Hadronic Showers Research Articles

Fractal Dimension of Particle Showers Measured in a Highly Granular Calorimeter

We explore the fractal nature of particle showers using MonteCarlo simulation. We define the fractal dimension of showers measured in a high granularity calorimeter designed for a future lepton collider. The shower fractal dimension reveals detailed information of the spatial configuration of the shower. It is found to be characteristic of the type of interaction and highly sensitive to the nature of the incident particle. Using the shower fractal dimension, we demonstrate a particle identification algorithm that can efficiently separate electromagnetic showers, hadronic showers, and nonshowering tracks. We also find a logarithmic dependence of the shower fractal dimension on the particle energy.

Mean charged multiplicities in charged-current neutrino scattering on hydrogen and deuterium

Available experimental data are analyzed to derive simple parametrizations for the mean charged-hadron multiplicities in charged-current neutrino and antineutrino interactions with hydrogen and deuterium targets. The obtained results can be used in the (anti)neutrino-induced hadronic shower modeling.

T3B — an experiment to measure the time structure of hadronic showers

The goal of the T3B experiment is the measurement of the time structure of hadronic showers with nanosecond precision and high spatial resolution together with the CALICE hadron calorimeter prototypes, with a focus on the use of tungsten as absorber medium. The detector consists of a strip of 15 scintillator cells individually read out by silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) and fast oscilloscopes with a PC-controlled data acquisition system. The data reconstruction uses an iterative subtraction technique which provides a determination of the arrival time of each photon on the light sensor with sub-nanosecond precision. The calibration is based on single photon-equivalent dark pulses constantly recorded during data taking, automatically eliminating the temperature dependence of the SiPM gain. In addition, a statistical correction for SiPM afterpulsing is demonstrated. To provide the tools for a comparison of T3B data with GEANT4 simulations, a digitization routine, which accounts for the detector response to energy deposits in the detector, has been implemented.

Measuring the mass hierarchy with muon and hadron events in atmospheric neutrino experiments

Neutrino mass hierarchy can be measured in atmospheric neutrino experiments through the observation of earth matter effects. Magnetized iron calorimeters have been shown to be good in this regard due to their charge identification capabilities. The charged current interaction of $\nu_\mu$ in this detector, produces a muon track and a hadron shower. The direction of the muon track can be measured very accurately. We show the improvement expected in the reach of this class of experiments to the neutrino mass hierarchy, as we improve the muon energy resolution and the muon reconstruction efficiency. We next propose to include the hadron events in the analysis, by tagging them with the zenith angle of the corresponding muon and binning the hadron data first in energy and then in zenith angle. To the best of our knowledge this way of performing the analysis of the atmospheric neutrino data has not be considered before. We show that the hadron events increase the mass hierarchy sensitivity of the experiment. Finally, we show the expected mass hierarchy sensitivity in terms of the reconstructed neutrino energy and zenith angle. We show how the detector resolutions spoil the earth matter effects in the neutrino channel and argue why the sensitivity obtained from the neutrino analysis cannot be significantly better than that obtained from the analysis using muon data alone. As a result, the best mass hierarchy sensitivity is obtained when we add the contribution of the muon and the hadron data. For $\sin^22\theta_{13}=0.1$, $\sin^2\theta_{23}=0.5$, a muon energy resolution of 2\%, reconstruction efficiency of 80\% and exposure of $50\times 10$ kton-year, we could get up to $4.5\sigma$ signal for the mass hierarchy from combining the muon and hadron data.

The electromagnetic performance of the RD52 fiber calorimeter

The RD52 calorimeter is an instrument intended to detect both electromagnetic and hadronic showers, as well as muons, using the dual-readout principle. Scintillation and Cherenkov light provide the two signals which, in combination, allow for superior hadronic performance. In this paper, we report on the electromagnetic performance of this instrument, and compare this performance with that of other calorimeters that were constructed with similar goals in mind.

Track segments in hadronic showers in a highly granular scintillator-steel hadron calorimeter

We investigate the three dimensional substructure of hadronic showers in the CALICE scintillator-steel hadronic calorimeter. The high granularity of the detector is used to find track segments of minimum ionising particles within hadronic showers, providing sensitivity to the spatial structure and the details of secondary particle production in hadronic cascades. The multiplicity, length and angular distribution of identified track segments are compared to GEANT4 simulations with several different shower models. Track segments also provide the possibility for in-situ calibration of highly granular calorimeters.

A method for the separation and reconstructions of charged hadron and neutral hadron from their overlapped showers in an electromagnetic calorimeter

The separation and reconstructions of charged hadron and neutral hadron from their overlapped showers in an electromagnetic calorimeter is very important for the reconstructions of some particles with hadronic decays, for example the tau reconstruction in the searches for the Standard Model and supersymmetric Higgs bosons at the LHC. In this paper, a method combining the shower cluster in an electromagnetic calorimeter and the parametric formula for hadron showers, was developed to separate the overlapped showers between charged hadron and neutral hadron. Taking the hadronic decay containing one charged pion and one neutral pion in the final status of tau for example, satisfied results of the separation of the overlapped showers, the reconstructions of the energy and positions of the hadrons were obtained. An improved result for the tau reconstruction with this decay model can be also achieved after the application of the proposed method.

Validation of GEANT4 Monte Carlo models with a highly granular scintillator-steel hadron calorimeter

Calorimeters with a high granularity are a fundamental requirement of the Particle Flow paradigm. This paper focuses on the prototype of a hadron calorimeter with analog readout, consisting of thirty-eight scintillator layers alternating with steel absorber planes. The scintillator plates are finely segmented into tiles individually read out via Silicon Photomultipliers. The presented results are based on data collected with pion beams in the energy range from 8 GeV to 100 GeV. The fine segmentation of the sensitive layers and the high sampling frequency allow for an excellent reconstruction of the spatial development of hadronic showers. A comparison between data and Monte Carlo simulations is presented, concerning both the longitudinal and lateral development of hadronic showers and the global response of the calorimeter. The performance of several GEANT4 physics lists with respect to these observables is evaluated.

Simulations of a new detection concept for high-energy neutrons based on timing RPCs

In this manuscript we present a novel concept for the detection of relativistic neutrons (between 100 MeV and 1 GeV) based on Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs). Its principle relies on the detection of charged particles created in hadronic showers induced by the incoming neutrons on the detector constituent materials. The presented design solely considers glass plates as converters for neutron detection while simultaneously delimiting the active gas. For the optimization of a large area detector based on RPCs, simulations using the Virtual Monte Carlo framework FairRoot have been performed. The resulting detector is designed using timing RPC modules, each with 5 gas gaps, that are sequentially grouped, reaching an efficiency for one neutron detection higher than 90%. We show a systematic study on the counter performance as a function of the thickness of the glass plates, and present the design of a prototype to be tested with quasi-monoenergetic neutrons of energies ranging between 200 MeV and 1.5 GeV in the upcoming future.

Exploring ντ−νs mixing with cascade events in DeepCore

The atmospheric neutrino data collected by the IceCube experiment and its low-energy extension DeepCore provide a unique opportunity to probe the neutrino sector of the Standard Model. In the low energy range the experiment have observed neutrino oscillations, and the high energy data are especially sensitive to signatures of new physics in the neutrino sector. In this context, we previously demonstrated the unmatched potential of the experiment to reveal the existence of light sterile neutrinos. The studies are routinely performed in the simplest 3+1 model concentrating on disappearance of muon neutrinos of TeV energy as a result of their mixing with a sterile neutrino. We here extend this analysis to include cascade events that are secondary electromagnetic and hadronic showers produced by neutrinos of all flavors. We find that it is possible to probe the complete parameter space of 3+1 model, including the poorly constrained mixing of the sterile neutrino to tau neutrinos. We show that ντ−νs mixing results into a unique signature in the data that will allow IceCube to obtain constraints well below the current upper limits.

Universal formula for the muon-induced neutron yield

The experimental data on the yield of muon-induced neutrons for liquid scintillator, iron and lead accumulated during 60 years of muon interaction underground study have been analyzed. A universal formula connecting the yield with muon energy loss in the matter and neutron production in hadronic and electromagnetic showers is presented.

Electromagnetic shower properties in a lead-scintillator sampling calorimeter

The Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) is a general-purpose experimental apparatus with an inner tracking detector for measuring charged particles, surrounded by a calorimeter for measurements of electromagnetic and hadronic showers. We describe a geant4 simulation and parameterization of the response of the CDF central electromagnetic calorimeter (CEM) to incident electrons and photons. The detector model consists of a detailed description of the CEM geometry and material in the direction of the incident particle's trajectory, and of the passive material between the tracker and the CEM. We use geant4 to calculate the distributions of: the energy that leaks from the back of the CEM, the energy fraction sampled by the scintillators, and the energy dependence of the response. We parameterize these distributions to accurately model electron and photon response and resolution in a custom simulation for the measurement of the W boson mass.

Homogeneous and isotropic calorimetry for space experiments

Calorimetry plays an essential role in experiments observing high energy gamma and cosmic rays in space. The observational capabilities are mainly limited by the geometrical dimensions and the mass of the calorimeter. Since deployable mass depends on the design of the detector and the total mass of the payload, it is important to optimize the geometrical acceptance of the calorimeter for rare events, its granularity for particle identification, and its absorption depth for the measurement of the particle energy. A design of a calorimeter that could simultaneously optimize these characteristics assuming a mass limit of about 1.6t has been studied. As a result, a homogeneous calorimeter instrumented with cesium iodide (CsI) crystals was chosen as the best compromise given the total mass constraint. The most suitable geometry found is cubic and isotropic, so as to detect particles arriving from every direction in space, thus maximizing the acceptance; granularity is obtained by filling the cubic volume with small cubic CsI crystals. The total radiation length in any direction is very large, and allows for optimal electromagnetic particle identification and energy measurement, while the interaction length is at least sufficient to allow a precise reconstruction of hadronic showers. Optimal values for the size of the crystals and spacing among them have been studied. Two prototypes have been constructed and preliminary tests with high energy ion and muon beams are reported.

The dual-readout approach to calorimetry

Simultaneous detection of the Cherenkov light and scintillation light produced in hadron showers makes it possible to measure the electromagnetic shower fraction event by event and thus eliminate the effects of fluctuations in this fraction, which limit the precision with which hadrons and jets can be detected in calorimeters. In the RD52 (DREAM) project, the possibilities of this dual-readout calorimetry are investigated and optimized. In this talk, the latest results of this project are presented. These results concern the first tests of the partially completed full-scale SuperDREAM fiber calorimeter, which were recently carried out at CERN.

Search for Galactic PeV gamma rays with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory

Gamma-ray induced air showers are notable for their lack of muons, compared to hadronic showers. Hence, air shower arrays with large underground muon detectors can select a sample greatly enriched in photon showers by rejecting showers containing muons. IceCube is sensitive to muons with energies above ∼500 GeV at the surface, which provides an efficient veto system for hadronic air showers with energies above 1 PeV. One year of data from the 40-string IceCube configuration was used to perform a search for point sources and a Galactic diffuse signal. No sources were found, resulting in a 90% C.L. upper limit on the ratio of gamma rays to cosmic rays of 1.2×10−3 for the flux coming from the Galactic plane region (−80°≲l≲−30°; −10°≲b≲5°) in the energy range 1.2–6.0 PeV. In the same energy range, point source fluxes with E−2 spectra have been excluded at a level of (E/TeV)2dΦ/dE∼10−12–10−11 cm−2 s−1 TeV−1 depending on source declination. The complete IceCube detector will have a better sensitivity (due to the larger detector size), improved reconstruction, and vetoing techniques. Preliminary data from the nearly final IceCube detector configuration have been used to estimate the 5-yr sensitivity of the full detector. It is found to be more than an order of magnitude better, allowing the search for PeV extensions of known TeV gamma-ray emitters.9 MoreReceived 30 October 2012DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.87.062002© 2013 American Physical Society

Electron-hadron shower discrimination in a liquid argon time projection chamber

By exploiting structural differences between electromagnetic and hadronic showers in a multivariate analysis we present an efficient Electron-Hadron discrimination algorithm for liquid argon time projection chambers, validated using Geant4 simulated data.

Observing of atmospheric hadronic shower on the Barentsburg neutron monitor

The neutron monitor in Barentsburg is equipped with a modernized data acquisition system which allows registering time intervals between pulses with 1 μs accuracy. This high resolution makes it possible to study such fast and transient phenomenon like multiplicity. A multiplicity event is an isolated sequence of pulses with short time intervals between them. The Barentsburg neutron monitor consists of three sections, which are spaced at 5 m. In the present work a two-section multiplicity was studied, i.e. multiplicity events which are formed by pulses of two sections. We have assigned that each section must input no less than 4 pulses into an event to have a two-section multiplicity. The probability of a random coincidence of single pulses in this case is around 10–8 (one event per ~10 days). But the real number of such events is ~10 per day. The other characteristics of two-section multiplicity events (total time duration, time profile etc.) are similar to the values of one section multiplicity. So this is undoubtedly real multiplicity. We consider it to be an effect of atmospheric hadronic shower on the NM. The cross-section size of such shower is estimated about 10 m according to the distance between sections.

Hadronic models validation in GEANT4 with CALICE highly granular calorimeters

The CALICE collaboration has constructed highly granular hadronic and electromagnetic calorimeter prototypes to evaluate technologies for the use in detector systems at a future Linear Collider, and to validate hadronic shower models with unprecedented spatial segmentation. The electromagnetic calorimeter is a sampling structure of tungsten and silicon with 9720 readout channels. The hadron calorimeter uses 7608 small plastic scintillator cells individually read out with silicon photomultipliers. This high granularity opens up the possibility for precise three-dimensional shower reconstructions and for software compensation techniques to improve the energy resolution of the detector. We discuss the latest results on the studies of shower shapes and shower properties and the comparison to the latest developed GEANT4 models for hadronic showers. A satisfactory agreement at better than 5% is found between data and simulations for most of the investigated variables. We show that applying software compensation methods based on reconstructed clusters the energy resolution for hadrons improves by a factor of 15%. The next challenge for CALICE calorimeters will be to validate the 4th dimension of hadronic showers, namely their time evolution.

Status of the CALICE analog calorimeter technological prototypes

The CALICE collaboration is currently developing engineering prototypes of electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters for a future linear collider detector. This detector is designed to be used in particle-flow based event reconstruction. In particular, the calorimeters are optimized for the individual reconstruction and separation of electromagnetic and hadronic showers. They are conceived as sampling calorimeters with tungsten and steel absorbers, respectively. Two electromagnetic calorimeters are being developed, one with silicon-based active layers and one based on scintillator strips that are read out by MPPCs, allowing highly granular readout. The analog hadron calorimeter is based on scintillating tiles that are also read out individually by silicon photomultipliers. The multi-channel, auto-triggered front-end chips are integrated into the active layers of the calorimeters and are designed for minimal power consumption (power pulsing). The goal of the construction of these prototypes is to demonstrate the feasibility of building and operating detectors with fully integrated front-end electronics. The concept and engineering status of these prototypes are reported here.

The new RD52 (DREAM) fiber calorimeter

Simultaneous detection of the Cerenkov light and scintillation light produced in hadron showers makes it possible to measure the electromagnetic shower fraction event by event and thus eliminate the detrimental effects of fluctuations in this fraction on the performance of calorimeters. In the RD52 (DREAM) project, the possibilities of this dual-readout calorimetry are investigated and optimized. In this talk, the first test results of prototype modules for the new full-scale fiber calorimeter are presented.