737 research outputs found
Development of a position-sensitive detector for positronium inertial sensing measurements
In the last twenty years, both free fall and interferometry/deflectometry experiments have been proposed for the measurement of the gravitational acceleration on positronium, which is a purely leptonic matter-antimatter atom formed by an electron and its antiparticle (positron). Among the several challenges posed by these experiments is the development of position-sensitive detectors to measure the deflection of positronium in the Earth's gravitational field. In this work, we describe our recent progress in the development of position-sensitive detectors. Two different detection schemes are considered. The first is based on Ps ionization in a strong homogeneous magnetic field and imaging of the freed positron with a microchannel plate. The second scheme is based on scanning the positronium atom distribution on a plane by moving the slit or a material grating with sub-nm accuracy, and counting the atoms crossing the obstacle and those annihilating on it. The possibility of reaching a spatial resolution of around 15 ÎŒm using the former detection scheme is shown, and preliminary steps towards the development of a detector following the latter scheme (with potential position sensitivity in the sub-nm range) are described
Characterization of sputtered WâSiâN thin films by a monoenergetic positron beam
A monoenergetic positron beam was employed to characterize the uniformity and the microstructural variation of thermally treated WâSiâN thin film. As the annealing temperature is increased, positrons are found to be progressively trapped in sites rich in silicon. This behavior is explained by the formation of W clusters from which positrons are favorably trapped into the SiâN amorphous matrix. Positron results are discussed together with information obtained on similar samples by Rutheford backscattering, infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy measurements
Decoration of Buried Surfaces in Si detected by Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy
The terminations of buried surfaces of two different cavity types (nano- and microcavities) produced in the same He+-H+ co-implanted p-type Si (100) sample annealed at 900 °C, are studied and characterized by positron annihilation spectroscopy. The characterization was carried out by means of three complementary positron techniques: Doppler broadening and coincidence-Doppler broadening spectroscopy with a continuous slow positron beam, and lifetime spectroscopy with a pulsed slow positron beam. It was found that the nanocavities have a pristine surface of Si, while the surfaces of the microcavities, formed below protruding blisters, are oxygen decorated. This case study opens the interesting use of the positron spectroscopy tool in the topical subject of empty space for microelectronics applications.Fil: Brusa, R.S.. Universita degli Studi di Trento; ItaliaFil: Macchi, Carlos Eugenio. Universita degli Studi di Trento; Italia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Mariazzi, S.. Universita degli Studi di Trento; ItaliaFil: Karwasz, G.P.. Universita degli Studi di Trento; ItaliaFil: Egger, W.. UniversitĂ€t der Bundeswehr MĂŒnchen; AlemaniaFil: Sperr, P.. UniversitĂ€t der Bundeswehr MĂŒnchen; AlemaniaFil: Kögel, G.. UniversitĂ€t der Bundeswehr MĂŒnchen; Alemani
study of positronium formation in nano channelled silicon as a function of sample temperature
Oxidized nanochannel in silicon have been demonstrated to be suitable for positronium (Ps) formation and cooling also at low sample temperature. To investigate the Ps yield and to clarify the Ps formation mechanism we studied, by Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS), nanochanneled Si p-type samples in the 150â430 K temperature range. Ps yield was found to be constant in the 150â300 K temperature range, then it increases up to ~50% of its value from 350â400 K. This effect is associated to a decrease of the fraction of positrons annihilating in Si and in the SiO2 layer on the nanochannels surface. This finding is compatible with the thermal decrease of the positive charge distribution at the Si/SiO2 interface limiting e+ reaching the SiO2 layer and to a charge rearrangement at the SiO2 surfaces
Annihilation of low energy antiprotons in silicon
The goal of the AEIS experiment at the Antiproton
Decelerator (AD) at CERN, is to measure directly the Earth's gravitational
acceleration on antimatter. To achieve this goal, the AEIS
collaboration will produce a pulsed, cold (100 mK) antihydrogen beam with a
velocity of a few 100 m/s and measure the magnitude of the vertical deflection
of the beam from a straight path. The final position of the falling
antihydrogen will be detected by a position sensitive detector. This detector
will consist of an active silicon part, where the annihilations take place,
followed by an emulsion part. Together, they allow to achieve 1 precision on
the measurement of with about 600 reconstructed and time tagged
annihilations.
We present here, to the best of our knowledge, the first direct measurement
of antiproton annihilation in a segmented silicon sensor, the first step
towards designing a position sensitive silicon detector for the
AEIS experiment. We also present a first comparison with
Monte Carlo simulations (GEANT4) for antiproton energies below 5 MeVComment: 21 pages in total, 29 figures, 3 table
Prospects for measuring the gravitational free-fall of antihydrogen with emulsion detectors
The main goal of the AEgIS experiment at CERN is to test the weak equivalence
principle for antimatter. AEgIS will measure the free-fall of an antihydrogen
beam traversing a moir\'e deflectometer. The goal is to determine the
gravitational acceleration g for antihydrogen with an initial relative accuracy
of 1% by using an emulsion detector combined with a silicon micro-strip
detector to measure the time of flight. Nuclear emulsions can measure the
annihilation vertex of antihydrogen atoms with a precision of about 1 - 2
microns r.m.s. We present here results for emulsion detectors operated in
vacuum using low energy antiprotons from the CERN antiproton decelerator. We
compare with Monte Carlo simulations, and discuss the impact on the AEgIS
project.Comment: 20 pages, 16 figures, 3 table
Operations of and Future Plans for the Pierre Auger Observatory
Technical reports on operations and features of the Pierre Auger Observatory,
including ongoing and planned enhancements and the status of the future
northern hemisphere portion of the Observatory. Contributions to the 31st
International Cosmic Ray Conference, Lodz, Poland, July 2009.Comment: Contributions to the 31st ICRC, Lodz, Poland, July 200
Measurement of the Depth of Maximum of Extensive Air Showers above 10^18 eV
We describe the measurement of the depth of maximum, Xmax, of the
longitudinal development of air showers induced by cosmic rays. Almost four
thousand events above 10^18 eV observed by the fluorescence detector of the
Pierre Auger Observatory in coincidence with at least one surface detector
station are selected for the analysis. The average shower maximum was found to
evolve with energy at a rate of (106 +35/-21) g/cm^2/decade below 10^(18.24 +/-
0.05) eV and (24 +/- 3) g/cm^2/decade above this energy. The measured
shower-to-shower fluctuations decrease from about 55 to 26 g/cm^2. The
interpretation of these results in terms of the cosmic ray mass composition is
briefly discussed.Comment: Accepted for publication by PR
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