arXiv subjects

Fernando Ferroni

Publications and source records attributed to Fernando Ferroni.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Activity Report on the Eighth African School of Fundamental Physics and Applications (ASP2024)

The African School of Fundamental Physics and Applications, also known as the African School of Physics (ASP), was initiated in 2010, as a three-week biennial event, to offer additional training in fundamental and applied physics to African students with a minimum of three-year university education. Since its inception, ASP has grown to be much more than a school. ASP has become a series of activities and events to support academic development of African students, teachers and faculties. We report on the eighth African School of Physics, ASP2024, organized in Morocco, on April 15--19 and July 7--21, 2024. ASP2024 included programs for university students, high school teachers and high school pupils.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2024

Evaluating radiation impact on transmon qubits in above and underground facilities

Superconducting qubits can be sensitive to abrupt energy deposits caused by cosmic rays and ambient radioactivity. While previous studies have explored correlated effects in time and space due to cosmic ray interactions, we present the first direct comparison of a transmon qubit's performance measured at two distinct sites: the above-ground SQMS facility (Fermilab, US) and the deep-underground Gran Sasso Laboratory (Italy). Despite the stark difference in radiation levels, we observe a similar average qubit relaxation time of approximately 80 microseconds at both locations. To further investigate potential radiation-induced events, we employ a fast decay detection protocol, comparing the relative rates of triggered events between the two environments. Although intrinsic noise remains the dominant source of single errors in superconducting qubits, our analysis revealed a significant excess of radiation-induced events for high-coherence transmon qubits operated above-ground. Finally, using $\gamma$-ray sources with increasing activity levels, we evaluate the qubit response in a controlled low-background environment.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Activity Report on the Seventh African School of Fundamental Physics and Applications (ASP2022)

The African School of Fundamental Physics and Applications, also known as the African School of Physics (ASP), was initiated in 2010, as a three-week biennial event, to offer additional training in fundamental and applied physics to African students with a minimum of three-year university education. Since its inception, ASP has grown to be much more than a school. ASP has become a series of activities and events with directed ethos towards physics as an engine for development in Africa. We report on the seven African School of Physics, ASP2022, organized at Nelson Mandela University, on November~28 to December~8, 2022. ASP2022 included programs for university students, high school teachers and high school pupils.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2021

The African School of Fundamental Physics and Applications Activity Report 2019-2021

The sixth edition of the African School of Fundamental and Applied Physics (ASP) was planned for Morocco in July 2020 and was referred to as ASP2020. Preparations were at an advanced stage when ASP2020 was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The three-week event was restructured into two activities in 2021 -- an online event on July 19-30, 2021 and a hybrid event on December 12-18, 2021 -- and was renamed ASP2021. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, an online lecture series was integrated into the ASP activities. The ASP mentorship program, which consists of online engagements between lecturers and assigned mentees, continued in this way. ASP alumni studied one year of COVID-19 data of ten African countries to offer insights into pandemic containment measures. In this note, we report on ASP activities since the last in-person edition of ASP in 2018 in Namibia.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2016

Design of a new tracking device for on-line dose monitor in ion therapy

Charged Particle Therapy is a technique for cancer treatment that exploits hadron beams, mostly protons and carbons. A critical issue is the monitoring of the dose released by the beam to the tumor and to the surrounding tissues. We present the design of a new tracking device for monitoring on-line the dose in ion therapy through the detection of secondary charged particles produced by the beam interactions in the patient tissues. In fact, the charged particle emission shape can be correlated with the spatial dose release and the Bragg peak position. The detector uses the information provided by 12 layers of scintillating fibers followed by a plastic scintillator and a small calorimeter made of a pixelated Lutetium Fine Silicate crystal. Simulations have been performed to evaluate the achievable spatial resolution and a possible application of the device for the monitoring of the dose profile in a real treatment is presented.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv1995

On the Value of R=Γ_h/Γ_l at LEP

We show that the present experimental LEP average R=Γ_h/Γ_l= 20.795 +- 0.040 is not unambiguous due to the presence of substantial systematic effects which cannot be interpreted within gaussian statistics. We find by Montecarlo simulation that the C.L. of the original LEP sample is only 3.8 \cdot 10^{-4}. We suggest that a reliable extimate of the true R-value is 20.60< R < 20.98 which produces only a very poor determination of the strong coupling constant at the Z mass scale, 0.10< α_s(M_z)< 0.15.

hep-ph↗