Assembly of the Inner Tracker Silicon Microstrip Modules

This note describes the organization of the mechanical assembly of the nearly 4000 silicon microstrip modules that were constructed in Italy for the Inner Tracker of the CMS experiment. The customization and the calibration of the robotic system adopted by the CMS Tracker community, starting from a general pilot project realized at CERN, is described. The step-by-step assembly procedure is illustrated in detail. Finally, the results for the mechanical precision of all assembled modules are reported

Operation inversion frequency: is it an issue for Solid Oxide Cells?

Solid Oxide Cell is an electrochemical energy conversion technology with the great advantage of dual operation as Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and Solid Oxide Electrolyzer (SOE). For that, this technology is defined as "reversible". However, due to the consequences of frequent inversions from SOFC to SOE (and vice-versa), the complete reversibility and efficiency may be attempted after a finite number of operation cycles. This paper presents experimental outcomes to evaluate the impact on performances of two of the primary process variables, i.e., SOFC/SOE commutation frequency and reactant gases utilization rates. All tests are performed over 500 hours

The telescope control of the ASTRI SST-2M prototype for the Cherenkov telescope Array: hardware and software design architecture

ASTRI (Astrofisica con Specchi a Tecnologia Replicante Italiana) is a flagship project of the Italian Ministry of Research and led by the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF). One of its aims is to develop, within the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) framework, an end-to-end small-sized telescope prototype in a dual-mirror configuration (SST-2M) in order to investigate the energy range E ~ 1-100 TeV. A long-term goal of the ASTRI program is the production of an ASTRI/CTA mini-array composed of seven SST-2M telescopes. The prototype, named ASTRI SST-2M, is seen as a standalone system that needs only network and power connections to work. The software system that is being developed to control the prototype is the base for the Mini-Array Software System (MASS), which has the task to make possible the operation of both the ASTRI SST-2M prototype and the ASTRI/CTA mini-array. The scope of this contribution is to give an overview of the hardware and software architecture adopted for the ASTRI SST- 2M prototype, showing how to apply state of the art industrial technologies to telescope control and monitoring systems

Multipurpose high sensitivity radiation detector: Terradex

Terradex project aims to realise an accurate and programmable multiparametric tool which will measure relevant physical quantities such as observation time, energy and type of all decay products of three naturally occurring decay chains of uranium and thorium series present in nature as well as the decay products of man-made radioactivity. The measurements described in this work are based on the performance tests of the first version of an instrument that is designed to provide high counting accuracy, by introducing self-triggering, delayed time-coincidence technique, of products of a given decay chain. In order to qualify the technique and to calibrate the Terradex, a (222)Rn source is used. The continuous and accurate monitoring of radon concentration in air is realised by observing the alpha and beta particles produced by the decay of (222)Rn and its daughters and tag each of them with a precise occurrence time. The validity of delayed coincident technique by using the state of the art electronics with application of novel data sampling and analysis methods are discussed. The flexibility of sampling protocols and the advantages of online calibration capability to achieve the highest level of precision in natural and man-made radiation measurements are also described. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

The beam and detector of the NA62 experiment at CERN

NA62 is a fixed-target experiment at the CERN SPS dedicated to measurements of rare kaon decays. Such measurements, like the branching fraction of the K(+) → π(+) ν bar nu decay, have the potential to bring significant insights into new physics processes when comparison is made with precise theoretical predictions. For this purpose, innovative techniques have been developed, in particular, in the domain of low-mass tracking devices. Detector construction spanned several years from 2009 to 2014. The collaboration started detector commissioning in 2014 and will collect data until the end of 2018. The beam line and detector components are described together with their early performance obtained from 2014 and 2015 data.NA62 is a fixed-target experiment at the CERN SPS dedicated to measurements of rare kaon decays. Such measurements, like the branching fraction of the $K^{+} \rightarrow \pi^{+} \nu \bar\nu$ decay, have the potential to bring significant insights into new physics processes when comparison is made with precise theoretical predictions. For this purpose, innovative techniques have been developed, in particular, in the domain of low-mass tracking devices. Detector construction spanned several years from 2009 to 2014. The collaboration started detector commissioning in 2014 and will collect data until the end of 2018. The beam line and detector components are described together with their early performance obtained from 2014 and 2015 data