skip to main content


Search for: All records

Creators/Authors contains: "Shields, E."

Note: When clicking on a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) number, you will be taken to an external site maintained by the publisher. Some full text articles may not yet be available without a charge during the embargo (administrative interval).
What is a DOI Number?

Some links on this page may take you to non-federal websites. Their policies may differ from this site.

  1. The SABRE (Sodium-iodide with Active Background REjection) experiment is a new detector based on NaI(Tl) scintillating crystals for the dark matter detection through the annual modulation. With ultra-pure crystals and an active veto system, based on liquid scintillator surrounding the crystal array, SABRE will reach unprecedented low background and the highest sensitivity among the present NaI(Tl) experiments. Moreover SABRE will be the first dark matter search with twin detectors located in the North and South hemispheres, in Gran Sasso National Laboratories (LNGS), Italy, and Stawell Underground Laboratories (SUPL), Australia, respectively. The double location will help to quantify possible seasonal effects, and is a unique feature to identify a modulation of dark matter origins. SABRE is presently in the Proof-of-Principle (PoP) phase, with the goal to measure the crystal intrinsic and cosmogenic backgrounds of one 5 kg crystal and the active veto efficiency. We have performed a full geometry Monte Carlo simulation in order to evaluate the background contributions in the two distinct operation modes foreseen for the PoP: the potassium Measurement Mode (KMM) and the Dark Matter Measurement Mode (DMM), where the liquid scintillator detector is used in coincidence or anti-coincidence with the crystal, respectively. This paper presents the results of a detailed background simulation and the expected sensitivity for the SABRE full scale experiment. 
    more » « less
  2. Free, publicly-accessible full text available September 1, 2024
  3. Free, publicly-accessible full text available August 1, 2024
  4. Free, publicly-accessible full text available August 1, 2024
  5. Free, publicly-accessible full text available July 1, 2024
  6. A bstract We report on a measurement of the $$ {\Lambda}_c^{+} $$ Λ c + to D 0 production ratio in peripheral PbPb collisions at $$ \sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}} $$ s NN = 5 . 02 TeV with the LHCb detector in the forward rapidity region 2 < y < 4 . 5. The $$ {\Lambda}_c^{+} $$ Λ c + ( D 0 ) hadrons are reconstructed via the decay channel $$ {\Lambda}_c^{+} $$ Λ c + → pK − π + ( D 0 → K − π + ) for 2 < p T < 8 GeV/ c and in the centrality range of about 65–90%. The results show no significant dependence on p T , y or the mean number of participating nucleons. They are also consistent with similar measurements obtained by the LHCb collaboration in pPb and Pbp collisions at $$ \sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}} $$ s NN = 5 . 02 TeV. The data agree well with predictions from PYTHIA in pp collisions at $$ \sqrt{s} $$ s = 5 TeV but are in tension with predictions of the Statistical Hadronization model. 
    more » « less
    Free, publicly-accessible full text available June 1, 2024
  7. A bstract A search for the lepton-flavour violating decays B 0 → K *0 μ ± e ∓ and $$ {B}_s^0 $$ B s 0 → ϕμ ± e ∓ is presented, using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb − 1 . No significant signals are observed and upper limits of $$ {\displaystyle \begin{array}{c}\mathcal{B}\left({B}^0\to {K}^{\ast 0}{\mu}^{+}{e}^{-}\right)<5.7\times {10}^{-9}\left(6.9\times {10}^{-9}\right),\\ {}\mathcal{B}\left({B}^0\to {K}^{\ast 0}{\mu}^{-}{e}^{+}\right)<6.8\times {10}^{-9}\left(7.9\times {10}^{-9}\right),\\ {}\mathcal{B}\left({B}^0\to {K}^{\ast 0}{\mu}^{\pm }{e}^{\mp}\right)<10.1\times {10}^{-9}\left(11.7\times {10}^{-9}\right),\\ {}\mathcal{B}\left({B}_s^0\to \phi {\mu}^{\pm }{e}^{\mp}\right)<16.0\times {10}^{-9}\left(19.8\times {10}^{-9}\right)\end{array}} $$ B B 0 → K ∗ 0 μ + e − < 5.7 × 10 − 9 6.9 × 10 − 9 , B B 0 → K ∗ 0 μ − e + < 6.8 × 10 − 9 7.9 × 10 − 9 , B B 0 → K ∗ 0 μ ± e ∓ < 10.1 × 10 − 9 11.7 × 10 − 9 , B B s 0 → ϕ μ ± e ∓ < 16.0 × 10 − 9 19.8 × 10 − 9 are set at 90% (95%) confidence level. These results constitute the world’s most stringent limits to date, with the limit on the decay $$ {B}_s^0 $$ B s 0 → ϕμ ± e ∓ the first being set. In addition, limits are reported for scalar and left-handed lepton-flavour violating New Physics scenarios. 
    more » « less
    Free, publicly-accessible full text available June 1, 2024