First Results in the Search for Dark Sectors at NA64 with the CERN SPS High Energy Muon Beam.

We report the first search for dark sectors performed at the NA64 experiment employing a high energy muon beam and a missing energy-momentum technique. Muons from the M2 beamline at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron with a momentum of 160 GeV/c are directed to an active target. The signal signature consists of a single scattered muon with momentum <80 GeV/c in the final state, accompanied by missing energy, i.e., no detectable activity in the downstream calorimeters. For a total dataset of (1.98±0.02)×10^{10} muons on target, no event is observed in the expected signal region. This allows us to set new limits on the remaining (m_{Z^{'}},g_{Z^{'}}) parameter space of a new Z^{'} (L_{µ}-L_{τ}) vector boson which could explain the muon (g-2)_{µ} anomaly. Additionally, our study excludes part of the parameter space suggested by the thermal dark matter relic abundance. Our results pave the way to explore dark sectors and light dark matter with muon beams in a unique and complementary way to other experiments.

Search for Light Dark Matter with NA64 at CERN.

Thermal dark matter models with particle χ masses below the electroweak scale can provide an explanation for the observed relic dark matter density. This would imply the existence of a new feeble interaction between the dark and ordinary matter. We report on a new search for the sub-GeV χ production through the interaction mediated by a new vector boson, called the dark photon A^{'}, in collisions of 100 GeV electrons with the active target of the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS. With 9.37×10^{11} electrons on target collected during 2016-2022 runs NA64 probes for the first time the well-motivated region of parameter space of benchmark thermal scalar and fermionic dark matter models. No evidence for dark matter production has been found. This allows us to set the most sensitive limits on the A^{'} couplings to photons for masses m_{A^{'}}≲0.35 GeV, and to exclude scalar and Majorana dark matter with the χ-A^{'} coupling α_{D}≤0.1 for masses 0.001≲m_{χ}≲0.1 GeV and 3m_{χ}≤m_{A^{'}}.

Search for a New B-L Z

A search for a new Z^{'} gauge boson associated with (un)broken B-L symmetry in the keV-GeV mass range is carried out for the first time using the missing-energy technique in the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS. From the analysis of the data with 3.22×10^{11} electrons on target collected during 2016-2021 runs, no signal events were found. This allows us to derive new constraints on the Z^{'}-e coupling strength, which, for the mass range 0.3≲m_{Z^{'}}≲100 MeV, are more stringent compared to those obtained from the neutrino-electron scattering data.

Constraints on New Physics in Electron g-2 from a Search for Invisible Decays of a Scalar, Pseudoscalar, Vector, and Axial Vector.

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 2.84×10^{11} 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 a_{e}, |Δa_{X}|≲10^{-15}-10^{-13} for the X mass region 1 MeV≲m_{X}≲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.

Search for Axionlike and Scalar Particles with the NA64 Experiment.

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.

Dark Matter Search in Missing Energy Events with NA64.

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 2.84×10^{11} 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.

Search for a Hypothetical 16.7 MeV Gauge Boson and Dark Photons in the NA64 Experiment at CERN.

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.

Search for Invisible Decays of Sub-GeV Dark Photons in Missing-Energy Events at the CERN SPS.

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.

[Low dose-rate contact radiation therapy (brachytherapy) for prostate cancer using domestic I-125 seeds as a monotherapy and combined with pelvic lymphadenectomy].

INTRODUCTION: In 2014, the incidence of prostate cancer in the Russian Federation was 116.4 per 100,000 population. It is noteworthy that from 2004 to 2014, the proportion of patients with stage I-II prostate cancer increased from 35.5% to 52.5%, while that of patients with stages III and IV disease decreased from 38.4% to 29% and from 22.7% to 16.5%, respectively. All of this allows an increasing number of prostate cancer patients to be treated with radical treatment - low dose-rate brachytherapy. For the first time in this country, we report a clinical trial of low dose-rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer using domestically manufactured I-125 seeds. The successful results of this clinical trial are presented in this article. The aim of this work was to show the clinical efficacy and safety of domestically manufactured I-125 seeds for low dose-rate prostate cancer brachytherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical trial comprised 36 patients with stage T1-T2 prostate cancer. Patients were randomly assigned according to the risk of cancer progression. Low and intermediate risk groups comprised 30 (83.3%) and 6 (16.7%) patients, respectively. Patients of low risk group underwent brachytherapy alone with the minimum therapeutic dose of 145 Gy. I-125 seeds of two activities, 0.55 and 0.35 mCi per seed were used for implantation. Depending on the prostate volume, from 40 to 80 seeds, 57 on average were implanted. Mean implantation time was 85 minutes. In patients of the intermediate risk group brachytherapy was performed in combination with laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy which was carried out 4-5 weeks prior to brachytherapy. RESULTS: Follow-up examination at 6 months after implantation showed that PSA decreased in all patients on average by 87% from the baseline. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: The findings of the clinical trials of domestically manufactured I-125 seeds showed they are effective, safe and comply with international standards.

[The study of the process of enzymatic hydrolysis of yeast biomass to generate food ingredients with the specified fractional composition of protein substances].

With the use of enzyme systems (ES) the directed biocatalytic destruction of subcellular structures of the yeast biomass Saccharomyces cerevisiaе has been conducted for obtaining products of the specified structural-fractional composition. The composition of ES-1 included the enzymes catalyzing the hydrolysis of cell wall polysaccharides of yeast. Enzymes were dosed out at the rate of ß-glucanase - 300 units of ß-GcS/g of yeast, mannanase - 28.9 units of MS/g of yeast. ES-2, along with the enzymatic composition of ES-1, also contained a proteolytic complex, which included enzymes of bacterial origin, which were neutral, serine and metal-depended proteases (in a dosage of 2 units of PS/g of yeast). ES-3 consisted of the enzymes with ß-glucanase, mannanase, proteolytic activities and was further reinforced by high dose of proteases of fungal origin (10 units PS/g of yeast) for the implementation of deep hydrolysis of protein substances of yeast cell protoplasm to low molecular weight peptides and free amino acids. The action of enzymatic systems with different substrate specificity on the degree of destruction of subcellular structures of yeast was illustrated by electron microscopy. The resulting degradation products had different fractional composition and structural features. The results showed that ЕS-1 treatment of yeast led to deformation of the cell walls, but did not affect the composition of the protein fractions, represented by peptides with different molecular weight (20-60 kDa) that were characteristic for the starting material. The use of ES-2 has provided a deeper degradation of the protein-polysaccharide matrix of the cell walls and partial hydrolysis of proteins with the formation of soluble protein components with molecular weight less than 14 kDa. ES-3 treatment of yeast cells allowed to obtain composition with predominant content (89%) of free amino acids and short peptides with molecular weight up to 300 Da. The efficacy of targeted destruction of subcellular structures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with getting of fermentation biomass with the specified fractional composition of protein substances for the production of food ingredients with special functional effects has been shown.

Probing the explanation of the muon (g-2) anomaly and thermal light dark matter with the semi-visible dark photon channel.

We report the results of a search for a new vector boson ( A ' ) decaying into two dark matter particles χ 1 χ 2 of different mass. The heavier χ 2 particle subsequently decays to χ 1 and an off-shell Dark Photon A ' ∗ → e + e - . For a sufficiently large mass splitting, this model can explain in terms of new physics the recently confirmed discrepancy observed in the muon anomalous magnetic moment at Fermilab. Remarkably, it also predicts the observed yield of thermal dark matter relic abundance. A detailed Monte-Carlo simulation was used to determine the signal yield and detection efficiency for this channel in the NA64 setup. The results were obtained re-analyzing the previous NA64 searches for an invisible decay A ' → χ χ ¯ and axion-like or pseudo-scalar particles a → γ γ . With this method, we exclude a significant portion of the parameter space justifying the muon g-2 anomaly and being compatible with the observed dark matter relic density for A ' masses from 2 m e up to 390 MeV and mixing parameter ε between 3 × 10 - 5 and 2 × 10 - 2 .

Hunting down the X17 boson at the CERN SPS.

Recently, the ATOMKI experiment has reported new evidence for the excess of e + e - events with a mass ∼ 17 MeV in the nuclear transitions of 4 He, that they previously observed in measurements with 8 Be. These observations could be explained by the existence of a new vector X 17 boson. So far, the search for the decay X 17 → e + e - with the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS gave negative results. Here, we present a new technique that could be implemented in NA64 aiming to improve the sensitivity and to cover the remaining X 17 parameter space. If a signal-like event is detected, an unambiguous observation is achieved by reconstructing the invariant mass of the X 17 decay with the proposed method. To reach this goal an optimization of the X 17 production target, as well as an efficient and accurate reconstruction of two close decay tracks, is required. A dedicated analysis of the available experimental data making use of the trackers information is presented. This method provides independent confirmation of the NA64 published results [1], validating the tracking procedure. The detailed Monte Carlo study of the proposed setup and the background estimate show that the goal of the proposed search is feasible.

Catalysis by alpha-chymotrypsin entrapped into surface-modified polymeric nanogranules in organic solvent.

Physicochemical characteristics of previously suggested surface-modified polymeric nanogranules (SMPN) and catalytic and stability properties of alpha-chymotrypsin entrapped into such nanogranules in a nonpolar solvent were investigated in more details. SMPN were obtained by polymerization of an acrylamide/N,N'-methylene-bisacrylamide mixture in a mixed reversed micellar system composed of Aerosol OT [sodium di(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate] and the polymeric surfactant Pluronic F-108 modified with polymerizable groups, followed by the chromatographic removal of the auxiliary surfactant, Aerosol OT. An optimal solvent system was found providing the required orientation of the polymeric surfactant in starting mixed micelles, i.e. with polar fragments immersed into the micellar interior and apolar fragments protruding into organic solvent. The hydrodynamic diameter of SMPN in benzene solution was estimated by means of quasi-elastic light scattering to be 84 +/- 1 nm. Catalytic and stability properties of alpha-chymotrypsin entrapped into SMPN strongly depended on conditions of preparation of SMPN. The optimal concentration of acrylamide monomers in the micellar interior and hydration degree of starting reversed micelles were found to be 20% by mass and wo = 15, respectively. alpha-Chymotrypsin-containing SMPN were used as a catalyst in the synthesis of N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester from N-acetyl-L-tyrosine and ethanol, performed in a membrane reactor.

Novel derivatives of cyclodextrins, modified with poly(ethylene oxide) and their complexation properties.

A new family of bouquet-like molecules based on cyclodextrins is described. These compounds were obtained by polymerization of ethylene oxide. This reaction was initiated by primary and secondary hydroxyl groups of cyclodextrins, which constitute an organizing core. Analysis of structure and composition of conjugates based on alpha-CD and beta-CD was performed using the data of MALDI-MS, GC-MS, and 13C-NMR spectra. Glass transition behavior of the conjugates shows that the above compounds are amorphous. Complexation properties of the conjugates are described with respect to sodium 4-nitrophenolate and calcium acetylhomotaurinate, which are used as guest molecules. Binding interaction between cyclodextrins or their conjugates and sodium 4-nitrophenolate was studied using differential absorption spectra. Association constants Ka between CD hosts and calcium acetylhomotaurinate composed of two equal anionic moieties were studied using 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The values of binding constant for beta-CD were found to increase by more than 2 orders of magnitude than that of the corresponding system based on alpha-CD. alpha-CD was shown to form the inclusion complex with one anionic moiety, whereas beta-CD produces a ternary complex with two anionic moieties of CAHT. For PEO derivatives of CDs, Ka decreases as compared with that of parent CD for both guests. These conjugates may be used as potent drug-delivery systems.