Bulletin of the American Physical Society
2019 Annual Meeting of the APS Far West Section
Volume 64, Number 17
Friday–Saturday, November 1–2, 2019; Stanford, California
Session B04: Poster Session - High Energy, Nuclear Physics and Other |
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Chair: Alessandra Lanzara, University of California, Berkeley Room: Huang Engineering Center Foyer |
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B04.00001: High Resolution Muon Tomography using a Portable Prototype Muon Telescope Sadman Ahmed Shanto, Shuichi Kunori, Nural Akchurin, Raul Perez Jr, Samuel Cano, Mohammad Moosajee We aim to develop a portable muon detector with an excellent spatial resolution that will be able to image large structures in detail. Muons are weakly interacting elementary particles that readily pass through objects, losing some of their energy in the process. Muon tomography is a technique that exploits this phenomenon to construct images of large objects of interest, such as volcanoes, buildings, and pyramids. The present prototype comprises a two-layered system of scintillator bars, optical system with Winston cones, silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), readout electronics, and a network of Arduinos. The cosmic muons produce scintillations as they pass through the scintillators and the Winston cones transport these photons to the SiPMs where they are converted into electrical signals. These signals, in turn, are digitized and transmitted to a local computer. This system is mounted on a wheeled cart that spans an area of approximately 90 cm by 180 cm and can be rotated \textpm 90 degrees to the vertical. We are presently able to reconstruct 2-D images of large objects with an angular resolution of 50 mrads. We are also testing, debugging, and analyzing the data stream and adjusting the parameters for the upgraded detector to vastly improve angular resolution. [Preview Abstract] |
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B04.00002: Data Analysis and Simulation Validation of LZ Direct Dark Matter Detection Experiment Julien Alfaro, Wing To Dark matter makes up 85\% of the total mass of the universe. We have observed the effects of dark matter in the rotational velocities of galaxies, the way light bends around clusters of galaxies, and in the anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background. LZ is an experiment to directly detect dark matter with a liquid xenon target. If dark matter has a weakly interacting component, it will scatter off the liquid xenon nuclei leaving on the order of a few keV of recoil energy. As part of the experiment, the detector was tested using various radioactive sources. The goal of my Summer research project was to learn how to analyze simulated data from LZ. At the end of the Summer a Doke Plot of radioactive sources was made to validate the simulation framework. [Preview Abstract] |
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B04.00003: Argon Recoil Ionization and Scintillation from Electron Recoils (ARIS-ER) David-Michael Poehlmann In 2018, the Argon Recoil Ionization and Scintillation (ARIS) experiment studied the response of liquid argon to monoenergetic neutrons. In a continuing effort to study the response of liquid argon at low energies, the proposed Argon Recoil Ionization and Scintillation from Electron Recoils (ARIS-ER) will measure the response of liquid argon to monoenergetic gammas which Compton scatter in the detector. The liquid argon Time Projection Chamber (TPC) will be exposed to 511 keV gammas produced by a Na-22 source. A Broad Energy Germanium (BEGe) detector will measure the energy of gammas which scatter in the TPC to determine the energy deposited. The ARIS-ER measurement will provide information on the scintillation and ionization energy scales, quenching factor, recombination probability, and time response of liquid argon to low-energy electron recoils. [Preview Abstract] |
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B04.00004: ABSTRACT WITHDRAWN |
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B04.00005: SiPM Array Calibration Ryan Enoki The presence of high rates of fast neutrons is indicative of the presence of special nuclear material. The ability to identify and localize sources of fast neutrons from the dominant gamma background is a necessary step in securing borders, ports of entry and treaty verification. Neutron detection using liquid scintillators to act as a neutron scattering camera has been successful. This method allows for precise energy characterization and omnidirectional imaging however, they are not designed to be portable or fast acting. Using silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) with plastic scintillators to detect free neutrons allows for a compact device with very fast timing. This proposed device could identify the position and fluency rate of high energy free neutrons in environments such as ports and borders while remaining portable, rugged, and easily deployable. A critical step in the process of designing and implementing this proposed device involves calibration of the SiPM cells. Complex analog electronics used to perform pulse shape discrimination (PSD) on the output of the SiPM array require a high level of gain uniformity across all 64 cells of the array. Over the summer of 2019, initial calibration of a 64 channel Sensl SiPM array reduced the maximum deviation between channels by 78.97{\%}. Improved gain uniformity now allows for the testing of an analog PSD circuit. [Preview Abstract] |
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B04.00006: Measurement of the expected 57keV neutron anti-resonance in $^{40}$Ar using a time of flight neutron beam Tyler Erjavec A measurement of the transmission coefficient for neutrons through a thick ($\sim 3$\,atoms/b) natural liquid argon target in the energy range 40-70 keV will be performed by the Argon Resonance Transmission Interaction experiment (ARTIE) using a time of flight neutron beam at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) In this energy range theory predicts an anti-resonance in the $^{40}$Ar cross section near $57$\,keV, but the existing data, coming from an experiment performed in the 90s (Winters. et al.), does not support this The goal of ARTIE is to resolve this disagreement by improving the knowledge of neutron transport in argon. This measurement is crucial for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) because it provides a viable means of calibration via a Pulsed Neutron Source (PNS), and allows a deeper understanding of signals and backgrounds for the low energy science program [Preview Abstract] |
(Author Not Attending)
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B04.00007: Is the Knuckleball Pitch Chaotic? Eric Strauss, Nicholas Nelson The knuckleball is the least understood pitch in baseball. Very little rotation combined with asymmetric airflow over the ball created by the raised seams makes the trajectory highly unpredictable. By tracking large numbers of knuckleballs, it has been shown they can move in any direction. This has led to the conjecture that knuckleballs demonstrate chaotic motion. Here we show that a simple model, which includes quadratic drag and an empirical parameterization of lift caused by asymmetric airflow from the seams, does in fact exhibit dynamical chaos so long as torques on the ball due to the asymmetric flow are included. We show that changing our initial angle and spin by one part in a million can cause substantial changes in the trajectory of the pitch. Pitches with this infinitesimal change in initial conditions are shown to vary in location at the plate by as much as 30 cm. [Preview Abstract] |
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B04.00008: Detection limits of lead (Pb) in bone phantoms using optimized L-shell x-ray fluorescence (LXRF) measurements. Joshua Jardenil, Mihai Gherase Lead (Pb) is a well-known toxic element. In vivo bone Pb concentration measurements assess long-term human exposure and accumulation. Development of bone Pb L-shell x-ray fluorescence (LXRF) measurements using a compact x-ray tube and detector system may lead to more practical population surveys than the established K-shell XRF method. In our lab, using a microbeam XRF system, we developed an optimal grazing-incidence position (OGIP) methodology which enhances Pb detection by mitigating the x-ray scatter. Plaster-of-Paris (poP) bone phantoms doped with Pb in concentrations of 0, 8, 16, 29, 44, 59, and 74 microg/g paired with polyoxymethylene (POM) soft tissue phantoms of thicknesses 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm, were used to simulate in vivo measurements. Calibration lines were produced by linear fittings of the Pb L$\alpha $ and Pb L$\beta $ peak heights versus the Pb concentration data. Detection limit (DL) was calculated as twice the standard deviation of the null concentration peak height measurement divided by the slope of the calibration line. DL values in the 2 to 36 microg/g range were found. The results are encouraging for potential clinical applications, also given that the radiation dose was estimated at 5 mSv per measurement. [Preview Abstract] |
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B04.00009: Calculations of elemental concentrations in a lamb bone using optimal x-ray fluorescence measurements. Alex Lawson, Mihai Gherase An optimal grazing-incidence position x-ray fluorescence (XRF) measurement method, previously developed in our lab, was employed to determine absolute elemental concentrations in a plaster-of-Paris (poP) bone phantom and a lamb bone. The poP phantom contained XRF-detectable elements with known concentrations: S, Ca, Pb, and Sr. XRF peaks of the following elements, in unknown concentrations, were observed in the lamb bone spectra: P, Ca, Fe, Zn, and Sr. Since only Ca and Sr were present in both samples, estimation of P, Fe, and Zn concentrations in lamb bone was not possible based on poP phantom data. Due to the x-ray beam size dependence on photon energy, conventional concentration calculations were also not in agreement with the known concentrations in the bone phantom. An ad-hoc method was derived to estimate the unknown concentrations in the lamb bone. Based on the poP phantom data, calculations were modified to include element-specific effective path length values to account for the incident photon absorption and the emergent XRF photon attenuation. The method was applied to the lamb bone measurements to yield elemental concentrations in agreement with values reported in the literature. [Preview Abstract] |
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B04.00010: Study on the Chelation Treatment in the Beta thalassemias Using Bio-chemical and Computational Analysis Semin Ahn, Richard Kyung Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder caused by reduced or absent synthesis of the beta chains of hemoglobin that result in anemia. Iron is very toxic to tissue. Under normal circumstances in humans iron is transported bound to a carrier protein called transferrin. Transferrin transports iron into certain tissues. Because the iron is bound to this protein, other tissues are protected from the toxic effects of free iron. The result shows variable outcomes ranging from highly active to less active depending on the use of the iron-chelating agent. In this project, we assessed the thermodynamical and stereochemical safety of several types of chelating agent and its derivatives that could be used as biological agents in thalassemia treatment. Also other factors were checked to assess the efficiencies of the iron-chelating agent. A molecular editing program was used to model, optimize, and compare the resulting molecular optimization energies and other characteristics of the chelating agent. By figuring out the most efficient type of chelating agent, people who suffer from thalassemia can get help for the treatment. [Preview Abstract] |
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B04.00011: Study on the Flavanon for Their Effectiveness in the Treatment of Periodontitis Using Bio-chemical and Computational Analysis Nayoung Ko, Richard Kyung There is a strong association between flavanon molecules and the effectiveness in dental disease treatment. The molecules are widely used in clinical applications in dentistry for their anti-inflammatory effects and effective activity in radical scavenging. The primary purpose of this research is to analyze the thermodynamical and stereochemical safety of several types of nano-scaled flavanon molecules and to find thermo-chemical properties of their derivatives that could be used as biological agents in the periodontitis treatment. The reactivity and conductivity were also measured through the dipole moments to calculate the activity level the molecule could have with other nearby molecules. Lastly, electrostatic potential maps were utilized to visualize the polarization and assess the reactivity level of each molecule. As an antioxidant and having a disease inhibitory effect, the Flavanois and a few other derivatives showed good activity and stability. A molecular editing program was used to model, optimize, and compare the resulting molecular optimization energies and other characteristics of the molecules. [Preview Abstract] |
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B04.00012: Study on the Biological Effects of Radiation and Removal of Radioactive Elements Using Nanoparticles Daniel Min-Hyuk Cho, Ho Jeong Kwon Reprocessing harmful radioactive elements such as separation and isolation of the components from nuclear fuels or human body is a challenging task. Radiation causes somatic mutation and genetic alteration and they reproduce rapidly. Identifying metal oxides, carbon nanotubes, and metal-organic framework that captures and holds the harmful radioactive elements, researchers have studied on the removal of radioactive elements. To determine the effectiveness of the process, this paper compares and analyzes various nanoparticles including porous metal-loaded crystalline with regular pore openings. This paper employs computational simulations to examine the safety of nanomaterials such as functionalized nanoparticles with high surface area, strong mechanical properties and high chemical stability. Computational editing programs is used in an effort to discover the optimal method and to compute the measurements of stability of the molecules. To determine optimization energy and electrical activity, an auto optimize tool was used for each compound in this project. Also, the Universal Force Field (UFF) option was selected and applied to all compounds modeled in this research. [Preview Abstract] |
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B04.00013: An Algorithmic Approach to Identify Non-Pure Positron Emitters for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging Applications Elyssa Hofgard Positron emission tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique that uses radiolabeled tracers to image biological processes. Traditional PET imaging systems are optimized to detect pairs of gamma rays, known as annihilation photons, generated through positron-electron annihilation. We focus on non-pure positron emitters that also emit high energy gamma rays, allowing for triple coincidences. The long half lives of these isotopes can allow for more accurate imaging of slow biochemical processes. We develop an algorithm to classify particles in a triple coincidence, taking a probabilistic approach to the identification problem by synthesizing geometrical, spatial, energy, and temporal information. We first consider the geometric criteria of the PET system. We then consider the energy deposited by each particle, employing the maximum likelihood estimation method for each particle type. We finally consider the temporal information, employing time of flight (TOF) PET and statistical distance measures for each potential particle configuration. For preliminary testing, we use GATE (GEANT4 application for tomographic emission) Monte Carlo software. Preliminary test results demonstrate that the algorithm correctly identifies particles in a triple coincidence. [Preview Abstract] |
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B04.00014: Study on Economic Data Using Linear Exponential Method and SARIMA (Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average) Model Chanyeol Kim, Richard Kyung Cyclic oscillations are the up-and-down changes in the data during periods of such as recession and expansion. Due to the complexity and deseasonality of the data that include trend, cyclic, and irregular components, general approximation of the cyclic factors and iterative methods for the long-term behavior of economic data were employed for the presented analysis. In this paper three major goals such as predicting, modeling, and characterization were studied in order to get a better prediction. Modeling and predicting were performed in an iterative way using Holt's linear exponential smoothing technique with sequential updating equations. Smoothing parameters were used to estimate the level, trend, and seasonality. As the last step in the model building, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) technique was used to assess the overall errors using the R-statistics. The least squares criterion was used to minimize the sum of square of vertical deviations. Finally, SARIMA (Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average) model was used for the for time series forecasting on the data containing trends and seasonality. The Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and normalized data were obtained thereafter. [Preview Abstract] |
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