A powerful and robust control system is a crucial, often neglected, pillar of any modern, complex physics experiment that requires the management of a multitude of different devices and their precise time synchronisation. The AEgIS collaboration presents CIRCUS, a novel, autonomous control system optimised for time-critical experiments such as those at CERN's Antiproton Decelerator and, more broadly, in atomic and quantum physics research. Its setup is based on Sinara/ARTIQ and TALOS, integrating the ALPACA analysis pipeline, the last two developed entirely in AEgIS. It is suitable for strict synchronicity requirements and repeatable, automated operation of experiments, culminating in autonomous parameter optimisation via feedback from real-time data analysis. CIRCUS has been successfully deployed and tested in AEgIS; being experiment-agnostic and released open-source, other experiments can leverage its capabilities.
Synchronous voltage ramp-up to 20 V on three high-voltage amplifier channels 10 μs subsequent to the arrival of a common trigger pulse at zero time in the figure. The inset shows a zoom to the shoulder region for a better visualisation of the synchronicity.
A feedback loop uses the uncorrected laser pulse timings (red squares) to calculate the deviation from the user setting (solid black line) over the course of an hour, and corrects the timing of the subsequent desired laser pulse that is used for the actual experiment (blue circles). Independent of short-term to long-term drifts or even sudden jumps, the resulting timing is always close to the desired value.
A feedback loop uses the uncorrected laser pulse timings (red squares) to calculate the deviation from the user setting (solid black line) over the course of an hour, and corrects the timing of the subsequent desired laser pulse that is used for the actual experiment (blue circles). Independent of short-term to long-term drifts or even sudden jumps, the resulting timing is always close to the desired value.
We report on laser cooling of a large fraction of positronium (Ps) in free-flight by strongly saturating the $1^3S$-$2^3P$ transition with a broadband, long-pulsed 243 nm alexandrite laser. The ground state Ps cloud is produced in a magnetic and electric field-free environment. We observe two different laser-induced effects. The first effect is an increase in the number of atoms in the ground state after the time Ps has spent in the long-lived $3^3P$ states. The second effect is the one-dimensional Doppler cooling of Ps, reducing the cloud's temperature from 380(20) K to 170(20) K. We demonstrate a 58(9) % increase in the coldest fraction of the Ps ensemble.
SSPALS spectra of positronium in vacuum without lasers, with the 205 nm and 1064 nm lasers, with the 243 nm laser only, and with all three lasers 243 nm, 205 nm and 1064 nm. The 243 nm laser is firing during the time window from −20 to 50 ns, while the 205 nm and 1064 nm are injected 75 ns after positron implantation time (t = 0 ns). Each curve is an average of 90 individual spectra. The statistical error is smaller than the linewidths. For analysis, the spectra were integrated between 150 and 400 ns.
Ps velocity distribution measured by SSPALS. Transverse Doppler profile measured by two-photon resonant ionization. A Gaussian fit yields an rms width of 44(1) pm, which translates to a Ps rms velocity of 5.3 $\pm$ 0.2 × 10$^4$ m/s after deconvoluting the laser bandwidth.
Ps velocity distribution measured by SSPALS. Velocity-resolved increase in the number of ground state Ps atoms, induced by the 243 nm transitory excitation to the 2$^3$P level. At resonance, the expected Lamb dip is observed. A 2-Gaussian fit yields an rms width of the enveloping Gaussian of 44(3) pm, which corresponds to a Ps rms velocity of 4.9 $\pm$ 0.4 × 10$^4$ m/s.
Modern physics experiments are frequently very complex, relying on multiple simultaneous events to happen in order to obtain the desired result. The experiment control system plays a central role in orchestrating the measurement setup: However, its development is often treated as secondary with respect to the hardware, its importance becoming evident only during the operational phase. Therefore, the AEgIS (Antimatter Experiment: Gravity, Interferometry, Spectroscopy) collaboration has created a framework for easily coding control systems, specifically targeting atomic, quantum, and antimatter experiments. This framework, called Total Automation of LabVIEW Operations for Science (TALOS), unifies all the machines of the experiment in a single entity, thus enabling complex high-level decisions to be taken, and it is constituted by separate modules, called MicroServices, that run concurrently and asynchronously. This enhances the stability and reproducibility of the system while allowing for continuous integration and testing while the control system is running. The system demonstrated high stability and reproducibility, running completely unsupervised during the night and weekends of the data-taking campaigns. The results demonstrate the suitability of TALOS to manage an entire physics experiment in full autonomy: being open-source, experiments other than the AEgIS experiment can benefit from it.
Graph showing the number of antiprotons captured vs the closure timing of the trap. It clearly shows the presence of a best working point. Closing too fast lets some antiprotons out, and, conversely, closing too slow lets some antiprotons escape after the bounce on the second electrode.
Graph showing the number of antiprotons captured varying the potential of the catching electrodes. This scan characterizes the energy profile of the p's passing through the degrader, and their ratio is in good accordance with our GEANT4 simulations.
Two graphs show the results of the scan over the horizontal and vertical displacements of the antiproton beam (on the left) and the horizontal and vertical angles (see Table 4, after). The color represents the intensity of the signal obtained on the MCP from the annihilations of the trapped antiprotons. The parameter space has been organized in this way, assuming that displacements and angles have independent effects, not for physics reasons, but because scanning over the full parameter space would have been impossible time-wise (10 steps per dimension 4 dimensions x 5 min of duration of the script ~35 days!).
We present results on the measurement of lambda and lambda^bar production in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=130 GeV with the PHENIX detector at RHIC. The transverse momentum spectra were measured for minimum bias and for the 5% most central events. The lambda^bar/lambda ratios are constant as a function of p_T and the number of participants. The measured net lambda density is significantly larger than predicted by models based on hadronic strings (e.g. HIJING) but in approximate agreement with models which include the gluon junction mechanism.
Transverse momentum spectra of $\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}$ for minimum-bias and for the $5\%$ most central events.
The ratio of $\bar{\Lambda}$/$\Lambda$ as a function of $p_T$.
The ratio of $\bar{\Lambda}$/$\Lambda$ as a function of the number of participants.
Transverse momentum spectra of electrons from Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV have been measured by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. The spectra show an excess above the background from photon conversions and light hadron decays. The electron signal is consistent with that expected from semi-leptonic decays of charm. The yield of the electron signal dN_e/dy for p_T > 0.8 GeV/c is 0.025 +/- 0.004 (stat.) +/- 0.010 (sys.) in central collisions, and the corresponding charm cross section is 380 +/- 60 (stat.) +/- 200 (sys.) micro barns per binary nucleon-nucleon collision.
Transverse momentum spectra of electrons in PHENIX from Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 130 GeV.
Transverse momentum spectra of electrons in PHENIX from Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 130 GeV.
Transverse momentum spectra of electrons in PHENIX from Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 130 GeV. The upper limit for 1.9 GeV/$c$ is 4.10224e-05.
Large parity violating longitudinal single spin asymmetries A^{e^-}_L= -0.86^{+0.14}_{-0.30} and A^{e^+}_L= 0.88^{+0.12}_{-0.71} are observed for inclusive high transverse momentum electrons and positrons in polarized pp collisions at a center of mass energy of \sqrt{s}=500\ GeV with the PHENIX detector at RHIC. These e^{+/-} come mainly from the decay of W^{+/-} and Z^0 bosons, and the asymmetries directly demonstrate parity violation in the couplings of the W^{\pm} to the light quarks. The observed electron and positron yields were used to estimate W^\pm boson production cross sections equal to \sigma(pp \to W^+ X) \times BR(W^ \to \nu_e)= 144.1+/-21.2(stat)^{+3.4}_{-10.3}(syst) +/- 15%(norm) pb, and \sigma(pp \to W^{-}X) \times BR(W^\to e^-\bar{\nu_e}) = 31.7+/-12.1(stat)^{+10.1}_{-8.2}(syst)+/-15%(norm) pb.
The spectra of positive and negative candidates before and after an isolation cut. The computation of the background before the isolation cut is described in the text. The background band after the isolation cut is computed by scaling the background before the isolation cut by the isolation cut efficiency measured in the background region (12< $p_T$ <20GeV/$c$). The systematic errors include uncertainties in the photon conversion probability, the background normalization, and the background extrapoltion to $p_T$ > 30 GeV/$c$.
Background subtracted spectra of positron candidates taken from all counts compared to the spectrum of W and Z decays from an NLO calculation.
Background subtracted spectra of electron candidates taken from all counts compared to the spectrum of W and Z decays from an NLO calculation.
The production of deuterons and antideuterons in the transverse momentum range 1.1 < p_T < 4.3 GeV/c at mid-rapidity in Au + Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV has been studied by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. A coalescence analysis comparing the deuteron and antideuteron spectra with those of protons and antiprotons, has been performed. The coalescence probability is equal for both deuterons and antideuterons and increases as a function of p_T, which is consistent with an expanding collision zone. Comparing (anti)proton yields p_bar/p = 0.73 +/- 0.01, with (anti)deuteron yields: d_bar/d = 0.47 +/- 0.03, we estimate that n_bar/n = 0.64 +/- 0.04.
Corrected spectra for deuterons and anti-deuterons for different centralities are plotted vs $m_T$.
Corrected spectra for deuterons and anti-deuterons for different centralities are plotted vs $m_T$.
Coalescence parameter $B_2$ vs $p_T$ for deuterons (left panel) and anti-deuterons (right panel). Grey bands indicate the systematic errors. Values are plotted at the "true" mean value of $p_T$ of each bin, the extent of which is indicated by the width of the grey bars along x-axis.
New measurements are presented for charged hadron azimuthal correlations at mid-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 62.4 and 200 GeV. They are compared to earlier measurements obtained at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV and in Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 17.2 GeV. Sizeable anisotropies are observed with centrality and transverse momentum (p_T) dependence characteristic of elliptic flow (v_2). For a broad range of centralities, the observed magnitudes and trends of the differential anisotropy, v_2(p_T), change very little over the collision energy range sqrt(s_NN) = 62-200 GeV, indicating saturation of the excitation function for v_2 at these energies. Such a saturation may be indicative of the dominance of a very soft equation of state for sqrt(s_NN) = 62-200 GeV.
Assorted-$p_T$ correlation functions (0.65 < $p_{T,ref}$ < 2.5 GeV/$c$) for charged hadrons of 0.5 < $p_T$ < 0.7 GeV/$c$ and 1.0 < $p_T$ < 1.5 obtained in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ = 62.4 GeV.
Differential anisotropy $v_2$($p_T$) for charged hadrons in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV obtained via cumulants method
Differential anisotropy $v_2$($p_T$) for charged hadrons in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV obtained via correlation function method
We report on the yield of protons and anti-protons, as a function of centrality and transverse momentum, in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV measured at mid-rapidity by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. In central collisions at intermediate transverse momenta (1.5 < p_T < 4.5 GeV/c) a significant fraction of all produced particles are protons and anti-protons. They show a centrality-scaling behavior different from that of pions. The p-bar/pion and p/pion ratios are enhanced compared to peripheral Au+Au, p+p, and electron+positron collisions. This enhancement is limited to p_T < 5 GeV/c as deduced from the ratio of charged hadrons to pi^0 measured in the range 1.5 < p_T < 9 GeV/c.
$p$/$\pi^+$ and $p$/$\pi^-$ ratios for central (0-10%) mid-central (20-30%) and peripheral (60-92%) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
$p$/$\pi^-$ and $p$/$\pi^0$ ratios for central (0-10%) mid-central (20-30%) and peripheral (60-92%) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
$p$ and $\bar{p}$ invariant yields scaled by $N_{coll}$. Error bars are statistical. Systematic errors on $N_{coll}$ range from ~ 10% for central to ~ 28% for 60-92% centrality. Multiplicity dependent normalization errors are ~3%.
We report on two-particle azimuthal angle correlations between charged hadrons at forward/backward (deuteron/gold going direction) rapidity and charged hadrons at mid-rapidity in deuteron-gold (d+Au) and proton-proton (p+p) collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. Jet structures are observed in the correlations which we quantify in terms of the conditional yield and angular width of away side partners. The kinematic region studied here samples partons in the gold nucleus carrying nucleon momentum fraction x~0.1 to x~0.01. Within this range, we find no x dependence of the jet structure in d+Au collisions.
Azimuthal angle correlation functions. Note that the y-axis is zero-suppressed on the middle and bottom panels. In the additonal resource, the Gaussian widths from the fits and the signal to background ration integrated over $\pi$ - 1 < $\Delta\phi$ < $\pi$ + 1 are shown.
Conditional yields (CY) shown as a function of trigger particle pseudorapitidy for trigger particle $p_T$ from 2.5 to 4.0 and associated particle $p_T$ from 1.0 to 2.5 GeV/$c$. The additional $\pm$0.037 systematic error on the mid-rapidity $p+p$ point is from jet yield extraction. There is a 1% point-by-point systematical error on all points except central arm triggers. There is also a 10% systematic error for all data points due to the determination of associated particle efficiency. For $p + p$ point, forward and backward trigger are combined, so the results are identical.
$I_{dAu}$ vs. $p_T^{assoc}$ for different centrality, $p_T^{trig}$ and $\eta^{trig}$ bins.
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