Evolution of online algorithms in ATLAS and CMS in Run 2

The Large Hadron Collider has entered a new era in Run 2, with centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and instantaneous luminosity reaching $\mathcal{L}_\textrm{inst} = 1.4\times$10$^{34}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ for pp collisions. In order to cope with those harsher conditions, the ATLAS and CMS collaborations have improved their online selection infrastructure to keep a high efficiency for important physics processes - like W, Z and Higgs bosons in their leptonic and diphoton modes - whilst keeping the size of data stream compatible with the bandwidth and disk resources available. In this note, we describe some of the trigger improvements implemented for Run 2, including algorithms for selection of electrons, photons, muons and hadronic final states.Comment: 6 pages. Presented at The Fifth Annual Conference on Large Hadron Collider Physics (LHCP 2017), Shanghai, China, May 15-20, 201

An X-ray Survey in SA 57 with XMM-Newton

The maximum number density of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs), as deduced from X-ray studies, occurs at z<~1, with lower luminosity objects peaking at smaller redshifts. Optical studies lead to a different evolutionary behaviour, with a number density peaking at z~2 independently of the intrinsic luminosity, but this result is limited to active nuclei brighter than the host galaxy. A selection based on optical variability can detect low luminosity AGNs (LLAGNs), where the host galaxy light prevents the identification by non-stellar colours. We want to collect X-ray data in a field where it exists an optically-selected sample of "variable galaxies'', i.e. variable objects with diffuse appearance, to investigate the X-ray and optical properties of the population of AGNs, particularly of low luminosity ones, where the host galaxy is visible. We observed a field of 0.2 deg^2 in the Selected Area 57, for 67ks with XMM-Newton. We detected X-ray sources, and we correlated the list with a photographic survey of SA 57, complete to B_J~23 and with available spectroscopic data. We obtained a catalogue of 140 X-ray sources to limiting fluxes 5x10^-16, 2x10^-15 erg/cm^2/s in the 0.5-2 keV and 2-10 keV respectively, 98 of which are identified in the optical bands. The X-ray detection of part of the variability-selected candidates confirms their AGN nature. Diffuse variable objects populate the low luminosity side of the sample. Only 25/44 optically-selected QSOs are detected in X-rays. 15% of all QSOs in the field have X/O<0.1.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables, A&A in pres

The CMS Trigger Upgrade for the HL-LHC

The CMS experiment has been designed with a two-level trigger system: the Level-1 Trigger, implemented on custom-designed electronics, and the High Level Trigger, a streamlined version of the CMS offline reconstruction software running on a computer farm. During its second phase the LHC will reach a luminosity of $7.5\times10^{34}\,\textrm{cm}^{-2}\,\textrm{s}^{-1}$ with a pileup of 200 collisions, producing integrated luminosity greater than 3000 fb$^{-1}$ over the full experimental run. To fully exploit the higher luminosity, the CMS experiment will introduce a more advanced Level-1 Trigger and increase the full readout rate from 100 kHz to 750 kHz. CMS is designing an efficient data-processing hardware trigger (Level-1) that will include tracking information and high-granularity calorimeter information. The current conceptual system design is expected to take full advantage of advances in FPGA and link technologies over the coming years, providing a high-performance, low-latency system for large throughput and sophisticated data correlation across diverse sources. The higher luminosity, event complexity and input rate present an unprecedented challenge to the High Level Trigger, that aims to achieve a similar efficiency and rejection factor as today despite the higher pileup and more pure preselection. In this presentation we will discuss the ongoing studies and prospects for the online reconstruction and selection algorithms for the high-luminosity era.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Presented at CHEP 2019 - 24th International Conference on Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics, Adelaide, Australia, November 04-08, 2019. Replaced with published versio

Measurements and optimization of the light yield of a TeO2_2 crystal

Bolometers have proven to be good instruments to search for rare processes because of their excellent energy resolution and their extremely low intrinsic background. In this kind of detectors, the capability of discriminating alpha particles from electrons represents an important aspect for the background reduction. One possibility for obtaining such a discrimination is provided by the detection of the Cherenkov light which, at the low energies of the natural radioactivity, is only emitted by electrons. This paper describes the method developed to evaluate the amount of light produced by a crystal of TeO$_2$ when hit by a 511 keV photon. The experimental measurements and the results of a detailed simulation of the crystal and the readout system are shown and compared. A light yield of about 52 Cherenkov photons per deposited MeV was measured. The effect of wrapping the crystal with a PTFE layer, with the aim of maximizing the light collection, is also presented

Analysis of flash flood scenarios in an urbanized catchment using a two-dimensional hydraulic model

Abstract. In Italy, growing urbanization is leading to a higher risk of flooding of small water courses, especially in steep catchments of limited area, where severe flash flood events can occur. The assessment of flash flood hazard requires new modelling tools that can reproduce both the rainfall–runoff processes in the catchment, and the flow processes in the drainage network. In this paper we propose the use of a simple two-dimensional hydraulic model for analysing a flood scenario in a small valley within the urban area of the city of Bologna, Italy. Historically this area has been prone to severe flood events, the most recent of which occurred in 1955 and 1932. Since then there has been a significant increase in urbanization of the lower portion of the catchment, while the natural stream bed has been partially replaced by a culvert. The two-dimensional hydraulic model was therefore applied at catchment scale, in order to simulate the possible effects of historical scenarios in the present catchment configuration. Rainfall and runoff data measured during recent rainfall events were used to calibrate model parameters. Model results show that the current culvert section would be insufficient to drain the runoff produced by intense rainfall events, with potential inundation of surrounding urban areas

Ancient Biomolecules Unravel our History: A Technical Update with Examples from the Middle East

Context: The study of ancient biomolecules represents a useful tool to address questions related to human history. Objective: This manuscript provides an overview of the major categories of ancient biomolecules, highlighting their potentialities when applied to research. Methods: This study gathered knowledge from recently published papers on paleogenomics, paleoproteomics, ancient lipids and stable isotope analyses with the aim of providing a technical and historical background on ancient biomolecules, and examples of their application in the Arabian Peninsula and Middle East in general. Results: The progress seen in the past decade with regard to the study of ancient biomolecules has led to a dramatic expansion of the studies that apply those analyses. Increasing attention has also been paid to the development and optimization of protocols aimed at reducing and/or preventing the risk of contamination. While extensively applied to Western areas, the study of ancient biomolecules in the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula has been limited. Conclusions: Research on ancient biomolecules represents the most valuable source of information to understand our evolutionary past at an inconceivable level of detail, especially when applied to areas so far underrepresented in this field, such as the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula in particular

TeO2_2 bolometers with Cherenkov signal tagging: towards next-generation neutrinoless double beta decay experiments

CUORE, an array of 988 TeO$_2$ bolometers, is about to be one of the most sensitive experiments searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay. Its sensitivity could be further improved by removing the background from $\alpha$ radioactivity. A few years ago it has been pointed out that the signal from $\beta$s can be tagged by detecting the emitted Cherenkov light, which is not produced by $\alpha$s. In this paper we confirm this possibility. For the first time we measured the Cherenkov light emitted by a CUORE crystal, and found it to be 100 eV at the $Q$-value of the decay. To completely reject the $\alpha$ background, we compute that one needs light detectors with baseline noise below 20 eV RMS, a value which is 3-4 times smaller than the average noise of the bolometric light detectors we are using. We point out that an improved light detector technology must be developed to obtain TeO$_2$ bolometric experiments able to probe the inverted hierarchy of neutrino masses.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Added referee correction

Mense e personale addetto alle cucine: valutazione dei rischi occupazionali

The aim of the study is to evaluate the occupational risks among food service workers and cooks. During the occupational risks assessment the following risk factors must be evaluated: musculoskeletal disorders, chemical risk (cleaning kitchen work surface, dishes, utensils ecc.) biological risk (contact with foods or biological agents) cancerogenic risk (by baking smoke inhalation), and psycho-social stress. In this study the preventive measures and protective equipment to prevent health hazards for these workers have been evaluated (i.e. aspiration hood, adapted ventilation, chosen of less harmful methods of baking, ecc.). In particular the performance of rigid behavioural norms and hygienic procedures is very important for cooks and food service workers to reduce the risk of occupational infections

An early evaluation of the 2050 Calculator international outreach programme

This paper presents the findings of an early evaluation of the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change’s 2050 Calculator International Outreach Programme. The programme supported eleven countries to develop their own versions of the 2050 Calculator. Drawing on interviews with stakeholders who were involved directly and indirectly in the development of the 2050 Calculators, this paper evaluates the process of developing these tools in different national contexts and discusses the lessons learnt so far. The findings discussed include the original motivations for involvement and how these evolved through the project, and the process of stakeholder engagement. The latter was expected to be a key benefit of the Calculator, and one which would open up debate about long term energy futures. While the teams developing the Calculators faced challenges, including data availability, political buy-in, and defining scenario trajectories, a flexible approach enabled countries to develop Calculators that were tailored to their national objectives and political environments. Overall, the 2050 Calculators have led to a wide range of benefits and there is ongoing commitment to develop new iterations and applications to use these Calculators to support planning of, and debate on, future energy and emissions trajectories