6,014 research outputs found
Comparison between qualitative rockfall risk rating systems for a road affected by high traffic intensity
Abstract. The paper deals with the assessment of the rockfall risk for a road stretch, in southern Italy, affected by high traffic intensity. Three qualitative rockfall risk rating systems (QRSs) which use an exponential scoring with a base of 3 were employed, and then the results were compared. The used methods are the following: the Rockfall Hazard Rating System, a modified version of this method already proposed in the past by one of the authors, and the modified version of the Colorado Rockfall Hazard Rating System. The studied road stretch is about 11 km in length and is part of a very tortuous road flanked by rock slopes characterised by complex geostructural and geomechanical layouts. The road was subdivided into 56 sections, defined so as to have – as much as possible – homogeneous geological characteristics. By means of the three QRSs, it was possible to ascertain that high levels of rockfall risks are due to the lack of ditches, a very limited percentage of decision sight distance (PDSD) values and a small roadway width, whereas a subordinate factor is the hazard caused by rockfalls. Several positive and negative aspects arising from the use of the employed methods are highlighted and discussed.</p
Progress in Developing Hybrid RPCs: GEM-like Detectors with Resistive Electrodes
We have recently developed an innovative detector of photons and charged
particles: a GEM-like gaseous amplification structure with resistive electrodes
instead of commonly used metallic ones. This novel detector combines the best
property of GEMs- the capability to operate in a cascaded mode and in poorly
quenched gases - and of RPC: the protection against sparks. In this paper will
shortly review our latest achievements in this direction, however the main
focus will be given on a new advanced design that allows to build large area
detectors manufactured by a screen printing technology. The proposed detector,
depending on the applications, can operate either in a GEM mode (electron
multiplications through holes only) or as a hybrid RPC with simultaneous
amplifications in the drift region and in the holes. The possible applications
of this new detector will be discussed
Genetic variability of host-parasite relationship traits: utilization of isofemale lines in a Drosophila simulans parasitic wasp
International audienc
Position Sensitive Gaseous Photomultipliers
Advances in the technologies associated with position sensitive gaseous
detectors especially featuring CsI as reflective photoconverters will be
reviewed. These photodetectors represent the most effective solution for what
concerns cost and performance in the case of large area Cherenkov imaging
applications in relatively low rate (or low occupancy) high energy physics and
astrophysics experiments. Moreover, they are the only choice when the Cherenkov
detector is embedded in a magnetic field. Recently proposed single photon MPGDs
(Micropattern Gaseous Detectors) will be also discussed in view of the
successful efforts so far made to extend their sensitivity to visible light.
With some modifications, photosensitive gaseous detectors can also be used in
the imaging of X-rays and particles.Comment: Submitted to the special issue "Photodetectors and Imaging
Technologies" of the "Sensors" Journa
Hadronic decays of the tau lepton into K K pion modes within Resonance Chiral Theory
Tau decays into hadrons have a twofold interest: On the one hand, they are a
clean environment for studying the hadronization of the left-handed current of
QCD, while, on the other side, provide relevant dynamical information of the
resonances that mediate these processes. Within an effective field theory-like
framework, namely Resonance Chiral Theory, we analyse the decays ot the tau
into K K pion modes and compare the results with CLEO and BaBar data. In this
way, we provide bounds on the couplings entering our Lagrangian and predict the
corresponding spectral functions. As a main result -and contrary to the bulk of
theoretical studies and experimental analyses- we find vector current dominance
on these decays.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, Prepared for the conference QCD@Work07 in Martina
Franca, Bari, Italy. To appear in the Proceeding
Progress in the development of a S RETGEM-based detector for an early forest fire warning system
In this paper we present a prototype of a Strip Resistive Thick GEM
photosensitive gaseous detector filled with Ne and ethylferrocene vapours at a
total pressure of 1 atm for an early forest fire detection system. Tests show
that it is one hundred times more sensitive than the best commercial
ultraviolet flame detectors and therefore, it is able to reliably detect a
flame of 1.5x1.5x1.5 m3 at a distance of about 1km. An additional and unique
feature of this detector is its imaging capability, which in combination with
other techniques, may significantly reduce false fire alarms when operating in
an automatic mode.
Preliminary results conducted with air filled photosensitive gaseous
detectors are also presented. The approach main advantages include both the
simplicity of manufacturing and affordability of construction materials such as
plastics and glues specifically reducing detector production cost. The
sensitivity of these air filled detectors at certain conditions may be as high
as those filled with Ne and EF. Long term test results of such sealed detectors
indicate a significant progress in this direction.
We believe that our detectors utilized in addition to other flame and smoke
sensors will exceptionally increase the sensitivity of forest fire detection
systems. Our future efforts will be focused on attempts to commercialize such
detectors utilizing our aforementioned findings.Comment: Presented at the International Conference on Micropattern gaseous
detectors, Crete, Greece, June 200
Advances in the Development of Micropattern Gaseous Detectors with Resistive Electrodes
We describe the most recent efforts made by various groups in implementing
resistive electrodes in micropattern gaseous detectors with the aim to combine
in the same design the best features of RPCs (for the example, their robustness
and spark protection property) with the high granularity and thus the good
position resolution offered by microelectronic technology. In the stream of
this activity, we have recently developed two novel detectors with resistive
electrodes: one was based on resistive micromeshes and the second one is a MSGC
with resistive electrodes. We have demonstrated that the resistive meshes are a
convenient construction element for various designs of spark protective
detectors: RPCs type, GEM type and MICROMEGAS type. These new detectors enable
to considerably enhance the RPC and micropattern detectors applications since
they feature not only a high position resolution but also a relatively good
energy resolution (25-30 persent FWHM at 6 keV) and, if necessary, they can
operate in cascaded mode allowing the achievement of a high overall gas gain.
The main conclusion from these studies is that the implementation of resistive
electrodes in micropattern detectors makes them fully spark protected; on this
basis we consider this direction very promising
R&D results on a CsI-TTGEM based photodetector
The very high momentum particle identification detector proposed for the
ALICE upgrade is a focusing RICH using a C4F10 gaseous radiator. For the
detection of Cherenkov photons, one of the options currently under
investigation is to use a CsI coated Triple-Thick-GEM (CsI-TTGEM) with metallic
or resistive electrodes. We will present results from the laboratory studies as
well as preliminary results of beam tests of a RICH detector prototype
consisting of a CaF2 radiator coupled to a 10x10 cm2 CsI-TTGEM equipped with a
pad readout and GASSIPLEX-based front-end electronics. With such a prototype
the detection of Cherenkov photons simultaneously with minimum ionizing
particles has been achieved for the first time in a stable operation mode
New designs of resistive microstrip gaseous detectors (R-MSGCs)
A new family of spark-protected micropattern gaseous detectors is introduced:
a 2-D sensitive restive microstrip counter and hybrid detectors, which combine
in one design a resistive GEM with a microstrip detector. These novel detectors
have several important advantages over other conventional micropattern
detectors and are unique for applications like the readout detectors for dual
phase noble liquid TPCs and RICHs
Performance of wire-type Rn detectors operated with gas gain in ambient air in view of its possible application to early earthquake predictions
We describe a detector of alpha particles based on wire type counters
(single-wire and multiwire) operating in ambient air at high gas gains
(100-1000). The main advantages of these detectors are: low cost, robustness
and ability to operate in humid air. The minimum detectable activity achieved
with the multiwire detector for an integration time of 1 min is 140 Bq per m3,
which is comparable to that featured by commercial devices. Owing to such
features the detector is suited for massive application, for example for
continuous monitoring of Rn or Po contaminations or, as discussed in the paper,
its use in a network of Rn counters in areas affected by earth-quakes in order
to verify, on a solid statistical basis, the envisaged correlation between the
sudden Rn appearance and a forthcoming earthquake
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