Measurement of very forward neutron energy spectra for 7 TeV proton--proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider

The LHCf collaboration Adriani, O. ; Berti, E. ; Bonechi, L. ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 750 (2015) 360-366, 2015.
Inspire Record 1351909 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.73320

The Large Hadron Collider forward (LHCf) experiment is designed to use the LHC to verify the hadronic-interaction models used in cosmic-ray physics. Forward baryon production is one of the crucial points to understand the development of cosmic-ray showers. We report the neutron-energy spectra for LHC $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV proton--proton collisions with the pseudo-rapidity $\eta$ ranging from 8.81 to 8.99, from 8.99 to 9.22, and from 10.76 to infinity. The measured energy spectra obtained from the two independent calorimeters of Arm1 and Arm2 show the same characteristic feature before unfolding the difference in the detector responses. We unfolded the measured spectra by using the multidimensional unfolding method based on Bayesian theory, and the unfolded spectra were compared with current hadronic-interaction models. The QGSJET II-03 model predicts a high neutron production rate at the highest pseudo-rapidity range similar to our results and the DPMJET 3.04 model describes our results well at the lower pseudo-rapidity ranges. However no model perfectly explains the experimental results in the whole pseudo-rapidity range. The experimental data indicate the most abundant neutron production rate relative to the photon production, which does not agree with predictions of the models.

1 data table match query

Differential neutron production rate d$\sigma_{n}$/dE [mb/GeV] for each rapidity range.


Measurement of inclusive forward neutron production cross section in proton-proton collisions at $\mathrm{\sqrt{s} = 13~TeV}$ with the LHCf Arm2 detector

The LHCf collaboration Adriani, O. ; Berti, E. ; Bonechi, L. ; et al.
JHEP 11 (2018) 073, 2018.
Inspire Record 1692008 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.87099

In this paper, we report the measurement relative to the production of forward neutrons in proton-proton collisions at $\mathrm{\sqrt{s} = 13~TeV}$ obtained using the LHCf Arm2 detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The results for the inclusive differential production cross section are presented as a function of energy in three different pseudorapidity regions: $\eta > 10.76$, $8.99 < \eta < 9.22$ and $8.81 < \eta < 8.99$. The analysis was performed using a data set acquired in June 2015 that corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $\mathrm{0.194~nb^{-1}}$. The measurements were compared with the predictions of several hadronic interaction models used to simulate air showers generated by Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays. None of these generators showed good agreement with the data for all pseudorapidity intervals. For $\eta > 10.76$, no model is able to reproduce the observed peak structure at around $\mathrm{5~TeV}$ and all models underestimate the total production cross section: among them, QGSJET II-04 shows the smallest deficit with respect to data for the whole energy range. For $8.99 < \eta < 9.22$ and $8.81 < \eta < 8.99$, the models having the best overall agreement with data are SIBYLL 2.3 and EPOS-LHC, respectively: in particular, in both regions SIBYLL 2.3 is able to reproduce the observed peak structure at around $\mathrm{1.5-2.5~TeV}$.

3 data tables match query

Inclusive neutron (and antineutron) production cross section in $\eta > 10.76$

Inclusive neutron (and antineutron) production cross section in $8.99 < \eta < 9.22$

Inclusive neutron (and antineutron) production cross section in $8.81 < \eta < 8.99$


Measurement of energy flow, cross section and average inelasticity of forward neutrons produced in $\mathrm{\sqrt{s} = 13 TeV}$ proton-proton collisions with the LHCf Arm2 detector

The LHCf collaboration Adriani, O. ; Berti, E. ; Bonechi, L. ; et al.
JHEP 07 (2020) 016, 2020.
Inspire Record 1783943 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.130268

In this paper, we report the measurement of the energy flow, the cross section and the average inelasticity of forward neutrons (+ antineutrons) produced in $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV proton-proton collisions. These quantities are obtained from the inclusive differential production cross section, measured using the LHCf Arm2 detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The measurements are performed in six pseudorapidity regions: three of them ($\eta > 10.75$, $8.99 < \eta < 9.21$ and $8.80 < \eta < 8.99$), albeit with smaller acceptance and larger uncertainties, were already published in a previous work, whereas the remaining three ($10.06 < \eta < 10.75$, $9.65 < \eta < 10.06$ and $8.65 < \eta < 8.80$) are presented here for the first time. The analysis was carried out using a data set acquired in June 2015 with a corresponding integrated luminosity of $\mathrm{0.194~nb^{-1}}$. Comparing the experimental measurements with the expectations of several hadronic interaction models used to simulate cosmic ray air showers, none of these generators resulted to have a satisfactory agreement in all the phase space selected for the analysis. The inclusive differential production cross section for $\eta > 10.75$ is not reproduced by any model, whereas the results still indicate a significant but less serious deviation at lower pseudorapidities. Depending on the pseudorapidity region, the generators showing the best overall agreement with data are either SIBYLL 2.3 or EPOS-LHC. Furthermore, apart from the most forward region, the derived energy flow and cross section distributions are best reproduced by EPOS-LHC. Finally, even if none of the models describe the elasticity distribution in a satisfactory way, the extracted average inelasticity is consistent with the QGSJET II-04 value, while most of the other generators give values that lie just outside the experimental uncertainties.

9 data tables match query

Neutron (and antineutron) inclusive differential production cross section in $\eta > 10.75$

Neutron (and antineutron) inclusive differential production cross section in $10.06 < \eta < 10.75$

Neutron (and antineutron) inclusive differential production cross section in $9.65 < \eta < 10.06$

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