Dedicated front-end electronics for the next generation of linear collider electromagnetic calorimeter

This paper describes an R&D electronic program for the next generation of linear collider electromagnetic calorimeter. After a brief presentation of the requirements, a global scheme of the electronics is given. Then, we describe the three different building blocks developed in 0.35\mum CMOS technology: an amplifier, a comparator and finally the pipelined AD

A Front-End ASIC for the Dimuon Arm Trigger of the ALICE Experiment

A first prototype of the front-end ASIC dedicated to the trigger detector of the dimuon arm of ALICE has been designed and tested in the "Laboratoire de Physique Corpusculaire" of Clermont-Fd.This set-up is based on the Resisitive Plate Chamber (RPC), a gaseous detector which can be operated either in streamer or avalanche mode. The streamer mode has the advantage of providing large signals that can be discriminated without amplification, whereas the avalanche mode presents a better rate capability and time resolution with conventional discrimination techniques.Since we propose to operate the RPCs in streamer mode in ALICE, we have studied a new discrimination technique in order to obtain a time resolution better than 2 ns in this mode. The method used in this dedicated circuit is described, performances and test results are given, as well as the evaluation done in the test beam of summer 2000

Comparison of performances of drying techniques of surfaces in agro food premises

International audienceCleaning and disinfection (C&D) are among the most important hazard control measures in ready-to-eat food plants. The C&D process requires a huge volume of water that wets the surfaces of the food processing premises. The water remaining on these surfaces are susceptible to be the source of a microbial reservoir as wet media are favorable to microbial growth. To face this problem, a rapid drying after C&D is to be sought. For this purpose, the humidity control of the air in the premises is to be obtained. In this purpose, three technologies could be employed: (i) a classical one based on dew point air treatment, (ii) the use of liquid desiccant and (iii) the use of desiccant wheels. This paper compares the energy consumption of these three techniques for typical premises which can be found in agrofood industry. The energy consumptions of these techniques are assessed with simplified approaches which may sometimes be open to discussion. Nevertheless, the results indicate some major tendencies and allow supporting interesting conclusions

Avaliação da predação de rato-preto Rattus rattus nas crias de cagarra Calonectris diomedea borealis na Ilha da Berlenga

Berlengas Archipelago is the most important area in mainland Portugal for breeding seabirds. The archipelago hosts the only known breeding population of the vulnerable Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea borealis in mainland Portuguese coastal waters. Although this population has already been the subject of many studies, little is known about its interaction with black rat Rattus rattus. Black rat and rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus are the only introduced mammals on the island, and the first is listed as one of the main predators of Cory’s Shearwater chicks. This study aimed to 1) evaluate the activity of black rat in two Cory’s Shearwater colonies and 2) report events of predation on chicks. For this, 54 and 20 nests were monitored daily in the colonies of Melreu and Furado Seco, respectively, between July 24 and August 6. Meanwhile, 16 photographic traps were installed within or at the entrance of 29 different nests in order to monitor rats’ activity. Despite not having obtained any record from direct predation of black rat, 2 chicks disappeared from the nest (with no photo trap) with a strong likelihood of being predated. Although in Melreu have been noticed a strong decrease in activity of black rat during development of chicks and Furado Seco not, the data presented here suggest a greater and more prolonged activity of rat at the second, which may indicate it’s under greater predatory pressure. Finnally it was found some evidences on possible impact by yellow-legged-gull on Cory’s shearwater chicks

The mixed analog/digital shaper of the LHCb preshower

The LHCb preshower signals show so many fluctuations at low energy that a classical shaping is not usable at all. Thanks to the fact that the fraction of the collected energy during a whole LHC beam crossing time is 85%, we studied the special solution we presented at Snowmass 1999 workshop. This solution consists of 2 interleaved fast integrators, one being in integrate mode when the other is digitally reset. Two track-and-hold systems and an analog multiplexer are used to give at the output 85% of the signal plus 15% of the previous one. These 15% are digitally computed from the previous sample, and subtracted. A completely new design of this solution had to be made. This new design is described, including new methods to decrease the supply voltage and the noise, as well as to increase the quality of the reset and the linearity. An output stage, consisting of an AB class push-pull using only NPN transistors is also described. Laboratory and beam test results are given. (5 refs)