24822628
Results from a search for light-mass dark matter with a p-type point contact germanium detector.
We report on several features in the energy spectrum from an ultralow-noise germanium detector operated deep underground. By implementing a new technique able to reject surface events, a number of cosmogenic peaks can be observed for the first time. We discuss an irreducible excess of bulklike events below 3 keV in ionization energy. These could be caused by unknown backgrounds, but also dark matter interactions consistent with DAMA/LIBRA. It is not yet possible to determine their origin. Improved constraints are placed on a cosmological origin for the DAMA/LIBRA effect.
17372933
MAGE - a GEANT4-based Monte Carlo framework for low-background experiments
A Monte Carlo framework, MaGe, has been developed based on the Geant4 simulation toolkit. Its purpose is to simulate physics processes in low-energy and low-background radiation detectors, specifically for the Majorana and Gerda $^{76}$Ge neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments. This jointly-developed tool is also used to verify the simulation of physics processes relevant to other low-background experiments in Geant4. The MaGe framework contains simulations of prototype experiments and test stands, and is easily extended to incorporate new geometries and configurations while still using the same verified physics processes, tunings, and code framework. This reduces duplication of efforts and improves the robustness of and confidence in the simulation output.
16108826
Validation of spallation neutron production and propagation within Geant4
Using simulations to understand backgrounds from muon-induced neutrons is important in designing next-generation low-background underground experiments. Validation of relevant physics within the Geant4 simulation package has been completed by comparing to data from two recent experiments. Verification focused on the production and propagation of neutrons at energies important to underground experiments. Discrepancies were observed between experimental data and the simulation. Techniques were explored to correct for these discrepancies.
22349078
Development of a data acquisition system for the MALBEK Low-Background BEGe detector
The Majorana collaboration is currently building the Majorana Demonstrator, an array of natural and en­riched high purity germanium (HPGe) detectors that will search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay of the 76Ge isotope. As part of the Demonstrator research and development effort we have deployed a prototype 450 g modified broad energy germanium (BEGe) detector at the Kimballton Underground Research Facility (KURF) in Ripplemeade, VA. This detector, the Majorana Low-Background BEGe Detector at KURF (MAL-BEK), will examine detector performance and background in the double-beta decay region of interest as well as explore the sub-keV energy spectrum in a search for light weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). In order to achieve this goal we have implemented a modular and highly automated data acquisition system (DAQ) capable of digitizing sub-keV signals and running autonomously in an underground environment. The DAQ is built using the Object-oriented Real-time Control and Acquisition (ORCA) application. ORCA enables the remote monitoring and control of all DAQ electronics, hardware, and slow control systems. A built in scripting language, ORCAScript, allows for the automation of run-time experimental parameters, real-time event building and data filtering, and system monitoring with email notification and alarms. The implemented MALBEK DAQ is currently operating at KURF in a production data taking mode.
20578469
A Generic Surface Sampler for Monte Carlo Simulations
We present a Monte Carlo algorithm that generates points randomly and uniformly on a set of arbitrary surfaces. The algorithm is completely general and only requires the geometry modeling software to provide the intersection points of an arbitrary line with the surface being sampled. We demonstrate the algorithm using the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation toolkit. The efficiency of the sampling algorithm is discussed, along with various options in the implementation and example applications.
116949545
A search for bremsstrahlung solar axions using the Majorana Low-background BEGe detector at Kimballton (MALBEK)
(95% CL) is placedon the direct coupling of DFSZ model axions to electrons. The prospects for the sensitivity ofthe Majorana Demonstrator array of point-contact germanium detectors to solar axions arediscussed in the context of the model-independent annual modulation due to the seasonal variationof the earth-sun distance.
59152872
AN INTRODUCTION TO DONALDSON-WITTEN THEORY
In these lecture notes a pedagogical introduction to Donaldson-Witten theory is given. After a survey of four-manifold topology, some basic aspects of Donaldson theory are presented in detail. The physical approach to Donaldson theory is based on topological quantum field theory (TQFT), and some general properties of TQFT’s are explained. Finally, the TQFT underlying Donaldson theory (which is usually called Donaldson-Witten theory) is constructed in detail by twisting N = 2 super Yang-Mills theory. ∗ marcos@lorentz.harvard.edu
17079615
Blowup formulae in Donaldson–Witten theory and integrable hierarchies
We investigate blowup formulae in Donaldson-Witten theory with gauge group SU(N), using the theory of hyperelliptic Kleinian functions. We find that the blowup function is a hyperelliptic sigma-function and we describe an explicit procedure to expand it in terms of the Casimirs of the gauge group up to arbitrary order. As a corollary, we obtain a new expression for the contact terms and we show that the correlation functions involving the exceptional divisor are governed by the KdV hierarchy. We also show that, for manifolds of simple type, the blowup function becomes a tau-function for a multisoliton solution.
16126648
N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories with massive hypermultiplets and the Whitham hierarchy
We embed the Seiberg–Witten solution for the low energy dynamics of N=2 super Yang–Mills theory with an even number of massive hypermultiplets into the Whitham hierarchy. Expressions for the first and second derivatives of the prepotential in terms of the Riemann theta function are provided which extend previous results obtained by Gorsky, Marshakov, Mironov and Morozov. Checks in favour of the new equations involve both their behaviour under duality transformations and the consistency of their semiclassical expansions.
15664546
Some exact results on tachyon condensation in string field theory
The study of open string tachyon condensation in string field theory can be drastically simplified by making an appropriate choice of coordinates on the space of string fields. We show that a very natural coordinate system is suggested by the connection between the worldsheet renormalization group and spacetime physics. In this system only one field, the tachyon, condenses while all other fields have vanishing expectation values. These coordinates are also well-suited to the study of D-branes as solitons. We use them to show that the tension of the D25-brane is cancelled by tachyon condensation and compute exactly the profiles and tensions of lower dimensional D-branes.
18295220
Remarks on Twisted Theories with Matter
We investigate some aspects of N = 2 twisted theories with matter hypermultiplets in the fundamental representation of the gauge group. A consistent formulation of these theories on a general four-manifold requires turning on a particular magnetic flux, which we write down explicitly in the case of SU(2l). We obtain the blowup formula and show that the blowup function is given by a hyperelliptic σ–function with singular characteristic. We compute the contact terms and find, as a corollary, interesting identities between hyperelliptic Theta functions.