Gas Pixel Detectors for X-ray Polarimetry applications

We discuss a new class of Micro Pattern Gas Detectors, the Gas Pixel Detector (GPD), in which a complete integration between the gas amplification structure and the read-out electronics has been reached. An Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) built in deep sub-micron technology has been developed to realize a monolithic device that is, at the same time, the pixelized charge collecting electrode and the amplifying, shaping and charge measuring front-end electronics. The CMOS chip has the top metal layer patterned in a matrix of 80 micron pitch hexagonal pixels, each of them directly connected to the underneath electronics chain which has been realized in the remaining five layers of the 0.35 micron VLSI technology. Results from tests of a first prototype of such detector with 2k pixels and a full scale version with 22k pixels are presented. The application of this device for Astronomical X-Ray Polarimetry is discussed. The experimental detector response to polarized and unpolarized X-ray radiation is shown. Results from a full MonteCarlo simulation for two astronomical sources, the Crab Nebula and the Hercules X1, are also reported.Comment: 16 pages, 20 figures, accepted for publication in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section

The On-orbit Calibrations for the Fermi Large Area Telescope

The Large Area Telescope (LAT) on--board the Fermi Gamma ray Space Telescope began its on--orbit operations on June 23, 2008. Calibrations, defined in a generic sense, correspond to synchronization of trigger signals, optimization of delays for latching data, determination of detector thresholds, gains and responses, evaluation of the perimeter of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), measurements of live time, of absolute time, and internal and spacecraft boresight alignments. Here we describe on orbit calibration results obtained using known astrophysical sources, galactic cosmic rays, and charge injection into the front-end electronics of each detector. Instrument response functions will be described in a separate publication. This paper demonstrates the stability of calibrations and describes minor changes observed since launch. These results have been used to calibrate the LAT datasets to be publicly released in August 2009.Comment: 60 pages, 34 figures, submitted to Astroparticle Physic

Virtual restoration of fragmented glass plate photographs

Abstract — In this paper we address the problem of restoration of fragmented glass plate photographs. We propose an algorithm based on the roto-translation of the fragments. A preprocessing adjustment in the contour combined with final interpolation are necessary to avoid artifacts. I

The GLAST LAT tracker construction and test

GLAST is a next generation high-energy gamma-ray observatory designed for making observations of celestial gamma-ray sources in the energy band extending from 10 KeV to more than 300 GeV. Respect to the previous instrument EGRET, GLAST will have a higher effective area (six times more), higher field of view, energy range and resolution, providing an unprecedented advance in sensitivity (a factor 30 or more). The main scientific goals are the study of all gamma-ray sources such as blazars, gamma-ray bursts, supernova remnants, pulsars, diffuse radiation, and unidentified high-energy sources. The construction and test of the Large Area Telescope (LAT) tracker, has been a great effort during the past years, involving tens of people from many Italian INFN sections and industrial partners. Environmental and performance tests of the hardware, detectors and reading electronics, have been carried on during all the steps of the LAT construction. The resulting LAT performance are better than the ones required by the original science proposal, demonstrating the quality of the italian group effort. In this article we summarize the LAT construction and test workflow, presenting its main results