Beam performance and instrumentation studies for the ProtoDUNE-DP experiment of CENF

In this note, we address the beam performance (particle content, rates) with emphasis on the momentum determination and particle identification methods for the new H2-VLE (Very Low Energy) beam line that will serve the double phase ProtoDUNE experiment (also known as WA105), in the framework of the CENF project. The proposed instrumentation is configured to achieve an optimal pi/K/proton separation over the full spectrum of provided beam energies, from 0.4 GeV up to 12 GeV, as well as precise momentum measurement to a percent level, if required by the experiment. This note focuses on the H2-VLE beam line for the Double Phase ProtoDUNE experiment, however the same approach can be implemented for the H4-VLE beam, since the design of the two beam lines is very similar

Scalable playback rate control in P2P live streaming systems

Current commercial live video streaming systems are based either on a typical client–server (cloud) or on a peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture. The former architecture is preferred for stability and QoS, provided that the system is not stretched beyond its bandwidth capacity, while the latter is scalable with small bandwidth and management cost. In this paper, we propose a P2P live streaming architecture in which by adapting dynamically the playback rate we guarantee that peers receive the stream even in cases where the total upload bandwidth changes very abruptly. In order to achieve this we develop a scalable mechanism that by probing only a small subset of peers monitors dynamically the total available bandwidth resources and a playback rate control mechanism that dynamically adapts playback rate to the aforementioned resources. We model analytically the relationship between the playback rate and the available bandwidth resources by using difference equations and in this way we are able to apply a control theoretical approach. We also quantify monitoring inaccuracies and dynamic bandwidth changes and we calculate dynamically, as a function of these, the maximum playback rate for which the proposed system able to guarantee the uninterrupted and complete distribution of the stream. Finally, we evaluate the control strategy and the theoretical model in a packet level simulator of a complete P2P live streaming system that we designed in OPNET Modeler. Our evaluation results show the uninterrupted and complete stream delivery (every peer receives more than 99 % of video blocks in every scenario) even in very adverse bandwidth changes

Flexibility Aggregation of Temporally Coupled Resources in Real Time Balancing Markets Using Machine Learning

In modern power systems with high penetration of renewable energy sources, the flexibility provided by distributed energy resources is becoming invaluable. Demand aggregators offer balancing energy in the real-time balancing market on behalf of flexible resources. A challenging task is the design of the offering strategy of an aggregator. In particular, it is difficult to capture the flexibility cost of a portfolio of flexibility assets within a price-quantity offer, since the costs and constraints of flexibility resources exhibit inter-temporal dependencies. In this article, we propose a generic method for constructing aggregated balancing energy offers that best represent the portfolio's actual flexibility costs, while accounting for uncertainty in future timeslots. For the case study presented, we use offline simulations to train and compare different machine learning (ML) algorithms that receive the information about the state of the flexible resources and calculate the aggregator's offer. Once trained, the ML algorithms can make fast decisions about the portfolio's balancing energy offer in the real-time balancing market. Our simulations show that the proposed method performs reliably towards capturing the flexibility of the Aggregator's portfolio and minimizing the aggregator's imbalances.</p

Radiological assessment of the Tungsten Powder Test (HRM10) at HiRadMat

Granular solid targets made of fluidised tungsten powder have been long proposed and are being studied as an alternative configuration towards high-power (>1MW beam power) target systems, suitable for a future Super Beam facility or Neutrino Factory. A feasibility experiment to evaluate this kind of target is being prepared to be performed at HiRadMat facility of CERN/SPS. Activation studies in order to assess the radiological risk from this experiment have been carried out, in order to estimate the necessary cooling time to access and handle the experimental equipment, and for defining the specialized laboratory class for the post-mortem examination of the sample

STEER: Exploring the dynamic relationship between social information and networked media through experimentation

With the growing popularity of social networks, online video services and smart phones, the traditional content consumers are becoming the editors and broadcasters of their own stories. Within the EU FP7 project STEER, project partners have developed a novel system of new algorithms and toolsets that extract and analyse social informatics generated by social networks. Combined with advanced networking technologies, the platform creates services that offer more personalized and accurate content discovery and retrieval services. The STEER system has been deployed in multiple geographical locations during live social events such as the 2014 Winter Olympics. Our use case experiments demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the underlying technologies

Prompt, Activation and Background radiation studies for the HiRadMat facility of CERN/SPS

HiRadMat (High Irradiation to Materials) is a new facility under construction at CERN designed to provide high intensity beams in order to test raw materials and accelerator components with respect to the effect caused by the impact of pulsed, high intensity particle beams. In the present note detailed Monte-Carlo simulations studies using the FLUKA code have been performed for prompt dose equivalent rates in the corresponding tunnel structure as well as surface buildings, residual dose rates (after seven cooling times) for an exemplary irradiation of an LHC collimator, as well as for the remnant background dose in the tunnels after one year of operating the facility. Moreover, calculations of the possible activation of the cooling water in the dump have been performed. The scope of this document includes the operational aspects of the facility but does not cover experiment specific hazards or waste issues as they need to be studied on an individual basis