Instruments

18 pages, 7304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

RNA Identification and Detection of Nucleic Acids as Aerosols in Air Samples by Means of Photon and Electron Interactions

by John I. Adlish, Piero Neuhold, Riccardo Surrente and Luca J. Tagliapietra

Instruments 2021, 5(2), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5020023 - 18 Jun 2021

Viewed by 7755

Abstract

This study presents a methodology to reveal traces of viral particles, as aerosol with known chemical and molecular structure, in a sample by means of photon and electron interactions. The method is based on Monte Carlo simulations and on the analysis of photon-electron [...] Read more.

This study presents a methodology to reveal traces of viral particles, as aerosol with known chemical and molecular structure, in a sample by means of photon and electron interactions. The method is based on Monte Carlo simulations and on the analysis of photon-electron fluxes-spectra through energy channels counts as a function of different aerosol viral concentrations in the air sample and looking at the peculiar photon/electron interactions with the potential abnormal atomic hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), carbon (C), and phosphorus (P) compositions present in the air sample as a function of living and nonliving matter with PO₄ group RNA/DNA strands in a cluster configuration. Full article

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39 pages, 27035 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Commissioning of a High Pressure Time Projection Chamber with Optical Readout

by Alexander Deisting, Abigail Victoria Waldron, Edward Atkin, Gary Barker, Anastasia Basharina-Freshville, Christopher Betancourt, Steven Boyd, Dominic Brailsford, Zachary Chen-Wishart, Linda Cremonesi, Adriana Dias, Patrick Dunne, Jennifer Haigh, Philip Hamacher-Baumann, Sebastian Jones, Asher Kaboth, Alexander Korzenev, William Ma, Philippe Mermod, Maria Mironova, Jocelyn Monroe, Ryan Nichol, Toby Nonnenmacher, Jaroslaw Nowak, William Parker, Harrison Ritchie-Yates, Stefan Roth, Ruben Saakyan, Nicola Serra, Yuri Shitov, Jochen Steinmann, Adam Tarrant, Melissa Uchida, Sammy Valder, Mark Ward and Morgan O. Wascko Show full author list Hide full author list

Instruments 2021, 5(2), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5020022 - 13 Jun 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4783

Abstract

The measurements of proton–nucleus scattering and high resolution neutrino–nucleus interaction imaging are key in reducing neutrino oscillation systematic uncertainties in future experiments. A High Pressure Time Projection Chamber (HPTPC) prototype has been constructed and operated at the Royal Holloway University of London and [...] Read more.

The measurements of proton–nucleus scattering and high resolution neutrino–nucleus interaction imaging are key in reducing neutrino oscillation systematic uncertainties in future experiments. A High Pressure Time Projection Chamber (HPTPC) prototype has been constructed and operated at the Royal Holloway University of London and CERN as a first step in the development of a HPTPC that is capable of performing these measurements as part of a future long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment, such as the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. In this paper, we describe the design and operation of the prototype HPTPC with an argon based gas mixture. We report on the successful hybrid charge and optical readout using four CCD cameras of signals from

^{241} Am

sources. Full article

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22 pages, 941 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

New Projections for Dark Matter Searches with Paleo-Detectors

by Sebastian Baum, Thomas D. P. Edwards, Katherine Freese and Patrick Stengel

Instruments 2021, 5(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5020021 - 11 Jun 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4419

Abstract

Paleo-detectors are a proposed experimental technique to search for dark matter (DM). In lieu of the conventional approach of operating a tonne-scale real-time detector to search for DM-induced nuclear recoils, paleo-detectors take advantage of small samples of naturally occurring rocks on Earth that [...] Read more.

Paleo-detectors are a proposed experimental technique to search for dark matter (DM). In lieu of the conventional approach of operating a tonne-scale real-time detector to search for DM-induced nuclear recoils, paleo-detectors take advantage of small samples of naturally occurring rocks on Earth that have been deep underground (≳5 km), accumulating nuclear damage tracks from recoiling nuclei for

O (1)

Gyr. Modern microscopy techniques promise the capability to read out nuclear damage tracks with nanometer resolution in macroscopic samples. Thanks to their

O (1)

Gyr integration times, paleo-detectors could constitute nuclear recoil detectors with keV recoil energy thresholds and 100 kilotonne-yr exposures. This combination would allow paleo-detectors to probe DM-nucleon cross sections orders of magnitude below existing upper limits from conventional direct detection experiments. In this article, we use improved background modeling and a new spectral analysis technique to update the sensitivity forecast for paleo-detectors. We demonstrate the robustness of the sensitivity forecast to the (lack of) ancillary measurements of the age of the samples and the parameters controlling the backgrounds, systematic mismodeling of the spectral shape of the backgrounds, and the radiopurity of the mineral samples. Specifically, we demonstrate that even if the uranium concentration in paleo-detector samples is

10^{- 8}

(per weight), many orders of magnitude larger than what we expect in the most radiopure samples obtained from ultra basic rock or marine evaporite deposits, paleo-detectors could still probe DM-nucleon cross sections below current limits. For DM masses ≲ 10 GeV/c

^{2}

, the sensitivity of paleo-detectors could still reach down all the way to the conventional neutrino floor in a Xe-based direct detection experiment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Experimental Techniques for Direct Dark Matter Detection)

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17 pages, 728 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Advantages and Requirements in Time Resolving Tracking for Astroparticle Experiments in Space

by Matteo Duranti, Valerio Vagelli, Giovanni Ambrosi, Mattia Barbanera, Bruna Bertucci, Enrico Catanzani, Federico Donnini, Francesco Faldi, Valerio Formato, Maura Graziani, Maria Ionica, Lucio Moriconi, Alberto Oliva, Andrea Serpolla, Gianluigi Silvestre and Luca Tosti

Instruments 2021, 5(2), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5020020 - 31 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4868

Abstract

A large-area, solid-state detector with single-hit precision timing measurement will enable several breakthrough experimental advances for the direct measurement of particles in space. Silicon microstrip detectors are the most promising candidate technology to instrument the large areas of the next-generation astroparticle space borne [...] Read more.

A large-area, solid-state detector with single-hit precision timing measurement will enable several breakthrough experimental advances for the direct measurement of particles in space. Silicon microstrip detectors are the most promising candidate technology to instrument the large areas of the next-generation astroparticle space borne detectors that could meet the limitations on power consumption required by operations in space. We overview the novel experimental opportunities that could be enabled by the introduction of the timing measurement, concurrent with the accurate spatial and charge measurement, in Silicon microstrip tracking detectors, and we discuss the technological solutions and their readiness to enable the operations of large-area Silicon microstrip timing detectors in space. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timing Detectors)

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19 pages, 10990 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gamma—Ray Counters to Monitor Radioactive Waste Packages in the MICADO Project

by Luigi Cosentino, Martina Giuffrida, Sergio Lo Meo, Fabio Longhitano, Alfio Pappalardo, Giuseppe Passaro and Paolo Finocchiaro

Instruments 2021, 5(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5020019 - 25 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3384

Abstract

One of the goals of the MICADO Euratom project is to monitor the gamma-rays emitted by radioactive waste drums in storage sites on a medium to long term basis. For this purpose, 36 low-cost gamma-ray counters were designed and built to act as [...] Read more.

One of the goals of the MICADO Euratom project is to monitor the gamma-rays emitted by radioactive waste drums in storage sites on a medium to long term basis. For this purpose, 36 low-cost gamma-ray counters were designed and built to act as a demonstrator. These counters, named SciFi, are based on a scintillating fiber readout at each end by a silicon photomultiplier, assembled in a robust arrangement in the form of 80 cm long pipes. Several counters will be placed around radwaste packages in order to monitor the gamma dose-rate by collecting a continuous data stream. The 36 sensors were thoroughly tested with a ²²Na and a ¹³⁷Cs gamma-ray sources, and with an AmBe neutron and gamma-ray source, the results are quite satisfactory, and the next step will be the test in a real environment. Full article

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12 pages, 6617 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Single-Photon Detection Module Based on Large-Area Silicon Photomultipliers for Time-Domain Diffuse Optics

by Fabio Acerbi, Anurag Behera, Alberto Dalla Mora, Laura Di Sieno and Alberto Gola

Instruments 2021, 5(2), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5020018 - 19 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3954

Abstract

Silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) are pixelated single-photon detectors combining high sensitivity, good time resolution and high dynamic range. They are emerging in many fields, such as time-domain diffuse optics (TD-DO). This is a promising technique in neurology, oncology, and quality assessment of food, wood, [...] Read more.

Silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) are pixelated single-photon detectors combining high sensitivity, good time resolution and high dynamic range. They are emerging in many fields, such as time-domain diffuse optics (TD-DO). This is a promising technique in neurology, oncology, and quality assessment of food, wood, and pharmaceuticals. SiPMs can have very large areas and can significantly increase the sensitivity of TD-DO in tissue investigation. However, such improvement is currently limited by the high detector noise and the worsening of SiPM single-photon time resolution due to the large parasitic capacitances. To overcome such limitation, in this paper, we present two single-photon detection modules, based on 6 × 6 mm² and 10 × 10 mm² SiPMs, housed in vacuum-sealed TO packages, cooled to −15 °C and −36 °C, respectively. They integrate front-end amplifiers and temperature controllers, being very useful instruments for TD-DO and other biological and physical applications. The signal extraction from the SiPM was improved. The noise is reduced by more than two orders of magnitude compared to the room temperature level. The full suitability of the proposed detectors for TD-DO measurements is outside the scope of this work, but preliminary tests were performed analyzing the shape and the stability of the Instrument Response Function. The proposed modules are thus fundamental building blocks to push the TD-DO towards deeper investigations inside the body. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Instruments 2021–2022)

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17 pages, 5278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Monte Carlo Modeling and Design of Photon Energy Attenuation Layers for >10× Quantum Yield Enhancement in Si-Based Hard X-ray Detectors

by Eldred Lee, Kaitlin M. Anagnost, Zhehui Wang, Michael R. James, Eric R. Fossum and Jifeng Liu

Instruments 2021, 5(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5020017 - 30 Apr 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3834

Abstract

High-energy (>20 keV) X-ray photon detection at high quantum yield, high spatial resolution, and short response time has long been an important area of study in physics. Scintillation is a prevalent method but limited in various ways. Directly detecting high-energy X-ray photons has [...] Read more.

High-energy (>20 keV) X-ray photon detection at high quantum yield, high spatial resolution, and short response time has long been an important area of study in physics. Scintillation is a prevalent method but limited in various ways. Directly detecting high-energy X-ray photons has been a challenge to this day, mainly due to low photon-to-photoelectron conversion efficiencies. Commercially available state-of-the-art Si direct detection products such as the Si charge-coupled device (CCD) are inefficient for >10 keV photons. Here, we present Monte Carlo simulation results and analyses to introduce a highly effective yet simple high-energy X-ray detection concept with significantly enhanced photon-to-electron conversion efficiencies composed of two layers: a top high-Z photon energy attenuation layer (PAL) and a bottom Si detector. We use the principle of photon energy down conversion, where high-energy X-ray photon energies are attenuated down to ≤10 keV via inelastic scattering suitable for efficient photoelectric absorption by Si. Our Monte Carlo simulation results demonstrate that a 10–30× increase in quantum yield can be achieved using PbTe PAL on Si, potentially advancing high-resolution, high-efficiency X-ray detection using PAL-enhanced Si CMOS image sensors. Full article

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21 pages, 1738 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Future Role of Inorganic Crystal Scintillators in Dark Matter Investigations

by Pierluigi Belli, Rita Bernabei, Fabio Cappella, Vincenzo Caracciolo, Riccardo Cerulli, Fedor Danevich, Antonella Incicchitti, Dmytro Kasperovych, Vittorio Merlo, Oksana Polischuk and Vladimir Tretyak

Instruments 2021, 5(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5020016 - 28 Apr 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3707

Abstract

Crystal scintillators and in particular inorganic scintillators play an important role in the investigation of Dark Matter (DM) and other rare processes. The investigation of a DM signature, as the annual modulation, or the directionality technique requires the use of highly radiopure detectors [...] Read more.

Crystal scintillators and in particular inorganic scintillators play an important role in the investigation of Dark Matter (DM) and other rare processes. The investigation of a DM signature, as the annual modulation, or the directionality technique requires the use of highly radiopure detectors able to explore the very low energy region maintaining a high stability of the running conditions. In this paper, the cases of NaI(Tl), ZnWO

_{4}

and SrI

_{2}

(Eu) crystal scintillators are described in the framework of our activities at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN. Their role, the obtained results in DM investigation, as well as their potential and perspectives for the future are reviewed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Experimental Techniques for Direct Dark Matter Detection)

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10 pages, 4479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Detection and Imaging with Leak Microstructures

by Mariano Lombardi, Gianfranco Prete, Giovanni Balbinot, Alice Ferretti, Giuseppe Galeazzi and Andrea Battistella

Instruments 2021, 5(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5020015 - 11 Apr 2021

Viewed by 2463

Abstract

Results obtained with a new, very compact detector for imaging with a matrix of leak microstructures (LM) are reported. Spatial linearity and spatial resolution obtained by scanning and the detection of alpha particles with 100% efficiency, when compared with a silicon detector, are [...] Read more.

Results obtained with a new, very compact detector for imaging with a matrix of leak microstructures (LM) are reported. Spatial linearity and spatial resolution obtained by scanning and the detection of alpha particles with 100% efficiency, when compared with a silicon detector, are stressed. Preliminary results obtained in detecting single electrons emitted by the heated filament (Ec < 1 eV) at 1–3 mbar of propane are reported. Full article

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15 pages, 1089 KiB

Open AccessReview

GHz Superconducting Single-Photon Detectors for Dark Matter Search

by Federico Paolucci and Francesco Giazotto

Instruments 2021, 5(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments5020014 - 1 Apr 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3528

Abstract

The composition of dark matter is one of the puzzling topics in astrophysics. To address this issue, several experiments searching for the existence of axions have been designed, built and realized in the last twenty years. Among all the others, light shining through [...] Read more.

The composition of dark matter is one of the puzzling topics in astrophysics. To address this issue, several experiments searching for the existence of axions have been designed, built and realized in the last twenty years. Among all the others, light shining through walls experiments promise to push the exclusion limits to lower energies. For this reason, effort is put for the development of single-photon detectors operating at frequencies <100 GHz. Here, we review recent advancements in superconducting single-photon detection. In particular, we present two sensors based on one-dimensional Josephson junctions with the capability to be in situ tuned by simple current bias: the nanoscale transition edge sensor (nano-TES) and the Josephson escape sensor (JES). These two sensors are the ideal candidates for the realization of microwave light shining through walls (LSW) experiments, since they show unprecedented frequency resolutions of about 100 GHz and 2 GHz for the nano-TES and JES, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Experimental Techniques for Direct Dark Matter Detection)

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Instruments, Volume 5, Issue 2 (June 2021) – 10 articles

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