4,733 research outputs found
The rf control and detection system for PACO the parametric converter detector
In this technical note the rf control and detection system for a detector of
small harmonic displacements based on two coupled microwave cavities (PACO) is
presented. The basic idea underlying this detector is the principle of
parametric power conversion between two resonant modes of the system,
stimulated by the (small) harmonic modulation of one system parameter. In this
experiment we change the cavity length applying an harmonic voltage to a
piezo-electric crystal. The system can achieve a great sensitivity to small
harmonic displacements and can be an interesting candidate for the detection of
small, mechanically coupled, interactions (e.g. high frequency gravitational
waves).Comment: 13 pages, 4 postscript figure
Parametric gravity wave detector
Since 1978 superconducting coupled cavities have been proposed as a sensitive
detector of gravitational waves. The interaction of the gravitational wave with
the cavity walls, and the esulting motion, induces the transition of some
energy from an initially excited cavity mode to an empty one. The energy
transfer is maximum when the frequency of the wave is equal to the frequency
difference of the two cavity modes. In 1984 Reece, Reiner and Melissinos built
a detector of the type proposed, and used it as a transducer of harmonic
mechanical motion, achieving a sensitivity to fractional deformations of the
order dx/x ~ 10^(-18). In this paper the working principles of the detector are
discussed and the last experimental results summarized. New ideas for the
development of a realistic gravitational waves detector are considered; the
outline of a possible detector design and its expected sensitivity are also
shown.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures. Talk given at the Workshop on Electromagnetic
Probes of Fundamentals Physics, Erice (Italy), October 200
A detector of gravitational waves based on coupled microwave cavities
Since 1978 superconducting coupled cavities have been proposed as sensitive
detector of gravitational waves. The interaction of the gravitational wave with
the cavity walls, and the resulting motion, induces the transition of some
electromagnetic energy from an initially excited cavity mode to an empty one.
The energy transfer is maximum when the frequency of the wave is equal to the
frequency difference of the two cavity modes. In this paper the basic
principles of the detector are discussed. The interaction of a gravitational
wave with the cavity walls is studied in the proper reference frame of the
detector, and the coupling between two electromagnetic normal modes induced by
the wall motion is analyzed in detail. Noise sources are also considered; in
particular the noise coming from the brownian motion of the cavity walls is
analyzed. Some ideas for the developement of a realistic detector of
gravitational waves are discussed; the outline of a possible detector design
and its expected sensitivity are also shown.Comment: 29 pages, 12 eps figures. Typeset by REVTe
A detector of small harmonic displacements based on two coupled microwave cavities
The design and test of a detector of small harmonic displacements is
presented. The detector is based on the principle of the parametric conversion
of power between the resonant modes of two superconducting coupled microwave
cavities. The work is based on the original ideas of Bernard, Pegoraro, Picasso
and Radicati, who, in 1978, suggested that superconducting coupled cavities
could be used as sensitive detectors of gravitational waves, and on the work of
Reece, Reiner and Melissinos, who, {in 1984}, built a detector of this kind.
They showed that an harmonic modulation of the cavity length l produced an
energy transfer between two modes of the cavity, provided that the frequency of
the modulation was equal to the frequency difference of the two modes. They
achieved a sensitivity to fractional deformations of dl/l~10^{-17} Hz^{-1/2}.
We repeated the Reece, Reiner and Melissinos experiment, and with an improved
experimental configuration and better cavity quality, increased the sensitivity
to dl/l~10^{-20} Hz^{-1/2}. In this paper the basic principles of the device
are discussed and the experimental technique is explained in detail. Possible
future developments, aiming at gravitational waves detection, are also
outlined.Comment: 28 pages, 12 eps figures, ReVteX. \tightenlines command added to
reduce number of pages. The following article has been accepted by Review of
Scientific Instruments. After it is published, it will be found at
http://link.aip.org/link/?rs
Two Coupled Superconducting Cavities as a Gravitational Wave Detector: First Experimental Results
First experimental results of a feasibility study of a gravitational wave
detector based on two coupled superconducting cavities are presented. Basic
physical principles underlying the detector behaviour and sensitivity limits
are discussed. The detector layout is described in detail and its rf properties
are showed. The limit sensitivity to small harmonic displacements at the
detection frequency (around 1 MHz) is showed. The system performance as a
potential g.w. detector is discussed and future developments are foreseen.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures. Presented at the 9th Workshop on RF
Superconductivity, November 1-5, 1999, Santa Fe, New Mexico, US
Microwave apparatus for gravitational waves observation
In this report the theoretical and experimental activities for the
development of superconducting microwave cavities for the detection of
gravitational waves are presented.Comment: 42 pages, 28 figure
Superconducting cavity transducer for resonant gravitational radiation antennas
Parametric transducers, such as superconducting rf cavities, can boost the
bandwidth and sensitivity of the next generation resonant antennas, thanks to a
readily available technology. We have developed a fully coupled dynamic model
of the system "antenna--transducer" and worked out some estimates of
signal--to--noise ratio and the stability conditions in various experimental
configurations. We also show the design and the prototype of a rf cavity which,
together with a suitable read--out electronic, will be used as a test bench for
the parametric transducer.Comment: 7 pages, 3 eps figures. Presented at the 6th Amaldi Conference on
Gravitational Waves (2005). Accepted for publication in Journal of Physics:
Conference Serie
A filtering approach for PET and PG predictions in a proton treatment planning system
Positron emission tomography (PET) and prompt gamma (PG) detection are promising proton therapy monitoring modalities. Fast calculation of the expected distributions is desirable for comparison to measurements and to develop/train algorithms for automatic treatment error detection. A filtering formalism was used for positron-emitter predictions and adapted to allow for its use for the beamline of any proton therapy centre. A novel approach based on a filtering formalism was developed for the prediction of energy-resolved PG distributions for arbitrary tissues. The method estimates PG yields and their energy spectra in the entire treatment field. Both approaches were implemented in a research version of the RayStation treatment planning system. The method was validated against PET monitoring data and Monte Carlo simulations for four patients treated with scanned proton beams. Longitudinal shifts between profiles from analytical and Monte Carlo calculations were within -1.7 and 0.9 mm, with maximum standard deviation of 0.9 mm and 1.1 mm, for positron-emitters and PG shifts, respectively. Normalized mean absolute errors were within 1.2 and 5.3%. When comparing measured and predicted PET data, the same more complex case yielded an average shift of 3 mm, while all other cases were below absolute average shifts of 1.1 mm. Normalized mean absolute errors were below 7.2% for all cases. A novel solution to predict positron-emitter and PG distributions in a treatment planning system is proposed, enabling calculation times of only a few seconds to minutes for entire patient cases, which is suitable for integration in daily clinical routine
Use of training with BCI (Brain Computer Interface) in the management of impulsivity
Impulsivity represents one of the risk factors strongly related to dependent behavior in subjects with a diagnosis of substance dependence. The risk appetite, in particular, represents a construct connected with other components such as jumping to conclusion and risk taking.There are several forms of treatment used with subjects who have problems related to impulsivity. A good part of these is aimed at subjects with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), in the form of training or exercises implemented on software. This work aims to evaluate the use of training for concentration, attention and meditation on reducing risk appetite. The experimental design, of a pre-post type, involves assessing the risk appetite before and after training, to be carried out in six sessions over two weeks. The comparison between the experimental group and the control groups showed significant efficacy in reducing the levels of impulsivity in subjects with addiction.This work represents a pilot study on the possible use of meditation, concentration, and training exercises and demonstrates how these can be considered as excellent forms of training for the reduction of impulsiveness and risk appetite, showing their feasibility in the contexts of intervention and cure for addictions
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