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D. Bortoletto

Publications and source records attributed to D. Bortoletto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A Reusable Four-Port S-Parameter to Link-Level Signal-Integrity Analysis Framework for High-Speed Detector Interconnects

A reusable MATLAB signal-integrity (SI) framework is presented that converts compatible four-port S-parameter data, measured by VNA or obtained from electromagnetic simulation, into traceable link-level evidence rather than a single loss metric. Its contribution is the checked, traceable automation of established SI operations while keeping source data, model assumptions, analytical projections, and finite-record observations distinct. The framework is demonstrated on the four 1.25 Gbps differential routes (DP1-DP4) of the PPCB-1347-MuPix11 probe card using PTSL CST Microwave 3D-Solver-derived four-port S-parameters and a virtual time-domain solver. The automated pipeline preflights file structures, performs a power-normalized mixed-mode transformation, applies route-length-aware loss decomposition, constructs a causally loaded channel model, and propagates full PRBS-31 sequences into eye-diagram, conditional-BER, and 8b10b-coded-link analyses. At the 1.25 Gbps data rate (Nyquist 0.625 GHz), DP1-DP4 exhibit differential insertion loss (SDD21) from -0.350 to -0.300 dB, differential-to-common conversion from -31.038 to -28.236 dBc, and modeled FEB-input eye openings from 0.586 to 0.588 V. The comparison shows that path length alone is not an adequate SI ranking variable: DP3 has the lowest Nyquist insertion loss, DP1 the strongest differential-to-common isolation, and DP4 the largest modeled eye. All analytical BER values remain below the reporting floor and therefore do not support a BER ranking. By preserving the distinction between route-dependent waveform behavior, model projections, and finite-record observations, the framework provides an extensible basis for comparative high-speed-interconnect SI analysis from design review through calibrated VNA measurement interpretation.

hep-ex

TCAD + Allpi$\text{x}^2$ Simulation study of MALTA2, a Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor for future tracking

In this work, a hybrid simulation framework combining TCAD and Allpi$\text{x}^2$ is presented to investigate the sensor properties of MALTA2, a depleted monolithic active pixel sensor designed for future tracking. The study starts from 3D modeling and transient simulations in TCAD, with generic doping profiles and simple well structures. The resulting doping profiles and electric field are extracted and fed into Allpi$\text{x}^2$ for high-statistics Monte Carlo simulations in both DUT-only and full-telescope mode. Simulations reveal a strong dependence of sensor performance, specifically the detection efficiency and cluster size, on the doping concentration of the N-type blanket at the sensor surface. The doping concentration is then optimized by comparing simulations with measurement data. The active depth of the depleted region of the MALTA2 sensor is estimated in both simulations and measurements using a grazing angle method, in which the sensor is positioned at various inclinations relative to the beam, covering angles from 0 to 60 degrees. Excellent agreement on active depth is obtained with the optimal doping concentration, showing a deviation of 2\% from the measured value at a threshold of 450\,$\text{e}^-$. Consequently, the framework offers a generic toolkit for sensor studies without requiring proprietary information.

physics.ins-det

Investigation of the in-pixel response of the Mupix11 monolithic pixel sensor using a microfocus X-ray beam at Diamond Light Source

MuPix11 is a High-Voltage Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (HV-MAPS) developed for the tracking system of the Mu3e experiment. The in-pixel photon response of a MuPix11 sensor thinned to 70 {\mu}m was measured using an 8 keV X-ray beam with a 3 {\mu}m spot size at the B16 beamline at Diamond Light Source, emulating the passage of a minimum ionising particle (MIP). At nominal operating voltage and threshold, high-resolution scans across the pixel matrix show the detector response to be uniform. In the absence of reverse bias (0 V), the relative sub-pixel response is location-dependent as a reduced detection rate is observed at pixel boundaries.

physics.ins-det

Charge collection parameterization of MALTA2, a depleted monolithic active pixel sensor

A fast simulation method is presented for a depleted monolithic active pixel sensor, which uses a data driven parameterization of the charge collection and propagation. This approach provides an efficient alternative to TCAD simulations, particularly for sensors whose proprietary process details - such as doping profiles or implant geometries - are unavailable. Data was obtained with a MALTA2 sensor fabricated in a 180 nm CMOS imaging technology on 30 {\mu}m epitaxial silicon using the MALTA beam telescope at CERN SPS. The model reproduces the measured inpixel efficiency with high accuracy and enables a realistic yet computationally lightweight analog pixel simulation. This method will be further employed in optimizing the digital sensor design for applications in high-rate particle tracking and high-granularity calorimetry.

physics.ins-det

Timing characterization of MALTA and MALTA2 pixel detectors using Micro X-ray source

The MALTA monolithic active pixel detector is developed to address some of the challenges anticipated in future high-energy physics detectors. As part of its characterization, we conducted timing studies necessary to provide a figure of merit for this family of monolithic pixel detectors. MALTA has a metal layer in front-end electronics, and the conventional laser technique is not suitable for timing studies due to the reflection of the laser from the metallic surface. X-rays have been employed as a more effective alternative for penetration through these layers. The triggered X-ray set-up is designed to study timing measurements of monolithic detectors. The timing response of the X-ray set-up is characterized using an LGAD. The timing response of the MALTA and MALTA2 pixel detectors is studied, and the best response time of MALTA2 pixel detectors is measured at about 2.6 ns.

physics.ins-det

AION-10: Technical Design Report for a 10m Atom Interferometer in Oxford

This Technical Design Report presents AION-10, a 10-meter atom interferometer to be located at Oxford University using ultracold strontium atoms to make precision measurements of fundamental physics. AION-10 serves as both a prototype for future larger-scale experiments and a versatile scientific instrument capable of conducting its own diverse physics programme. The design features a 10-meter vertical tower housing two atom interferometer sources in an ultra-high vacuum environment. Key engineering challenges include achieving nanometer-level vibrational stability and precise magnetic field control. Solutions include active vibration isolation, specialized magnetic shielding, and a modular assembly approach using professional lifting equipment. Detailed analysis confirms the design meets all performance requirements, with critical optical components remaining within our specifications 97% of the time under realistic operating conditions. Vacuum and vibration measurements in the host building validate that the instrument will achieve the precision needed for quantum sensing applications. This work establishes the technical foundation for scaling atom interferometry to longer baselines while creating a cutting-edge facility for precision measurements that could advance our understanding of fundamental physics.

physics.atom-ph

Measurement of the Resolution of the Timepix4 Detector for 100 keV and 200 keV Electrons for Transmission Electron Microscopy

We have evaluated the imaging capabilities of the Timepix4 hybrid silicon pixel detector for 100 keV and 200 keV electrons in a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Using the knife-edge method, we have measured the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) at both energies. Our results show a decrease in MTF response at Nyquist (spatial) frequency, dropping from approximately 0.16 at 100 keV to 0.0046 at 200 keV. However, by using the temporal structure of the detected events, including the arrival time and amplitude provided by the Timepix4, we enhanced the spatial discrimination of electron arrival. This approach improved the MTF at Nyquist by factors of 2.12 for 100 keV and 3.16 for 200 keV. These findings demonstrate that the blurring effects caused by extended electron trajectories within the sensing layer can be partially corrected in the image data.

physics.ins-det

A prototype differential atom interferometer for fundamental physics

Gravitational waves and ultralight dark matter are among the most compelling frontiers in fundamental physics, motivating proposals for Very Long-Baseline Atom Interferometers (VLBAIs) such as AION, MAGIS, AICE and AEDGE that aim to detect frequencies at which ground-based and space-borne laser interferometers lose sensitivity. VLBAIs look for signals by comparing the quantum phase evolution of widely separated atomic ensembles interrogated by a common laser. However, their performance depends critically on suppressing noise sources, particularly laser phase noise. Experimental validation of such noise rejection remains an important challenge. Here we demonstrate a prototype differential atom interferometer based on the single-photon clock transition of fermionic 87Sr, realising for the first time a gradiometer configuration with a species intrinsically suited to kilometre-scale and space-baseline operation. The instrument operates at the Standard Quantum Limit with no excess noise beyond atom shot noise, and the differential configuration maintains quantum-limited sensitivity in the presence of several radians of artificially injected laser phase noise per shot, emulating the conditions expected in a VLBAI. We further demonstrate recovery of coherent oscillatory signals across a broad frequency range under fully phase-randomised conditions, a capability that is inaccessible to a single interferometer operating in the same regime. These results provide an experimental validation of the noise-immune measurement principle underlying VLBAIs and mark an important step towards next-generation quantum sensors for gravitational-wave detection and searches for ultralight dark matter.

hep-ex

Study of MALTA2, a Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor, with grazing angles at CERN SPS 180 GeV/c hadron beam

MALTA2 is a Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor designed to meet the challenging requirements of future collider experiments, in particularly extreme radiation tolerance and high hit rate. The sensor is fabricated in a modified Tower 180 nm CMOS imaging technology to mitigate performance degradation caused by 100 MRad of Total Ionising Dose and greater than 10^{15} 1 MeV n_{eq}/cm^2 of Non-Ionising Energy Loss. MALTA2 samples have been tested during the CERN SPS test beam campaign in 2023-2024, before and after irradiation at a fluence of 1 $\times$ 10^{15} 1 MeV n_{eq}/cm^2. The sensors were positioned at various inclinations relative to the beam, covering grazing angles from 0 to 60 degrees. This contribution presents measurements of detection efficiency and cluster size as functions of these angles, along with an estimation of the active depth of the depleted region based on the test beam results.

hep-ex

MALTA-Cz: A radiation hard full-size monolithic CMOS sensor with small electrodes on high-resistivity Czochralski substrate

Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (DMAPS) sensors developed in the Tower Semiconductor 180 nm CMOS imaging process have been designed in the context of the ATLAS ITk upgrade Phase-II at the HL-LHC and for future collider experiments. The "MALTA-Czochralski (MALTA-Cz)" full size DMAPS sensor has been developed with the goal to demonstrate a radiation hard, thin CMOS sensor with high granularity, high hit-rate capability, fast response time and superior radiation tolerance. The small pixel size ($36.4\times 36.4$~$μ$m$^2$) provides high spatial resolution. Its asynchronous readout architecture is designed for high hit-rates and fast time response in triggered and trigger-less detector applications. The readout architecture is designed to stream all hit data to the multi-channel output which allows an off-sensor trigger formation and the use of hit-time information for event tagging. The sensor manufacturing has been optimised through process adaptation and special implant designs to allow the manufacturing of small electrode DMAPS on thick high-resistivity p-type Czochralski substrate. The special processing ensures excellent charge collection and charge particle detection efficiency even after a high level of radiation. Furthermore the special implant design and use of a Czochralski substrate improves the sensor's time resolution. This paper presents a summary of sensor design optimisation through process and implant choices and TCAD simulation to model the signal response. Beam and laboratory test results on unirradiated and irradiated sensors have shown excellent detection efficiency after a dose of $2\times10^{15}$ 1 MeV n$_{eq}$/cm$^{2}$. The time resolution of the sensor is measured to be $σ=2$~ns.

physics.ins-det

Centralised Design and Production of the Ultra-High Vacuum and Laser-Stabilisation Systems for the AION Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories

This paper outlines the centralised design and production of the Ultra-High-Vacuum sidearm and Laser-Stabilisation systems for the AION Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories. Commissioning data on the residual gas and steady-state pressures in the sidearm chambers, on magnetic field quality, on laser stabilisation, and on the loading rate for the 3D Magneto-Optical Trap are presented. Streamlining the design and production of the sidearm and laser stabilisation systems enabled the AION Collaboration to build and equip in parallel five state-of-the-art Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories within 24 months by leveraging key expertise in the collaboration. This approach could serve as a model for the development and construction of other cold atom experiments, such as atomic clock experiments and neutral atom quantum computing systems, by establishing dedicated design and production units at national laboratories.

physics.atom-ph

Timing performance of radiation hard MALTA monolithic Pixel sensors

The MALTA family of Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (DMAPS) produced in Tower 180 nm CMOS technology targets radiation hard applications for the HL-LHC and beyond. Several process modifications and front-end improvements have resulted in radiation hardness up to $2 \times 10^{15}~1~\text{MeV}~\text{n}_{eq}/\text{cm}^2$ and time resolution below 2 ns, with uniform charge collection efficiency across the Pixel of size $36.4 \times 36.4~μ\text{m}^2$ with a $3~μ\text{m}^2$ electrode size. The MALTA2 demonstrator produced in 2021 on high-resistivity epitaxial silicon and on Czochralski substrates implements a new cascoded front-end that reduces the RTS noise and has a higher gain. This contribution shows results from MALTA2 on timing resolution at the nanosecond level from the CERN SPS test-beam campaign of 2021.

physics.ins-det

Measurement of the charge asymmetry of electrons from the decays of $W$ bosons produced in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96$ TeV

At the Fermilab Tevatron proton-antiproton ($p\bar{p}$) collider, high-mass electron-neutrino ($eν$) pairs are produced predominantly in the process $p \bar{p} \rightarrow W(\rightarrow eν) + X$. The asymmetry of the electron and positron yield as a function of their pseudorapidity constrain the slope of the ratio of the $u$- to $d$-quark parton distributions versus the fraction of the proton momentum carried by the quarks. This paper reports on the measurement of the electron-charge asymmetry using the full data set recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab in 2001--2011 and corresponding to 9.1~fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. The measurement significantly improves the precision of the Tevatron constraints on the parton-distribution functions of the proton. Numerical tables of the measurement are provided.

hep-ex

A novel measurement of initial-state gluon radiation in hadron collisions using Drell-Yan events

A study of initial-state gluon radiation (ISR) in hadron collisions is presented using Drell-Yan (DY) events produced in proton-antiproton collisions by the Tevatron collider at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. This paper adopts a novel approach which uses the mean value of the Z/$γ^*$ transverse momentum $ $ in DY events as a powerful observable to characterize the effect of ISR. In a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9.4 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the CDF Run II detector, $ $ is measured as a function of the Z/$γ^*$ invariant mass. It is found that these two observables have a dependence, $ = -8 + 2.2 \ln m_{DY}^2$ [GeV/c], where $m_{DY}$ is the value of the Z/$γ^*$ mass measured in units of GeV/$c^2$. This linear dependence is observed for the first time in this analysis. It may be exploited to model the effect of ISR and constrain its impact in other processes.

hep-ex

Technical design of the phase I Mu3e experiment

The Mu3e experiment aims to find or exclude the lepton flavour violating decay $μ\rightarrow eee$ at branching fractions above $10^{-16}$. A first phase of the experiment using an existing beamline at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) is designed to reach a single event sensitivity of $2\cdot 10^{-15}$. We present an overview of all aspects of the technical design and expected performance of the phase~I Mu3e detector. The high rate of up to $10^{8}$ muon decays per second and the low momenta of the decay electrons and positrons pose a unique set of challenges, which we tackle using an ultra thin tracking detector based on high-voltage monolithic active pixel sensors combined with scintillating fibres and tiles for precise timing measurements.

physics.ins-det

AION: An Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network

We outline the experimental concept and key scientific capabilities of AION (Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network), a proposed UK-based experimental programme using cold strontium atoms to search for ultra-light dark matter, to explore gravitational waves in the mid-frequency range between the peak sensitivities of the LISA and LIGO/Virgo/ KAGRA/INDIGO/Einstein Telescope/Cosmic Explorer experiments, and to probe other frontiers in fundamental physics. AION would complement other planned searches for dark matter, as well as probe mergers involving intermediate mass black holes and explore early universe cosmology. AION would share many technical features with the MAGIS experimental programme in the US, and synergies would flow from operating AION in a network with this experiment, as well as with other atom interferometer experiments such as MIGA, ZAIGA and ELGAR. Operating AION in a network with other gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO, Virgo and LISA would also offer many synergies.

astro-ph.CO

Mini-MALTA: Radiation hard pixel designs for small-electrode monolithic CMOS sensors for the High Luminosity LHC

Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (DMAPS) prototypes developed in the TowerJazz 180 nm CMOS imaging process have been designed in the context of the ATLAS upgrade Phase-II at the HL-LHC. The pixel sensors are characterized by a small collection electrode (3 $μ$m) to minimize capacitance, a small pixel size ($36.4\times 36.4$ $μ$m), and are produced on high resistivity epitaxial p-type silicon. The design targets a radiation hardness of $1\times10^{15}$ 1 MeV n$_{eq}$/cm$^{2}$, compatible with the outermost layer of the ATLAS ITK Pixel detector. This paper presents the results from characterization in particle beam tests of the Mini-MALTA prototype that implements a mask change or an additional implant to address the inefficiencies on the pixel edges. Results show full efficiency after a dose of $1\times10^{15}$ 1 MeV n$_{eq}$/cm$^{2}$.

physics.ins-det

Search for Higgs-like particles produced in association with bottom quarks in proton-antiproton collisions

We report on a search for a spin-zero non-standard-model particle in proton-antiproton collisions collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab at a center-of-mass-energy of 1.96 TeV. This particle, the $ϕ$ boson, is expected to decay into a bottom-antibottom quark pair and to be produced in association with at least one bottom quark. The data sample consists of events with three jets identified as initiated by bottom quarks and corresponds to $5.4~\text{fb}^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. In each event, the invariant mass of the two most energetic jets is studied by looking for deviations from the multijet background, which is modeled using data. No evidence is found for such particle. Exclusion upper limits ranging from 20 to 2 pb are set for the product of production cross sections times branching fraction for hypothetical $ϕ$ boson with mass between 100 and 300 GeV/$c^2$. These are the most stringent constraints to date.

hep-ex