We carried out a model-independent search for light scalar (s) and pseudoscalar axionlike (a) particles that couple to two photons by using the high-energy CERN SPS H4 electron beam. The new ...particles, if they exist, could be produced through the Primakoff effect in interactions of hard bremsstrahlung photons generated by 100 GeV electrons in the NA64 active dump with virtual photons provided by the nuclei of the dump. The a (s) would penetrate the downstream HCAL module, serving as a shield, and would be observed either through their a (s) → γγ decay in the rest of the HCAL detector, or as events with a large missing energy if the a (s) decays downstream of the HCAL. This method allows for the probing of the a (s) parameter space, including those from generic axion models, inaccessible to previous experiments. No evidence of such processes has been found from the analysis of the data corresponding to 2.84 × 10 11 electrons on target, allowing us to set new limits on the a(s)γγ -coupling strength for a (s) masses below 55 MeV.
The improved results on a direct search for a new X ( 16.7 MeV ) boson that could explain the anomalous excess of e+e− pairs observed in the decays of the excited 8Be ∗ nuclei ("Berillium or X17 ...anomaly") are reported. Interestingly, new recent results in the nuclear transitions of another nucleus, 4 He , seems to support this anomaly spurring the need for an independent measurement. If the X boson exists, it could be produced in the bremsstrahlung reaction e − Z → e − Z X by a high energy beam of electrons incident on the active target in the NA64 experiment at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron and observed through its subsequent decay into e+e− pairs. No evidence for such decays was found from the combined analysis of the data samples with total statistics corresponding to 8.4 × 1010 electrons on target collected in 2017 and 2018. This allows one to set new limits on the X−e− coupling in the range 1.2 × 10−4 ≲ ε e ≲ 6.8 × 10−4 , excluding part of the parameter space favored by the X17 anomaly, and setting new bounds on the mixing strength of photons with dark photons ( A ′ ) with a mass ≲ 24 MeV . For the 2018 run, the setup was optimized to probe the region of parameter space characterized by a large coupling ε . This allowed a significant improvement in sensitivity despite a relatively modest increase in statistics.
A search for sub-GeV dark matter production mediated by a new vector boson A′, called a dark photon, is performed by the NA64 experiment in missing energy events from 100 GeV electron interactions in ...an active beam dump at the CERN SPS. From the analysis of the data collected in the years 2016, 2017, and 2018 with 2.84×1011 electrons on target no evidence of such a process has been found. The most stringent constraints on the A′ mixing strength with photons and the parameter space for the scalar and fermionic dark matter in the mass range ≲0.2 GeV are derived, thus demonstrating the power of the active beam dump approach for the dark matter search.
The purpose of this paper is to report on the synthesis and characterization of different electrocatalytic materials for the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) in alkaline water ...electrolysis. Ni meshes surface coated with porous nickel layers have been used as substrates for electrodes. Porous nickel coatings have been modified by amorphous NiPx or Pt nanoparticles (to improve the cathode efficiency) and nickel–cobalt spinels (to improve the anode efficiency). The structure, roughness and composition of the active layers have been determined by SEM analysis, porosimetry, laser atomic emission spectroscopy (LAES), energy-dispersion analysis (EDA) and XRD analysis. Overpotentials for both HER and OER have been measured in 6 M KOH over the 0–1.0 A/cm2 current density range. Both hydrogen and oxygen overpotentials are found significantly reduced compared to smooth nickel electrodes. The hydrogen and oxygen evolution mechanisms on these catalytic surfaces are discussed.
•New nickel coatings with high porous structures have been developed.•Synthesis of porous coating significantly simplifies spinel-like catalysts formation.•Obtained electrocatalytic materials used for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions.
The purpose of this research paper is to describe the characteristics and electrochemical performances of a pressurized alkaline water electrolysis short stack (5-cells, 0.5 kW) operated at 80 °C, ...from atmospheric pressure up to 100 bars. Expanded grids of metallic nickel covered with specific porous catalytic structures have been used as working electrodes. A polysulfone-based diaphragm with a high ionic conductivity has been specifically designed for operation in pressurized alkaline water electrolysis cells. I–V polarization curves have been recorded at current densities up to 1000 mA/cm2, at temperatures up to 80 °C and under pressures up to 100 bars. The water electrolysis efficiency of this short-stack has been determined. A specific energy consumption of ca. 4.4–4.5 kWh/Nm3 has been obtained in the high current density range. Durability tests have been performed on the short stack over 1000 h. A limited degradation rate <5 μV/h has been recorded over that period of test.
•Expanded nickel grids with catalysts coatings were optimized for the HER and OER.•Thin porous polysulfone diaphragms containing TiO2 fillers were used as separator.•A 0.5 kW alkaline water electrolysis short-stack was developed and tested.•Current densities up to 1 A/cm2 and pressures up to 100 bars were achieved.
We performed a search for a new generic X boson, which could be a scalar (S), pseudoscalar (P), vector (V), or an axial vector (A) particle produced in the 100 GeV electron scattering off nuclei, e− ...Z → e− ZX, followed by its invisible decay in the NA64 experiment at CERN. No evidence for such a process was found in the full NA64 dataset of 2.84 × 1011 electrons on target. We place new bounds on the S, P, V, A coupling strengths to electrons, and set constraints on their contributions to the electron anomalous magnetic moment ae,|ΔaX|≲ 10−15 –10−13 for the X mass region 1 MeV ≲ mX ≲ 1 GeV. These results are an order of magnitude more sensitive compared to the current accuracy on a e from the electron g − 2 experiments and recent high-precision determination of the fine structure constant.
We report on a direct search for sub-GeV dark photons (A^{'}), which might be produced in the reaction e^{-}Z→e^{-}ZA^{'} via kinetic mixing with photons by 100 GeV electrons incident on an active ...target in the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS. The dark photons would decay invisibly into dark matter particles resulting in events with large missing energy. No evidence for such decays was found with 2.75×10^{9} electrons on target. We set new limits on the γ-A^{'} mixing strength and exclude the invisible A^{'} with a mass ≲100 MeV as an explanation of the muon g_{μ}-2 anomaly.
A search is performed for a new sub-GeV vector boson (A′) mediated production of dark matter (χ) in the fixed-target experiment, NA64, at the CERN SPS. The A′, called dark photon, can be generated in ...the reaction e−Z→e−ZA′ of 100 GeV electrons dumped against an active target followed by its prompt invisible decay A′→χχ¯. The experimental signature of this process would be an event with an isolated electron and large missing energy in the detector. From the analysis of the data sample collected in 2016 corresponding to 4.3×1010 electrons on target no evidence of such a process has been found. New stringent constraints on the A′ mixing strength with photons, 10−5≲ε≲10−2, for the A′ mass range mA′≲1 GeV are derived. For models considering scalar and fermionic thermal dark matter interacting with the visible sector through the vector portal the 90% C.L. limits 10−11≲y≲10−6 on the dark-matter parameter y=ε2αD(mχmA′)4 are obtained for the dark coupling constant αD=0.5 and dark-matter masses 0.001≲mχ≲0.5 GeV. The lower limits αD≳10−3 for pseudo-Dirac dark matter in the mass region mχ≲0.05 GeV are more stringent than the corresponding bounds from beam dump experiments. The results are obtained by using exact tree level calculations of the A′ production cross sections, which turn out to be significantly smaller compared to the one obtained in the Weizsäcker-Williams approximation for the mass region mA′≳0.1 GeV.
We report the first results on a direct search for a new 16.7 MeV boson (X) which could explain the anomalous excess of e^{+}e^{-} pairs observed in the excited ^{8}Be^{*} nucleus decays. Because of ...its coupling to electrons, the X could be produced in the bremsstrahlung reaction e^{-}Z→e^{-}ZX by a 100 GeV e^{-} beam incident on an active target in the NA64 experiment at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron and observed through the subsequent decay into a e^{+}e^{-} pair. With 5.4×10^{10} electrons on target, no evidence for such decays was found, allowing us to set first limits on the X-e^{-} coupling in the range 1.3×10^{-4}≲ε_{e}≲4.2×10^{-4} excluding part of the allowed parameter space. We also set new bounds on the mixing strength of photons with dark photons (A^{'}) from nonobservation of the decay A^{'}→e^{+}e^{-} of the bremsstrahlung A^{'} with a mass ≲23 MeV.
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