The IBIS view of the galactic centre: INTEGRAL's imager observations simulations

The Imager on Board Integral Satellite (IBIS) is the imaging instrument of the INTEGRAL satellite, the hard-X/soft-gamma ray ESA mission to be launched in 2001. It provides diagnostic capabilities of fine imaging (12' FWHM), source identification and spectral sensitivity to both continuum and broad lines over a broad (15 keV--10 MeV) energy range. It has a continuum sensitivity of 2~10^{-7} ph cm^{-2} s^{-1} at 1 MeV for a 10^6 seconds observation and a spectral resolution better than 7 % at 100 keV and of 6 % at 1 MeV. The imaging capabilities of the IBIS are characterized by the coupling of the above quoted source discrimination capability with a very wide field of view (FOV), namely 9 x 9 degrees fully coded, 29 x 29 degrees partially coded FOV. We present simulations of IBIS observations of the Galactic Center based on the results of the SIGMA Galactic Center survey. They show the capabilities of this instrument in discriminating between different sources while at the same time monitoring a huge FOV. It will be possible to simultaneously take spectra of all of these sources over the FOV even if the sensitivity decreases out of the fully coded area. It is envisaged that a proper exploitation of both the FOV dimension and the source localization capability of the IBIS will be a key factor in maximizing its scientific output.Comment: 5 pages, LaTeX, to be published in the 4th Compton Symposium Conference Proceedings, uses aipproc.cls, aipproc.sty (included

Superfluid helium as a technical coolant

The characteristics of superfluid helium as a technical coolant, which derive from its specific transport properties, are presented with particular reference to the working area in the phase diagram (saturated or pressurised helium II). We then review the principles and scaling laws of heat transport by equivalent conduction and by forced convection in pressurised helium II, thus revealing intrinsic limitations as well as technological shortcomings of these cooling methods. Once properly implemented, two-phase flow of saturated helium II presents overwhelming advantages over the previous solutions, which dictated its choice for cooling below 1.9 K the long strings of superconducting magnets in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a 26.7 km circumference particle collider now under construction at CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics near Geneva (Switzerland). We report on recent results from the ongoing research and development programme conducted on thermohydraulics of two-phase saturated helium II flows, and on the validation of design choices for the LHC cooling system

Advances in Cryogenics at the Large Hadron Collider

After a decade of intensive R&D in the key technologies of high-field superconducting accelerator magnets and superfluid helium cryogenics, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has now fully entered its co nstruction phase, with the adjudication of major procurement contracts to industry. As concerns cryogenic engineering, this R&D program has resulted in significant developments in several fields, amon g which thermo-hydraulics of two-phase saturated superfluid helium, efficient cycles and machinery for large-capacity refrigeration at 1.8 K, insulation techniques for series-produced cryostats and mu lti-kilometre long distribution lines, large-current leads using high-temperature superconductors, industrial precision thermometry below 4 K, and novel control techniques applied to strongly non-line ar processes. We review the most salient advances in these domains

Superconductivity and Cryogenics for Future High-Energy Accelerators

High-energy particle accelerators are used to create new forms of matter, probe its structure at very small scales, reproduce in the laboratory very high temperature conditions naturally present in astronomical or cosmological objects, and generate high-brilliance electromagnetic radiation. To accelerate, guide and focus beams of charged particles, they produce electrical and magnetic fields in RF cavities and electromagnets. Economically attaining higher fields is an essential condition for sustaining development of performance while containing increase in size, capital and operating costs. Superconductivity and cryogenics have therefore become and will remain enabling technologies for high-energy accelerators. After discussing the rationale for their use, we present several projects of future machines, under construction or under study, with emphasis on their specific requirements, constraints and adopted solutions

Introduction to cryogenics

This paper aims at introducing cryogenics to non-specialists. It is not a cryogenics course, for which there exists several excellent textbooks mentioned in the bibliography. Rather, it tries to convey in a synthetic form the essential features of cryogenic engineering and to raise awareness on key design and construction issues of cryogenic devices and systems. The presentation of basic processes, implementation techniques and typical values for physical and engineering parameters is illustrated by applications to helium cryogenics

Advanced Superconducting Technology for Global Science: The Large Hadron Collider at CERN

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), presently in construction at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research near Geneva (Switzerland), will be, upon its completion in 2005 and for the next twenty years, the most advanced research instrument of the world's high-energy physics community, providing access to the energy frontier above 1 TeV per elementary constituent. Re-using the 26.7-km circumference tunnel and infrastructure of the past LEP electron-positon collider, operated until 2000, the LHC will make use of advanced superconducting technology - high-field Nb-Ti superconducting magnets operated in superfluid helium and a cryogenic ultra-high vacuum system - to bring into collision intense beams of protons and ions at unprecedented values of center-of-mass energy and luminosity (14 TeV and 1034 cm-2.s-1, respectively with protons). After some ten years of focussed R&D, the LHC components are presently series-built in industry and procured through world-wide collaboration. After briefly recalling the physics goals, performance challenges and design choices of the machine, we describe its major technical systems, with particular emphasis on relevant advances in the key technologies of superconductivity and cryogenics, and report on its construction progress