CyberSec Research

SuperSUN, a new superthermal source of ultracold neutrons (UCN) at the Institut Laue-Langevin, exploits inelastic scattering of neutrons in isotopically pure superfluid $^4$He at temperatures below $0.6\,$K. For the first time, continuous operation with an intense broad-spectrum cold neutron beam is demonstrated over 60 days. We observe continuous UCN extraction rates of $21000\,$s$^{-1}$, and storage in the source with saturated $\textit{in-situ}$ density $273\,$cm$^{-3}$. The high stored density, low-energy UCN spectrum, and long storage times open new possibilities in fundamental and applied physics.

We report on the mass measurement of the rapid proton-capture process key nuclide ${}^{84}$Mo and its vicinity, such as ${}^{78}$Y${}^{\rm m}$, ${}^{79}$Y, ${}^{83}$Nb, and ${}^{88}$Ru, using the multi-reflection time-of-flight spectrograph at RIKEN RIBF. For ${}^{78}$Y${}^{\rm m}$, ${}^{84}$Mo, and ${}^{88}$Ru, their masses are experimentally determined for the first time with uncertainties of $\delta m \approx 20~{\rm keV}$. The mass precision of ${}^{79}$Y and ${}^{83}$Nb is improved to 13 keV and 9.6 keV, respectively. The new $\alpha$-separation energy of ${}^{84}$Mo, 1.434(83) MeV, unambiguously rules out the possibility of forming the ZrNb cycle. The X-ray burst simulation with the new masses shows that our measurements effectively remove the large final abundance uncertainties in the $A=80-90$ mass region. The new mass values improve the prediction power for the composition of the nuclear ashes in X-ray bursts, including the production of light $p$-nuclei.

Based on the model of three-fluid dynamics (3FD), the global $\Lambda$ polarization ($P_\Lambda$) is calculated in Au+Au collisions at 3 $\leq\sqrt{s_{NN}}\leq$ 9 GeV, in which high baryon density is achieved. Various contributions to $P_\Lambda$ are considered: those from the thermal vorticity, meson field, thermal shear and spin-Hall effect. Feed-down from higher-lying resonances is also taken into account. The results are compared with available data. Special attention is payed to the collision energies of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 3, 3.2, 3.5, 3.9, and 4.5 GeV, for which a thorough scan of the energy, rapidity, and centrality dependence of $P_\Lambda$ is performed. The results for 3 GeV reasonably well reproduce the corresponding STAR data. While the results at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 3.2, 3.5, 3.9, and 4.5 GeV can be considered as predictions for results of measurements within the STAR fixed-target (STAR-FXT) programthat are expected in the nearest future. It is predicted that a broad maximum of $P_\Lambda$ is reached at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}\approx$ 3--3.9 GeV, exact position of which depends on the centrality and width of the midrapidity range of observation. Impact of the meson-field, thermal-shear and spin-Hall-effect contributions to $P_\Lambda$ is also studied.

Nuclear charge radii of neutron-rich $^{47-49}$Sc isotopes were measured using collinear laser spectroscopy at CERN-ISOLDE. The new data reveal that the charge radii of scandium isotopes exhibit a distinct trend between $N=20$ and $N=28$, with $^{41}$Sc and $^{49}$Sc isotopes having similar values, mirroring the closeness of the charge radii of $^{40}$Ca and $^{48}$Ca. Theoretical models that successfully interpret the radii of calcium isotopes could not account for the observed behavior in scandium radii, in particular the reduced odd-even staggering. Remarkably, the inclusion of the new $^{49}$Sc radius data has unveiled a similar trend in the charge radii of $N=28$ isotones and $Z=20$ isotopes when adding the neutrons atop the $^{40}$Ca core and the protons atop the $^{48}$Ca core, respectively. We demonstrate that this trend is consistent with the prediction of the seniority model.

Weak Gamow-Teller (GT) responses for low-lying states in ${}^{71}\mathrm{Ga}$ are crucial for studying low-energy solar neutrinos and the Ga anomaly, i.e., the possible transition to the sterile state. The responses for the ground state, the first excited state, and the second excited state are evaluated for the first time using the experimental electron capture rates, the experimental charge exchange reaction (CER) rates corrected for the tensor-interaction effect and the theoretical interacting shell model (ISM) calculations. The contributions from the two excited states to the solar and ${}^{51}\mathrm{Cr}$ neutrinos are found to be $4.2 \pm 1.2\%$ of that for the ground state. This is slightly larger than the ISM values but little smaller than the CER values without corrections for the tensor interaction effect. The Ga anomaly is far beyond the uncertainty of the obtained nuclear responses.

The Positron Annihilation into Dark Matter Experiment at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati has reported an excess of $e^+e^-$ final-state events from positron annihilation on fixed-target atomic electrons. While the global significance remains at the $1.8\,\sigma$ level, the excess is centered around $\sqrt{s} \sim 17\,\text{MeV}$, coinciding with the invariant mass at which anomalous $e^+e^-$ pair production has previously been observed in nuclear transitions from excited to ground states in $^8$Be, $^4$He and $^{12}$C, thereby strengthening the case for a common underlying origin, possibly involving a hypothetical new $X_{17}$ boson. We discuss the significance of this independent accelerator-based evidence. Combining it with existing nuclear physics results, we obtain a value for the $X_{17}$ mass of $m_{X_{17}} = 16.88 \pm 0.05\,$ MeV, reducing the uncertainty from nuclear physics determinations alone by more than a factor of two.

The GanESS experiment will exploit the high-pressure noble gas time projection chamber technology to detect coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$\nu$NS) at the European Spallation Source (ESS). The detector, able to operate at pressures up to 50 bar with different noble gases (Xe, Ar and Kr), will employ electroluminescence to amplify the ionization signal with the objective of reaching a threshold as low as 1-2 e$^-$, equivalent to $<$ 100 eV$_{\text{ee}}$. The Gaseous Prototype (GaP) has been built to characterize the technique at the few-keV energy regime and to understand various aspects related to the technology. Concretely, it will be used to measure the quenching factor of the different mediums as well as to characterize the electroluminescence yield and detection threshold under different operational conditions. The present paper describes the Gaseous Prototype and its first results operating with gaseous argon at moderate pressures (up to 10 bar). A potential detection threshold lower than 2.9 keV has been observed following operation with a $^{55}$Fe calibration source.

The isomeric yield ratio (IYR) of fission products is an observable that carries relevant information about the fragments emerging from the scission of a fissioning nucleus. We report on IYR of $^{96,98,100}$Y and $^{100,102}$Nb, together with the previously reported values for $^{97}$Y and $^{99}$Nb, produced in the 28 MeV $\alpha$-induced fission of $^{232}$Th at the Ion Guide Isotope Separation On-Line (IGISOL) facility of the University of Jyv{\"a}skyl{\"a}. We measured the IYR using two different techniques, the phase-imaging ion-cyclotron-resonance (PI-ICR) and the multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MR-TOF-MS) methods. Moreover, we measured the masses of the long-lived isomeric states in $^{98,100}$Y and $^{100,102}$Nb populated via in-trap $\beta$-decay of their precursors. Since the $\beta$-decay selectively populates states with a favourable spin-parity, we could identify the measured state and show that in all cases except $^{102}$Nb the ground state is the low-spin state. This measurement confirms the spin-parity assignments of all the nuclei as they are reported on the ENSDF evaluations, disagreeing with the assignment for $^{100}$Y reported on the NUBASE2020 evaluation. Making also use of previously reported data, we observe an anomalously low IYR for the $N=59$ isotope $^{98}$Y as compared to other yttrium or neighboring niobium isotopes. This behavior is very rare across the nuclear chart and is posited to be connected to the characteristic shape coexistence of $^{98}$Y and to the change in the charge radii of the ground and excited states in the $N=58-60$ region.

We extend the multireference covariant density functional theory (MR-CDFT) to describe the low-lying states of the odd-mass nucleus $^{43}$S near the neutron magic number $N=28$ with shape coexistence. The wave functions of the low-lying states are constructed as superpositions of configurations with different intrinsic shapes and $K$ quantum numbers, projected onto good particle numbers and angular momenta. The MR-CDFT successfully reproduces the main features of the low-energy structure in $^{43}$S. Our results indicate that the ground state, $3/2^-_1$, is predominantly composed of the intruder prolate one-quasiparticle (1qp) configuration $\nu1/2^-[321]$. In contrast, the $7/2^-_1$ state is identified as a high-$K$ isomer, primarily built on the prolate 1qp configuration $\nu7/2^-[303]$. Additionally, the $3/2^-_2$ state is found to be an admixture dominated by an oblate configuration with $K^\pi = 1/2^-$, along with a small contribution from a prolate configuration with $K^\pi = 3/2^-$. These results demonstrate the capability of MR-CDFT to capture the intricate interplay among shape coexistence, $K$-mixing, and isomerism in the low-energy structure of odd-mass nuclei around $N = 28$.

The recent ITER re-baselining calls for new fusion-relevant research best carried out in a DT-capable tokamak device with similar characteristics. The present paper describes key issues that could be addressed in a Suitably Enhanced DT-capable Tokamak (SET), with tungsten plasma facing components, boronization systems, and 10 MW of ECRH, based on characteristics and knowledgebase of JET. We discuss hardware options, and show that fusion-relevant operational scenarios could be achieved. Notably, development, validation and testing of fusion and nuclear diagnostics, to be used in next generation devices, would require a D-T capable tokamak as described.

We extend the spherical coupled-cluster ab initio method for open-shell nuclei where two nucleons are removed from a shell subclosure. Following the recent implementation of the two-particle attached approach [Phys. Rev.C 110 (2024) 4, 044306], we focus on the two-particle-removed method. Using the equations-of-motion framework, we address both nuclear structure and dipole response functions by coupling coupled-cluster theory with the Lorentz integral transform technique. We perform calculations using chiral interactions, including three-nucleon forces, and estimate many-body uncertainties by comparing different coupled-cluster truncation schemes. We validate our approach by studying ground-state energies, excited states, and electric dipole polarizabilities in the oxygen and calcium isotopic chains. For binding energies and selected low-lying excited states, we achieve an accuracy comparable to that of the established closed-shell coupled-cluster theory and generally agree with experiment. Finally, we underestimate experimental data for electric dipole polarizabilities, particularly in calcium isotopes.

Spin-parity assignments of nuclear levels are critical for understanding nuclear structure and reactions. However, inconsistent notation conventions and ambiguous reporting in research papers often lead to confusion and misinterpretations. This paper examines the policies of the Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) and the evaluations by Endt and collaborators, highlighting key differences in their approaches to spin-parity notation. Sources of confusion are identified, including ambiguous use of strong and weak arguments and the conflation of new experimental results with prior constraints. Recommendations are provided to improve clarity and consistency in reporting spin-parity assignments, emphasizing the need for explicit notation conventions, clear differentiation of argument strengths, community education, and separate reporting of new findings. These steps aim to enhance the accuracy and utility of nuclear data for both researchers and evaluators.

This paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a didactic proposal on Rutherford's gold foil experiment, tailored for high schools. Grounded in constructivist pedagogy, the activity introduces key concepts of modern physics-often absent from standard curricula-through a hands on, inquiry-based approach. By employing analogical reasoning and black box modeling, students engage in experimental investigation and collaborative problem-solving to explore atomic structure. The activity was implemented as a case study with a class of first-year students (aged 14-15) from a applied science-focused secondary school in Italy. Data collection combined qualitative observations, structured discussions, and digital feedback tools to assess conceptual learning and student engagement. Findings indicate that well-designed, student-centered interventions can meaningfully support the development of abstract scientific understanding, while fostering critical thinking and collaborative skills.

The HYpernuclei-Decay at R3B Apparatus (HYDRA) tracker is a novel time projection chamber combined with a plastic scintillator wall for timing and trigger purposes. This detector is a low radiation length tracker dedicated to measuring pions from the weak decay of light hypernuclei produced from ion-ion collisions at few GeV/nucleon in the magnetic field of the large-acceptance dipole magnet GLAD at the Reactions with Relativistic Radioactive Beams (R3B) experiment at GSI-FAIR. In this paper, we describe the design of the detector and provide the results of its first characterizations.

We present automated next-to-leading order QCD and/or electroweak (EW) predictions for photon-photon processes in ultraperipheral high-energy collisions of protons and ions, extending the capabilities of the \textsc{MadGraph5\_aMC@NLO} framework together in combination with the \ttt{gamma-UPC} code. Key aspects of this extension are discussed. We compute QCD and/or EW quantum corrections for several phenomenologically interesting processes at LHC and FCC-hh energies.

We present a comprehensive analysis of the near-threshold photoproduction of the $\rho^0$, $\omega$, and $\phi$ mesons on a deuterium target, leveraging published datasets from the DESY and SLAC facilities. In our extraction of the deuteron mass radius, we employ a dipole-form scalar gravitational form factor to effectively model the $|t|$-dependence of the differential cross sections associated with vector meson photoproductions. Utilizing the vector-meson dominance model alongside a low-energy Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) theorem assumption, we derive the deuteron mass radius from the near-threshold photoproduction data of the $\rho^0$, $\omega$, and $\phi$ mesons. The mass radii obtained from various datasets demonstrate consistency within the statistical uncertainties, yielding an average value of $2.07 \pm 0.15$ fm. This precision surpasses previous estimates solely based on the $\phi$ meson photoproduction data. Our findings provide novel constraints for theoretical nuclear structure models and significantly enhance our understanding of the mass distribution within the deuteron.

The role of the electron-helicity-dependent cross-section term and the structure function $f^{\prime}_{01}$ in the quasi-elastic $A(\vec{e}, e^{\prime}p)$ process was studied. The $f^{\prime}_{01}$ was measured for proton knockout from the $1\mathrm{d}_{3/2}$ shell in $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ via the $^{40}{\rm Ca}(\vec{e},e' p)^{39}{\rm K}_{\rm g.s.}$ reaction, leaving the residual nucleus in a well-defined state. It requires a longitudinally polarized electron beam and out-of-plane proton detection. This structure function vanishes in the absence of final-state interactions (FSI) involving the ejected proton. Presented are the dependencies of $f^{\prime}_{01}$ on the missing momentum (closely related to the initial proton's Fermi momentum) and the angle between the knocked-out proton and the virtual photon momenta. The role of the spin-orbit interaction in FSI through the $\vec{L}\cdot \vec{S}$ term in a nuclear optical potential is discussed.

The nucleon exhibits a rich internal structure governed by Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), where its electric charge arises from valence quarks, while its spin and mass emerge from complex interactions among valence quarks, sea (anti-)quarks, and gluons. At the advent of QCD, an alternative hypothesis emerged suggesting, at high energies, the transport of a nucleon's baryon number could be traced by a non-perturbative configuration of gluon fields connecting its three valence quarks, forming a $Y$-shaped topology known as the gluon junction. Recent measurements by the STAR experiment are compatible with this scenario. In light of these measurements, this study aims to explore the mechanisms of baryon transport in high-energy nuclear collisions using the PYTHIA-8 framework, which incorporates a state-of-the-art hadronization model with advanced Color Flow (CF) and Color Reconnection (CR) mechanisms which mimic signatures of a baryon junction. Within this model setup, we investigate (i) the rapidity slope of the net-baryon distributions in photon-included processes ($\gamma$+p) and (ii) baryon over charge transport in the isobaric (Ru+Ru and Zr+Zr) collisions. Our study highlights the importance of the CF and CR mechanisms in PYTHIA-8, which plays a crucial role in baryon transport. The results show that the CF and CR schemes significantly affect the isobaric baryon-to-charge ratio, leading to different predictions for baryon stopping and underscoring the need to account for CF and CR effects in comparisons with experimental measurements.