First Measurement of ν_{e} and ν_{µ} Interaction Cross Sections at the LHC with FASER's Emulsion Detector.

The first results of the study of high-energy electron neutrino (ν_{e}) and muon neutrino (ν_{µ}) charged-current interactions in the FASERν emulsion-tungsten detector of the FASER experiment at the LHC are presented. A 128.8 kg subset of the FASERν volume was analyzed after exposure to 9.5 fb^{-1} of sqrt[s]=13.6 TeV pp data. Four (eight) ν_{e} (ν_{µ}) interaction candidate events are observed with a statistical significance of 5.2σ (5.7σ). This is the first direct observation of ν_{e} interactions at a particle collider and includes the highest-energy ν_{e} and ν_{µ} ever detected from an artificial source. The interaction cross section per nucleon σ/E_{ν} is measured over an energy range of 560-1740 GeV (520-1760 GeV) for ν_{e} (ν_{µ}) to be (1.2_{-0.7}^{+0.8})×10^{-38} cm^{2} GeV^{-1} [(0.5±0.2)×10^{-38} cm^{2} GeV^{-1}], consistent with standard model predictions. These are the first measurements of neutrino interaction cross sections in those energy ranges.

First Direct Observation of Collider Neutrinos with FASER at the LHC.

We report the first direct observation of neutrino interactions at a particle collider experiment. Neutrino candidate events are identified in a 13.6 TeV center-of-mass energy pp collision dataset of 35.4 fb^{-1} using the active electronic components of the FASER detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The candidates are required to have a track propagating through the entire length of the FASER detector and be consistent with a muon neutrino charged-current interaction. We infer 153_{-13}^{+12} neutrino interactions with a significance of 16 standard deviations above the background-only hypothesis. These events are consistent with the characteristics expected from neutrino interactions in terms of secondary particle production and spatial distribution, and they imply the observation of both neutrinos and anti-neutrinos with an incident neutrino energy of significantly above 200 GeV.

Neutron Imaging Using a Fine-Grained Nuclear Emulsion.

A neutron detector using a fine-grained nuclear emulsion has a sub-micron spatial resolution and thus has potential to be applied as high-resolution neutron imaging. In this paper, we present two approaches to applying the emulsion detectors for neutron imaging. One is using a track analysis to derive the reaction points for high resolution. From an image obtained with a 9 µm pitch Gd grating with cold neutrons, periodic peak with a standard deviation of 1.3 µm was observed. The other is an approach without a track analysis for high-density irradiation. An internal structure of a crystal oscillator chip, with a scale of approximately 30 µm, was able to be observed after an image analysis.

Quantification of elemental area densities in multiple metal layers (Au/Ni/Cu) on a Cr-coated quartz glass substrate for certification of NMIJ CRM 5208-a.

Area densities of Au/Ni/Cu layers on a Cr-coated quartz substrate were characterized to certify a multiple-metal-layer certified reference material (NMIJ CRM5208-a) that is intended for use in the analysis of the layer area density and the thickness by an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The area densities of Au/Ni/Cu layers were calculated from layer mass amounts and area. The layer mass amounts were determined by using wet chemical analyses, namely inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), isotope-dilution (ID-) ICP-MS, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after dissolving the layers with diluted mixture of HCl and HNO3 (1:1, v/v). Analytical results of the layer mass amounts obtained by the methods agreed well with each another within their uncertainty ranges. The area of the layer was determined by using a high-resolution optical scanner calibrated by Japan Calibration Service System (JCSS) standard scales. The property values of area density were 1.84 ± 0.05 µg/mm2 for Au, 8.69 ± 0.17 µg/mm2 for Ni, and 8.80 ± 0.14 µg/mm2 for Cu (mean ± expanded uncertainty, coverage factor k = 2). In order to assess the reliability of these values, the density of each metal layer calculated from the property values of the area density and layer thickness measured by using a scanning electron microscope were compared with available literature values and good agreement between the observed values and values obtained in previous studies.

Development of a Certified Reference Material (NMIJ CRM 7203-a) for Elemental Analysis of Tap Water.

A certified reference material (CRM), NMIJ CRM 7203-a, was developed for the elemental analysis of tap water. At least two independent analytical methods were applied to characterize the certified value of each element. The elements certified in the present CRM were as follows: Al, As, B, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sr, and Zn. The certified value for each element was given as the (property value ± expanded uncertainty), with a coverage factor of 2 for the expanded uncertainty. The expanded uncertainties were estimated while considering the contribution of the analytical methods, the method-to-method variance, the sample homogeneity, the long-term stability, and the concentrations of the standard solutions for calibration. The concentration of Hg (0.39 µg kg-1) was given as the information value, since loss of Hg was observed when the sample was stored at room temperature and exposed to light. The certified values of selected elements were confirmed by a co-analysis carried out independently by the NMIJ (Japan) and the KRISS (Korea).

Determination of ferric iron chelators by high-performance liquid chromatography using luminol chemiluminescence detection.

Iron is an essential element for higher plants, and its acquisition and transportation is one of the greatest limiting factors for plant growth because of its low solubility in normal soil pHs. Higher plants biosynthesize ferric iron [Fe(III)] chelator (FIC), which solubilizes the iron and transports it to the rhizosphere. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) post-column method has been developed for the analysis of FICs using the luminol/H2O2 system for chemiluminescence (CL) detection. A size-exclusion column was the most suited in terms of column efficiency and CL detection efficiency. Mixing of the luminol with H2O2 in a post-column reaction was feasible, and a two-pump system was used to separately deliver the luminol and H2O2 solutions. The luminol and H2O2 concentrations were optimized using Fe(III)-EDTA and Fe(III)-citrate (Cit) solutions as analytes. A strong CL intensity was obtained for Fe(III)-Cit when EDTA was added to the luminol solution, probably because of an exchange of Cit with EDTA after separation on the HPLC column; CL efficiency was much higher for Fe(III)-EDTA than for Fe(III)-Cit with the luminol/H2O2 system. The present method can detect minute levels of Fe(III)-FICs; the detection limits of Fe(III)-EDTA, Fe(III)-Cit and Fe(III)-nicotianamine were 0.77, 2.3 and 1.1pmol, respectively.

High-performance liquid chromatography method for ferric iron chelators using a post-column reaction with Calcein Blue.

Iron (Fe) is an essential element for higher plants, which take it up from the soil at the root surface and transport it to shoots through the xylem. Fe(III) chelators, such as organic acids and phytosiderophores, play important roles in the acquisition and transportation of Fe(III). Therefore, a selective and sensitive method for analyzing Fe(III) chelators is required to study the many Fe-related physiological mechanisms in plants. A novel analytical approach employing a high-performance liquid chromatography post-column method with fluorescence detection was developed to separate and detect Fe(III) chelators. This method takes advantage of the quenching of the fluorescence of Calcein Blue (CB) that occurs with the formation of an Fe(III)-CB complex and the dequenching that occurs with the release of CB as a result of competition for Fe(III) between CB and an Fe(III) chelator. This simple experimental method does not require complicated pretreatments and can selectively detect Fe(III) chelators according to their Fe(III)-chelating ability. The detection limit for citric acid using this method was 72pmol. Furthermore, this method can also detect unknown Fe(III) chelators that exhibit a high affinity for Fe(III). The method was evaluated with xylem sap of barley, which was shown to contain several Fe(III) chelators.