6,497 research outputs found
The Timing Counter of the MEG experiment: calibration and performance
The MEG detector is designed to test Lepton Flavor Violation in the
decay down to a Branching Ratio of a few
. The decay topology consists in the coincident emission of a
monochromatic photon in direction opposite to a monochromatic positron. A
precise measurement of the relative time is crucial to suppress
the background. The Timing Counter (TC) is designed to precisely measure the
time of arrival of the and to provide information to the trigger system.
It consists of two sectors up and down stream the decay target, each consisting
of two layers. The outer one made of scintillating bars and the inner one of
scintillating fibers. Their design criteria and performances are described.Comment: Presented at the 12th Topical Seminar on Innovative Particle and
Radiation Detectors (IPRD10) 7 - 10 June 2010, Siena. Accepted by Nuclear
Physics B (Proceedings Supplements) (2011)tal
Laser-Based Primary Thermometry: A Review
Laser-based primary thermometry was initiated almost 15 years ago by the proposal to determine the absolute temperature of a gas at thermodynamic equilibrium through the Doppler width of an associated absorption transition, exploiting the potentially very accurate measurement of an optical frequency to infer the elusive thermal energy of a molecular or atomic absorber. This approach, commonly referred to as Doppler broadening thermometry, has benefited across the years from substantial improvements, of both technical and fundamental nature, eventually reaching an accuracy of about 10 ppm on the temperature determination in the best cases. This is sufficient for Doppler broadening thermometry to play a significant role in the practical realization of the new kelvin, which follows the 2019's redefinition from a fixed value of the Boltzmann constant, and to tackle the challenge, among others, to quantify and possibly fix systematic uncertainties of the international temperature scale of 1990. This paper reviews and comparatively analyzes methods and results achieved so far in the field of laser-based primary thermometry, also including spectroscopic approaches that leverage the temperature-dependent distribution of line intensities and related absorbances across the rovibrational band of a molecular sample. Although at an early stage of development, these approaches show a promising degree of robustness with respect to the choice of the line-shape model adopted for the fitting of the absorption spectra, which is a delicate aspect for all laser-based thermometers. We conclude by identifying possible technical and scientific evolution axes of the current scenario.& nbsp;Published by AIP Publishing on behalf of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Detection of sub-shot-noise spatial correlation in high-gain parametric down-conversion
Using a 1GW-1ps pump laser pulse in high gain parametric down-conversion
allows us to detect sub-shot-noise spatial quantum correlation with up to one
hundred photoelectrons per mode, by means of a high efficiency CCD. The
statistics is performed in single-shot over independent spatial replica of the
system. The paper highlights the evidence of quantum correlation between
symmetrical signal and idler spatial areas in the far field, in the high gain
regime. In accordance with the predictions of numerical calculations the
observed transition from the quantum to the classical regime is interpreted as
a consequence of the narrowing of the down-converted beams in the very high
gain regime.Comment: 4,2 pages, 4 figure
Hanbury Brown-Twiss effect and thermal light ghost imaging
We show that the essential physics of the Hanbury Brown-Twiss (HBT) and the
thermal light ghost imaging experiments is the same, i.e., due to the intensity
fluctuations of the thermal light. However, in the ghost imaging experiments, a
large number of bits information needs to be treated together, whereas in the
HBT there is only one bit information required to be obtained. In the HBT
experiment far field is used for the purpose of easy detection, while in the
ghost image experiment near (or not-far) field is used for good quality image.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure
Spatial correlations in hexagons generated via a Kerr nonlinearity
We consider the hexagonal pattern forming in the cross-section of an optical
beam produced by a Kerr cavity, and we study the quantum correlations
characterizing this structure. By using arguments related to the symmetry
broken by the pattern formation, we identify a complete scenario of six-mode
entanglement. Five independent phase quadratures combinations, connecting the
hexagonal modes, are shown to exhibit sub-shot-noise fluctuations. By means of
a non-linear quantum calculation technique, quantum correlations among the mode
photon numbers are demonstrated and calculated.Comment: ReVTeX file, 20 pages, 7 eps figure
Multi-mode TES bolometer optimization for the LSPE-SWIPE instrument
In this paper we explore the possibility of using transition edge sensor
(TES) detectors in multi-mode configuration in the focal plane of the Short
Wavelength Instrument for the Polarization Explorer (SWIPE) of the
balloon-borne polarimeter Large Scale Polarization Explorer (LSPE) for the
Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization. This study is motivated by the
fact that maximizing the sensitivity of TES bolometers, under the augmented
background due to the multi-mode design, requires a non trivial choice of
detector parameters. We evaluate the best parameter combination taking into
account scanning strategy, noise constraints, saturation power and operating
temperature of the cryostat during the flight.Comment: in Journal of Low Temperature Physics, 05 January 201
The Pure State Space of Quantum Mechanics as Hermitian Symmetric Space
The pure state space of Quantum Mechanics is investigated as Hermitian
Symmetric Kaehler manifold. The classical principles of Quantum Mechanics
(Quantum Superposition Principle, Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, Quantum
Probability Principle) and Spectral Theory of observables are discussed in this
non linear geometrical context.Comment: 18 pages, no figure
Quantifying changes in plant species diversity in a savanna ecosystem through observed and remotely sensed data
This study examined the impact of climate change on plant species diversity of a savanna ecosystem, through an assessment of climatic trends over a period of forty years (1974-2014) using Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe, as a case study. The normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used as a proxy for plant species diversity to cover for the absence of long-term historical plant diversity data. Observed precipitation and temperature data collected over the review period were compared with the trends in NDVI to understand the impact of climate change on plant species diversity over time. The nonaligned block sampling design was used as the sampling framework, from which 198 sampling plots were identified. Data sources included satellite images, field measurements, and direct observations. Temperature and precipitation had significant (p < 0.05) trends over the period under study. However, the trend for seasonal total precipitation was not significant but declining. Significant correlations (p < 0.001) were identified between various climate variables and the Shannon index of diversity. NDVI was also significantly correlated to the Shannon index of diversity. The declining trend of plant species in savanna ecosystems is directly linked to the decreasing precipitation and increasing temperatures
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in restrictive cardiomyopathies
The restrictive cardiomyopathies constitute a heterogeneous group of myocardial diseases with a different pathogenesis and overlapping clinical presentations. Diagnosing them frequently poses a challenge. Echocardiography, electrocardiograms and laboratory tests may show non-specific changes. In this context, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) may play a crucial role in defining the diagnosis and guiding treatments, by offering a robust myocardial characterization based on the inherent magnetic properties of abnormal tissues, thus limiting the use of endomyocardial biopsy. In this review article, we explore the role of CMR in the assessment of a wide range of myocardial diseases causing restrictive patterns, from iron overload to cardiac amyloidosis, endomyocardial fibrosis or radiation-induced heart disease. Here, we emphasize the incremental value of novel relaxometric techniques such as T1 and T2 mapping, which may recognize different storage diseases based on the intrinsic magnetic properties of the accumulating metabolites, with or without the use of gadolinium-based contrast agents. We illustrate the importance of these CMR techniques and their great support when contrast media administration is contraindicated. Finally, we describe the useful role of cardiac computed tomography for diagnosis and management of restrictive cardiomyopathies when CMR is contraindicated
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