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Study Of Cosmogenic Activation Above Ground For The Darkside-20k Experiment, Andrea P. Pocar, Et. Al. Jan 2023

Study Of Cosmogenic Activation Above Ground For The Darkside-20k Experiment, Andrea P. Pocar, Et. Al.

Physics Department Faculty Publication Series

The activation of materials due to exposure to cosmic rays may become an important background source for experiments investigating rare event phenomena. DarkSide-20k, currently under construction at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, is a direct detection experiment for galactic dark matter particles, using a two-phase liquid-argon Time Projection Chamber (TPC) filled with 49.7 tonnes (active mass) of Underground Argon (UAr) depleted in 39Ar. Despite the outstanding capability of discriminating γ" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; font-size: 14.4px; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; text-wrap: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; …


Alpha Radiation Studies And Related Backgrounds In The Darkside-50 Detector, Alissa Monte Oct 2018

Alpha Radiation Studies And Related Backgrounds In The Darkside-50 Detector, Alissa Monte

Doctoral Dissertations

DarkSide-50 is the current phase of the DarkSide direct dark matter search program, operating underground at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy. The detector is a dual-phase argon Time Projection Chamber (TPC), designed for direct detection of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), and housed within a veto system of liquid scintillator and water Cherenkov detectors. Since switching to a target of low radioactivity argon extracted from underground sources in April 2015, the background is no longer dominated by naturally occurring 39Ar. However, alpha backgrounds from radon and its daughters remain, both from the liquid argon bulk and internal …


Search For Long-Lived, Massive Particles Decaying Into Dimuon Vertices In Pp Collisions At 13 Tev With The Atlas Detector At The Lhc, Nathan Bernard Mar 2018

Search For Long-Lived, Massive Particles Decaying Into Dimuon Vertices In Pp Collisions At 13 Tev With The Atlas Detector At The Lhc, Nathan Bernard

Doctoral Dissertations

A search for long-lived, massive particles decaying into dimuon pairs, in 32.9 fb-1 of data analyzed from the ATLAS detector is presented. Two signal models are considered: GGM SUSY, where the long lived particle mass is between 300-1000 GeV, and the dark photon model, where the ZD mass is between 20-60 GeV. An excess over the predicted background is observed in the GGM channel, however the angular/kinematic distributions of the excess vertices are consistent with a detec- tor/conditions related issue. A modified selection is used for the GGM channel which increases the signal sensitivity. 95% confidence level (CL) …


Chasing New Physics: From Electroweak Baryogenesis To Dark Matter, Huaike Guo Nov 2016

Chasing New Physics: From Electroweak Baryogenesis To Dark Matter, Huaike Guo

Doctoral Dissertations

The origin of the baryon asymmetry in the universe and the nature of the dark matter remain mysteries and addressing these cosmological puzzles requires physics beyond the standard model. Electroweak baryogenesis remains a highly testable framework for explaining the baryon asymmetry and is employed in this work to study the capability of baryon generation for beyond standard model physics models and to explore new physics discovery potential in high energy and precision frontier. Weakly interacting massive particles as cold dark matter are also studied in this work featuring loop induced direct detection signals and novel nuclear responses within the recently …


Star Formation And Stellar Mass Assembly In Dark Matter Halos: From Giants To Dwarfs, Zhankui Lu, H.J. Mo, Yu Lu, Neal S. Katz, Martin D. Weinberg, Frank C. Van Den Bosch, Xiaohu Yang Jan 2014

Star Formation And Stellar Mass Assembly In Dark Matter Halos: From Giants To Dwarfs, Zhankui Lu, H.J. Mo, Yu Lu, Neal S. Katz, Martin D. Weinberg, Frank C. Van Den Bosch, Xiaohu Yang

Neal S. Katz

The empirical model of Lu et al. is updated with recent data of galaxy stellar mass functions (SMFs). The model predicts that the slope of galaxy SMFs at z > 2 should be quite steep at the low-mass end, beyond the current detection limit, and it is a strong prediction that can be tested against future observations. The model is used to investigate the galaxy star formation and assembly or merger histories in detail. Most of the stars in cluster centrals, corresponding to brightest cluster galaxies in observations, formed earlier than z ≈ 2 but have been assembled much later. Typically, …


Dark Matter Halos: Assembly, Clustering And Sub-Halo Accretion, Yun Li Feb 2010

Dark Matter Halos: Assembly, Clustering And Sub-Halo Accretion, Yun Li

Open Access Dissertations

I carried out systematic studies on the assembly history of dark matter halos, using numerical simulations and semi-analytical methods. First, I look into dark halo mass assembly history. I confirmed that the halo mass assembly is divided into a fast accretion phase and a slow accretion phase. These two phases are found to be separated by the epoch when the dark halo potential reaches its maximum. The fast accretion phase is dominated by mergers, especially major mergers; the slow accretion phase is dominated by slow mass accretion. Each halo experiences about 3±2 major mergers since its main progenitor had a …


Mapping The Dark Matter From Uv Light At High Redshift: An Empirical Approach To Understand Galaxy Statistics, Kyoung-Soo Lee, Mauro Giavalisco, Charlie Conroy, Risa H. Wechsler, Henry C. Ferguson, Rachel S. Somerville, Mark E. Dickinson, Claudia M. Urry Jan 2009

Mapping The Dark Matter From Uv Light At High Redshift: An Empirical Approach To Understand Galaxy Statistics, Kyoung-Soo Lee, Mauro Giavalisco, Charlie Conroy, Risa H. Wechsler, Henry C. Ferguson, Rachel S. Somerville, Mark E. Dickinson, Claudia M. Urry

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

We present a simple formalism to interpret the observations of two galaxy statistics, the UV luminosity function (LF) and two-point correlation functions for star-forming galaxies at z∼4, 5, and 6 in the context of Λ cold dark matter cosmology. Both statistics are the result of how star formation takes place in dark matter halos, and thus are used to constrain how UV light depends on halo properties, in particular halo mass. The two physical quantities we explore are the star formation duty cycle, and the range of UV luminosity that a halo of mass M can have (mean and …


The Nature Of Red Dwarf Galaxies, Y Wang, Xh Yang, Hj Mo, Fc Van Den Bosch, N Katz, A Pasquali, Dh Mcintosh, Sm Weinmann Jan 2009

The Nature Of Red Dwarf Galaxies, Y Wang, Xh Yang, Hj Mo, Fc Van Den Bosch, N Katz, A Pasquali, Dh Mcintosh, Sm Weinmann

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

Using dark matter halos traced by galaxy groups selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 4, we find that about 1/4 of the faint galaxies (0.1 Mr – 5log h> – 17.05, hereafter dwarfs) that are the central galaxies in their own halo are not blue and star forming, as expected in standard models of galaxy formation, but are red. In contrast, this fraction is about 1/2 for dwarf satellite galaxies. Many red dwarf galaxies are physically associated with more massive halos. In total, about ~45% of red dwarf galaxies reside in massive halos as satellites, …


Noise-Driven Evolution In Stellar Systems: Theory, Martin D. Weinberg Jan 2008

Noise-Driven Evolution In Stellar Systems: Theory, Martin D. Weinberg

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

We present a theory for describing the evolution of a galaxy caused by stochastic events such as weak mergers, transient spiral structure, orbiting blobs, etc. This noise excites large-scale patterns that drives the evolution of the galactic density profile. In dark-matter haloes, the repeated stochastic perturbations preferentially ring the lowest-order modes of the halo with only a very weak dependence on the details of their source. Shaped by these modes, the profile quickly takes on a nearly self-similar form. We show that this form has the features of the “universal profile” reported by Navarro, Frenk, & White independent of initial …


The Bar-Halo Interaction - I. From Fundamental Dynamics To Revised N-Body Requirements, Md Weinberg, N Katz Jan 2007

The Bar-Halo Interaction - I. From Fundamental Dynamics To Revised N-Body Requirements, Md Weinberg, N Katz

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

A galaxy remains near equilibrium for most of its history. Only through resonances can non-axisymmetric features, such as spiral arms and bars, exert torques over large scales and change the overall structure of the galaxy. In this paper, we describe the resonant interaction mechanism in detail, derive explicit criteria for the particle number required to simulate these dynamical processes accurately using N-body simulations, and illustrate them with numerical experiments. To do this, we perform a direct numerical solution of perturbation theory, in short, by solving for each orbit in an ensemble and make detailed comparisons with N-body simulations. The criteria …


Dark Matter Halo Response To The Disc Growth, Jh Choi, Y Lu, Hj Mo, Md Weinberg Jan 2006

Dark Matter Halo Response To The Disc Growth, Jh Choi, Y Lu, Hj Mo, Md Weinberg

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

We consider the sensitivity of the circular-orbit adiabatic contraction approximation to the baryon condensation rate and the orbital structure of dark matter haloes in the Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM) paradigm. Using one-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations including the dark matter halo mass accretion history and gas cooling, we demonstrate that the adiabatic approximation is approximately valid even though haloes and discs may assemble simultaneously. We further demonstrate the validity of the simple approximation for ΛCDM haloes with isotropic velocity distributions using three-dimensional N-body simulations. This result is easily understood: an isotropic velocity distribution in a cuspy halo requires more circular orbits …


From Galaxy-Galaxy Lensing To Cosmological Parameters, J Yoo, Jl Tinker, Dh Weinberg, Z Zheng, N Katz, R Dave Jan 2006

From Galaxy-Galaxy Lensing To Cosmological Parameters, J Yoo, Jl Tinker, Dh Weinberg, Z Zheng, N Katz, R Dave

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

Galaxy-galaxy lensing uses the weak distortion of background sources to measure the mean excess surface density profile, ΔΣ(r), around a sample of foreground lensing galaxies. We develop a method for combining ΔΣ(r) with the galaxy-galaxy correlation function ξgg(r) to constrain the matter density parameter Ωm and the matter fluctuation amplitude σ8, going beyond the linear biasing model to reach the level of accuracy demanded by current and future measurements. We adopt the halo occupation distribution (HOD) framework and test its applicability to this problem by examining the effects of …


On The Origin Of Cold Dark Matter Halo Density Profiles, Y Lu, Hj Mo, N Katz, Md Weinberg Jan 2006

On The Origin Of Cold Dark Matter Halo Density Profiles, Y Lu, Hj Mo, N Katz, Md Weinberg

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

N-body simulations predict that cold dark matter (CDM) halo-assembly occurs in two phases: (i) a fast-accretion phase with a rapidly deepening potential well; and (ii) a slow-accretion phase characterized by a gentle addition of mass to the outer halo with little change in the inner potential well. We demonstrate, using one-dimensional simulations, that this two-phase accretion leads to CDM haloes of the Navarro, Frenk & White (NFW) form and provides physical insight into the properties of the mass-accretion history that influence the final profile. Assuming that the velocities of CDM particles are effectively isotropized by fluctuations in the gravitational potential …


Pre-Heating By Pre-Virialization And Its Impact On Galaxy Formation, Hj Mo, Xh Yang, Fc Van Den Bosch, N Katz, I Zehavi, T Tripp, Dv Bowen, Kr Sembach, Eb Jenkins, Bd Savage, P Richter Jan 2005

Pre-Heating By Pre-Virialization And Its Impact On Galaxy Formation, Hj Mo, Xh Yang, Fc Van Den Bosch, N Katz, I Zehavi, T Tripp, Dv Bowen, Kr Sembach, Eb Jenkins, Bd Savage, P Richter

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

We use recent observations of the H i mass function to constrain galaxy formation. The data conflict with the standard model where most of the gas in a low-mass dark matter halo is assumed to settle into a disc of cold gas that is depleted by star formation and supernova-driven outflows until the disc becomes gravitationally stable. Assuming a star formation threshold density supported by both theory and observations, this model predicts H i masses that are much too large. The reason is simple: supernova feedback requires star formation, which in turn requires a high surface density for the gas. …


Bar-Driven Dark Halo Evolution: A Resolution Of The Cusp-Core Controversy, Md Weinberg, N Katz Jan 2002

Bar-Driven Dark Halo Evolution: A Resolution Of The Cusp-Core Controversy, Md Weinberg, N Katz

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

Simulations predict that the dark matter halos of galaxies should have central cusps, while those inferred from observed galaxies do not have cusps. We demonstrate, using both linear perturbation theory and n-body simulations, that a disk bar, which should be ubiquitous in forming galaxies, can produce cores in cuspy cold dark matter profiles within five bar orbital times. Simulations of forming galaxies suggest that one of Milky Way size could have a 10 kpc primordial bar; this bar will remove the cusp out to ~2.5 kpc in ~1.5 Gyr, while the disk would lose only ~8% of its original angular …


High-Redshift Galaxies In Cold Dark Matter Models, Dh Weinberg, L Hernquist, N Katz Jan 2002

High-Redshift Galaxies In Cold Dark Matter Models, Dh Weinberg, L Hernquist, N Katz

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

We use hydrodynamic cosmological simulations to predict the star formation properties of high-redshift galaxies (z = 2-6) in five variants of the inflationary cold dark matter scenario, paying particular attention to z = 3, the redshift of the largest "Lyman break galaxy" (LBG) samples. Because we link the star formation timescale to the local gas density, the rate at which a galaxy forms stars is governed mainly by the rate at which it accretes cooled gas from the surrounding medium. At z = 3, star formation in most of the simulated galaxies is steady on ~200 Myr timescales, and …


Noise-Driven Evolution In Stellar Systems - Ii. A Universal Halo Profile, Md Weinberg Jan 2001

Noise-Driven Evolution In Stellar Systems - Ii. A Universal Halo Profile, Md Weinberg

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

Disc instabilities such as arm and bar formation, minor mergers and tidal encounters drive a galaxy from equilibrium. Using the theory that describes the evolution of a galaxy halo as a result of stochastic fluctuations developed in the companion paper to this one, we show that this sort of noise evolves a halo toward a standard profile, independent of its initial profile and concentration. This process can substantially redistribute the mass in dark-matter haloes in the 10 Gyr since formation. Three different noise processes are studied: (i) a bombardment by blobs of mass that are small compared to the halo …


Noise-Driven Evolution In Stellar Systems - I. Theory, Md Weinberg Jan 2001

Noise-Driven Evolution In Stellar Systems - I. Theory, Md Weinberg

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

We present a theory for describing the evolution of a galaxy caused by stochastic events such as weak mergers, transient spiral structure, orbiting blobs, etc. This noise excites large-scale patterns that drive the evolution of the galactic density profile. In a dark matter halo, the repeated stochastic perturbations preferentially ring the lowest-order modes with only a very weak dependence on the details of their source. The subsequent redistribution of halo mass is determined only by the mechanics of these modes. The halo profile then evolves toward a universal asymptotic form for a wide variety of noise sources. Such a convergence …


Intergalactic Helium Absorption In Cold Dark Matter Models, Rac Croft, Dh Weinberg, N Katz, L Hernquist Jan 1997

Intergalactic Helium Absorption In Cold Dark Matter Models, Rac Croft, Dh Weinberg, N Katz, L Hernquist

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

Observations from the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope have recently detected He II absorption along the lines of sight to two high-redshift quasars. We use cosmological simulations with gas dynamics to investigate He II absorption in the cold dark matter (CDM) theory of structure formation. We consider two Ω = 1 CDM models with different normalizations and one open universe (Ω0 = 0.4) CDM model. The simulations incorporate the photoionizing UV background spectrum computed by Haardt & Madau, which is based on the output of observed quasars and reprocessing by the Lyα forest. The simulated …