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M. Merkin

Publications and source records attributed to M. Merkin.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Production of $\pi^+$ and $K^+$ mesons in argon-nucleus interactions at 3.2 AGeV

First physics results of the BM@N experiment at the Nuclotron/NICA complex are presented on {\pi}+ and K+ meson production in interactions of an argon beam with fixed targets of C, Al, Cu, Sn and Pb at 3.2 AGeV. Transverse momentum distributions, rapidity spectra and multiplicities of $\pi^+$ and $K^+$ mesons are measured. The results are compared with predictions of theoretical models and with other measurements at lower energies.

hep-ex

A new universal cosmic-ray knee near the magnetic rigidity 10 TV with the NUCLEON space observatory

Data from the NUCLEON space observatory give a strong indication of the existence of a new universal cosmic ray "knee", which is observed in all groups of nuclei, including heavy nuclei, near a magnetic rigidity of about 10\,TV. Universality means the same position of the knee in the magnetic rigidity scale for all groups of nuclei. The knee is observed by both methods of measurement of particles energy implemented in the NUCLEON observatory---the calorimetric method and the kinematic method KLEM. This new cosmic ray "knee" is probably connected with the limit of acceleration of cosmic rays by some generic or nearby source of cosmic rays.

astro-ph.HE

First results of the cosmic ray NUCLEON experiment

The NUCLEON experiment was designed to study the chemical composition and energy spectra of galactic cosmic ray nuclei from protons to zinc at energies of $\sim10^{11}$--$10^{15}$\,eV per particle. The research was carried out with the NUCLEON scientific equipment installed on the Russian satellite "Resurs-P" No.\,2 as an additional payload. This article presents the results for the measured nuclei spectra related to the first approximately 250 days of the scientific data collection during 2015 and 2016. The all-particle spectrum and the spectra of p, He, C, O, Ne, Mg, Si and Fe are presented. Some interesting ratios of the spectra are also presented and discussed. The experiment is now in its beginning stage and the data still have a preliminary character, but they already give numerous indications of the existence of various non-canonical phenomena in the physics of cosmic rays, which are expressed in the violation of a simple universal power law of the energy spectra. These features of the the data are briefly discussed.

astro-ph.HE

Performance of the LHCb Vertex Locator

The Vertex Locator (VELO) is a silicon microstrip detector that surrounds the proton-proton interaction region in the LHCb experiment. The performance of the detector during the first years of its physics operation is reviewed. The system is operated in vacuum, uses a bi-phase CO2 cooling system, and the sensors are moved to 7 mm from the LHC beam for physics data taking. The performance and stability of these characteristic features of the detector are described, and details of the material budget are given. The calibration of the timing and the data processing algorithms that are implemented in FPGAs are described. The system performance is fully characterised. The sensors have a signal to noise ratio of approximately 20 and a best hit resolution of 4 microns is achieved at the optimal track angle. The typical detector occupancy for minimum bias events in standard operating conditions in 2011 is around 0.5%, and the detector has less than 1% of faulty strips. The proximity of the detector to the beam means that the inner regions of the n+-on-n sensors have undergone space-charge sign inversion due to radiation damage. The VELO performance parameters that drive the experiment's physics sensitivity are also given. The track finding efficiency of the VELO is typically above 98% and the modules have been aligned to a precision of 1 micron for translations in the plane transverse to the beam. A primary vertex resolution of 13 microns in the transverse plane and 71 microns along the beam axis is achieved for vertices with 25 tracks. An impact parameter resolution of less than 35 microns is achieved for particles with transverse momentum greater than 1 GeV/c.

physics.ins-det

Detection of $D^{\pm}$ mesons production in pA-interactions at 70 GeV

The results of analysis SERP-E-184 experiment data, obtained with 70 GeV proton beam irradiation of active target with carbon, silicon and lead plates are presented. For 3-prongs charged charmed mesons decays, event selection criteria were developed and detection efficiency was calculated with detailed simulation using FRITIOF7.02 and GEANT3.21 programs. Signals of decays were found and charm production inclusive cross sections estimated at near threshold energy. The lifetimes and A-dependence of cross section were measured. Yields of D mesons and their ratios in comparison with data of other experiments and theoretical predictions are presented.

hep-ex

The D0 Silicon Microstrip Tracker

This paper describes the mechanical design, the readout chain, the production, testing and the installation of the Silicon Microstrip Tracker of the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. In addition, description of the performance of the detector during the experiment data collection between 2001 and 2010 is provided.

physics.ins-det

Study of the interactions of pions in the CALICE silicon-tungsten calorimeter prototype

A prototype silicon-tungsten electromagnetic calorimeter for an ILC detector was tested in 2007 at the CERN SPS test beam. Data were collected with electron and hadron beams in the energy range 8 to 80 GeV. The analysis described here focuses on the interactions of pions in the calorimeter. One of the main objectives of the CALICE program is to validate the Monte Carlo tools available for the design of a full-sized detector. The interactions of pions in the Si-W calorimeter are therefore confronted with the predictions of various physical models implemented in the GEANT4 simulation framework.

physics.ins-det

Registration of neutral charmed mesons production and their decays in pA-interactions at 70 GeV with SVD-2 setup

The results of data handling for E-184 experiment obtained with 70 GeV proton beam irradiation of active target with carbon, silicon and lead plates are presented. Two-prongs neutral charmed D0 and \v{D}0 -mesons decays were selected. Signal / background ratio was (51+/-17) / (38+/-13). Registration efficiency for mesons was defined and evaluation for charm production cross section at threshold energy is presented: sigma(c\^c) = 7.1 +/- 2.4(stat.) +/- 1.4(syst.) (\mu/nucleon).

hep-ex

Integrated Circuit Readout for the Silicon Sensor Test Station

Various chips for the silicon sensors measurements are described. These chips are based on 0.35 um and 0.18um CMOS technology. Several analog chips together with self-trigger /derandomizer one allow to measure silicon sensors designed for different purposes. Tracking systems, calorimeters, particle charge measurement system and other application sensors can be investigated by the integrated circuit readout with laser or radioactive sources. Also electrical parameters of silicon sensors can be studied by such test setup.

physics.ins-det

Design and Electronics Commissioning of the Physics Prototype of a Si-W Electromagnetic Calorimeter for the International Linear Collider

The CALICE collaboration is studying the design of high performance electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters for future International Linear Collider detectors. For the electromagnetic calorimeter, the current baseline choice is a high granularity sampling calorimeter with tungsten as absorber and silicon detectors as sensitive material. A ``physics prototype'' has been constructed, consisting of thirty sensitive layers. Each layer has an active area of 18x18 cm2 and a pad size of 1x1 cm2. The absorber thickness totals 24 radiation lengths. It has been exposed in 2006 and 2007 to electron and hadron beams at the DESY and CERN beam test facilities, using a wide range of beam energies and incidence angles. In this paper, the prototype and the data acquisition chain are described and a summary of the data taken in the 2006 beam tests is presented. The methods used to subtract the pedestals and calibrate the detector are detailed. The signal-over-noise ratio has been measured at 7.63 +/- 0.01. Some electronics features have been observed; these lead to coherent noise and crosstalk between pads, and also crosstalk between sensitive and passive areas. The performance achieved in terms of uniformity and stability is presented.

physics.ins-det