Hep-Ex explores the fascinating intersection where particle physics meets experimental reality. This field investigates how scientists build massive detectors and accelerate particles to test the fundamental laws of nature, turning abstract theories into measurable data. It is the rigorous process of searching for new particles or forces that could reshape our understanding of the universe, often requiring years of collaboration and engineering.

At Gist.Science, we ensure these discoveries become accessible to everyone. We process every new preprint in this category directly from arXiv, generating both plain-language explanations for curious readers and detailed technical summaries for specialists. Our goal is to bridge the gap between complex experimental results and public understanding without losing scientific nuance.

Below are the latest papers in Hep-Ex, freshly summarized and ready for you to explore.

ITACA revisited: Ion Tracking Apparatus with CMOS ASICs

This paper presents a conceptual design for the ITACA detector, a 1-tonne high-pressure xenon gas TPC that utilizes a novel Magnetically Actuated Rotor System (MARS) and Topmetal CMOS ASICs to image both electron and ion tracks, thereby enhancing topological discrimination to achieve a neutrinoless double beta decay sensitivity exceeding 102810^{28} years.

J. J Gómez-Cadenas, L. Arazi, G. Martínez-Lema, J. Renner, S. R. Soleti, S. Torelli2026-04-06⚛️ hep-ex

Evidence of ZZγ\gamma production and observation of 4γ4\ell\gamma in proton-proton collisions at s\sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

Using 138 fb1^{-1} of proton-proton collision data at 13 TeV, the CMS experiment reports the first evidence for ZZγ\gamma production with a 3.7σ\sigma significance and the first observation of inclusive 4γ\ell\gamma production with a 5.0σ\sigma significance, providing measured fiducial cross sections for both processes.

CMS Collaboration2026-04-06⚛️ hep-ex

Measure charge transport in high-energy nuclear collisions with an energy scan of isobaric collisions

This paper proposes a beam-energy scan of isobaric collisions (Ru+Ru vs. Zr+Zr) to precisely measure electric-charge transport and distinguish between competing microscopic mechanisms of conserved-charge redistribution in QCD matter by comparing the rapidity dependence of charge and baryon transport.

Wendi Lv, Niseem Magdy, Rongrong Ma, Zebo Tang, Prithwish Tribedy, Chun Yuen Tsang, Zhangbu Xu2026-04-06⚛️ nucl-ex

Analytical model for the photomultiplier single photoelectron response including the electron back-scattering contribution

This paper derives and validates a comprehensive analytical model for photomultiplier single photoelectron responses that replaces ad hoc noise descriptions with a physically grounded function accounting for electron back-scattering at the first dynode, alongside analytical descriptions for fully amplified peaks and low-charge signals.

Emanuele Angelino, Veronica Beligotti, Lorenzo Bellagamba, Elena Bonali, Graziano Bruni, Pietro Di Gangi, Gian Marco Lucchetti, Andrea Mancuso, Virginia Mazza, Gabriella Sartorelli, Franco Semeria, Al (…)2026-04-06⚛️ hep-ex

Search for the decays B(s)0J/ψγB_{(s)}^0\to J/\psi\gamma at LHCb

Using proton-proton collision data from the LHCb experiment, this study sets new 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions of the rare decays Bs0J/ψγB_{s}^0\to J/\psi\gamma and B0J/ψγB^0\to J/\psi\gamma, improving the previous limit for the Bs0B_{s}^0 mode by a factor of 2.5.

LHCb collaboration, R. Aaij, M. Abdelfatah, A. S. W. Abdelmotteleb, C. Abellan Beteta, F. Abudinén, T. Ackernley, A. A. Adefisoye, B. Adeva, M. Adinolfi, P. Adlarson, C. Agapopoulou, C. A. Aidala, Z (…)2026-04-06⚛️ hep-ex

Applying Self-organizing Maps to the Inverse Problem

This paper proposes a novel approach for solving the inverse problem in particle physics by combining self-organizing maps with supervised learning to identify vector-like leptons in trilepton final states, demonstrating competitive performance against multiclassifying neural networks while offering enhanced tools for characterizing observed excesses without relying on standard model processes during training.

Vaidehi Tikhe, N. Kirutheeka, Sourabh Dube2026-04-06⚛️ hep-ex