuclear instrument that can modify nuclear decay rates.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Transverse single-spin asymmetry of forward $η$ mesons in $p^{\uparrow}+ p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV

Utilizing the 2012 transversely polarized proton data from the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory, the forward $η$-meson transverse single-spin asymmetry ($A_N$) was measured for $p^{\uparrow}+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV as a function of Feynman-x ($x_F$) for $0.2<|x_F|<0.8$ and transverse momentum ($p_T$) for $1.0 =0.086 \pm 0.019$), agreeing well with previous measurements of $π^{0}$ and $η$ $A_N$, but with reach to higher $x_F$ and $p_T$. The contribution of initial-state spin-momentum correlations to the asymmetry, as calculated in the collinear twist-3 framework, appears insufficient to describe the data and suggests a significant impact on the asymmetry from fragmentation.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurements at forward rapidity of elliptic flow of charged hadrons and open-heavy-flavor muons in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

We present the first forward-rapidity measurements of elliptic anisotropy of open-heavy-flavor muons at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The measurements are based on data samples of Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV collected by the PHENIX experiment in 2014 and 2016 with integrated luminosity of 14.5~nb$^{-1}$. The measurements are performed in the pseudorapidity range $1.2<|η|<2$ and cover transverse momenta $1<p_T<4$~GeV/$c$. The elliptic flow of charged hadrons as a function of transverse momentum is also measured in the same kinematic range. We observe significant elliptic flow for both charged hadrons and heavy-flavor muons. The results show clear mass ordering of elliptic flow of light- and heavy-flavor particles. The magnitude of the measured $v_2$ is comparable to that in the midrapidity region. This indicates that there is no strong longitudinal dependence in the quark-gluon-plasma evolution between midrapidity and the rapidity range of this measurement at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of charged hadron multiplicity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{\text{s}_{\text{NN}}} = 200$ GeV with the sPHENIX detector

The pseudorapidity distribution of charged hadrons produced in Au+Au collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 200$ GeV is measured using data collected by the sPHENIX detector. Charged hadron yields are extracted by counting cluster pairs in the inner and outer layers of the Intermediate Silicon Tracker, with corrections applied for detector acceptance, reconstruction efficiency, combinatorial pairs, and contributions from secondary decays. The measured distributions cover $|η| < 1.1$ across various centralities, and the average pseudorapidity density of charged hadrons at mid-rapidity is compared to predictions from Monte Carlo heavy-ion event generators. This result, featuring full azimuthal coverage at mid-rapidity, is consistent with previous experimental measurements at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, thereby supporting the broader sPHENIX physics program.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of the transverse energy density in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV with the sPHENIX detector

This paper reports measurements of the transverse energy per unit pseudorapidity ($dE_{T}/dη$) produced in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV, performed with the sPHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The results cover the pseudorapidity range $\left|η\right| < 1.1$ and constitute the first such measurement performed using a hadronic calorimeter at RHIC. Measurements of $dE_{T}/dη$ are presented for a range of centrality intervals and the average $dE_{T}/dη$ as a function of the number of participating nucleons, $N_{\mathrm{part}}$, is compared to a variety of Monte Carlo heavy-ion event generators. The results are in agreement with previous measurements at RHIC, and feature an improved granularity in $η$ and improved precision in low-$N_{\mathrm{part}}$ events.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Ultra-pure Nickel for Structural Components of Low-Radioactivity Instruments

The next generation of rare-event search experiments in nuclear and particle physics demand structural materials combining exceptional mechanical strength with ultra-low levels of radioactive contamination. This study evaluates chemical vapor deposition (CVD) nickel as a candidate structural material for such applications. Manufacturer-supplied CVD Ni grown on aluminum substrates underwent tensile testing before and after welding alongside standard Ni samples. CVD Ni exhibited a planar tensile strength of ~600 MPa, significantly surpassing standard nickel. However, welding and heat treatment were found to reduce the tensile strength to levels comparable to standard Ni, with observed porosity in the welds likely contributing to this reduction. Material assay via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) employing isotope-dilution produced measured bulk concentration of 232-Th, 238-U, and nat-K at the levels of ~70 ppq, <100 ppq, and ~900 ppt, respectively, which is the lowest reported in nickel. Surface-etch profiling uncovered higher concentrations of these contaminants extending ~10 micrometer beneath the surface, likely associated with the aluminum growth substrate. The results reported are compared to the one other well documented usage of CVD Ni in a low radioactive background physics research experiment and a discussion is provided on how the currently reported results may arise from changes in CVD fabrication or testing process. These results establish CVD Ni as a promising low-radioactivity structural material, while outlining the need for further development in welding and surface cleaning techniques to fully realize its potential in large-scale, low radioactive background rare-event search experiments.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Ultra-sensitive radon assay using an electrostatic chamber in a recirculating system

Rare event searches such as neutrinoless double beta decay and Weakly Interacting Massive Particle detection require ultra-low background detectors. Radon contamination is a significant challenge for these experiments, which employ highly sensitive radon assay techniques to identify and select low-emission materials. This work presents the development of ultra-sensitive electrostatic chamber (ESC) instruments designed to measure radon emanation in a recirculating gas loop, for future lower background experiments. Unlike traditional methods that separate emanation and detection steps, this system allows continuous radon transport and detection. This is made possible with a custom-built recirculation pump. A Python-based analysis framework, PyDAn, was developed to process and fit time-dependent radon decay data. Radon emanation rates are given for various materials measured with this instrument. A radon source of known activity provides an absolute calibration, enabling statistically-limited minimal detectable activities of 20 $μ$Bq. These devices are powerful tools for screening materials in the development of low-background particle physics experiments.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Cross sections of $η$ mesons in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at forward rapidity at $\sqrt{s}=500$ GeV and central rapidity at $\sqrt{s}=510$ GeV

We present the first measurements of the forward and midrapidity $η$-meson cross sections from $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=500$ and $510$~GeV, respectively. We also report the midrapidity $η/π^0$ ratio at 510 GeV. The forward cross section is measured differentially in $η$-meson transverse momentum ($p_T$) from 1.0 to 6.5~GeV/$c$ for pseudorapidity $3.0<|η|<3.8$. The midrapidity cross section is measured from 3.5 to 44 GeV/$c$ for pseudorapidity $|η|<0.35$. Both cross sections serve as critical inputs to an updated global analysis of the $η$-meson fragmentation functions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Low-mass vector-meson production at forward rapidity in $p$$+$$p$ and Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV

The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has measured low-mass vector-meson ($ω+ρ$ and $ϕ$) production through the dimuon decay channel at forward rapidity $(1.2<|\mbox{y}|<2.2)$ in $p$$+$$p$ and Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$~GeV. The low-mass vector-meson yield and nuclear-modification factor were measured as a function of the average number of participating nucleons, $\langle N_{\rm part}\rangle$, and the transverse momentum $p_T$. These results were compared with those obtained via the kaon decay channel in a similar $p_T$ range at midrapidity. The nuclear-modification factors in both rapidity regions are consistent within the uncertainties. A comparison of the $ω+ρ$ and $J/ψ$ mesons reveals that the light and heavy flavors are consistently suppressed across both $p_T$ and ${\langle}N_{\rm part}\rangle$. In contrast, the $ϕ$ meson displays a nuclear-modification factor consistent with unity, suggesting strangeness enhancement in the medium formed.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Sensitivity of nEXO to $^{136}$Xe Charged-Current Interactions: Background-free Searches for Solar Neutrinos and Fermionic Dark Matter

We study the sensitivity of nEXO to solar neutrino charged-current interactions, $ν_e + ^{136}$Xe$\rightarrow ^{136}$Cs$^* + e^-$, as well as analogous interactions predicted by models of fermionic dark matter. Due to the recently observed low-lying isomeric states of $^{136}$Cs, these interactions will create a time-delayed coincident signal observable in the scintillation channel. Here we develop a detailed Monte Carlo of scintillation emission, propagation, and detection in the nEXO detector to model these signals under different assumptions about the timing resolution of the photosensor readout. We show this correlated signal can be used to achieve background discrimination on the order of $10^{-9}$, enabling nEXO to make background-free measurements of solar neutrinos above the reaction threshold of 0.668 MeV. We project that nEXO could measure the flux of CNO solar neutrinos with a statistical uncertainty of 25%, thus contributing a novel and competitive measurement towards addressing the solar metallicity problem. Additionally, nEXO could measure the mean energy of the $^7$Be neutrinos with a precision of $σ\leq 1.5$ keV and could determine the survival probability of $^{7}$Be and $pep$ solar $ν_e$ with precision comparable to state-of-the-art. These quantities are sensitive to the Sun's core temperature and to non-standard neutrino interactions, respectively. Furthermore, the strong background suppression would allow nEXO to search for for charged-current interactions of fermionic dark matter in the mass range $m_χ$ = $0.668$-$7$ MeV with a sensitivity up to three orders of magnitude better than current limits.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of inclusive jet cross section and substructure in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

The jet cross-section and jet-substructure observables in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV were measured by the PHENIX Collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Jets are reconstructed from charged-particle tracks and electromagnetic-calorimeter clusters using the anti-$k_{t}$ algorithm with a jet radius $R=0.3$ for jets with transverse momentum within $8.0<p_T<40.0$ GeV/$c$ and pseudorapidity $|η|<0.15$. Measurements include the jet cross section, as well as distributions of SoftDrop-groomed momentum fraction ($z_g$), charged-particle transverse momentum with respect to jet axis ($j_T$), and radial distributions of charged particles within jets ($r$). Also meaureed was the distribution of $ξ=-ln(z)$, where $z$ is the fraction of the jet momentum carried by the charged particle. The measurements are compared to theoretical next-to and next-to-next-to-leading-order calculatios, PYTHIA event generator, and to other existing experimental results. Indicated from these meaurements is a lower particle multiplicity in jets at RHIC energies when compared to models. Also noted are implications for future jet measurements with sPHENIX at RHIC as well as at the future Electron-Ion Collider.

hep-ex↗