arXiv subjects

F. Guerra

Publications and source records attributed to F. Guerra.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Advances in photocathode development for PICOSEC Micromegas precise-timing detectors

The PICOSEC Micromegas detector is a~precise-timing gaseous detector that combines a Cherenkov radiator, a~semi-transparent photocathode and a Micromegas amplification stage, targeting time resolutions of tens of picoseconds for minimum ionising particles (MIPs). Initial single-pad prototypes achieved time resolutions of $\sigma<25$ ps, demonstrating strong potential for High Energy Physics (HEP) applications and beyond. The objective of this paper is a comprehensive characterisation of photocathodes, with a strong focus on robust materials while preserving excellent timing performance. The study includes laboratory measurements of optical and resistive properties, along with beam tests using 150 GeV/$c$ muons to evaluate the time resolution and photoelectron yield for various photocathodes. The best performance was obtained by a 5 nm Cesium Iodide (CsI) photocathode, reaching $\sigma = 10.9 \pm 0.3$ ps with more than 30 extracted photoelectrons, representing the most precise time resolution achieved by PICOSEC Micromegas to date. Metallic and carbon-based photocathodes, including Titanium (Ti), Boron Carbide (B$_4$C) and Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC), were also tested, with Ti and B$_4$C emerging as the most promising alternatives, achieving $\sigma \approx 30$ ps with about 5 extracted photoelectrons. These results demonstrate that improved robustness can be achieved while maintaining excellent time resolution, supporting the feasibility of using the PICOSEC Micromegas concept in future experiments.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2024

Characterization of newly developed large area SiC sensors for the NUMEN experiment

First prototypes of large area, p-n junction, silicon carbide (SiC) detectors have been produced as part of an ongoing programme to develop a new particle identification wall for the focal plane detector of the MAGNEX magnetic spectrometer, in preparation for future NUMEN experimental campaigns. First characterizations of sensors from two wafers obtained with epitaxial silicon carbide growth and with different doping concentration are presented. Current (I-V) and capacitance (C-V) characteristics are investigated in order to determine the full depletion voltage and the doping profile. Radioactive {\alpha}-sources are used to measure the energy resolution and estimate the depletion depth.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Improving impact monitoring through Line Of Variations densification

We propose a densification algorithm to improve the Line Of Variations (LOV) method for impact monitoring, which can fail when the information is too little, as it may happen in difficult cases. The LOV method uses a 1-dimensional sampling to explore the uncertainty region of an asteroid. The close approaches of the sample orbits are grouped by time and LOV index, to form the so-called returns, and each return is analysed to search for local minima of the distance from the Earth along the LOV. The strong non-linearity of the problem causes the occurrence of returns with so few points that a successful analysis can be prevented. Our densification algorithm tries to convert returns with length at most 3 in returns with 5 points, properly adding new points to the original return. Due to the complex evolution of the LOV, this operation is not necessarily achieved all at once: in this case the information about the LOV geometry derived from the first attempt is exploited for a further attempt. Finally, we present some examples showing that the application of our method can have remarkable consequences on impact monitoring results, in particular about the completeness of the virtual impactors search.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2004

Mathematical aspects of mean field spin glass theory

A comprehensive review will be given about the rich mathematical structure of mean field spin glass theory, mostly developed, until now, in the frame of the methods of theoretical physics, based on deep physical intuition and hints coming from numerical simulation. Central to our treatment is a very simple and yet powerful interpolation method, allowing to compare different probabilistic schemes, by using convexity and positivity arguments. In this way we can prove the existence of the thermodynamic limit for the free energy density of the system, a long standing open problem. Moreover, in the frame of a generalized variational principle, we can show the emergency of the Derrida-Ruelle random probability cascades, leading to the form of free energy given by the celebrated Parisi \textit {Ansatz}. All these results seem to be in full agreement with the mechanism of spontaneous replica symmetry breaking as developed by Giorgio Parisi.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2000

Iterative Maps with Hierarchical Clustering for the Observed Scales of Astrophysical and Cosmological Structures

We derive, in order of magnitude, the observed astrophysical and cosmological scales in the Universe, from neutron stars to superclusters of galaxies, up to, asymptotically, the observed radius of the Universe. This result is obtained by introducing a recursive scheme of alternating hierachical mechanisms of three-dimensional and two-dimensional close packings of gravitationally interacting objects. The iterative scheme yields a rapidly converging geometric sequence, which can be described as a hierarchical clustering of aggregates, having the observed radius of the Universe as its fixed point.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

On the Thermodynamic Limit in Random Resistors Networks

We study a random resistors network model on a euclidean geometry $\bt{Z}^d$. We formulate the model in terms of a variational principle and show that, under appropriate boundary conditions, the thermodynamic limit of the dissipation per unit volume is finite almost surely and in the mean. Moreover, we show that for a particular thermodynamic limit the result is also independent of the boundary conditions.

cond-mat↗