Diagnostics of the atmospheric-pressure plasma parameters using the method of near-field microwave sounding

A method of resonant near-field microwave probing is developed for contactless diagnostics of a high-pressure plasma. The efficiency of this method in measuring the parameters of the plasma of an rf capacitive discharge in argon under atmospheric pressure is demonstrated. The experimental results are compared with the data obtained using the independent method, the microwave radiation “cutoff,” and with theoretical estimates.     

Experimental search for gamma-ray bursts from evaporating primordial black holes

The energy spectra and temporal characteristics of high-energy gamma-ray bursts from evaporating primordial black holes have been calculated using various evaporation models. The currently existing theoretical uncertainties in the shape of the evaporated photon spectrum are discussed. The data from the Andyrchy and Carpet-2 arrays of the Baksan Neutrino Observatory (Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences) obtained in the mode of detection of a single cosmic-ray component are used to search for cosmic gamma-ray bursts with a primary photon energy of about 8 GeV. New upper limits have been obtained for the number density of evaporating black holes in a local region of space with a characteristic size of ～10^?3 pc for various evaporation models.     

Search for neutrino bursts from collapsing stars on the basis of the BUST till 2006

Search for neutrino bursts from collapsing stars with the Baksan underground scintillation telescope has been carried out since 1980. In this study, the experimental data obtained during the period from 2001 to 2005 inclusive are analyzed. The upper limit of the mean frequency of collapses in the Galaxy over the entire period of observations (the total live time is 21.83 yr) was found to be 0.105 yr^?1.     

Searching for Neutrino and Ultra-High-Energy Gamma-Ray Counterparts of the GCN Alerts

Physics of Atomic Nuclei - The Baksan Neutrino Observatory setups are currently performing search for neutrino and ultra-high-energy gamma-ray counterparts of the events on the Gamma-ray...     

Search for Electron Neutrinos from Gravitational Wave Events at the Baksan Underground Scintillation Telescope

In the data obtained at the Baksan underground scintillation telescope (BUST), electron neutrinos and antineutrinos with energies above 21 MeV have been sought in coincidence with the GW150914, GW151226, GW170104, GW170608, GW170814, and GW170817 gravitational wave events. No neutrino signals from gravitational wave events have been detected in the interval of ±500 s at the Baksan underground scintillation telescope. Bounds on the fluxes of low-energy electron neutrinos and antineutrinos from astrophysical sources of gravitational bursts have been obtained.     

Neutron flux measurement using activated radioactive isotopes at the Baksan underground scintillation telescope

Preliminary results of a neutron background measurement at the Baksan underground scintillation telescope (BUST) are presented. The external planes of the BUST are fully covered with standard scintillation detectors shielding the internal planes and suppressing thus background events due to cosmogenic and local radioactivity. The shielded internal planes were used as target for the neutron flux registration. The experimental method is based on the delayed coincidences between signals from any of the BUST counters. It is assumed that the first signal is due to inelastic interaction of a neutron with the organic scintillator, while the second signal comes from the decay of an unstable radioactive isotope formed when the fast neutron interacts with the ¹²C nuclei. Using the Monte-Carlo method (GEANT4) we also simulated propagation of neutrons through a layer of scintillator. The experimentally found muon induced neutron flux is j =1.3_-0.3^+0.7 ×10^-10cm^-2s^-1 for neutron energies E ≥ 22MeV, which is in a qualitative agreement with similar measurements of other underground laboratories as well as with predictions of the GEANT4.     

The search for neutrino bursts from supernovae with Baksan underground scintillation telescope

The current status of the experiment on recording neutrino bursts from core collapse stars is presented. The actual observational time is 29.76 years. An upper bound of the mean frequency of core collapse supernovae in our Galaxy is f_col < 0.077 year–1 (90% CL).     

The Carpet-3 EAS Array for Investigation of Gamma-Radiation with Energy $$\boldsymbol{E>100}$$ TeV

Physics of Atomic Nuclei - The Carpet-3 experiment for investigation of gamma radiation with energy above 100 TeV is currently being prepared at the Baksan Neutrino Observatory of the Institute for...     

Scintillation detector with SiPM matrix as a photosensor

The results of a characterization study of the scintillation detector with SiPM matrices as multichannel photosensors are presented. The SiPM matrix attached to a plastic scintillator gives a snapshot of the glowing track of a charged particle traversing the scintillator.