R&D on co-working transport schemes in Geant4

A research and development (R&D) project related to the extension of the Geant4 toolkit has been recently launched to address fundamental methods in radiation transport simulation. The project focuses on simulation at different scales in the same experimental environment; this problem requires new methods across the current boundaries of condensed-random-walk and discrete transport schemes. The new developments have been motivated by experimental requirements in various domains, including nanodosimetry, astronomy and detector developments for high energy physics applications.Comment: To be published in the Proceedings of the CHEP (Computing in High Energy Physics) 2009 conferenc

New models for PIXE simulation with Geant4

Particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) is a physical effect that is not yet adequately modelled in Geant4. The current status as in Geant4 9.2 release is reviewed and new developments are described. The capabilities of the software prototype are illustrated in application to the shielding of the X-ray detectors of the eROSITA telescope on the upcoming Spectrum-X-Gamma space mission.Comment: To be published in the Proceedings of the CHEP (Computing in High Energy Physics) 2009 conferenc

Research in Geant4 electromagnetic physics design, and its effects on computational performance and quality assurance

The Geant4 toolkit offers a rich variety of electromagnetic physics models; so far the evaluation of this Geant4 domain has been mostly focused on its physics functionality, while the features of its design and their impact on simulation accuracy, computational performance and facilities for verification and validation have not been the object of comparable attention yet, despite the critical role they play in many experimental applications. A new project is in progress to study the application of new design concepts and software techniques in Geant4 electromagnetic physics, and to evaluate how they can improve on the current simulation capabilities. The application of a policy-based class design is investigated as a means to achieve the objective of granular decomposition of processes; this design technique offers various advantages in terms of flexibility of configuration and computational performance. The current Geant4 physics models have been re-implemented according to the new design as a pilot project. The main features of the new design and first results of performance improvement and testing simplification are presented; they are relevant to many Geant4 applications, where computational speed and the containment of resources invested in simulation production and quality assurance play a critical role.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures and images, to appear in proceedings of the Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference 2009, Orland

Geant4-related R&D for new particle transport methods

A R&D project has been launched in 2009 to address fundamental methods in radiation transport simulation and revisit Geant4 kernel design to cope with new experimental requirements. The project focuses on simulation at different scales in the same experimental environment: this set of problems requires new methods across the current boundaries of condensed-random-walk and discrete transport schemes. An exploration is also foreseen about exploiting and extending already existing Geant4 features to apply Monte Carlo and deterministic transport methods in the same simulation environment. An overview of this new R&D associated with Geant4 is presented, together with the first developments in progress.Comment: 4 pages, to appear in proceedings of the Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference 2009, Orland

Inter-Comparison and Validation of Geant4 Photon Interaction Models

A R&D project, named Nano5, has been recently launched to study an architectural design in view of addressing new experimental issues related to particle transport in high energy physics and other related physics disciplines with Geant4. In this frame, the first step has involved the redesign of the photon interaction models currently available in Geant4; this task has motivated a thorough investigation of the physics and computational features of these models, whose first results are presented here.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures and images, 2 tables, to appear in proceedings of the Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference 2009, Orland

Disturbances in a VLF radio signal prior the M =4.7 offshore Anzio (central Italy) earthquake on 22 August 2005

Abstract. On 22 August 2005 an earthquake with magnitude M=4.7 occurred in the Anzio (central Italy) offshore area. From 2002, a VLF-LF radio receiver is into operation in Bari (southern Italy). The intensity and the phase of the signals transmitted by GB (f=16 kHz, United Kingdom), FR (f=20.9 kHz, France), GE (f=23.4 kHz, Germany), IC (f=37.5 kHz, Island) and IT (f=54 kHz, Sicily, Italy) has been monitored with a 5 s sampling rate. The previous epicenter is near enough to some of the radio paths and the data collected were studied in order to reveal possible seismic effects. The raw analysis revealed a clear drop in the intensity of the FR radio signal on 19 August. Then the wavelet analysis was applied to the intensity and the phase data of the different radio signals. In the mentioned day an increase in the band 60–120 min was revealed in the spectra of the FR signal. Then the principal component analysis was applied and again the 19 August stood up as an anomalous day for the FR radio signal. The path of this signal, among the paths of the five radio signals collected by the Bari receiver, is the nearest to the mentioned epicentre and the anomaly revealed on 19 August appears as a precursor of the earthquake. This result confirms the possible precursor revealed by other researchers in the air Rn content in a site located 5 miles far from the epicenter

Design and performance evaluations of generic programming techniques in a R&D prototype of Geant4 physics

A R&D project has been recently launched to investigate Geant4 architectural design in view of addressing new experimental issues in HEP and other related physics disciplines. In the context of this project the use of generic programming techniques besides the conventional object oriented is investigated. Software design features and preliminary results from a new prototype implementation of Geant4 electromagnetic physics are illustrated. Performance evaluations are presented. Issues related to quality assurance in Geant4 physics modelling are discussed.Comment: To be published in the Proceedings of the CHEP (Computing in High Energy Physics) 2009 conferenc

Preservation and reuse design for fragile territories’ settlements. The Anipemza project.

This book reports on an architectural conservation and reuse project in Anipemza, an Armenian Soviet-era village on the Turkish border, just a few steps away from the important Yererouyk archaeological site. Based on current tourist trends, the book suggests the development of a social system and micro-economic reactivation model to endorse the territory’s numerous cultural resources and preserve the memory of the village that housed the genocide orphanages and the many other stories associated with the village. Further, the development of sustainable tourism will lead to an improved relationship between locals and visitors. Examining the development of a system of strategies able to cope with the existing social, economic and hygiene problems as well as the architectural preservation aims, the book provides valuable guidelines for the local community

Di fronte al sistema di istruzione e formazione. Nodi e chance per i Separated Children

Il contributo presente l'indagine sui MSNA e sulle loro opportunit\ue0 formative e possibili ostacoli nel sistema italiano, attraverso una systematic review e una serie di interviste qualitativ