159 research outputs found
Bias Dependence of the Depletion Layer Width in Semi-Insulating GaAs by Charge Collection Scanning Microscopy
A procedure for the evaluation of the depletion region width of a Schottky barrier diode made on semi-insulating materials has been assessed and applied to gallium arsenide nuclear detectors. This procedure, which makes use of the optical beam induced current method of charge collection scanning microscopy, allows the direct measurement of the depletion layer width. By taking into account the high resistivity of the material under examination and measuring the diode reverse current, it is possible to evaluate the actual voltage applied at the depletion layer boundaries. It was found that, at low actual bias values, the voltage dependence of the depletion layer follows the usual square root power law, while at increasing voltages, it changes into a linear behavior. An explanation in terms of deep trap effect and trap field-enhanced capture cross-section is proposed even though further work must be done to explain the space charge width dependence on bias applied in terms of the deep trap influence
Nitrate concentration and microbial activities in maize cultivated plots under different weed control management.
Impact of nitrogen fertilization and soil tillage on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in a Mediterranean agroecosystem
The impact of nitrogen (N) fertilization and tillage on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was studied in a Mediterranean arable system by combining molecular, biochemical and morphological analyses of field soil and of soil and roots from trap plants grown in microcosm. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of PCR–DGGE banding patterns evidenced that AMF communities in the field are affected by N-fertilization and tillage. N-fertilization was also the main factor shaping AMF communities in Medicago sativa trap plant soil and roots. The overall sporulation pattern of the different AMF species showed a predominant effect of tillage on AMF communities, as shown by CCA analysis. Funneliformis mosseae was the predominant species sporulating in tilled soils, while Glomus viscosum and Glomus intraradices prevailed in no-tilled soils. Field glomalin-related soil protein content was reduced by tillage practices. Our multimodal approach, providing data on two main production factors affecting soil AMF communities, may help implementing effective agricultural management strategies able to support the beneficial relationship between crops and native AMF symbionts
The survey and mapping of sand-boil landforms related to the Emilia 2012 earthquakes: preliminary results.
Sand boils, which are also known as sand blows or sand volcanoes, are among the most common superficial effects induced by high-magnitude earthquakes. These generally occur in or close to alluvial plains when a strong earthquake (M >5) strikes on a lens of saturated and unconsolidated sand deposits that are constrained between silt-clay layers, where the sediments are converted into a fluid suspension. The liquefaction phenomena requires the presence of saturated and uncompacted sand, and a groundwater table near the ground surface. This geological\u2013geomorphological setting is common and widespread for the Po Plain (Italy). The Po Plain (ca. 46,000 km2) represents 15% of the Italian territory. It hosts a population of about 20 million people (mean density of 450 people/km2) and many infrastructures. Thus, the Po Plain is an area of high vulnerability when considering the liquefaction potential in the case of a strong earthquake. Despite the potential, such phenomena are rarely observed in northern Italy, because strong earthquakes are not frequent in this region; e.g., historical data report soil liquefaction near Ferrara in 1570 (M 5.3) and in Argenta 1624 (M 5.5). In the Emilia quakes of May 20 and 29, 2012, the most widespread coseismic effects were soil liquefaction and ground cracks, which occurred over wide areas in the Provinces of Modena, Ferrara, Bologna, Reggio Emilia and Mantov
Tests of silicon sensors for the CMS pixel detector
The tracking system of the CMS experiment, currently under construction at
the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN (Geneva, Switzerland), will include a
silicon pixel detector providing three spacial measurements in its final
configuration for tracks produced in high energy pp collisions. In this paper
we present the results of test beam measurements performed at CERN on
irradiated silicon pixel sensors. Lorentz angle and charge collection
efficiency were measured for two sensor designs and at various bias voltages.Comment: Talk presented at 6th International Conference on Large Scale
Applications and Radiation Hardness of Semiconductor Detectors, September
29-October 1, 2003, Firenze, Italy. Proceedings will be published in Nuclear
Instr. & Methods in Phys. Research, Section
The survey and mapping of sand-boil landforms related to the Emilia 2012 earthquakes: preliminary results.
Sand boils, which are also known as sand blows or sand volcanoes, are among the most common superficial effects induced by high-magnitude earthquakes. These generally occur in or close to alluvial plains when a strong earthquake (M >5) strikes on a lens of saturated and unconsolidated sand deposits that are constrained between silt-clay layers, where the sediments are converted into a fluid suspension. The liquefaction phenomena requires the presence of saturated and uncompacted sand, and a groundwater table near the ground surface. This geological–geomorphological setting is common and widespread for the Po Plain (Italy). The Po Plain (ca. 46,000 km2) represents 15% of the Italian territory. It hosts a population of about 20 million people (mean density of 450 people/km2) and many infrastructures. Thus, the Po Plain is an area of high vulnerability when considering the liquefaction potential in the case of a strong earthquake. Despite the potential, such phenomena are rarely observed in northern Italy, because strong earthquakes are not frequent in this region; e.g., historical data report soil liquefaction near Ferrara in 1570 (M 5.3) and in Argenta 1624 (M 5.5). In the Emilia quakes of May 20 and 29, 2012, the most widespread coseismic effects were soil liquefaction and ground cracks, which occurred over wide areas in the Provinces of Modena, Ferrara, Bologna, Reggio Emilia and Mantov
The survey and mapping of sand-boil landforms related to the Emilia 2012 earthquakes: preliminary results
Sand boils, which are also known as sand blows or sand
volcanoes, are among the most common superficial effects
induced by high-magnitude earthquakes. These generally
occur in or close to alluvial plains when a strong earthquake
(M >5) strikes on a lens of saturated and unconsolidated
sand deposits that are constrained between silt-clay layers
[Ambraseys 1988, Carter and Seed 1988, Galli 2000, Tuttle
2001, Obermeier et al. 2005], where the sediments are converted
into a fluid suspension. The liquefaction phenomena
requires the presence of saturated and uncompacted sand,
and a groundwater table near the ground surface. This geological–
geomorphological setting is common and widespread
for the Po Plain (Italy) [Castiglioni et al. 1997]. The
Po Plain (ca. 46,000 km2) represents 15% of the Italian territory.
It hosts a population of about 20 million people
(mean density of 450 people/km2) and many infrastructures.
Thus, the Po Plain is an area of high vulnerability
when considering the liquefaction potential in the case of a
strong earthquake. Despite the potential, such phenomena
are rarely observed in northern Italy [Cavallin et al. 1977,
Galli 2000], because strong earthquakes are not frequent in
this region; e.g., historical data report soil liquefaction near
Ferrara in 1570 (M 5.3) and in Argenta 1624 (M 5.5) [Prestininzi
and Romeo 2000, Galli 2000]. In the Emilia quakes
of May 20 and 29, 2012, the most widespread coseismic effects
were soil liquefaction and ground cracks, which occurred
over wide areas in the Provinces of Modena, Ferrara,
Bologna, Reggio Emilia and Mantova (Figure 1). These were
the causes of considerable damage to buildings and the infrastructure.
The soil liquefaction and ground cracks were
accompanied by sand boils, which are described in this report.
The spatial distribution and geomorphological setting
of sand boils and ground cracks are also described here. A
detailed three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of these features
is also presented, which was carried out using terrestrial
photogrammetry.
Since archeological times, fluvial ridges, and in general
sandy deposits on low plains have been the preferred sites for
human infrastructure, colonial houses, roads, etc. Therefore,
it is very important to understand how the local topography/
morphology interacts in the liquefaction processes. Numerous
distinctive seismic landforms were generated by the
May 2012 strong earthquakes (seven with M >5), and in particular,
sand boils and ground fractures. The sand-boil landforms,
also known as sand craters or sand volcanoes, are
formed by low mounds of sand that have been extruded
from fractures [Tuttle 2001]. The cone is a generally shortlived
structure that naturally collapses, starting from the center
holes that mark the water retreat back into the fracture.
Sand boils also occurred along larger cracks (with decimetric
lateral and vertical displacements). Here, the upper scarps
block the formation of craters and allow the deposition of a
sandy layer several centimeters thick (e.g. ca. 4 cm in the San
Carlo crack), on the lower side of the steep slope. These landforms
are highly vulnerable to erosion. After a few weeks,
they are washed out by rain, destroyed by human activity, or
masked by growing crops. Thus, ground surveys that investigate
these events have to be carried out as soon as possible
[Panizza et al. 1981]. In this report, we present preliminary
results using methods to map the detailed micro-morphology
of some representative liquefaction features (Figure 2)
that normally disappear for the aforementioned reasons, or
that are recorded only in qualitative terms
VLBI Observations of a Complete Sample of Radio Galaxies. VI. The Two FR-I Radio Galaxies B2 0836+29 and 3C465
We present 5 GHz global VLBI observations of the two Fanaroff Riley Type I
radio galaxies B2 0836+29 and 3C465 (2335+26). For 3C465 we present also 1.7
GHz and 8.4 GHz global VLBI data. In addition VLA observations were used to
obtain arsecond resolution continuum and polarization maps at 5 GHz. Both
sources are very asymmetric on the parsec-scale, with a core and a one-sided
jet, aligned with the main arcsecond scale jet. We place a limit on the
milliarcsecond jet to counterjet brightness ratio B/B \gtsim
20 and \gtsim 30 for B2 0836+29 and 3C465 respectively. For 3C465 the strong
asymmetry holds to the kiloparsec scale. The brightness asymmetry and the ratio
between the core radio power and total radio power allow us to constrain the
jet velocity close to the core and the orientation of the radio structure with
respect to the line of sight. The results suggest that the plasma speed is
relativistic on the parsec scale for both sources, i.e. v \gtsim 0.75c
for B2 0836+29 and v \gtsim 0.6c for 3C465. While v decreases
from the parsec to the kiloparsec scale in B2 0836+29, in 3C465 the very high
v holds all the way to the kiloparsec-scale {\t bright spot}. Our
results are in agreement with the unification scheme suggestion that FR-I radio
galaxies are the unbeamed poulation of BL-Lac objects. Furthermore, they
reinforce the idea that the central engine in FR-I and FR-II radio galaxies
must be qualitatively similar. The different radio morphology could then be due
either to an intrinsically different nuclear power, which affects the torus
geometry or to different conditions in the region beyond the parsec scale,
where a significant deceleration in the FR-I jets occurs.Comment: 28 pages, 4 tables, 8 figures all available under request from
[email protected]
3D Engineering Geological Modeling to Investigate a Liquefaction Site: An Example in Alluvial Holocene Sediments in the Po Plain, Italy
Liquefaction-induced surface manifestations are the result of a complex geological–geotechnical phenomenon, driven by several controlling factors. We propose a multidisciplinary methodological approach, involving engineering geologists, geomorphologists, sedimentologists, and geotechnical engineers, to build a 3D engineering geological model for liquefaction assessment studies. The study area is Cavezzo (Po Plain, Italy), which is a municipality hit by superficial liquefaction manifestations during the Emilia seismic crisis of May–June 2012. The site is characterized by a Holocene alluvial sequence of the floodplain, fluvial channel, and crevasse splay deposits prone to liquefaction. The integration of different geotechnical investigations, such as boreholes, CPTm, CPTu, and laboratory tests, allowed us to recognize potentially liquefiable lithological units, crucial for hazard assessment studies. The resulting 3D engineering geological model reveals a strict correlation of co-seismic surface manifestations with buried silty sands and sandy silts within the shallow 10 m in fluvial channel setting, which is capped and laterally confined by clayey and silty deposits
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