Novikov, Ivan (WKU)

Group Research Activities

The primary objective of the Research Group is to design and build a large solid-angle, high-efficiency gamma detector array consisting of 1) 24 pure CsI crystals and 2) up to 100 BaF2 crystals, accompanied by low-noise analog electronics and data acquisition systems capable of operating in both current mode and pulse counting mode. The gamma detector arrays will be used in the experimental setup to measure fundamental symmetries (Time Reversal Symmetry and Parity) violation in resonance neutron reactions. The pursuit of new sources of time reversal symmetry violation (TRV) stands as one of the foremost intellectual priorities in nuclear, particle, and astrophysics. New sources of TRV are thought to be crucial for explaining the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe in Big Bang theory according to the Sakharov paradigm. A very wide variety of Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) physics ideas can lead to a multitude of potential sources for TRV, which induce higher dimensional T-odd terms in the Lagrangian in terms of the operators of known Standard Model fields. Given the diverse nature of potential TRV mechanisms, it is essential to undertake any experiments that can achieve the requisite sensitivity to detect TRV effects. As TRV remains unobserved in the nucleon sector, any nonzero observation within a nuclear system holds fundamental significance.

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1. 24-crystal CsI gamma array: The Monte-Carlo simulation will be used to build the the CsI-array model and obtain the pulse-height spectrum from each CsI crystal. The CsI-array requires placement on a robust stand equipped with layers of neutron and gamma shielding. Monte Carlo simulation will determine the optimal configuration for the shielding materials for later design and fabricatio, and eventual integration of the CsI array into the experimental setup at LANL.

2. BaF2-spherical gamma array: We are developing spherical array of BaF2 gamma detectors to measure angular correlation of gamma rays emitted from the nuclear cascade. That information will be used to determine spin of the excited nucleus. The goal of the simulation are 1) to determine optimal configuration of BaF2 crystals, 2) geometrical parameters of the gamma and neutron shielding, and 3) Simulate realistic signal from each detector to design appropriate data analysis routine.

Computational methods

We are using Monte Carlo methods to simulate performance of the gamma detectors. Specifically, we would like to utilize GEANT4 simulation toolkit – toolkit developed by CERN for the simulation of the passage of particles through matter. Its areas of application include high energy, nuclear and accelerator physics, as well as studies in medical and space science. Geant4 provides complete functionality for all areas of the simulation of particle transport. It can be used to create a model of a geometry with shapes and materials,locate points and navigate tracks in that model,apply the effects of physics interactions and generate secondary particles,record selected information either as tallies or create hits (that are used to generate detector response),visualize a setup’s geometry and the particle tracks passing through it, andinteract with an application via an extensible terminal or graphical user interface. More information is available at [https://geant4.web.cern.ch/|https://geant4.web.cern.ch/]
GEANT4 toolkit is freely available for installation from CERN designated page.

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We are using GEANT4 simulation toolkit: [https://geant4.web.cern.ch/|https://geant4.web.cern.ch/]

Collaborators

The WKU research group is a part of NOPTREX international collaboration. Some members of the NOPTREX collaboration are members of the University of Kentucky. However, no UK users are working on those two particular projects. Currently, only Dr. Ivan Novikov (WKU) is involved in GEANT4 simulation. We are discussing to involve one more WKU undergraduate student in the GEANT4 simulation research.