arXiv subjects

Alessandro Braghieri

Publications and source records attributed to Alessandro Braghieri.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Application of LHC Gas Recuperation Systems for Methane Emission Control in Livestock Housing

The CH4rLiE (CH4 Livestock Emission) project investigates the technical feasibility of adapting gas recovery systems from high-energy physics to mitigate methane (CH4) emissions in livestock housing. This work presents a proof-of-principle based on the adaptation of CERN's gas recuperation systems for the capture of CH4 at low concentrations. A laboratory-scale prototype was developed to evaluate the performance of various adsorbent materials under realistic conditions, including multi-stage humidity removal and pressurized gas flows. Experimental results obtained with the prototype led to the selection of commercial Z5 zeolite as the primary adsorbent due to its high adsorption capacity and stable regeneration performance through Vacuum Swing Adsorption cycles. The study demonstrates the feasibility of CH4 capture at concentrations down to 0.1%. Furthermore, it was observed that increasing the CH4 partial pressure enhances the adsorption capacity, with tests conducted up to approximately 5 bar. To bridge the gap between laboratory conditions and the representative 10-100 ppm levels found in dairy barn environments, a negative exponential extrapolation was applied to the experimental data. This allowed for the modeling of the adsorption behavior in the ultra-low concentration regime. These results validate the operational principle and provide the necessary parameters for the design of a full-scale system for field installation.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

First complete characterization of an X-Ray tube through combined measurements and Geant4 simulations

X-ray tubes are sources of X-rays used in various fields, ranging from radiographic imaging in medical physics to the characterization of detectors in particle physics. This article presents a method for the complete characterization of the Mini-X2 X-Ray tube from AMETEK, an X-ray source later used to characterize gas detectors in laboratory. Using data provided by the manual, we derive key operational parameters of the tube, such as the photon emission rate and the relationship between emissive power and supplied current. Based on this characterization, we determine the air dose rate as well as the absorbed dose rate within a given volume at various distances from the source. We derive this dose experimentally, theoretically and through simulations and find good agreement between these. To enable safe operation in a laboratory environment and to support experimental comparisons, a shielding system was developed. Finally, it will be illustrated how the shielding containing the Mini-X2 has been designed, exploiting the simulation power of the Geant4 software.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Energy Response and Resolution to Positrons in a Capillary-Tube Dual-Readout Calorimeter

We present the results of a test beam campaign on a capillary-tube fibre-based dual-readout calorimeter, designed for precise hadronic and electromagnetic energy measurements in future collider experiments. The calorimeter prototype consists of nine modules, each composed of brass capillary tubes housing scintillating and Cherenkov optical fibres, read out using silicon photomultipliers for the central module and photomultiplier tubes for the outer modules. The performance of the detector was assessed using a positron beam with energies ranging from 10 to 120 GeV at the CERN SPS H8 beamline. The prototype is characterised in terms of the linearity and resolution of its energy response to positrons. The results confirm the feasibility of the capillary-tube mechanical design for large-scale dual-readout calorimetry and provide a benchmark for future detector development within the HiDRa project.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Capturing methane in a barn environment: the CH4 Livestock Emission (CH4rLiE) project

The CH4 Livestock Emission (CH4rLiE) project explores the development of a prototype system for capturing methane emissions in barn environments, offering an alternative approach to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming. Methane (CH4), with a global warming potential significantly higher than CO2 (GWP100 = 27), accounts for ~23% of anthropogenic climate impact. In 2021, The Assessment Report 6 of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change quantified CH4 livestock emissions in 123 Mt/yr, which, together with substantial N2O and CO2 emissions, contributed with a 12% to global emissions. Unlike strategies focused on altering animal feed, CH4rLiE investigates post-emission capture using porous materials, such as zeolites, to adsorb methane from barn air. The project draws on CERN's experience with gas recovery systems for particle detectors, adapting similar technologies to agricultural settings. Preliminary estimates, based on measured CH4 concentrations (~20 mg/m3) and partial air filtration in a 250-animal barn, suggest a low but detectable recovery potential, subject to validation through simulation and in-situ testing. Prototype development considers the potential for energy-efficient operation - possibly through pressure swing regeneration - and compatibility with existing ventilation infrastructure, though these aspects remain under evaluation. If methane concentrations in barns prove too diluted, the system may be better suited for environments with higher gas levels, such as pigsties or landfills. NH3 capture for fertilizer production is planned as a future enhancement. CH4rLiE aims to assess the feasibility of emission recovery in livestock settings without affecting animal welfare, contributing to sustainable farming practices, resource efficiency, and circular bioeconomy goals.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

Towards a Muon Collider

A muon collider would enable the big jump ahead in energy reach that is needed for a fruitful exploration of fundamental interactions. The challenges of producing muon collisions at high luminosity and 10 TeV centre of mass energy are being investigated by the recently-formed International Muon Collider Collaboration. This Review summarises the status and the recent advances on muon colliders design, physics and detector studies. The aim is to provide a global perspective of the field and to outline directions for future work.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2022

Simulated Detector Performance at the Muon Collider

In this paper we report on the current status of studies on the expected performance for a detector designed to operate in a muon collider environment. Beam-induced backgrounds (BIB) represent the main challenge in the design of the detector and the event reconstruction algorithms. The current detector design aims to show that satisfactory performance can be achieved, while further optimizations are expected to significantly improve the overall performance. We present the characterization of the expected beam-induced background, describe the detector design and software used for detailed event simulations taking into account BIB effects. The expected performance of charged-particle reconstruction, jets, electrons, photons and muons is discussed, including an initial study on heavy-flavor jet tagging. A simple method to measure the delivered luminosity is also described. Overall, the proposed design and reconstruction algorithms can successfully reconstruct the high transverse-momentum objects needed to carry out a broad physics program.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Promising Technologies and R&D Directions for the Future Muon Collider Detectors

Among the post-LHC generation of particle accelerators, the muon collider represents a unique machine with capability to provide very high energy leptonic collisions and to open the path to a vast and mostly unexplored physics programme. However, on the experimental side, such great physics potential is accompanied by unprecedented technological challenges, due to the fact that muons are unstable particles. Their decay products interact with the machine elements and produce an intense flux of background particles that eventually reach the detector and may degrade its performance. In this paper, we present technologies that have a potential to match the challenging specifications of a muon collider detector and outline a path forward for the future R&D efforts.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

$K^+Λ$(1405) photoproduction at the BGO-OD experiment

Since the discovery of the $Λ(1405)$, it remains poorly described by conventional constituent quark models, and it is a candidate for having an "exotic" meson-baryon or "penta-quark" structure, similar to states recently reported in the hidden charm sector. The $Λ(1405)$ can be produced in the reaction $γp \rightarrow K^+Λ(1405)$. The pure I=0 decay mode into $Σ^0π^0$ is prohibited for the mass-overlapping $Σ(1385)$. Combining a large aperture forward magnetic spectrometer and a central BGO crystal calorimeter, the BGO-OD experiment is ideally suited to measure this decay with the $K^+$ in the forward direction. Preliminary results are presented. *Supported by DFG (PN 388979758, 405882627).

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2020

Strangeness photoproduction at the BGO-OD experiment

The BGO-OD experiment at the University of Bonn's ELSA accelerator facility in Germany is ideally suited to investigate photoproduction at extreme forward angles. It combines a highly segmented BGO electromagnetic calorimeter at central angles and an open dipole magnetic spectrometer in the forward direction. This allows the detection of forward going kaons, and complex final states of mixed charge from hyperon decays. Current projects at the BGO-OD experiment include strangeness production of $γp \rightarrow K^+ Λ/Σ^0$ at forward angles, $K^0Σ^0$ with a deuteron target and $K^+Λ(1405)$ line shape and cross section measurements.

nucl-ex↗