Cosmic Ray Veto Research Articles

SuNSCREEN: A cosmic-ray veto detector for capture-reaction measurements

The Summing NaI(Tl) detector (SuN) is used in nuclear astrophysics experiments measuring (p,γ) and (α,γ) reactions. The main background in these experiments in the energy region of interest comes from cosmic rays. The Scintillating Cosmic Ray Eliminating Ensemble (SuNSCREEN) was developed to be combined with the SuN detector to increase the sensitivity of reaction cross-section measurements by reducing the cosmic-ray background. SuNSCREEN is a plastic scintillating array consisting of 9 bars, which are positioned in a roof-like configuration above SuN. A significant reduction of the background was observed in the energy region of interest.

The cosmic ray veto system of the Mario Schenberg gravitational wave detector

The Mario Schenberg gravitational wave antenna is a spherical cryogenic resonant mass detector located at IFUSP, São Paulo. It is well known that cosmic rays interact with cryogenic resonant mass detectors generating acoustic signals. Depending on the shower energy, they could provide a substantial background noise which should be vetoed to reduce the false alarm rate. For this purpose, in December 2011, we have installed a cosmic ray veto system which is, since then, acquiring data. The cosmic ray veto system is composed of three particle detectors containing each one a scintillator, a photomultiplier and a tension divider.As the shower number of particles is used to define a threshold for the veto, it is important that the cosmic ray veto provides a linear response to high-energy cosmic ray events. The veto setup response was optimized and allows measurements up to 23,000 equivalent muon charge particles per square meter.We present here the experimental setup, its calibration and performance. Finally, to confirm the linearity of the data acquisition we show the measured particle multiplicity.

RADIATION STUDIES FOR THE Mu2e EXPERIMENT: A REVIEW

The Mu2e experiment being designed at Fermilab will be searching for a rare event — conversion of muon into electron in the field of a nucleus without emission of neutrinos — observation of which would provide unambiguous evidence for physics beyond the Standard Model, making use of an 8 GeV 8 kW proton beam. As an experiment to be performed at the Intensity Frontier, taking advantage of high-intensity proton beams, the Mu2e experimental setup will be residing in a harsh radiation environment created by secondary particle fluxes. Radiation quantities in different parts of the Mu2e apparatus, such as neutron flux, peak power density, displacements per atom (DPA), absorbed dose, dynamic heat load simulated using the MARS15 code are reviewed in this work. Radiation levels and requirements for Heat and Radiation Shield (HRS), Transport Solenoid (TS), residual dose and decay heat from the Mu2e target, beam dump design, rates in Cosmic Ray Veto (CRV) counters as well as stopping target monitor (STM) are considered. Airflow, surface and ground water activation are estimated. Recent developments in the MARS15 DPA model applied in this work are described, their consequences are discussed.

Sealed drift tube cosmic ray veto counters

We describe a simple drift tube counter that has been used as a cosmic ray veto for the UCNA experiment, a first-ever measurement of the neutron beta-asymmetry using ultra-cold neutrons. These detectors provide an inexpensive alternative to more conventional scintillation detectors for large area cosmic ray anticoincidence detectors.

Preparing for science run 1 of MiniGRAIL

We report on the eighth cryogenic run of MiniGRAIL, which is planned to be the first science run. Three new capacitive transducers were mounted on the sphere, all coupled to superconducting transformers and a double-stage SQUID amplifier. All SQUID modules had a noise level between 1 and 2 μΦ0 Hz−1/2 at 4 K in separate test runs. The detector was upgraded with a complete data acquisition and data storage system, and a data analysis program for millisecond burst signals was written using a matched filter. Two cosmic-ray detectors were built and installed on the roof above MiniGRAIL as a veto for cosmic rays. A test run was done, but failed because of bad electrical isolation of the transducer electrode at low temperatures. A new cool-down is currently going on. With an already obtained sphere temperature of 65 mK and a SQUID noise of 100ℏ, the expected sensitivity should be 4 × 10−22 Hz−1/2.

The gravitational wave detector NAUTILUS operating at T = 0.1 K

Abstract We report on the ultralow-temperature resonant-mass gravitational-wave detector NAUTILUS, operating at the Frascati INFN Laboratories. The present aim of this detector is to achieve a sensitivity sufficient to detect bursts of gravitational radiation from sources located in our Galaxy and in the local group. Progress in transducer technology is likely to lead to sensitivities that will enable us to observe events from sources as far away as the Virgo cluster of galaxies. We describe the cryogenic apparatus, readout system, cosmic-ray veto system, and give first results obtained during one year of continuous operation at T = 0.1 K. In particular the Brownian noise of the detector at T = 0.1 K was measured. The measured strain sensitivity was h ≈ 6 · 10 −22 Hz − 1 2 at the frequencies of the two modes, 908 Hz and 924 Hz, with bandwidths of about 1 Hz.

Cosmic-ray-induced cascades on the ultracryogenic antenna NAUTILUS

The gravitational wave antenna NAUTILUS has been provided with a cosmic-ray veto system.The expected number of events from the interactions of high-energy hadrons and muons and multihadron showers with the antenna are shown together with examples from the data analysis of the search for coincidences between the two detectors.

A cosmic-ray veto system for the gravitational wave detector NAUTILUS

The ultracryogenic resonant gravitational wave antenna NAUTILUS now operating at Frascati INFN National Laboratory has been provided with a cosmic-ray veto system consisting of layers of streamer tubes. The experimental setup and performance of the system are shown. Preliminary results on the data collected during the calibration operations of the antenna are also presented together with the expected number of events from the interactions of high-energy hadrons and muons and multihadron showers with the gravitational antenna.

A cosmic ray veto system based on the direction of flight technique

Abstract A study of a veto system efficient on a large surface is reported for those experiments in which rather rare events must be discriminated against the cosmic background. The technique proposed in this paper recognizes the events induced by cosmic rays from the direction of flight (DOF) of the crossing particles. The performance of a setup based on the DOF technique has been experimentally tested; the results are presented and discussed.

Design Optimization of Liquid Scintillation Cosmic Ray Veto Detector with BBQ Shifter

Certain design characteristics of a liquid scintillator detector for charged cosmic particles, have been studied. These include evaluation of scintillator emission spectra, absorption in various thicknesses of BBQ shifter bars and effective transmission in long lengths of BBQ acrylic. For our BBQ sample, 12.5 mm thick with semicircular shape, the shifted light was transmitted with 2.0 m absorption length.