Showing 1–50 of 105 results for author: Hou, S

Unexpected Collisional Rotational Excitation via Long-Range Capture and Orbiting

Authors: Dasarath Swaraj, Guodong Zhang, Siting Hou, Dandan Lu, Jerin Judy, Fabio Zappa, Tim Michaelsen, Arnab Khan, Hua Guo, Changjian Xie, Hong Gao, Roland Wester

Abstract: Collisional rotational excitation is a fundamental process in many gaseous environments. The textbook hard-sphere model stipulates that high rotational excitation results from head-on collisions, leading primarily to backward scattering, whereas long-range glancing collisions in the forward direction are inefficient for rotational energy transfer. Here, we report rotational state resolved product… ▽ More Collisional rotational excitation is a fundamental process in many gaseous environments. The textbook hard-sphere model stipulates that high rotational excitation results from head-on collisions, leading primarily to backward scattering, whereas long-range glancing collisions in the forward direction are inefficient for rotational energy transfer. Here, we report rotational state resolved product imaging for a system with strong attractive interaction, the charge-transfer collision between spin-orbit selected Ar+(2P3/2) ions and para/ortho-H2 molecules. Surprisingly, the H2+ products are rotationally excited and dominated by forward scattering, in sharp contrast to conventional wisdom. Quantum dynamical calculations on a first-principles diabatic potential energy matrix reproduce the observations. Trajectory surface hopping analysis further reveals that rotational excitation occurs mostly with large impact parameters, and the captured complex undergoes orbiting motion owing to the strong attractive interaction between the two collision partners before they break up. This novel mechanism should be general for collisional systems featuring strong attractive interactions, which undermine the hard-sphere assumption. △ Less

Submitted 24 July, 2026; originally announced July 2026.

Final assessment of radioactive impurities in the JUNO detector

Authors: Thomas Adam, Fengpeng An, Costas Andreopoulos, Giuseppe Andronico, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Didier Auguste, Nikita Balashov, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Beretta, Antonio Bergnoli, Nikita Bessonov, Daniel Bick, Lukas Bieger, Svetlana Biktemerova, Thilo Birkenfeld, Simon Blyth, Manuel Böhles, Anastasia Bolshakova, Mathieu Bongrand, Matteo Borghesi , et al. (549 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) collaboration has completed the construction of the 20,000-ton liquid scintillator detector and the associated muon veto detector system. To meet the physics objectives, the materials used in the detector must exhibit low radioactive contamination. The single-event rate in the fiducial volume (R $<$ 17.2 m) of the scintillator is required to be… ▽ More The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) collaboration has completed the construction of the 20,000-ton liquid scintillator detector and the associated muon veto detector system. To meet the physics objectives, the materials used in the detector must exhibit low radioactive contamination. The single-event rate in the fiducial volume (R $<$ 17.2 m) of the scintillator is required to be approximately 7 Hz for energies above 0.7 MeV, resulting in an accidental coincidence background of about 1 event per day for reactor neutrino physics analyses. Since the beginning of the construction phase, we have screened the natural radioactivity content of thousands of materials, to select those that meet the design background budget. The radioactive impurity concentrations of the materials ultimately used in the JUNO detector are summarized in this paper. The construction of the entire detector and the subsequent filling of the liquid scintillator were completed in August 2025. From the initial data, the total count rate of natural radioactivity within the detector's fiducial volume has met the requirements and is sufficient to support the reactor antineutrino analysis. △ Less

Submitted 19 July, 2026; originally announced July 2026.

LSR-Net: Long-Short-Range Operator Learning for Pattern Dynamics on Manifolds

Authors: Qian Serena Hou, Zecheng Gan

Abstract: We propose the Long-Short-Range Neural Network (LSR-Net), an extensible operator-learning framework for predicting pattern dynamics on planar domains, spherical surfaces, and general manifolds. The method decomposes the forward evolution operator into a long-range component, represented by a compact Fourier multiplier constructed via the Sum-of-Exponentials (SOE) approximation, and a short-range c… ▽ More We propose the Long-Short-Range Neural Network (LSR-Net), an extensible operator-learning framework for predicting pattern dynamics on planar domains, spherical surfaces, and general manifolds. The method decomposes the forward evolution operator into a long-range component, represented by a compact Fourier multiplier constructed via the Sum-of-Exponentials (SOE) approximation, and a short-range component adapted to the underlying geometry and its intrinsic symmetries. For general manifolds represented by irregularly sampled point clouds, the long-range component is implemented by Gaussian gridding onto an auxiliary regular grid, where the Fourier multiplier is efficiently applied in k-space using FFT and the result is interpolated back to the original sample points. We evaluate LSR-Net on several benchmark systems, including the Allen-Cahn, Cahn-Hilliard, Schnakenberg, and Turing systems, over planar domains, spherical surfaces, and a blob-shaped manifold. Numerical results demonstrate that LSR-Net consistently achieves higher accuracy and improved stability compared with baseline operator-learning models. In particular, for Allen-Cahn dynamics on the sphere, the RMSE is reduced by approximately three orders of magnitude compared with the Spherical Fourier Neural Operator (SFNO). Rotation and reflection equivariance tests further confirm that the learned operator is consistent with these geometric transformations. These results indicate that LSR-Net provides an effective and robust approach for learning pattern dynamics on complex geometries. △ Less

Submitted 1 July, 2026; originally announced July 2026.

Comments: 27 pages, 12 figures

Embedded underwater front-end electronics for the 3-inch photomultipliers in the JUNO experiment

Authors: Cédric Cerna, Miao He, Xiaoshan Jiang, Juan Pedro Ochoa-Ricoux, Frédéric Perrot, Angel Abusleme, Thomas Adam, Fengpeng An, Costas Andreopoulos, Giuseppe Andronico, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, Didier Auguste, Nikita Balashov, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Beretta, Antonio Bergnoli, Nikita Bessonov, Daniel Bick, Lukas Bieger, Svetlana Biktemerova , et al. (576 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is a 20-kton liquid scintillator-based, low-radioactivity, multi-purpose neutrino detector located 693 meters (1800 m.w.e.) underground in the Guangdong province, China. To detect scintillation light produced in the target, the detector is equipped with 17,612 20-inch photomultipliers (PMTs), forming the Large PMT system (LPMT). In addition, 25,… ▽ More The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is a 20-kton liquid scintillator-based, low-radioactivity, multi-purpose neutrino detector located 693 meters (1800 m.w.e.) underground in the Guangdong province, China. To detect scintillation light produced in the target, the detector is equipped with 17,612 20-inch photomultipliers (PMTs), forming the Large PMT system (LPMT). In addition, 25,600 3-inch photomultipliers (the Small Photomultiplier System or SPMT) are deployed in the gaps between the LPMTs. This paper presents the design and performance of the underwater front-end electronics developed for the SPMT system. It details the individual electronics boards and their key components, the inter-board interfaces, the system-level design, and the firmware architecture that supports data acquisition and control. It also outlines mechanical and thermal integration, board validation procedures, and system performance metrics. The readout chain includes digitization of 128 PMT channels per unit, synchronized time-stamping, charge measurement, event packaging, and bandwidth management. Comprehensive validation confirms the system's readiness to meet JUNO's stringent physics goals. The underwater electronics achieve noise levels as low as 0.04 photoelectrons with minimal crosstalk (below 0.4%) and a bandwidth of 57 MB/s, ensuring reliable single photo-electron detection and operation under high-rate conditions. The SPMT system has now been fully integrated and installed in JUNO. Its commissioning and physics performance will be reported in a future publication. △ Less

Submitted 1 June, 2026; v1 submitted 28 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Comments: Submitted to Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A

Cross Fusion and Correlation Beamformer for Row-Column Array Based 3D Ultrasound Imaging

Authors: Qiandong Sun, Rui He, Shilin Hou, Jiyan Dai, Kailiang Xu

Abstract: Row column addressed (RCA) transducers present a promising solution for ultrafast volumetric imaging with a reduced channel count and a large field of view. However, RCA-based 3D imaging is fundamentally limited by severe sidelobe artifacts and a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), primarily due to weak transmit focusing inherent in RCA based ultrafast imaging strategies. To overcome these challenges… ▽ More Row column addressed (RCA) transducers present a promising solution for ultrafast volumetric imaging with a reduced channel count and a large field of view. However, RCA-based 3D imaging is fundamentally limited by severe sidelobe artifacts and a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), primarily due to weak transmit focusing inherent in RCA based ultrafast imaging strategies. To overcome these challenges, we propose a cross fusion and correlation (CFAC) method that leverages the incoherence of sidelobe artifacts and noise across datasets acquired using orthogonal apertures and multiple steering angle sets. The performance of the proposed method was validated through simulations, in vitro imaging of a multi-purpose ultrasound phantom, and in vivo experiments, and benchmarked against four established techniques: orthogonal plane wave (OPW) imaging, XDoppler method, row-column-specific frame-multiply-and-sum beamforming (RC-FMAS), and coherent factor (CF) imaging. Simulation results demonstrated that CFAC reduced sidelobe levels by 42.0 dB, 38.9 dB, 28.3 dB, and 25.5 dB compared to OPW, XDoppler, RC-FMAS, and CF, respectively. In phantom experiments, CFAC improved the CNR by up to 17.5 dB. Furthermore, in vivo imaging of a rat kidney showed that CFAC enables visualization of a significantly more detailed microvascular network, achieving a CNR improvement of over 25 dB against all benchmarked methods. In conclusion, the proposed CFAC method effectively suppresses sidelobe artifacts and noise in RCA-based imaging under low-SNR conditions, enabling high-contrast 3D visualization while preserving the high frame rate capabilities of ultrafast ultrasound imaging. △ Less

Submitted 24 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Real-Time Wiener Deconvolution for feature reconstruction in JUNO

Authors: L. Lastrucci, M. Grassi, A. Triossi, J. Hu, X. Jiang, R. Brugnera, A. Garfagnini, V. Cerrone, L. V. D'Auria, A. Gavrikov, R. M. Guizzetti, A. Serafini, G. Andronico, V. Antonelli, A. Barresi, D. Basilico, M. Beretta, A. Bergnoli, M. Borghesi, A. Brigatti, R. Bruno, A. Budano, B. Caccianiga, A. Cammi, R. Caruso , et al. (52 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: In particle physics, experiments generate substantial amounts of data that can be difficult to process without preliminary scaling. To avoid losing potentially crucial data, experimental collaborations are studying novel techniques for real-time data processing to extract features for further physics analysis. A common approach, especially in neutrino physics, is to use FPGAs for data acquisition… ▽ More In particle physics, experiments generate substantial amounts of data that can be difficult to process without preliminary scaling. To avoid losing potentially crucial data, experimental collaborations are studying novel techniques for real-time data processing to extract features for further physics analysis. A common approach, especially in neutrino physics, is to use FPGAs for data acquisition and pre-processing. This paper presents an advanced Real-Time Wiener deconvolution algorithm designed to leverage the processing capabilities of the FPGA integrated into the readout boards of the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO). The goal is to enable real-time reconstruction of the signal generated by photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) when neutrino interactions are detected. By exploiting online reconstruction of the signal generated by PMTs, we expect to improve the detection of low-energy depositions, such as those produced by transient astrophysical phenomena. These depositions are usually not saved because of the significant background that affects the low end of the energy spectrum, which would result in a large trigger rate, hence a large amount of data required for storage. This paper presents the features of the algorithm, including its ability to manage high-throughput data streams with minimal latency, adaptability, and resilience in discerning the characteristics of input data. Performance is evaluated on a JUNO electronic board. This study further demonstrates the potential of FPGA-based solutions for neutrino physics. △ Less

Submitted 26 March, 2026; originally announced March 2026.

Broadband temporal localization and delocalized temporal edge states in time photonic crystals

Authors: Junkai Jiang, Hao Hu, Yang Long, Liangliang Liu, Songyan Hou, Dongjue Liu, Zhuo Li

Abstract: Time photonic crystals have attracted growing attention in recent years owing to their abilities to enable broadband field enhancements, e.g., free-space electromagnetic waves, dipolar emissions, free-electron radiation, etc. While the non-Hermitian nature of time photonic crystals is primarily attributed to their dependence on external temporal modulations, the constituent materials are oftentime… ▽ More Time photonic crystals have attracted growing attention in recent years owing to their abilities to enable broadband field enhancements, e.g., free-space electromagnetic waves, dipolar emissions, free-electron radiation, etc. While the non-Hermitian nature of time photonic crystals is primarily attributed to their dependence on external temporal modulations, the constituent materials are oftentimes assumed to be Hermitian. How the material-induced non-Hermiticity interplays with the intrinsic non-Hermitian dynamics of time photonic crystals remains rarely explored. In this work, we demonstrate that the non-Hermiticity arising from the bi-anisotropic electromagnetic response of materials introduces a new mechanism to manipulate the localization of temporal bulk and edge states in time photonic crystals. To be specific, the temporal bulk states in our configurations exhibit remarkable attenuation or amplification, which is theoretically predicted by extending the generalized Brillouin zone framework to the temporal domain. Our analysis reveals that the attenuation or amplification strength, quantified by the temporal penetration depth, is directly governed by electromagnetic constitutive parameters. By appropriately tuning these parameters, we uncover new phenomena including broadband temporal localization, i.e. the collective concentration of energy towards a certain time moment, and delocalized temporal edge states. △ Less

Submitted 16 March, 2026; originally announced March 2026.

Comments: 40 pages, 14 figures, journal

A novel perspective on crystal electromagnetic calorimeter design for the CEPC

Authors: Weizheng Song, Yang Zhang, Shengsen Sun, Fangyi Guo, Yuanzhan Wang, Linghui Wu, Jie Guo, Shaojing Hou, Yong Liu, Quan Ji, Jinfan Chang, Yifang Wang

Abstract: Crystal electromagnetic calorimeters (ECALs) are essential for high-precision measurements of electrons and photons in particle physics experiments. However, the conventional design, in which long crystal bars point radially toward the interaction region and lack longitudinal segmentation, is incompatible with the three-dimensional shower imaging required by Particle Flow Approach (PFA). We propos… ▽ More Crystal electromagnetic calorimeters (ECALs) are essential for high-precision measurements of electrons and photons in particle physics experiments. However, the conventional design, in which long crystal bars point radially toward the interaction region and lack longitudinal segmentation, is incompatible with the three-dimensional shower imaging required by Particle Flow Approach (PFA). We propose a novel perspective on crystal ECAL design to address this limitation. The key innovation is a geometric reconfiguration in which crystal bars are oriented to face the interaction region and arranged orthogonally in adjacent longitudinal layers. This layout achieves fine spatial segmentation of energy deposits by correlating measurements of orthogonal crystal bars. An interleaved structure of regular and inverted trapezoidal modules is incorporated to maximize structural uniformity and detector hermeticity. This design is engineered to preserve the excellent intrinsic energy resolution of crystal ECALs while simultaneously providing the detailed three-dimensional shower imaging essential for PFA. Simulation results confirm the feasibility of achieving excellent energy resolution of $1.14\%/\sqrt{E} \oplus 0.44\%$. Consequently, the proposed design repositions crystal ECAL as a foundational component for PFA-oriented detector systems at facilities such as the Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC), offering a new technical pathway to advance the physics goals of future colliders. △ Less

Submitted 24 February, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Beam-test evaluation of pre-production Low Gain Avalanche Detectors for the ATLAS High Granularity Timing Detector

Authors: A. Aboulhorma, M. Ait Tamlihat, H. M. Alfanda, O. Atanova, N. Atanov, I. Azzouzi, J. Barreiro Guimarães da Costa, T. Beau, D. Benchekroun, F. Bendebba, G. Bergamin, Y. Bimgdi, A. Blot, A. Boikov, J. Bonis, D. Boumediene, C. Brito, A. S. Brogna, A. M. Burger, L. Cadamuro, Y. Cai, N. Cartalade, R. Casanova Mohr, R. Cherkaoui El Moursli, Y. Che , et al. (207 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) will be installed in the ATLAS experiment as part of the Phase-II upgrade for the High Luminosity-Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). It will mitigate pile-up effects in the forward region, and measure per bunch luminosity. The design of HGTD is based on Low Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) sensors. This paper presents the results of beam-test campaigns conduc… ▽ More The High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) will be installed in the ATLAS experiment as part of the Phase-II upgrade for the High Luminosity-Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). It will mitigate pile-up effects in the forward region, and measure per bunch luminosity. The design of HGTD is based on Low Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) sensors. This paper presents the results of beam-test campaigns conducted at CERN and DESY in 2023 and 2024 on single LGADs from HGTD pre-production test structures, before and after neutron irradiation up to fluences of $2.5 \times 10^{15}~\mathrm{n_{eq}/cm^2}$. The tested LGADs can meet HGTD requirements in terms of charge collection, time resolution, and hit efficiency, even under HL-LHC end-of-life conditions, supporting their deployment in the final detector. △ Less

Submitted 30 January, 2026; v1 submitted 1 December, 2025; originally announced December 2025.

Initial performance results of the JUNO detector

Authors: Angel Abusleme, Thomas Adam, Kai Adamowicz, David Adey, Shakeel Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmed, Timo Ahola, Sebastiano Aiello, Fengpeng An, Guangpeng An, Costas Andreopoulos, Giuseppe Andronico, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, Burin Asavapibhop, Didier Auguste, Margherita Buizza Avanzini, Andrej Babic, Jingzhi Bai, Weidong Bai, Nikita Balashov, Roberto Barbera, Andrea Barresi , et al. (1114 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) started physics data taking on 26 August 2025. JUNO consists of a 20-kton liquid scintillator central detector, surrounded by a 35 kton water pool serving as a Cherenkov veto, and almost 1000 m$^2$ of plastic scintillator veto on top. The detector is located in a shallow underground laboratory with an overburden of 1800 m.w.e. This paper present… ▽ More The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) started physics data taking on 26 August 2025. JUNO consists of a 20-kton liquid scintillator central detector, surrounded by a 35 kton water pool serving as a Cherenkov veto, and almost 1000 m$^2$ of plastic scintillator veto on top. The detector is located in a shallow underground laboratory with an overburden of 1800 m.w.e. This paper presents the performance results of the detector, extensively studied during the commissioning of the water phase, the subsequent liquid scintillator filling phase, and the first physics runs. The liquid scintillator achieved an attenuation length of 20.6 m at 430 nm, while the high coverage PMT system and scintillator together yielded about 1785 photoelectrons per MeV of energy deposit at the detector centre, measured using the 2.223 MeV $γ$ from neutron captures on hydrogen with an Am-C calibration source. The reconstructed energy resolution is 3.4% for two 0.511 MeV $γ$ at the detector centre and 2.9% for the 0.93 MeV quenched Po-214 alpha decays from natural radioactive sources. The energy nonlinearity is calibrated to better than 1%. Intrinsic contaminations of U-238 and Th-232 in the liquid scintillator are below 10$^{-16}$ g/g, assuming secular equilibrium. The water Cherenkov detector achieves a muon detection efficiency better than 99.9% for muons traversing the liquid scintillator volume. During the initial science runs, the data acquisition duty cycle exceeded 97.8%, demonstrating the excellent stability and readiness of JUNO for high-precision neutrino physics. △ Less

Submitted 18 November, 2025; originally announced November 2025.

Comments: 38 pages, 23 figures

Prospects for geoneutrino detection with JUNO

Authors: Thomas Adam, Shakeel Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmed, Fengpeng An, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Costas Andreopoulos, Giuseppe Andronico, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, Didier Auguste, Marcel Büchner, Weidong Bai, Nikita Balashov, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Beretta, Antonio Bergnoli, Nikita Bessonov, Daniel Bick, Lukas Bieger, Svetlana Biktemerova, Thilo Birkenfeld, Simon Blyth , et al. (605 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: Geoneutrinos, which are antineutrinos emitted during the decay of long-lived radioactive elements inside Earth, serve as a unique tool for studying the composition and heat budget of our planet. The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) experiment in China, which has recently completed construction, is expected to collect a sample comparable in size to the entire existing world geoneutr… ▽ More Geoneutrinos, which are antineutrinos emitted during the decay of long-lived radioactive elements inside Earth, serve as a unique tool for studying the composition and heat budget of our planet. The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) experiment in China, which has recently completed construction, is expected to collect a sample comparable in size to the entire existing world geoneutrino dataset in less than a year. This paper presents an updated estimation of sensitivity to geoneutrinos of JUNO using the best knowledge available to date about the experimental site, the surrounding nuclear reactors, the detector response uncertainties, and the constraints expected from the TAO satellite detector. To facilitate comparison with present and future geological models, our results cover a wide range of predicted signal strengths. Despite the significant background from reactor antineutrinos, the experiment will measure the total geoneutrino flux with a precision comparable to that of existing experiments within its first few years, ultimately achieving a world-leading precision of about 8% over ten years. The large statistics of JUNO will also allow separation of the Uranium-238 and Thorium-232 contributions with unprecedented precision, providing crucial constraints on models of formation and composition of Earth. Observation of the mantle signal above the lithospheric flux will be possible but challenging. For models with the highest predicted mantle concentrations of heat-producing elements, a 3-sigma detection over six years requires knowledge of the lithospheric flux to within 15%. Together with complementary measurements from other locations, the geoneutrino results of JUNO will offer cutting-edge, high-precision insights into the interior of Earth, of fundamental importance to both the geoscience and neutrino physics communities. △ Less

Submitted 10 November, 2025; originally announced November 2025.

Comments: 32 pages, with 13 figures and 5 tables

Design, waterproofing, and mass production of the 3-inch PMT frontend system of JUNO

Authors: Jilei Xu, Miao He, Cédric Cerna, Yongbo Huang, Thomas Adam, Shakeel Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmed, Fengpeng An, Costas Andreopoulos, Giuseppe Andronico, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, Didier Auguste, Weidong Bai, Nikita Balashov, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Beretta, Antonio Bergnoli, Nikita Bessonov, Daniel Bick, Lukas Bieger , et al. (609 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: Over 25,600 3-inch photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) have been instrumented for the central detector of the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory. Each PMT is equipped with a high-voltage divider and a frontend cable with waterproof sealing. Groups of sixteen PMTs are connected to the underwater frontend readout electronics via specialized multi-channel waterproof connectors. This paper outlines th… ▽ More Over 25,600 3-inch photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) have been instrumented for the central detector of the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory. Each PMT is equipped with a high-voltage divider and a frontend cable with waterproof sealing. Groups of sixteen PMTs are connected to the underwater frontend readout electronics via specialized multi-channel waterproof connectors. This paper outlines the design and mass production processes for the high-voltage divider, the cable and connector, as well as the waterproof potting of the PMT bases. The results of the acceptance tests of all the integrated PMTs are also presented. △ Less

Submitted 22 January, 2026; v1 submitted 7 October, 2025; originally announced October 2025.

Thermal Cycling Reliability of Hybrid Pixel Sensor Modules for The ATLAS High Granularity Timing Detector

Authors: Y. Li, A. Aboulhorma, M. Ait Tamlihat, H. M. Alfanda, N. Atanov, O. Atanova, I. Azzouzi, J. Barreiro Guimarães Da Costa, T. Beau, D. Benchekroun, F. Bendebba, Y. Bimgdi, A. Blot, A. Boikov, J. Bonis, D. Boumediene, C. Brito, A. S. Brogna, A. M. Burger, L. Cadamuro, Y. Cai, N. Cartalade, R. Casanova Mohr, Y. Che, X. Chen , et al. (203 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The reliability of bump connection structures has become a critical aspect of future silicon detectors for particle physics. The High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) for the ATLAS experiment at the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider will require 8032 hybrid pixel sensor modules, composed of two Low Gain Avalanche Diode sensors bump-bonded to two readout ASICs and glued to a passive PCB. The… ▽ More The reliability of bump connection structures has become a critical aspect of future silicon detectors for particle physics. The High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) for the ATLAS experiment at the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider will require 8032 hybrid pixel sensor modules, composed of two Low Gain Avalanche Diode sensors bump-bonded to two readout ASICs and glued to a passive PCB. The detector will operate at low temperature (-30 degrees Celsius) to mitigate the impact of irradiation. The thermomechanical reliability of flip-chip bump connections in HGTD modules is a critical concern, particularly due to their characteristically lower bump density (pixel pitch dimensions of 1.3 mm by 1.3 mm). This paper elaborates on the challenges arising from this design characteristic. Finite element analysis and experimental testing were employed to investigate failure modes in the flip-chip bump structures under thermal cycling from -45 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius and to guide the module redesign. The optimized design demonstrates significantly enhanced robustness and is projected to fulfill the full lifetime requirements of the HGTD. △ Less

Submitted 17 September, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

Comments: 15 pages, 12 figures, 7 tables

Positive effects and mechanisms of simulated lunar low-magnetic environment on earthworm-improved lunar soil simulant as a cultivation substrate

Authors: Sihan Hou, Zhongfu Wang, Yuting Zhu, Hong Liu, Jiajie Feng

Abstract: With the advancement of crewed deep-space missions, Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) for lunar bases face stresses from lunar environmental factors. While microgravity and radiation are well-studied, the low-magnetic field's effects remain unclear. Earthworms ("soil scavengers") improve lunar soil simulant and degrade plant waste, as shown in our prior studies. We tested earthworms in l… ▽ More With the advancement of crewed deep-space missions, Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) for lunar bases face stresses from lunar environmental factors. While microgravity and radiation are well-studied, the low-magnetic field's effects remain unclear. Earthworms ("soil scavengers") improve lunar soil simulant and degrade plant waste, as shown in our prior studies. We tested earthworms in lunar soil simulant mixed with organic waste (from "Lunar Palace 365" experiment) under three magnetic conditions: lunar-low, Earth, and high. Stronger fields increased earthworm oxidative stress (MDA) and impaired neurotransmitters. Weaker fields enhanced substrate cultivability: neutralized pH, increased nutrients, humus, and wheat seedling rate. Microbial analyses showed: (1) Higher fungal Shannon index under high fields indicated impaired digestion; (2) More positive correlations in gut networks suggested slower microbial cooperation (e.g., lignocellulose degradation); (3) Reduced Network Size, Path Length and Modularity confirmed disrupted interactions. This disproves lunar low-magnetic stress on earthworm-soil-waste systems, aiding deep-space BLSS research. △ Less

Submitted 3 July, 2025; originally announced July 2025.

Comments: 28 pages, 6 figures

JUNO 20-inch PMT and electronics system characterization using large pulses of PMT dark counts at the Pan-Asia testing platform

Authors: Caimei Liu, Min Li, Narongkiat Rodphai, Zhimin Wang, Jun Hu, Nikolay Anfimov, Lei Fan, Alberto Garfagnini, Guanghua Gong, Shaojing Hou, Xiaolu Ji, Xiaoshan Jiang, Denis Korablev, Tobias Lachenmaier, Si Ma, Xiaoyan Ma, Zhe Ning, Alexander G. Olshevskiy, Zhaoyuan Peng, Zhonghua Qin, Tobias Sterr, Yunhua Sun, Alexander Felix Tietzsch, Jun Wang, Wei Wang , et al. (13 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The main goal of the JUNO experiment is to determine the neutrino mass ordering with a 20kt liquid-scintillator detector. The 20-inch PMT and its 1F3 (one for three) electronics are crucial to realize the excellent energy resolution of at least 3% at 1MeV. The knowledge on the PMT and 1F3 electronics response is critical for detector performance understanding. A study of the JUNO 20-inch PMT and 1… ▽ More The main goal of the JUNO experiment is to determine the neutrino mass ordering with a 20kt liquid-scintillator detector. The 20-inch PMT and its 1F3 (one for three) electronics are crucial to realize the excellent energy resolution of at least 3% at 1MeV. The knowledge on the PMT and 1F3 electronics response is critical for detector performance understanding. A study of the JUNO 20-inch PMT and 1F3 electronics system characterization is presented using large pulses of PMT dark count at the Pan-Asia testing platform in China. Thanks to its broad amplitude range and high rate, the large pulse signals are also used to investigate the PMT after pulse response. △ Less

Submitted 14 September, 2025; v1 submitted 26 June, 2025; originally announced June 2025.

Characteristics of Ge-doped Multi-Mode Fibers in Total Ionizing Dose

Authors: Datao Gong, Suen Hou, Bo-Jing Juang, Bin Lin, Chonghan Liu, Tiankuan Liu, Ming Qi, Yi Yang, Jingbo Ye, Lei Zhang, Li Zhang, HuiPing Zhu

Abstract: Purpose: The fiber optical links in 850 nm band with Ge-doped multi-mode (MM) fibers are well developed for data transmission at 10 Gbps and higher. The applications in nuclear environments require radiation resistance. The characteristics of Ge-doped MM fibers are investigated for Radiation Induced Attenuation (RIA) in Total Ionizing Dose (TID). Methods: Commercial samples of Ge-doped MM fibers… ▽ More Purpose: The fiber optical links in 850 nm band with Ge-doped multi-mode (MM) fibers are well developed for data transmission at 10 Gbps and higher. The applications in nuclear environments require radiation resistance. The characteristics of Ge-doped MM fibers are investigated for Radiation Induced Attenuation (RIA) in Total Ionizing Dose (TID). Methods: Commercial samples of Ge-doped MM fibers were irradiated in Go-60 gamma rays at dose rates of 5 to 1.4k Gy(SiO2)/hr. The fiber samples were packaged in water tanks maintained at constant temperatures in the range of -15 to 45 degC. The optical power transmitted through the fibers were recorded in irradiation, and in annealing when the source was shielded. The measurements of RIA in time are analyzed for dose rate and temperature dependences. Results: Ge-doped fiber samples of OM2 to OM4 grades were investigated for attenuation of optical power in radiation ionizing dose. Depending on the fabrication technology, two of the fiber types show radiation resistance with the RIAs of 0.2 dB/m and 0.05 dB/m, respectively, for the TID of 300 kGy(SiO2). At low dose rate of 5 Gy/hr, the RIA increases steadily and the annealing of low density ionizing defects does not cause notable deviation. At 1.4 kGy/hr the accumulated defects result to twice higher RIA during irradiation, and is worsen to a factor three in cold temperature. However, once the source is shielded the recovery is effective in a few hours. Conclusion: The telecom products of 850 nm Ge-doped MM fibers provide high speed communication in distances of a few hundred meters. The industrial fabrication methods provide fibers that can endure radiation ionizing dose for applications in nuclear instrumentation. △ Less

Submitted 7 April, 2025; originally announced April 2025.

Comments: 9 pages, 13 figures

Tunable Absorption in Near Infrared Based on Indium Tin Oxide

Authors: Shuaishuai Hou, Lin Cheng, Nan Meng, Naixin Liu, JianChang Yan, JinMin Li, Kun Huang

Abstract: We propose a serrated ultra-broadband infrared absorber based on the multi-layer repetitive stacking of indium tin oxide (ITO) and silicon materials. This absorber achieves continuously tunable absorption within a wide infrared light range. By changing the size and materials of the absorber, its average absorption rate can reach a relatively high level. Simulation results reveal wavelength-depende… ▽ More We propose a serrated ultra-broadband infrared absorber based on the multi-layer repetitive stacking of indium tin oxide (ITO) and silicon materials. This absorber achieves continuously tunable absorption within a wide infrared light range. By changing the size and materials of the absorber, its average absorption rate can reach a relatively high level. Simulation results reveal wavelength-dependent electric field localization: shorter wavelengths concentrate in narrower upper regions, while longer wavelengths localize in wider lower areas. This design offers potential applications in near-infrared detectors, optical communication, and smart windows. △ Less

Submitted 4 March, 2025; originally announced March 2025.

Simulation of the Background from $^{13}$C$(α, n)^{16}$O Reaction in the JUNO Scintillator

Authors: JUNO Collaboration, Thomas Adam, Kai Adamowicz, Shakeel Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmed, Sebastiano Aiello, Fengpeng An, Costas Andreopoulos, Giuseppe Andronico, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Didier Auguste, Weidong Bai, Nikita Balashov, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Beretta, Antonio Bergnoli, Nikita Bessonov, Daniel Bick, Lukas Bieger, Svetlana Biktemerova , et al. (608 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: Large-scale organic liquid scintillator detectors are highly efficient in the detection of MeV-scale electron antineutrinos. These signal events can be detected through inverse beta decay on protons, which produce a positron accompanied by a neutron. A noteworthy background for antineutrinos coming from nuclear power reactors and from the depths of the Earth (geoneutrinos) is generated by ($α, n$)… ▽ More Large-scale organic liquid scintillator detectors are highly efficient in the detection of MeV-scale electron antineutrinos. These signal events can be detected through inverse beta decay on protons, which produce a positron accompanied by a neutron. A noteworthy background for antineutrinos coming from nuclear power reactors and from the depths of the Earth (geoneutrinos) is generated by ($α, n$) reactions. In organic liquid scintillator detectors, $α$ particles emitted from intrinsic contaminants such as $^{238}$U, $^{232}$Th, and $^{210}$Pb/$^{210}$Po, can be captured on $^{13}$C nuclei, followed by the emission of a MeV-scale neutron. Three distinct interaction mechanisms can produce prompt energy depositions preceding the delayed neutron capture, leading to a pair of events correlated in space and time within the detector. Thus, ($α, n$) reactions represent an indistinguishable background in liquid scintillator-based antineutrino detectors, where their expected rate and energy spectrum are typically evaluated via Monte Carlo simulations. This work presents results from the open-source SaG4n software, used to calculate the expected energy depositions from the neutron and any associated de-excitation products. Also simulated is a detailed detector response to these interactions, using a dedicated Geant4-based simulation software from the JUNO experiment. An expected measurable $^{13}$C$(α, n)^{16}$O event rate and reconstructed prompt energy spectrum with associated uncertainties, are presented in the context of JUNO, however, the methods and results are applicable and relevant to other organic liquid scintillator neutrino detectors. △ Less

Submitted 2 May, 2025; v1 submitted 2 March, 2025; originally announced March 2025.

Comments: 25 pages, 14 figures, 4 tables

Modulation of supernarrow EIT pair via atomic coherence

Authors: Lin Cheng, Zhiyuan Xiong, Shuaishuai Hou, Yijia Sun, Chenyu Dong, Fan Wu, Kun Huang

Abstract: We report the phenomena of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) using two identical beams in rubidium atomic vapor. The Λ-type EIT configuration is employed to examine the EIT spectrum for the D1 line in 87Rb F=2 characteristics16 by varying parameters such as frequency detuning, Iprobe/Ipump, the total power of probe and pump beam. Notabl… ▽ More We report the phenomena of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) using two identical beams in rubidium atomic vapor. The Λ-type EIT configuration is employed to examine the EIT spectrum for the D1 line in 87Rb F=2 characteristics16 by varying parameters such as frequency detuning, Iprobe/Ipump, the total power of probe and pump beam. Notably, the pump beam is also investigated in this process, which has not been previously studied. We study the effect of of the phase between the two applied fields and find that EIA and EIT can transform into each other by adjusting the relative phase. These finding may have applications in light drag or storage, optical switching, and sensing. △ Less

Submitted 28 February, 2025; originally announced February 2025.

Generalized coherent wave control at dynamic interfaces

Authors: Youxiu Yu, Dongliang Gao, Yukun Yang, Liangliang Liu, Zhuo Li, Qianru Yang, Haotian Wu, Linyang Zou, Xiao Lin, Jiang Xiong, Songyan Hou, Lei Gao, Hao Hu

Abstract: Coherent wave control is of key importance across a broad range of fields such as electromagnetics, photonics, and acoustics. It enables us to amplify or suppress the outgoing waves via engineering amplitudes and phases of multiple incidences. However, within a purely spatially (temporally) engineered medium, coherent wave control requires the frequency of the associated incidences to be identical… ▽ More Coherent wave control is of key importance across a broad range of fields such as electromagnetics, photonics, and acoustics. It enables us to amplify or suppress the outgoing waves via engineering amplitudes and phases of multiple incidences. However, within a purely spatially (temporally) engineered medium, coherent wave control requires the frequency of the associated incidences to be identical (opposite). In this work, we break this conventional constraint by generalizing coherent wave control into a spatiotemporally engineered medium, i.e., the system featuring a dynamic interface. Owing to the broken translational symmetry in space and time, both the subluminal and superluminal interfaces allow interference between scattered waves regardless of their different frequencies and wavevectors. Hence, one can flexibly eliminate the backward- or forward-propagating waves scattered from the dynamic interfaces by controlling the incident amplitudes and phases. Our work not only presents a generalized way for reshaping arbitrary waveforms but also provides a promising paradigm to generate ultrafast pulses using low-frequency signals. We have also implemented suppression of forward-propagating waves in microstrip transmission lines with fast photodiode switches. △ Less

Submitted 1 November, 2024; originally announced November 2024.

Binding memory of liquid molecules

Authors: Shiyi Qin, Zhi Yang, Huimin Liu, Xiaoli Wang, Shangguo Hou, Kai Huang

Abstract: Understanding the binding dynamics of liquid molecules is of fundamental importance in physical and life sciences. However, nanoscale fast dynamics pose great challenges for experimental characterization. Conventionally, the binding dynamics have been assumed to be memoryless. Here, we integrate large scale computer simulation, scaling theory, and real-time single particle tracking microscopy with… ▽ More Understanding the binding dynamics of liquid molecules is of fundamental importance in physical and life sciences. However, nanoscale fast dynamics pose great challenges for experimental characterization. Conventionally, the binding dynamics have been assumed to be memoryless. Here, we integrate large scale computer simulation, scaling theory, and real-time single particle tracking microscopy with high spatiotemporal precision to unveil a universal memory effect in the binding dynamics of liquid molecules. This binding memory can be quantified by a binding time autocorrelation function, whose power-law decay depends not only on the binding affinity, but also on the topological and materials properties of the surrounding environment. Context-dependent biomolecular binding memory is likely exploited by biological systems to regulate biochemical reactions and biophysical processes. Deciphering this binding memory offers a novel strategy to probe complex biological systems and advanced soft materials. △ Less

Submitted 25 October, 2024; originally announced October 2024.

Deep learning-based shot-domain seismic deblending

Authors: Jing Sun, Song Hou, Vetle Vinje, Gordon Poole, Leiv-J Gelius

Abstract: To streamline fast-track processing of large data volumes, we have developed a deep learning approach to deblend seismic data in the shot domain based on a practical strategy for generating high-quality training data along with a list of data conditioning techniques to improve performance of the data-driven model. We make use of unblended shot gathers acquired at the end of each sail line, to whic… ▽ More To streamline fast-track processing of large data volumes, we have developed a deep learning approach to deblend seismic data in the shot domain based on a practical strategy for generating high-quality training data along with a list of data conditioning techniques to improve performance of the data-driven model. We make use of unblended shot gathers acquired at the end of each sail line, to which the access requires no additional time or labor costs beyond the blended acquisition. By manually blending these data we obtain training data with good control of the ground truth and fully adapted to the given survey. Furthermore, we train a deep neural network using multi-channel inputs that include adjacent blended shot gathers as additional channels. The prediction of the blending noise is added in as a related and auxiliary task with the main task of the network being the prediction of the primary-source events. Blending noise in the ground truth is scaled down during the training and validation process due to its excessively strong amplitudes. As part of the process, the to-be-deblended shot gathers are aligned by the blending noise. Implementation on field blended-by-acquisition data demonstrates that introducing the suggested data conditioning steps can considerably reduce the leakage of primary-source events in the deep part of the blended section. The complete proposed approach performs almost as well as a conventional algorithm in the shallow section and shows great advantage in efficiency. It performs slightly worse for larger traveltimes, but still removes the blending noise efficiently. △ Less

Submitted 13 September, 2024; originally announced September 2024.

Journal ref: Geophysics, 2022, vol. 87, no. 3, pp. V215-V226

DNN-based workflow for attenuating seismic interference noise and its application to marine towed streamer data from the Northern Viking Graben

Authors: Jing Sun, Song Hou, Alaa Triki

Abstract: To separate seismic interference (SI) noise while ensuring high signal fidelity, we propose a deep neural network (DNN)-based workflow applied to common shot gathers (CSGs). In our design, a small subset of the entire to-be-processed data set is first processed by a conventional algorithm to obtain an estimate of the SI noise (from now on called the SI noise model). By manually blending the SI noi… ▽ More To separate seismic interference (SI) noise while ensuring high signal fidelity, we propose a deep neural network (DNN)-based workflow applied to common shot gathers (CSGs). In our design, a small subset of the entire to-be-processed data set is first processed by a conventional algorithm to obtain an estimate of the SI noise (from now on called the SI noise model). By manually blending the SI noise model with SI-free CSGs and a set of simulated random noise, we obtain training inputs for the DNN. The SI-free CSGs can be either real SI-free CSGs from the survey or SI-attenuated CSGs produced in parallel with the SI noise model from the conventional algorithm depending on the specific project. To enhance the DNN's output signal fidelity, adjacent shots on both sides of the to-be-processed shot are used as additional channels of the input. We train the DNN to output the SI noise into one channel and the SI-free shot along with the intact random noise into another. Once trained, the DNN can be applied to the entire data set contaminated by the same types of SI in the training process, producing results efficiently. For demonstration, we applied the proposed DNN-based workflow to 3D seismic field data acquired from the Northern Viking Graben (NVG) of the North Sea, and compared it with a conventional algorithm. The studied area has a challenging SI contamination problem with no sail lines free from SI noise during the acquisition. The comparison shows that the proposed DNN-based workflow outperformed the conventional algorithm in processing quality with less noise residual and better signal preservation. This validates its feasibility and value for real processing projects. △ Less

Submitted 12 September, 2024; originally announced September 2024.

Journal ref: Geophysics, 2023, vol. 88, no. 2, pp. 1-37

Prediction of Energy Resolution in the JUNO Experiment

Authors: JUNO Collaboration, Angel Abusleme, Thomas Adam, Kai Adamowicz, Shakeel Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmed, Sebastiano Aiello, Fengpeng An, Qi An, Giuseppe Andronico, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Didier Auguste, Weidong Bai, Nikita Balashov, Wander Baldini, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Bellato, Marco Beretta, Antonio Bergnoli, Daniel Bick , et al. (629 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: This paper presents an energy resolution study of the JUNO experiment, incorporating the latest knowledge acquired during the detector construction phase. The determination of neutrino mass ordering in JUNO requires an exceptional energy resolution better than 3\% at 1~MeV. To achieve this ambitious goal, significant efforts have been undertaken in the design and production of the key components o… ▽ More This paper presents an energy resolution study of the JUNO experiment, incorporating the latest knowledge acquired during the detector construction phase. The determination of neutrino mass ordering in JUNO requires an exceptional energy resolution better than 3\% at 1~MeV. To achieve this ambitious goal, significant efforts have been undertaken in the design and production of the key components of the JUNO detector. Various factors affecting the detection of inverse beta decay signals have an impact on the energy resolution, extending beyond the statistical fluctuations of the detected number of photons, such as the properties of the liquid scintillator, performance of photomultiplier tubes, and the energy reconstruction algorithm. To account for these effects, a full JUNO simulation and reconstruction approach is employed. This enables the modeling of all relevant effects and the evaluation of associated inputs to accurately estimate the energy resolution. The results of study reveal an energy resolution of 2.95\% at 1~MeV. Furthermore, this study assesses the contribution of major effects to the overall energy resolution budget. This analysis serves as a reference for interpreting future measurements of energy resolution during JUNO data collection. Moreover, it provides a guideline for comprehending the energy resolution characteristics of liquid scintillator-based detectors. △ Less

Submitted 9 January, 2025; v1 submitted 28 May, 2024; originally announced May 2024.

Journal ref: Chinese Phys. C 49 013003 (2025)

From Computing to Quantum Mechanics: Accessible and Hands-On Quantum Computing Education for High School Students

Authors: Qihong Sun, Shuangxiang Zhou, Ronghang Chen, Guanru Feng, Shi-Yao Hou, Bei Zeng

Abstract: This paper outlines an alternative approach to teaching quantum computing at the high school level, tailored for students with limited prior knowledge in advanced mathematics and physics. This approach diverges from traditional methods by building upon foundational concepts in classical computing before gradually introducing quantum mechanics, thereby simplifying the entry into this complex field.… ▽ More This paper outlines an alternative approach to teaching quantum computing at the high school level, tailored for students with limited prior knowledge in advanced mathematics and physics. This approach diverges from traditional methods by building upon foundational concepts in classical computing before gradually introducing quantum mechanics, thereby simplifying the entry into this complex field. The course was initially implemented in a program for gifted high school students under the Hong Kong Education Bureau and received encouraging feedback, indicating its potential effectiveness for a broader student audience. A key element of this approach is the practical application through portable NMR quantum computers, which provides students with hands-on experience. The paper describes the structure of the course, including the organization of the lectures, the integration of the hardware of the portable nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) quantum computers, the Gemini/Triangulum series, and detailed lecture notes in an appendix. The initial success in the specialized program and ongoing discussions to expand the course to regular high schools in Hong Kong and Shenzhen suggest the viability of this approach for wider educational application. By focusing on accessibility and student engagement, this approach presents a valuable perspective on introducing quantum computing concepts at the high school level, aiming to enhance student understanding and interest in the field. △ Less

Submitted 26 March, 2024; originally announced March 2024.

Comments: 10 pages, 6 figures for main manuscript, with an appendix of 183 pages

Broadband transmissive polarization rotator by gradiently-twisted $α$-MoO$_3$

Authors: Songyan Hou, Hao Hu, Zhihong Liu, Weichuan Xing, Jincheng Zhang

Abstract: Polarization engineering has been proven to enhance the capabilities of light manipulation and thus facilitate the development of integrated photonic devices. In this study, we introduce a polarization rotator based on gradiently-twisted $α$-MoO$_3$ thin film, that works for the mid infrared range and functions in a transmission mode. To be specific, the proposed device is constructed by gradientl… ▽ More Polarization engineering has been proven to enhance the capabilities of light manipulation and thus facilitate the development of integrated photonic devices. In this study, we introduce a polarization rotator based on gradiently-twisted $α$-MoO$_3$ thin film, that works for the mid infrared range and functions in a transmission mode. To be specific, the proposed device is constructed by gradiently-twisted $α$-MoO$_3$ multilayers with a subwavelength thickness of only 5 microns, namely, one-third of the working wavelength. Our analytical calculation demonstrates the efficacy of this subwavelength thin film rotator in converting a linearly polarized wave into its orthogonal counterpart, thanks to its chiral nature. The twisted $α$-MoO$_3$ multilayers exhibit the capability to significantly manipulate dispersion characteristics while maintaining low optical losses, thereby enabling a wide bandwidth exceeding 2.5 THz with a polarization ratio surpassing 17 dB. Moreover, the operational frequency can be adjusted across a 3.4 THz range by altering the incident angle of the incident waves. This adaptable design, characterized by its polarization versatility, can be customized to suit practical applications within wireless communication, radar systems, optical switching, and imaging technologies. △ Less

Submitted 2 March, 2024; originally announced March 2024.

Comments: Accepted by Applied Physics Letters

Tunable double notch filter on thin-film lithium niobate platform

Authors: Songyan Hou, Hao Hu, Zhihong Liu, Weichuan Xing, Jincheng Zhang, Yue Hao

Abstract: Tunable optical filter at the chip scale plays a crucial role in fulfilling the need for the reconfigurability in channel routing, optical switching, and wavelength division multiplexing systems. In this letter, we propose a tunable double notch filter on thin-film lithium niobate using dual micro-ring architecture. This unique integrated filter is essential for complex photonic integrated circuit… ▽ More Tunable optical filter at the chip scale plays a crucial role in fulfilling the need for the reconfigurability in channel routing, optical switching, and wavelength division multiplexing systems. In this letter, we propose a tunable double notch filter on thin-film lithium niobate using dual micro-ring architecture. This unique integrated filter is essential for complex photonic integrated circuits, along with multiple channels and various frequency spacing. With only one loaded voltage, the device demonstrates a wide frequency spacing tunability from 16.1 GHz to 89.9 GHz by reversely tunning the resonances of the two micro-rings while the center wavelength between the two resonances remains unaltered. Moreover, by utilizing the pronounced electro-optic properties of lithium niobate, associated with the tight light confinement nanophotonic waveguides, the device demonstrates a spacing tunability of 0.82 GHz/V and a contrast of 10~16 dB. In addition, the device has an ultracompact footprint of 0.0248 mm2. △ Less

Submitted 2 March, 2024; originally announced March 2024.

Comments: accepted by Optics Letters

The 120Gbps VCSEL Array Based Optical Transmitter (ATx) Development for the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) Experiments

Authors: Di Guo, Chonghan Liu, Jinghong Chen, John Chramowicz, Binwei Deng, Datao Gong, Suen Hou, Ge Jin, Simon Kwan, Futian Liang, Xiaoting Li, Gang Liu, Tiankuan Liu, Alan Prosser, Da-Shung Su, Ping-Kun Teng, Tongye Xu, Jingbo Ye, Xiandong Zhao, Annie C. Xiang, Hao Liang

Abstract: The integration of a Verticle Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array and a driving Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) in a custom optical array transmitter module (ATx) for operation in the detector front-end is constructed, assembled and tested. The ATx provides 12 parallel channels with each channel operating at 10 Gbps. The optical transmitter eye diagram passes the eye mask an… ▽ More The integration of a Verticle Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array and a driving Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) in a custom optical array transmitter module (ATx) for operation in the detector front-end is constructed, assembled and tested. The ATx provides 12 parallel channels with each channel operating at 10 Gbps. The optical transmitter eye diagram passes the eye mask and the bit-error rate (BER) less than 1E-12 transmission is achieved at 10 Gbps/ch. The overall insertion loss including the radiation induced attenuation is sufficiently low to meet the proposed link budget requirement. △ Less

Submitted 30 January, 2024; originally announced January 2024.

Comments: 10 pages, 9 figures

Optical Data Transmission ASICs for the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) Experiments

Authors: Xiaoting Li, Gang Liu, Jinghong Chen, Binwei Deng, Datao Gong, Di Guo, Mengxun He, Suen Hou, Guangming Huang, Ge Jin, Hao Liang, Futian Liang, Chonghan Liu, Tiankuan Liu, Xiangming Sun, Ping-Kun Teng, Annie C. Xiang, Jingbo Ye, Yang You, Xiandong Zhao

Abstract: We present the design and test results of two optical data transmission ASICs for the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) experiments. These ASICs include a two-channel serializer (LOCs2) and a single-channel Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) driver (LOCld1V2). Both ASICs are fabricated in a commercial 0.25-um Silicon-on-Sapphire (SoS) CMOS technology and operate at a data rate up to 8 Gbps… ▽ More We present the design and test results of two optical data transmission ASICs for the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) experiments. These ASICs include a two-channel serializer (LOCs2) and a single-channel Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) driver (LOCld1V2). Both ASICs are fabricated in a commercial 0.25-um Silicon-on-Sapphire (SoS) CMOS technology and operate at a data rate up to 8 Gbps per channel. The power consumption of LOCs2 and LOCld1V2 are 1.25 W and 0.27 W at 8-Gbps data rate, respectively. LOCld1V2 has been verified meeting the radiation-tolerance requirements for HL-LHC experiments. △ Less

Submitted 30 January, 2024; originally announced January 2024.

Comments: 9 pages, 12 figures

The Design of a High Speed Low Power Phase Locked Loop

Authors: Tiankuan Liu, Datao Gong, Suen Hou, Zhihua Liang, Chonghan Liu, Da-Shung Su, Ping-Kun Teng, Annie C. Xiang, Jingbo Ye

Abstract: The upgrade of the ATLAS Liquid Argon Calorimeter readout system calls for the development of radiation tolerant, high speed and low power serializer ASIC. We have designed a phase locked loop using a commercial 0.25 um Silicon-on-Sapphire (SoS) CMOS technology. Post-layout simulation indicates that tuning range is 3.79-5.01 GHz and power consumption is 104 mW. The PLL has been submitted for fabri… ▽ More The upgrade of the ATLAS Liquid Argon Calorimeter readout system calls for the development of radiation tolerant, high speed and low power serializer ASIC. We have designed a phase locked loop using a commercial 0.25 um Silicon-on-Sapphire (SoS) CMOS technology. Post-layout simulation indicates that tuning range is 3.79-5.01 GHz and power consumption is 104 mW. The PLL has been submitted for fabrication. The design and simulation results are presented. △ Less

Submitted 29 January, 2024; originally announced January 2024.

Comments: 5 pages, 13 figures, Proceedings of the Topical Workshop on Electronics for Particle Physics 2009

Characteristics of the MTx optical transmitter in Total Ionizing Dose

Authors: D. Gong, S. Hou, B. J. Juang, J. -H. Li, C. Liu, T. Liu, M. Qi, J. Ye, Lei Zhang, Li Zhang, H. P. Zhu

Abstract: The dual-channel multi-mode 850 nm optical Miniature Transmitter (MTx) is developed for data transmission of the ATLAS LAr calorimeter readout at LHC. The MTx's are exposed to the radiation field of proton-proton collisions, therefore, the tolerance in Total Ionizing Dose (TID) is required. The TID effects in the MTx are investigated with X-rays and Co-60 gamma-rays for the active components of VC… ▽ More The dual-channel multi-mode 850 nm optical Miniature Transmitter (MTx) is developed for data transmission of the ATLAS LAr calorimeter readout at LHC. The MTx's are exposed to the radiation field of proton-proton collisions, therefore, the tolerance in Total Ionizing Dose (TID) is required. The TID effects in the MTx are investigated with X-rays and Co-60 gamma-rays for the active components of VCSEL diodes and the customized Link-on-Chip laser driver (LOCld) developed in 0.25 um Silicon-on-Sapphire CMOS technology. The irradiation tests were conducted at various dose rates. The responses to TID are observed with degradation of laser currents at initial dose of 10 to 100 Gy(SiO2), and partial recovery with additional TID to a stable output about 90 % of the original. The optical eye diagrams of irradiated samples show slightly increased jittering, and are suitable for the ATLAS requirement of 5 Gbps applications. △ Less

Submitted 28 April, 2024; v1 submitted 29 January, 2024; originally announced January 2024.

Comments: 7 pages, 10 figures

Development of A 16:1 serializer for data transmission at 5 Gbps

Authors: Datao Gong, Suen Hou, Zhihua Liang, Chonghan Liu, Tiankuan Liu, Da-Shun Su, Ping-Kun Teng, Annie C. Xiang, Jingbo Ye

Abstract: Radiation tolerant, high speed and low power serializer ASIC is critical for optical link systems in particle physics experiments. Based on a commercial 0.25 um silicon-on-sapphire CMOS technology, we design a 16:1 serializer with 5 Gbps serial data rate. This ASIC has been submitted for fabrication. The post-layout simulation indicates the deterministic jitter is 54 ps (pk-pk) and random jitter i… ▽ More Radiation tolerant, high speed and low power serializer ASIC is critical for optical link systems in particle physics experiments. Based on a commercial 0.25 um silicon-on-sapphire CMOS technology, we design a 16:1 serializer with 5 Gbps serial data rate. This ASIC has been submitted for fabrication. The post-layout simulation indicates the deterministic jitter is 54 ps (pk-pk) and random jitter is 3 ps (rms). The power consumption of the serializer is 500 mW. The design details and post layout simulation results are presented in this paper. △ Less

Submitted 28 January, 2024; originally announced January 2024.

Comments: 5 pages, 12 figures, Proceedings of the Topical Workshop on Electronics for Particle Physics 2009

High-Speed Serial Optical Link Test Bench Using FPGA with Embedded Transceivers

Authors: Annie C. Xiang, Tingting Cao, Datao Gong, Suen Hou, Chonghan Liu, Tiankuan Liu, Da-Shung Su, Ping-Kun Teng, Jingbo Ye

Abstract: We develop a custom Bit Error Rate test bench based on Altera's Stratix II GX transceiver signal integrity development kit, demonstrate it on point-to-point serial optical link with data rate up to 5 Gbps, and compare it with commercial stand alone tester. The 8B/10B protocol is implemented and its effects studied. A variable optical attenuator is inserted in the fibre loop to induce transmission… ▽ More We develop a custom Bit Error Rate test bench based on Altera's Stratix II GX transceiver signal integrity development kit, demonstrate it on point-to-point serial optical link with data rate up to 5 Gbps, and compare it with commercial stand alone tester. The 8B/10B protocol is implemented and its effects studied. A variable optical attenuator is inserted in the fibre loop to induce transmission degradation and to measure receiver sensitivity. We report comparable receiver sensitivity results using the FPGA based tester and commercial tester. The results of the FPGA also shows that there are more one-to-zero bit flips than zero-to-one bit flips at lower error rate. In 8B/10B coded transmission, there are more word errors than bit flips, and the total error rate is less than two times that of non-coded transmission. Total error rate measured complies with simulation results, according to the protocol setup. △ Less

Submitted 28 January, 2024; originally announced January 2024.

Comments: 5 pages, 8 figures, Proceedings of the Topical Workshop on Electronics for Particle Physics 2009

The VCSEL-based Array Optical Transmitter (ATx) Development Towards 120-Gbps Link for Collider Detector: Development Update

Authors: Di Guo, Chonghan Liu, Jinghong Chen, John Chramowicz, Datao Gong, Suen Hou, Deping Huang, Ge Jin, Xiaoting Li, Tiankuan Liu, Alan Prosser, Ping-Kun Teng, Jingbo Ye, Yongzhao Zhou, Yang You, Annie C. Xiang, Hao Liang

Abstract: A compact radiation-tolerant array optical transmitter module (ATx) is developed to provide data transmission up to 10Gbps per channel with 12 parallel channels for collider detector applications. The ATx integrates a Vertical Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array and driver circuitry for electrical to optical conversion, an edge warp substrate for the electrical interface and a micro-lens a… ▽ More A compact radiation-tolerant array optical transmitter module (ATx) is developed to provide data transmission up to 10Gbps per channel with 12 parallel channels for collider detector applications. The ATx integrates a Vertical Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array and driver circuitry for electrical to optical conversion, an edge warp substrate for the electrical interface and a micro-lens array for the optical interface. This paper reports the continuing development of the ATx custom package. A simple, high-accuracy and reliable active-alignment method for the optical coupling is introduced. The radiation-resistance of the optoelectronic components is evaluated and the inclusion of a custom-designed array driver is discussed. △ Less

Submitted 28 January, 2024; originally announced January 2024.

Comments: 8 pages, 8 figures

JTAG-based Remote Configuration of FPGAs over Optical Fibers

Authors: Binwei Deng, Chonghan Liu, Jinghong Chen, Kai Chen, Datao Gong, Di Guo, Suen Hou, Deping Huang, Xiaoting Li, Tiankuan Liu, Ping-Kun Teng, Annie C. Xiang, Hao Xu, Yang You, Jingbo Ye

Abstract: In this paper, a remote FPGA-configuration method based on JTAG extension over optical fibers is presented. The method takes advantage of commercial components and ready-to-use software such as iMPACT and does not require any hardware or software development. The method combines the advantages of the slow remote JTAG configuration and the fast local flash memory configuration. The method has been… ▽ More In this paper, a remote FPGA-configuration method based on JTAG extension over optical fibers is presented. The method takes advantage of commercial components and ready-to-use software such as iMPACT and does not require any hardware or software development. The method combines the advantages of the slow remote JTAG configuration and the fast local flash memory configuration. The method has been verified successfully and used in the Demonstrator of Liquid-Argon Trigger Digitization Board (LTDB) for the ATLAS liquid argon calorimeter Phase-I trigger upgrade. All components on the FPGA side are verified to meet the radiation tolerance requirements. △ Less

Submitted 28 January, 2024; originally announced January 2024.

Comments: 8 pages, 4 figures

Ultra-broadband near-field Josephson microwave microscopy

Authors: Ping Zhang, Yang-Yang Lyu, Jingjing Lv, Zihan Wei, Shixian Chen, Chenguang Wang, Hongmei Du, Dingding Li, Zixi Wang, Shoucheng Hou, Runfeng Su, Hancong Sun, Yuan Du, Li Du, Liming Gao, Yong-Lei Wang, Huabing Wang, Peiheng Wu

Abstract: Advanced microwave technologies constitute the foundation of a wide range of modern sciences, including quantum computing, microwave photonics, spintronics, etc. To facilitate the design of chip-based microwave devices, there is an increasing demand for state-of-the-art microscopic techniques capable of characterizing the near-field microwave distribution and performance. In this work, we integrat… ▽ More Advanced microwave technologies constitute the foundation of a wide range of modern sciences, including quantum computing, microwave photonics, spintronics, etc. To facilitate the design of chip-based microwave devices, there is an increasing demand for state-of-the-art microscopic techniques capable of characterizing the near-field microwave distribution and performance. In this work, we integrate Josephson junctions onto a nano-sized quartz tip, forming a highly sensitive microwave mixer on-tip. This allows us to conduct spectroscopic imaging of near-field microwave distributions with high spatial resolution. Leveraging its microwave-sensitive characteristics, our Josephson microscope achieves a broad detecting bandwidth of up to 200 GHz with remarkable frequency and intensity sensitivities. Our work emphasizes the benefits of utilizing the Josephson microscope as a real-time, non-destructive technique to advance integrated microwave electronics. △ Less

Submitted 23 January, 2024; originally announced January 2024.

Design of the offline test electronics for the nozzle system of proton therapy

Authors: Peng Huang, Zhiguo Yin, Tianjian Bian, Shigang Hou, Yang Wang, Tianjue Zhang, Luyu Ji, Lipeng Wen, Xueer Mu, Rui Xiong

Abstract: A set of nozzle equipment for proton therapy is now being developed at China Institute of Atomic Energy. To facilitate the off-line commissioning of the whole equipment, a set of ionization chamber signal generation system, the test electronics, is designed. The system uses ZYNQ SoC as the main control unit and outputs the beam dose analog signal through DAC8532. The dual SPDT analog switch, DG636… ▽ More A set of nozzle equipment for proton therapy is now being developed at China Institute of Atomic Energy. To facilitate the off-line commissioning of the whole equipment, a set of ionization chamber signal generation system, the test electronics, is designed. The system uses ZYNQ SoC as the main control unit and outputs the beam dose analog signal through DAC8532. The dual SPDT analog switch, DG636, is used to simulate the beam position signals according to Gaussian distribution. The results show that the system can simulate the beam position, dose, and other related analog signals generated by the proton beam when passing through the ionization chamber. Moreover, the accuracy of the simulated beam position is within +/-0.33mm, and the accuracy of the simulated dose signal is within +/-1%. At the same time, it can output analog signals representing environmental parameters. The test electronics meets the design requirements, which can be used to commission the nozzle system as well as the treatment control system without the proton beam. △ Less

Submitted 21 July, 2023; originally announced July 2023.

Report number: Scientific Reports volume 14, Article number: 12092 (2024)

Journal ref: Scientific Reports volume 14, Article number: 12092 (2024)

Improving Linewidth and Extinction Ratio Performances of Lithium Niobate Ring Modulator Using Ring-pair Structure

Authors: Songyan Hou

Abstract: Electro-optic modulators lie at the heart of complex integration and high density electro-optic systems. One of the representative electro-optic modulators is thin film lithium niobate based microring modulator which has demonstrated advantages of compact footprint, low optical loss and high modulation efficiency. However, the linewidth and extinction ratio of ring modulators are fundamentally lim… ▽ More Electro-optic modulators lie at the heart of complex integration and high density electro-optic systems. One of the representative electro-optic modulators is thin film lithium niobate based microring modulator which has demonstrated advantages of compact footprint, low optical loss and high modulation efficiency. However, the linewidth and extinction ratio of ring modulators are fundamentally limited by the ring losses and coupling, respectively. To this end, we propose a novel type of electro-optic modulators with ring-pair structure on thin film lithium niobate platform, which brings substantially improvement of linewidth and extinction ratio. The ring-pair modulator exhibits a larger linewidth up to 22 GHz, 1.74-time larger than that of single ring resonator with same design parameters. Moreover, the experimental results also reveal that the added-up extinction ratio of ring-pair resonator goes beyond 30 dB, much larger than that in an individual ring resonator. These advantages of ring-pair modulator pave a new way for the application of compact ring-based modulators with large working wavelength window and high extinction ratio, to be exploited in quantum optics, programmable nanophotonics and optical sensors, etc. △ Less

Submitted 11 May, 2023; v1 submitted 10 April, 2023; originally announced April 2023.

Comments: 14 pages

Journal ref: advanced photonics research 2024

The New Small Wheel electronics

Authors: G. Iakovidis, L. Levinson, Y. Afik, C. Alexa, T. Alexopoulos, J. Ameel, D. Amidei, D. Antrim, A. Badea, C. Bakalis, H. Boterenbrood, R. S. Brener, S. Chan, J. Chapman, G. Chatzianastasiou, H. Chen, M. C. Chu, R. M. Coliban, T. Costa de Paiva, G. de Geronimo, R. Edgar, N. Felt, S. Francescato, M. Franklin, T. Geralis , et al. (77 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The increase in luminosity, and consequent higher backgrounds, of the LHC upgrades require improved rejection of fake tracks in the forward region of the ATLAS Muon Spectrometer. The New Small Wheel upgrade of the Muon Spectrometer aims to reduce the large background of fake triggers from track segments that are not originated from the interaction point. The New Small Wheel employs two detector te… ▽ More The increase in luminosity, and consequent higher backgrounds, of the LHC upgrades require improved rejection of fake tracks in the forward region of the ATLAS Muon Spectrometer. The New Small Wheel upgrade of the Muon Spectrometer aims to reduce the large background of fake triggers from track segments that are not originated from the interaction point. The New Small Wheel employs two detector technologies, the resistive strip Micromegas detectors and the "small" Thin Gap Chambers, with a total of 2.45 Million electrodes to be sensed. The two technologies require the design of a complex electronics system given that it consists of two different detector technologies and is required to provide both precision readout and a fast trigger. It will operate in a high background radiation region up to about 20 kHz/cm$^{2}$ at the expected HL-LHC luminosity of $\mathcal{L}$=7.5$\times10^{34}$cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$. The architecture of the system is strongly defined by the GBTx data aggregation ASIC, the newly-introduced FELIX data router and the software based data handler of the ATLAS detector. The electronics complex of this new detector was designed and developed in the last ten years and consists of multiple radiation tolerant Application Specific Integrated Circuits, multiple front-end boards, dense boards with FPGA's and purpose-built Trigger Processor boards within the ATCA standard. The New Small Wheel has been installed in 2021 and is undergoing integration within ATLAS for LHC Run 3. It should operate through the end of Run 4 (December 2032). In this manuscript, the overall design of the New Small Wheel electronics is presented. △ Less

Submitted 25 May, 2023; v1 submitted 22 March, 2023; originally announced March 2023.

Comments: 61 pages

Journal ref: JINST 18 P05012 (2023)

The JUNO experiment Top Tracker

Authors: JUNO Collaboration, Angel Abusleme, Thomas Adam, Shakeel Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmed, Sebastiano Aiello, Muhammad Akram, Abid Aleem, Tsagkarakis Alexandros, Fengpeng An, Qi An, Giuseppe Andronico, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, Burin Asavapibhop, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Didier Auguste, Weidong Bai, Nikita Balashov, Wander Baldini, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Bellato , et al. (592 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The main task of the Top Tracker detector of the neutrino reactor experiment Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is to reconstruct and extrapolate atmospheric muon tracks down to the central detector. This muon tracker will help to evaluate the contribution of the cosmogenic background to the signal. The Top Tracker is located above JUNO's water Cherenkov Detector and Central Detector… ▽ More The main task of the Top Tracker detector of the neutrino reactor experiment Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is to reconstruct and extrapolate atmospheric muon tracks down to the central detector. This muon tracker will help to evaluate the contribution of the cosmogenic background to the signal. The Top Tracker is located above JUNO's water Cherenkov Detector and Central Detector, covering about 60% of the surface above them. The JUNO Top Tracker is constituted by the decommissioned OPERA experiment Target Tracker modules. The technology used consists in walls of two planes of plastic scintillator strips, one per transverse direction. Wavelength shifting fibres collect the light signal emitted by the scintillator strips and guide it to both ends where it is read by multianode photomultiplier tubes. Compared to the OPERA Target Tracker, the JUNO Top Tracker uses new electronics able to cope with the high rate produced by the high rock radioactivity compared to the one in Gran Sasso underground laboratory. This paper will present the new electronics and mechanical structure developed for the Top Tracker of JUNO along with its expected performance based on the current detector simulation. △ Less

Submitted 9 March, 2023; originally announced March 2023.

Comments: 20 pages

Journal ref: Nucl.Instrum.Meth.A 1057 (2023) 168680

JUNO sensitivity to $^7$Be, $pep$, and CNO solar neutrinos

Authors: Angel Abusleme, Thomas Adam, Shakeel Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmed, Sebastiano Aiello, Muhammad Akram, Abid Aleem, Tsagkarakis Alexandros, Fengpeng An, Qi An, Giuseppe Andronico, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, Burin Asavapibhop, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Didier Auguste, Weidong Bai, Nikita Balashov, Wander Baldini, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Bellato, Marco Beretta , et al. (592 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), the first multi-kton liquid scintillator detector, which is under construction in China, will have a unique potential to perform a real-time measurement of solar neutrinos well below the few MeV threshold typical for Water Cherenkov detectors. JUNO's large target mass and excellent energy resolution are prerequisites for reaching unprecedented… ▽ More The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), the first multi-kton liquid scintillator detector, which is under construction in China, will have a unique potential to perform a real-time measurement of solar neutrinos well below the few MeV threshold typical for Water Cherenkov detectors. JUNO's large target mass and excellent energy resolution are prerequisites for reaching unprecedented levels of precision. In this paper, we provide estimation of the JUNO sensitivity to 7Be, pep, and CNO solar neutrinos that can be obtained via a spectral analysis above the 0.45 MeV threshold. This study is performed assuming different scenarios of the liquid scintillator radiopurity, ranging from the most opti mistic one corresponding to the radiopurity levels obtained by the Borexino experiment, up to the minimum requirements needed to perform the neutrino mass ordering determination with reactor antineutrinos - the main goal of JUNO. Our study shows that in most scenarios, JUNO will be able to improve the current best measurements on 7Be, pep, and CNO solar neutrino fluxes. We also perform a study on the JUNO capability to detect periodical time variations in the solar neutrino flux, such as the day-night modulation induced by neutrino flavor regeneration in Earth, and the modulations induced by temperature changes driven by helioseismic waves. △ Less

Submitted 7 March, 2023; originally announced March 2023.

MUX64, an analogue 64-to-1 multiplexer ASIC for the ATLAS High Granularity Timing Detector

Authors: Zifeng Xu, Li Zhang, Xing Huang, Qiyu Sha, Zhenwu Ge, Yimin Che, Datao Gong, Suen Hou, Jie Zhang, Tiankuan Liu, Zhijun Liang, Lei Zhang, Jingbo Ye, Ming Qi

Abstract: We present the design and the performance of MUX64, a 64-to-1 analogue multiplexer ASIC for the ATLAS High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD). The MUX64 transmits one of its 64 inputs selected by six address lines for the voltages or temperatures being monitored to an lpGBT ADC channel. The prototype ASICs fabricated in TSMC 130 nm CMOS technology were prepared in wire-bonding and QFN88 packaging… ▽ More We present the design and the performance of MUX64, a 64-to-1 analogue multiplexer ASIC for the ATLAS High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD). The MUX64 transmits one of its 64 inputs selected by six address lines for the voltages or temperatures being monitored to an lpGBT ADC channel. The prototype ASICs fabricated in TSMC 130 nm CMOS technology were prepared in wire-bonding and QFN88 packaging format. A total of 280 chips was examined for functionality and quality assurance. The accelerated aging test conducted at 85 degrees celsius shows negligible degradation over 16 days. △ Less

Submitted 23 February, 2023; originally announced February 2023.

GBT20, a 20.48 Gbps PAM4 Optical Transmitter Module for Particle Physics Experiments

Authors: B. Deng, L. Zhang, C. -P. Chao, S. -W. Chen, E. Cruda, D. Gong, S. Hou, G. Huang, X. Huang, C. -Y. Li, C. Liu, T. Liu, E. R. Liu, Q. Sun, X. Sun, G. Wong, J. Ye

Abstract: We present a pluggable radiation-tolerant 4-level Pulse-Amplitude-Modulation (PAM4) optical transmitter module called GBT20 (Giga-Bit Transmitter at 20 Gbps) for particle-physics experiments. GBT20 has an OSFP or firefly connector to input 16-bit data each at 1.28 Gbps. The GBT20 drives a VCSEL die with an LC lens or a VCSEL TOSA and interfaces an optical fiber with a standard LC connector. The mi… ▽ More We present a pluggable radiation-tolerant 4-level Pulse-Amplitude-Modulation (PAM4) optical transmitter module called GBT20 (Giga-Bit Transmitter at 20 Gbps) for particle-physics experiments. GBT20 has an OSFP or firefly connector to input 16-bit data each at 1.28 Gbps. The GBT20 drives a VCSEL die with an LC lens or a VCSEL TOSA and interfaces an optical fiber with a standard LC connector. The minimum module, including the host connector, occupies 41 mm x 13 mm x 6 mm. At 20.48 Gbps, the minimum Transmitter Dispersion Eye Closure Quaternary (TDECQ) is around 0.7 dB. The power consumption is around 164 mW in the low-power mode. The SEE cross-section is below 7.5x10^(-14) cm^2. No significant performance degrades after a TID of 5.4 kGy. △ Less

Submitted 15 February, 2023; originally announced February 2023.

Comments: 7 pages, 7 figures

The design and test results of A Giga-Bit Cable Receiver (GBCR) for the ATLAS Inner Tracker Pixel Detector

Authors: L. Zhang, D. Gong, T. Liu, C. Chen, B. Deng, S. Hou, G. Huang, X. Huang, C. Liu, P. Moreira, Q. Sun, X. Sun, S. Kulis, J. Ye, W. Zhang

Abstract: This paper presents the design and test results of a Gigabit Cable Receiver ASIC called GBCR for the HL-LHC upgrade of the ATLAS Inner Tracker (ITk) pixel detector. Three prototypes (GBCR1, GBCR2, and GBCR3) have been designed in the CERN-identified 65 nm CMOS technology. GBCR receives seven (GBCR2) or six (GBCR3) channels (RX) each at 1.28 Gbps from the front-end readout chip RD53B via flex cable… ▽ More This paper presents the design and test results of a Gigabit Cable Receiver ASIC called GBCR for the HL-LHC upgrade of the ATLAS Inner Tracker (ITk) pixel detector. Three prototypes (GBCR1, GBCR2, and GBCR3) have been designed in the CERN-identified 65 nm CMOS technology. GBCR receives seven (GBCR2) or six (GBCR3) channels (RX) each at 1.28 Gbps from the front-end readout chip RD53B via flex cables up to 1 meter and Twinax cables up to 5 meters and sends the equalized and retimed signals to lpGBT. Both GBCR2 and GBCR3 ASICs have two transmitting channels (TX) that pre-emphasize the signals from lpGBT before sending them to RD53B through the same cables. No Single-Event Upset (SEU) is observed in any tested channels of GBCR2 in a 400 MeV proton beam. The extrapolated bit error rate for the future HL-LHC application is below 8*10^(-16), significantly below the specified BER criterion. GBCR3 is designed to improve the immunity to single-event-upset by applying the Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) technology to all RX channels. The retimed signals from GBCR3 have less total jitter than those from GBCR2 (35 ps versus 79 ps). Each receiver channel of GBCR3 consumes 75% more power than that of GBCR2. △ Less

Submitted 30 January, 2023; originally announced January 2023.

Comments: 7 pages, 5 figures

Visible-telecom broadband optical isolator based on dynamic modulation in thin-film lithium niobate

Authors: Manav Shah, Ian Briggs, Pao-Kang Chen, Songyan Hou, Linran Fan

Abstract: Optical isolators are an essential component of photonic systems. Current integrated optical isolators have limited bandwidths due to stringent phase-matching conditions, resonant structures, or material absorption. Here, we demonstrate an ultra-broadband integrated optical isolator in thin-film lithium niobate photonics. We use dynamic standing-wave modulation in a tandem configuration to break L… ▽ More Optical isolators are an essential component of photonic systems. Current integrated optical isolators have limited bandwidths due to stringent phase-matching conditions, resonant structures, or material absorption. Here, we demonstrate an ultra-broadband integrated optical isolator in thin-film lithium niobate photonics. We use dynamic standing-wave modulation in a tandem configuration to break Lorentz reciprocity and achieve isolation. We measure an isolation ratio of 15 dB and insertion loss below 0.5 dB for a design wavelength of 1550 nm. In addition, we experimentally show that this isolator can simultaneously operate at visible and telecom wavelengths with comparable performance. Isolation bandwidths ~100 nm can be achieved simultaneously at both visible and telecom wavelengths. Our device's large bandwidth, high flexibility, and real-time tunability can enable novel non-reciprocal functionality on integrated photonic platforms. △ Less

Submitted 6 December, 2022; originally announced December 2022.

Performance of the CMS High Granularity Calorimeter prototype to charged pion beams of 20$-$300 GeV/c

Authors: B. Acar, G. Adamov, C. Adloff, S. Afanasiev, N. Akchurin, B. Akgün, M. Alhusseini, J. Alison, J. P. Figueiredo de sa Sousa de Almeida, P. G. Dias de Almeida, A. Alpana, M. Alyari, I. Andreev, U. Aras, P. Aspell, I. O. Atakisi, O. Bach, A. Baden, G. Bakas, A. Bakshi, S. Banerjee, P. DeBarbaro, P. Bargassa, D. Barney, F. Beaudette , et al. (435 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The upgrade of the CMS experiment for the high luminosity operation of the LHC comprises the replacement of the current endcap calorimeter by a high granularity sampling calorimeter (HGCAL). The electromagnetic section of the HGCAL is based on silicon sensors interspersed between lead and copper (or copper tungsten) absorbers. The hadronic section uses layers of stainless steel as an absorbing med… ▽ More The upgrade of the CMS experiment for the high luminosity operation of the LHC comprises the replacement of the current endcap calorimeter by a high granularity sampling calorimeter (HGCAL). The electromagnetic section of the HGCAL is based on silicon sensors interspersed between lead and copper (or copper tungsten) absorbers. The hadronic section uses layers of stainless steel as an absorbing medium and silicon sensors as an active medium in the regions of high radiation exposure, and scintillator tiles directly readout by silicon photomultipliers in the remaining regions. As part of the development of the detector and its readout electronic components, a section of a silicon-based HGCAL prototype detector along with a section of the CALICE AHCAL prototype was exposed to muons, electrons and charged pions in beam test experiments at the H2 beamline at the CERN SPS in October 2018. The AHCAL uses the same technology as foreseen for the HGCAL but with much finer longitudinal segmentation. The performance of the calorimeters in terms of energy response and resolution, longitudinal and transverse shower profiles is studied using negatively charged pions, and is compared to GEANT4 predictions. This is the first report summarizing results of hadronic showers measured by the HGCAL prototype using beam test data. △ Less

Submitted 27 May, 2023; v1 submitted 9 November, 2022; originally announced November 2022.

Comments: Accepted for publication by JINST

Design of the PMT underwater cascade implosion protection system for JUNO

Authors: Miao He, Zhonghua Qin, Shaojing Hou, Xiaoping Jing, Hongbang Liu, Zunjian Ke, Diru Wu, Wan Xie, Mehang Xu, Fang Chen, Junguang Lu, Yuekun Heng, Jiawen Zhang, Xiaoyan Ma, Zhipeng Du

Abstract: Photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) are widely used underwater in large-scale neutrino experiments. As a hollow glass spherelike structure, implosion is unavoidable during long-term operation under large water pressure. There is a possibility of cascade implosion to neighbor PMTs due to shockwave. Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory designed a protection structure for each 20-inch PMT, consisting o… ▽ More Photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) are widely used underwater in large-scale neutrino experiments. As a hollow glass spherelike structure, implosion is unavoidable during long-term operation under large water pressure. There is a possibility of cascade implosion to neighbor PMTs due to shockwave. Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory designed a protection structure for each 20-inch PMT, consisting of a top cover, a bottom cover, and their connection. This paper introduces the requirement and design of the PMT protection system, including the material selection, investigation of manufacture technology, and prototyping. Optimization and validation by simulation and underwater experiments are also presented. △ Less

Submitted 17 September, 2022; originally announced September 2022.

Comments: 10 pages, 15 figures

Check on the features of potted 20-inch PMTs with 1F3 electronics prototype at Pan-Asia

Authors: Caimei Liu, Min Li, Zhimin Wang, Jun Hu, Nikolay Anfimov, Lei Fan, Alberto Garfagnini, Guanghua Gong, Shaojing Hou, Beatrice Jelmini, Xiaolu Ji, Xiaoshan Jiang, Denis Korablev, Tobias Lachenmaier, Si Ma, Xiaoyan Ma, Zhe Ning, Alexander G. Olshevskiy, Zhaoyuan Peng, Zhonghua Qin, Andrea Serafini, Katharina von Sturm, Tobias Sterr, Yunhua Sun, Alexander Felix Tietzsch , et al. (12 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The Jiangmen underground neutrino observatory (JUNO) is a neutrino project with a 20-kton liquid scintillator detector located at 700-m underground. The large 20-inch PMTs are one of the crucial components of the JUNO experiment aiming to precision neutrino measurements with better than 3% energy resolution at 1 MeV. The excellent energy resolution and a large fiducial volume provide many exciting… ▽ More The Jiangmen underground neutrino observatory (JUNO) is a neutrino project with a 20-kton liquid scintillator detector located at 700-m underground. The large 20-inch PMTs are one of the crucial components of the JUNO experiment aiming to precision neutrino measurements with better than 3% energy resolution at 1 MeV. The excellent energy resolution and a large fiducial volume provide many exciting opportunities for addressing important topics in neutrino and astro-particle physics. With the container #D at JUNO Pan-Asia PMT testing and potting station, the features of waterproof potted 20-inch PMTs were measured with JUNO 1F3 electronics prototype in waveform and charge, which are valuable for better understanding on the performance of the waterproof potted PMTs and the JUNO 1F3 electronics. In this paper, basic features of JUNO 1F3 electronics prototype run at Pan-Asia will be introduced, followed by an analysis of the waterproof potted 20-inch PMTs and a comparison with the results from commercial electronics used by the container #A and #B. △ Less

Submitted 17 August, 2022; originally announced August 2022.

Prospects for Detecting the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background with JUNO

Authors: JUNO Collaboration, Angel Abusleme, Thomas Adam, Shakeel Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmed, Sebastiano Aiello, Muhammad Akram, Fengpeng An, Qi An, Giuseppe Andronico, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, Burin Asavapibhop, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Didier Auguste, Nikita Balashov, Wander Baldini, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Bellato, Antonio Bergnoli, Thilo Birkenfeld, Sylvie Blin , et al. (577 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: We present the detection potential for the diffuse supernova neutrino background (DSNB) at the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), using the inverse-beta-decay (IBD) detection channel on free protons. We employ the latest information on the DSNB flux predictions, and investigate in detail the background and its reduction for the DSNB search at JUNO. The atmospheric neutrino induced n… ▽ More We present the detection potential for the diffuse supernova neutrino background (DSNB) at the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), using the inverse-beta-decay (IBD) detection channel on free protons. We employ the latest information on the DSNB flux predictions, and investigate in detail the background and its reduction for the DSNB search at JUNO. The atmospheric neutrino induced neutral current (NC) background turns out to be the most critical background, whose uncertainty is carefully evaluated from both the spread of model predictions and an envisaged \textit{in situ} measurement. We also make a careful study on the background suppression with the pulse shape discrimination (PSD) and triple coincidence (TC) cuts. With latest DSNB signal predictions, more realistic background evaluation and PSD efficiency optimization, and additional TC cut, JUNO can reach the significance of 3$σ$ for 3 years of data taking, and achieve better than 5$σ$ after 10 years for a reference DSNB model. In the pessimistic scenario of non-observation, JUNO would strongly improve the limits and exclude a significant region of the model parameter space. △ Less

Submitted 13 October, 2022; v1 submitted 18 May, 2022; originally announced May 2022.

Comments: 29 pages, 11 figures, final published version in JCAP

Journal ref: JCAP 10 (2022) 033

Mass Testing and Characterization of 20-inch PMTs for JUNO

Authors: Angel Abusleme, Thomas Adam, Shakeel Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmed, Sebastiano Aiello, Muhammad Akram, Abid Aleem, Tsagkarakis Alexandros, Fengpeng An, Qi An, Giuseppe Andronico, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, Burin Asavapibhop, Joao Pedro Athayde Marcondes de Andre, Didier Auguste, Weidong Bai, Nikita Balashov, Wander Baldini, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Bellato, Antonio Bergnoli , et al. (541 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: Main goal of the JUNO experiment is to determine the neutrino mass ordering using a 20kt liquid-scintillator detector. Its key feature is an excellent energy resolution of at least 3 % at 1 MeV, for which its instruments need to meet a certain quality and thus have to be fully characterized. More than 20,000 20-inch PMTs have been received and assessed by JUNO after a detailed testing program whic… ▽ More Main goal of the JUNO experiment is to determine the neutrino mass ordering using a 20kt liquid-scintillator detector. Its key feature is an excellent energy resolution of at least 3 % at 1 MeV, for which its instruments need to meet a certain quality and thus have to be fully characterized. More than 20,000 20-inch PMTs have been received and assessed by JUNO after a detailed testing program which began in 2017 and elapsed for about four years. Based on this mass characterization and a set of specific requirements, a good quality of all accepted PMTs could be ascertained. This paper presents the performed testing procedure with the designed testing systems as well as the statistical characteristics of all 20-inch PMTs intended to be used in the JUNO experiment, covering more than fifteen performance parameters including the photocathode uniformity. This constitutes the largest sample of 20-inch PMTs ever produced and studied in detail to date, i.e. 15,000 of the newly developed 20-inch MCP-PMTs from Northern Night Vision Technology Co. (NNVT) and 5,000 of dynode PMTs from Hamamatsu Photonics K. K.(HPK). △ Less

Submitted 17 September, 2022; v1 submitted 17 May, 2022; originally announced May 2022.