arXiv subjects

Giovanni Mana

Publications and source records attributed to Giovanni Mana.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Three-dimensional model of a split-crystal x-ray and neutron interferometer

The observation of neutron interference by using a crystal interferometer having a separate analyser opens the way to the construction and operation of interferometers with vast arm separation and length. Setting the design specifications requires a three-dimensional dynamical-theory model of their operation. In this paper, we develop the needed three-dimensional mathematical framework, which also comprises coherent and incoherent illuminations, and apply it to study the visibility of the interference fringes.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

The kilogram: inertial or gravitational mass?

With the redefinition of the international system of units, the value of the Planck constant was fixed, similarly to the values of the unperturbed ground state hyperfine transition frequency of the $^{133}$Cs atom, speed of light in vacuum. Theoretically and differently from the past, the kilogram is now explicitly defined as the unit of inertial mass. Experimentally, the kilogram is realized by atom count or the Kibble balance. We show that only the former method measures the inertial mass without assuming the universality of free fall. Therefore, the agreement between the two measures can be interpreted as a test of the equivalence principle.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2022

Neutron interference from a split-crystal interferometer

We report the first successful operation of a neutron interferometer having a separate beam recombining crystal. We achieved this result at the neutron interferometry setup S18 at the ILL in Grenoble by a collaboration between TU Wien, ILL Grenoble and INRIM Torino. While previous interferometers were machined out of a single crystal block, we managed to align two crystals on nanoradian and picometer scales, as required to obtain neutron interference. As a decisive proof of principle demonstration, it opens the door to a new generation of neutron interferometers and exciting applications.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Defocused travelling-fringes in scanning triple-Laue x-ray interferometry

The measurement of the silicon lattice parameter by a separate-crystal triple-Laue x-ray interferometer is a key step for the kilogram realisation by counting atoms. Since the measurement accuracy is approaching nine significant digits, a reliable model of the interferometer operation is demanded to quantify or exclude systematic errors. This paper investigates both analytically and experimentally the effect of defocus (a difference between the splitter-to-mirror distance on the one hand and the analyser-to-mirror one on the other) on the phase of the interference fringes and the measurement of the lattice parameter.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Progress on the Astrometric Gravitation Probe design

The Astrometric Gravitation Probe mission is a modern version of the 1919 Dyson-Eddington-Davidson experiment, based on a space-borne telescope with a permanent built-in eclipse, provided by a coronagraphic system. The expected improvement on experimental bounds to General Relativity and competing gravitation theories is by at least two orders of magnitude. The measurement principle is reviewed, in particular the principle of Fizeau-like combination of a set of individual inverted coronagraphs simultaneously feeding a common high resolution telescope. Also, the payload has a dual field of view property, in order to support simultaneous observations of stellar fields either very close, or far away, from the Sun, i.e. fields affected by either high or low light bending. We discuss a set of solutions introduced in the optical design to improve on technical feasibility and robustness of the optical performance against perturbations, in particular induced by manufacturing and alignment tolerances, and launch stresses.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

The ASTRA project: a doorway to future astrometry

Astrometric Science and Technology Roadmap for Astrophysics (ASTRA) is a bilateral cooperation between China and Italy with the goal of consolidating astrometric measurement concepts and technologies. In particular, the objectives include critical analysis of the Gaia methodology and performance, as well as principle demonstration experiments aimed at future innovative astrometric applications requiring high precision over large angular separations (one to 180 degrees). Such measurement technologies will be the building blocks for future instrumentation focused on the "great questions" of modern cosmology, like General Relativity validity (including Dark Matter and Dark Energy behavior), formation and evolution of structure like proto-galaxies, and planetary systems formation in bio compatibles environments. We describe three principle demonstration tests designed to address some of the potential showstoppers for high astrometric precision experiments. The three tests are focused on the key concepts of multiple fields telescopes, astrometric metrology and very fine sub-pixel precision (goal: <1/2000 pixel) in white light.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

Measurement of the miscut angle in the determination of the Si lattice parameter

The measurement of the angle between the interferometer front mirror and the diffracting planes is a critical aspect of the Si lattice-parameter measurement by combined x-ray and optical interferometry. In addition to being measured off-line by x-ray diffraction, it was checked on-line by transversely moving the analyser crystal and observing the phase shift of the interference fringe. We describe the measurement procedure and give the miscut angle of the $^{28}$Si crystal whose lattice parameter was an essential input-datum for, yesterday, the determination of the Avogadro constant and, today, the kilogram realisation by counting atoms. These data are a kindness to others that might wish to repeat the measurement of the lattice-parameter of this unique crystal.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Interlaboratory consensus building challenge

The manuscript is about an interlaboratory comparison which involved eleven metrology institutes. It comprises four tasks: i) deriving a consensus value from these results; ii) evaluating the associated standard uncertainty; iii) producing a coverage interval that, with 95\% confidence, is believed to include the true value of which the consensus value is an estimate; iv) suggesting how the measurement result from NIST may be compared with the consensus value.

physics.data-an↗

arXiv2020

A more accurate measurement of the $^{28}$Si lattice parameter

In 2011, a discrepancy between the values of the Planck constant measured by counting Si atoms and by comparing mechanical and electrical powers prompted a review, among others, of the measurement of the spacing of $^{28}$Si {220} lattice planes, either to confirm the measured value and its uncertainty or to identify errors. This exercise confirmed the result of the previous measurement and yields the additional value $d_{220}=192014711.98(34)$ am having a reduced uncertainty.

physics.data-an↗

arXiv2020

Model selection in the average of inconsistent data: an analysis of the measured Planck-constant values

When the data do not conform to the hypothesis of a known sampling-variance, the fitting of a constant to a set of measured values is a long debated problem. Given the data, fitting would require to find what measurand value is the most trustworthy. Bayesian inference is here reviewed, to assign probabilities to the possible measurand values. Different hypothesis about the data variance are tested by Bayesian model comparison. Eventually, model selection is exemplified in deriving an estimate of the Planck constant.

physics.data-an↗

arXiv2020

X-ray phase contrast topography to measure the surface stress and bulk strain in a silicon crystal

The measurement of the Si lattice parameter by x-ray interferometry assumes the use of strain-free crystals, which might not be true because of intrinsic stresses due to surface relaxation, reconstruction, and oxidation. We used x-ray phase-contrast topography to investigate the strain sensitivity to the finishing, annealing, and coating of the interferometer crystals.We assessed the topography capabilities by measuring the lattice strain due to films of copper deposited on the interferometer mirror-crystal. A byproduct has been the measurement of the surface stresses after complete relaxation of the coatings.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2016

Half-life of 31Si

Half-life values are widely used in nuclear chemistry to model the exponential decay of the quantified radionuclides. The analysis of existing data reveals a general lack of information on the performed experiments and an almost complete absence of uncertainty budgets. This is the situation for 31Si, the radionuclide produced via neutron capture reaction recently used to quantify trace amounts of 30Si in a sample of the silicon material highly enriched in 28Si and used for the determination of the Avogadro constant. In order to improve the quality of the now recommended 157.36(26) min value, we carried out repeated observations of the 31Si decay rate via gamma-ray spectrometry measurements. This paper reports the result we obtained, including details of the experiment and the evaluation of the uncertainty.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2016

Model uncertainty and reference value of the Planck constant

Statistical parametric models are proposed to explain the values of the Planck constant obtained by comparing electrical and mechanical powers and by counting atoms in Si 28 enriched crystals. They assume that uncertainty contributions -- having heterogeneous, datum-specific, variances -- might not be included in the error budgets of some of the measured values. Model selection and model averaging are used to investigate data consistency, to identify a reference value of the Planck constant, and to include the model uncertainty in the error budget.

physics.data-an↗

arXiv2016

30Si Mole Fraction of a Silicon Material Highly Enriched in 28Si Determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

The latest determination of the Avogadro constant, carried out by counting the atoms in a pure silicon crystal highly enriched in 28Si, reached the target 2x10-8 relative uncertainty required for the redefinition of the kilogram based on the Planck constant. The knowledge of the isotopic composition of the enriched silicon material is central; it is measured by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. In this work, an independent estimate of the 30Si mole fraction was obtained by applying a relative measurement protocol based on Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. The amount of 30Si isotope was determined by counting the 1266.1 keV gamma-photons emitted during the radioactive decay of the radioisotope 31Si produced via the neutron capture reaction 30Si(n,gamma)31Si. The x(30Si) = 1.043(19)x10-6 mol mol-1 is consistent with the value currently adopted by the International Avogadro Coordination.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Covariant priors and model uncertainty

In the application of Bayesian methods to metrology, pre-data probabilities play a critical role in the estimation of the model uncertainty. Following the observation that distributions form Riemann's manifolds, methods of differential geometry can be applied to ensure covariant priors and uncertainties independent of parameterization. Paradoxes were found in multi-parameter problems and alternatives were developed; but, when different parameters are of interest, covariance may be lost. This paper overviews information geometry, investigates some key paradoxes, and proposes solutions that preserve covariance.

stat.ME↗

arXiv2015

The correlation of the $N_A$ measurements by counting $^{28}$Si atoms

An additional value of the Avogadro constant was obtained by counting the atoms in isotopically enriched Si spheres. With respect to the previous determination, the spheres were etched and repolished to eliminate metal contaminations and to improve the roundness. In addition, all the input quantities -- molar mass, lattice parameter, mass, and volume -- were remeasured aiming at a smaller uncertainty. In order to make the values given Refs.\ 1 and 2 usable for a least squares adjustment, we report about the estimate of their correlation.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Diffraction effects in length measurements by laser interferometry

High-accuracy dimensional measurements by laser interferometers require corrections because of diffraction, which makes the effective fringe-period different from the wavelength of a plane (or spherical) wave $λ_0$. By using a combined X-ray and optical interferometer as a tool to investigate diffraction across a laser beam, we observed wavelength variations as large as $10^{-8}λ_0$. We show that they originate from the wavefront evolution under paraxial propagation in the presence of wavefront- and intensity-profile perturbations.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2014

Lattice strain at c-Si surfaces: a density functional theory calculation

The measurement of the Avogadro constant by counting Si atoms is based on the assumption that Si balls of about 94 mm diameter have a perfect crystal structure up to the outermost atom layers. This not the case because of the surface relaxation and reconstruction, the possible presence of an amorphous layer, and the oxidation process due to the interaction with the ambient. This paper gives the results of density functional calculations of the strain components orthogonal to crystal surface in a number of configurations likely found in real samples.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗