48 research outputs found
Lowering the background level and the energy threshold of Micromegas x-ray detectors for axion searches
Axion helioscopes search for solar axions by their conversion in x-rays in
the presence of high magnetic fields. The use of low background x-ray detectors
is an essential component contributing to the sensitivity of these searches. In
this work, we review the recent advances on Micromegas detectors used in the
CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) and proposed for the future International
Axion Observatory (IAXO). The actual setup in CAST has achieved background
levels below 10 keV cm s, a factor 100 lower than
the first generation of Micromegas detectors. This reduction is based on active
and passive shielding techniques, the selection of radiopure materials, offline
discrimination techniques and the high granularity of the readout. We describe
in detail the background model of the detector, based on its operation at CAST
site and at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC), as well as on Geant4
simulations. The best levels currently achieved at LSC are low than 10
keV cm s and show good prospects for the application of
this technology in IAXO. Finally, we present some ideas and results for
reducing the energy threshold of these detectors below 1 keV, using
high-transparent windows, autotrigger electronics and studying the cluster
shape at different energies. As a high flux of axion-like-particles is expected
in this energy range, a sub-keV threshold detector could enlarge the physics
case of axion helioscopes.Comment: Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Technology and
Instrumentation in Particle Physics (TIPP 2014
Low Background Micromegas in CAST
Solar axions could be converted into x-rays inside the strong magnetic field
of an axion helioscope, triggering the detection of this elusive particle. Low
background x-ray detectors are an essential component for the sensitivity of
these searches. We report on the latest developments of the Micromegas
detectors for the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST), including technological
pathfinder activities for the future International Axion Observatory (IAXO).
The use of low background techniques and the application of discrimination
algorithms based on the high granularity of the readout have led to background
levels below 10 counts/keV/cm/s, more than a factor 100 lower than
the first generation of Micromegas detectors. The best levels achieved at the
Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC) are as low as 10
counts/keV/cm/s, showing good prospects for the application of this
technology in IAXO. The current background model, based on underground and
surface measurements, is presented, as well as the strategies to further reduce
the background level. Finally, we will describe the R&D paths to achieve
sub-keV energy thresholds, which could broaden the physics case of axion
helioscopes.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, Large TPC Conference 2014, Pari
Quasinormal modes from potentials surrounding the charged dilaton black hole
We clarify the purely imaginary quasinormal frequencies of a massless scalar
perturbation on the 3D charged-dilaton black holes. This case is quite
interesting because the potential-step appears outside the event horizon
similar to the case of the electromagnetic perturbations on the large
Schwarzschild-AdS black holes. It turns out that the potential-step type
provides the purely imaginary quasinormal frequencies, while the
potential-barrier type gives the complex quasinormal modes.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure
Scientific concepts and methods for moving persistence assessments into the 21st century
34 páginas.- 2 figuras.- 3 tablas.- 225 referenciasThe evaluation of a chemical substance's persistence is key to understanding its environmental fate, exposure concentration, and, ultimately, environmental risk. Traditional biodegradation test methods were developed many years ago for soluble, nonvolatile, single-constituent test substances, which do not represent the wide range of manufactured chemical substances. In addition, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) screening and simulation test methods do not fully reflect the environmental conditions into which substances are released and, therefore, estimates of chemical degradation half-lives can be very uncertain and may misrepresent real environmental processes. In this paper, we address the challenges and limitations facing current test methods and the scientific advances that are helping to both understand and provide solutions to them. Some of these advancements include the following: (1) robust methods that provide a deeper understanding of microbial composition, diversity, and abundance to ensure consistency and/or interpret variability between tests; (2) benchmarking tools and reference substances that aid in persistence evaluations through comparison against substances with well-quantified degradation profiles; (3) analytical methods that allow quantification for parent and metabolites at environmentally relevant concentrations, and inform on test substance bioavailability, biochemical pathways, rates of primary versus overall degradation, and rates of metabolite formation and decay; (4) modeling tools that predict the likelihood of microbial biotransformation, as well as biochemical pathways; and (5) modeling approaches that allow for derivation of more generally applicable biotransformation rate constants, by accounting for physical and/or chemical processes and test system design when evaluating test data. We also identify that, while such advancements could improve the certainty and accuracy of persistence assessments, the mechanisms and processes by which they are translated into regulatory practice and development of new OECD test guidelines need improving and accelerating. Where uncertainty remains, holistic weight of evidence approaches may be required to accurately assess the persistence of chemicals. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;1–34. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).Peer reviewe
First results on the search for chameleons with the KWISP detector at CAST
We report on a first measurement with a sensitive opto-mechanical force sensor designed for the direct detection of coupling of real chameleons to matter. These dark energy candidates could be produced in the Sun and stream unimpeded to Earth. The KWISP detector installed on the CAST axion search experiment at CERN looks for tiny displacements of a thin membrane caused by the mechanical effect of solar chameleons. The displacements are detected by a Michelson interferometer with a homodyne readout scheme. The sensor benefits from the focusing action of the ABRIXAS X-ray telescope installed at CAST, which increases the chameleon flux on the membrane. A mechanical chopper placed between the telescope output and the detector modulates the incoming chameleon stream. We present the results of the solar chameleon measurements taken at CAST in July 2017, setting an upper bound on the force acting on the membrane of 80pN at 95% confidence level. The detector is sensitive for direct
coupling to matter 104 = ßm = 108, where the coupling to photons is locally bound to ß¿ = 1011
Improved search for solar chameleons with a GridPix detector at CAST
We report on a new search for solar chameleons with the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST). A GridPix detector was used to search for soft X-ray photons in the energy range from 200 eV to 10 keV from converted solar chameleons. No significant excess over the expected background has been observed in the data taken in 2014 and 2015. We set an improved limit on the chameleon photon coupling, beta(gamma) less than or similar to 5.7 x 10(10) for 1 < beta(m) < 10(6) at 95% C.L. improving our previous results by a factor two and for the first time reaching sensitivity below the solar luminosity bound for tachocline magnetic fields up to 12.5 T
The Next Generation of Axion Helioscopes: The International Axion Observatory (IAXO)
The International Axion Observatory (IAXO) is a proposed 4th-generation axion helioscope with the primary physics research goal to search for solar axions via their Primakoff conversion into photons of 1 \u2013 10 keV energies in a strong magnetic field. IAXO will achieve a sensitivity to the axion-photon coupling ga\u3b3 down to a few
710 1212 GeV 121 for a wide range of axion masses up to 3c 0.25 eV. This is an improvement over the currently best (3rd generation) axion helioscope, the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST), of about 5 orders of magnitude in signal strength, corresponding to a factor 3c 20 in the axion photon coupling. IAXO's sensitivity relies on the construction of a large superconducting 8-coil toroidal magnet of 20 m length optimized for axion research. Each of the eight 60 cm diameter magnet bores is equipped with x-ray optics focusing the signal photons into 3c 0.2 cm2 spots that are imaged by very low background x-ray detectors. The magnet will be built into a structure with elevation and azimuth drives that will allow solar tracking for 12 hours each day. This contribution is a summary of our papers [1], [2] and [3] and we refer to these for further details
The IAXO Helioscope
The IAXO (International Axion Experiment) is a fourth generation helioscope with a sensitivity, in terms of detectable signal counts, at least 104 better than CAST phase-I, resulting in sensitivity on ga¿ one order of magnitude better. To achieve this performance IAXO will count on a 8-coil toroidal magnet with 60 cm diameter bores and equipped with X-ray focusing optics into 0.20 cm2 spots coupled to ultra-low background Micromegas X-ray detectors. The magnet will be on a platform that will allow solar tracking for 12 hours per day. The next short term objectives are to prepare a Technical Design Report and to construct the first prototypes of the hardware main ingredients: demonstration coil, X-ray optics and low background detector while refining the physics case and studying the feasibility studies for Dark Matter axions
Conceptual design of the International Axion Observatory (IAXO)
The International Axion Observatory (IAXO) will be a forth generation axion
helioscope. As its primary physics goal, IAXO will look for axions or
axion-like particles (ALPs) originating in the Sun via the Primakoff conversion
of the solar plasma photons. In terms of signal-to-noise ratio, IAXO will be
about 4-5 orders of magnitude more sensitive than CAST, currently the most
powerful axion helioscope, reaching sensitivity to axion-photon couplings down
to a few GeV and thus probing a large fraction of the
currently unexplored axion and ALP parameter space. IAXO will also be sensitive
to solar axions produced by mechanisms mediated by the axion-electron coupling
with sensitivity for the first time to values of not
previously excluded by astrophysics. With several other possible physics cases,
IAXO has the potential to serve as a multi-purpose facility for generic axion
and ALP research in the next decade. In this paper we present the conceptual
design of IAXO, which follows the layout of an enhanced axion helioscope, based
on a purpose-built 20m-long 8-coils toroidal superconducting magnet. All the
eight 60cm-diameter magnet bores are equipped with focusing x-ray optics, able
to focus the signal photons into cm spots that are imaged by
ultra-low-background Micromegas x-ray detectors. The magnet is built into a
structure with elevation and azimuth drives that will allow for solar tracking
for 12 h each day.Comment: 47 pages, submitted to JINS
Evolution of the use of corticosteroids for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Spain between March and November 2020: SEMI-COVID national registry
Objectives: Since the results of the RECOVERY trial, WHO recommendations about the use of corticosteroids (CTs) in COVID-19 have changed. The aim of the study is to analyse the evolutive use of CTs in Spain during the pandemic to assess the potential influence of new recommendations. Material and methods: A retrospective, descriptive, and observational study was conducted on adults hospitalised due to COVID-19 in Spain who were included in the SEMI-COVID- 19 Registry from March to November 2020. Results: CTs were used in 6053 (36.21%) of the included patients. The patients were older (mean (SD)) (69.6 (14.6) vs. 66.0 (16.8) years; p < 0.001), with hypertension (57.0% vs. 47.7%; p < 0.001), obesity (26.4% vs. 19.3%; p < 0.0001), and multimorbidity prevalence (20.6% vs. 16.1%; p < 0.001). These patients had higher values (mean (95% CI)) of C-reactive protein (CRP) (86 (32.7-160) vs. 49.3 (16-109) mg/dL; p < 0.001), ferritin (791 (393-1534) vs. 470 (236- 996) µg/dL; p < 0.001), D dimer (750 (430-1400) vs. 617 (345-1180) µg/dL; p < 0.001), and lower Sp02/Fi02 (266 (91.1) vs. 301 (101); p < 0.001). Since June 2020, there was an increment in the use of CTs (March vs. September; p < 0.001). Overall, 20% did not receive steroids, and 40% received less than 200 mg accumulated prednisone equivalent dose (APED). Severe patients are treated with higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%. Conclusions: Patients with greater comorbidity, severity, and inflammatory markers were those treated with CTs. In severe patients, there is a trend towards the use of higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%