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Giuliana Fiorillo

Publications and source records attributed to Giuliana Fiorillo.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

The Darkside-20k Data Acquisition System

DarkSide-20k is a WIMP search experiment using liquid argon as a target, designed to perform a background-free search for dark matter with unprecedented sensitivity, and is currently under construction at INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy. The detector comprises a dual-phase Time Projection Chamber complemented with external veto systems and is equipped with a total of 2720 SiPM-based readout channels. This work presents the DAQ system designed for DarkSide-20k. The system is capable of continuous, triggerless digitisation of the waveforms with high single-photoelectron detection efficiency and online processing, ensuring data reduction for long-term storage. The DarkSide-20k DAQ system employs commercial CAEN VX2745 digitisers with custom FPGA firmware implementation. Timing and synchronisation across all 48 digitisers are provided by custom Global and Crate Data Manager boards distributing a phase-aligned clock derived from a disciplined rubidium standard. Waveform segments are processed in real time by Front End Processor machines. Data are organised into collections containing whole detector information and distributed across a farm of Time Slice Processors for event reconstruction, classification, and further reduction before storage and offline analysis. A full "Quadrant" of the system, corresponding to one quarter of the final DAQ, has been assembled and validated at TRIUMF laboratory in Canada. The Quadrant has been stress-tested with simultaneous pulses and demonstrated sustained digitizer readout exceeding expected physics rates and stable long-term performance.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2026

Proto-0: a prototype for validating key technologies of the DarkSide-20k experiment and beyond

The DarkSide-20k experiment, currently under construction at LNGS, will employ a next-generation dual-phase liquid-argon Time Projection Chamber (TPC) with SiPM-based Photon Detector Units and low-background materials to achieve the ambitious goal of operating with an instrumental background close to zero. Proto-0 is a small-scale dual-phase argon TPC operated at INFN Naples, designed to validate the integration of DarkSide-20k key technologies in a realistic detector environment and to study charge extraction and electroluminescence signal formation. In this short paper we report on the early operation of Proto-0 and its single-phase commissioning. We focus on the measurement of the scintillation light yield using external and internal calibration sources.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2022

SoLAr: Solar Neutrinos in Liquid Argon

SoLAr is a new concept for a liquid-argon neutrino detector technology to extend the sensitivities of these devices to the MeV energy range - expanding the physics reach of these next-generation detectors to include solar neutrinos. We propose this novel concept to significantly improve the precision on solar neutrino mixing parameters and to observe the "hep branch" of the proton-proton fusion chain. The SoLAr detector will achieve flavour-tagging of solar neutrinos in liquid argon. The SoLAr technology will be based on the concept of monolithic light-charge pixel-based readout which addresses the main requirements for such a detector: a low energy threshold with excellent energy resolution (approximately 7%) and background rejection through pulse-shape discrimination. The SoLAr concept is also timely as a possible technology choice for the DUNE "Module of Opportunity", which could serve as a next-generation multi-purpose observatory for neutrinos from the MeV to the GeV range. The goal of SoLAr is to observe solar neutrinos in a 10 ton-scale detector and to demonstrate that the required background suppression and energy resolution can be achieved. SoLAr will pave the way for a precise measurement of the 8-B flux, an improved precision on solar neutrino mixing parameters, and ultimately lead to the first observation of hep neutrinos in the DUNE Module of Opportunity.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2021

Direct Detection of Dark Matter -- APPEC Committee Report

This Report provides an extensive review of the experimental programme of direct detection searches of particle dark matter. It focuses mostly on European efforts, both current and planned, but does it within a broader context of a worldwide activity in the field. It aims at identifying the virtues, opportunities and challenges associated with the different experimental approaches and search techniques. It presents scientific and technological synergies, both existing and emerging, with some other areas of particle physics, notably collider and neutrino programmes, and beyond. It addresses the issue of infrastructure in light of the growing needs and challenges of the different experimental searches. Finally, the Report makes a number of recommendations from the perspective of a long-term future of the field. They are introduced, along with some justification, in the opening Overview and Recommendations section and are next summarised at the end of the Report. Overall, we recommend that the direct search for dark matter particle interactions with a detector target should be given top priority in astroparticle physics, and in all particle physics, and beyond, as a positive measurement will provide the most unambiguous confirmation of the particle nature of dark matter in the Universe.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2019

Future Opportunities in Accelerator-based Neutrino Physics

This document summarizes the conclusions of the Neutrino Town Meeting held at CERN in October 2018 to review the neutrino field at large with the aim of defining a strategy for accelerator-based neutrino physics in Europe. The importance of the field across its many complementary components is stressed. Recommendations are presented regarding the accelerator based neutrino physics, pertinent to the European Strategy for Particle Physics. We address in particular i) the role of CERN and its neutrino platform, ii) the importance of ancillary neutrino cross-section experiments, and iii) the capability of fixed target experiments as well as present and future high energy colliders to search for the possible manifestations of neutrino mass generation mechanisms.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2016

Feasibility study of SiGHT: a novel ultra low background photosensor for low temperature operation

Rare event search experiments, such as those searching for dark matter and observations of neutrinoless double beta decay, require ultra low levels of radioactive background for unmistakable identification. In order to reduce the radioactive backgrounds of detectors used in these types of event searches, low background photosensors are required, as the physical size of these detectors become increasing larger, and hence the number of such photosensors used also increases rapidly. Considering that most dark matter and neutrinoless double beta decay experiments are turning towards using noble liquids as the target choice, liquid xenon and liquid argon for instance, photosensors that can work well at cryogenic temperatures are required, 165 K and 87 K for liquid xenon and liquid argon, respectively. The Silicon Geiger Hybrid Tube (SiGHT) is a novel photosensor designed specifically for use in ultra low background experiments operating at cryogenic temperatures. It is based on the proven photocathode plus silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) hybrid technology and consists of very few other, but also ultra radio-pure, materials like fused silica and silicon for the SiPM. The introduction of the SiGHT concept, as well as a feasibility study for its production, is reported in this paper.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2013

A new concept of y-ray telescope. LArGO: Liquid Argon Gamma-ray Observatory

LArGO (Liquid Argon Gamma-ray Observatory) consists of a new design for a $γ$-ray telescope, which exploits the idea of using a Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LAr-TPC) as tracker-converter. Particle tracking in LAr-TPC can efficiently starts since the primary photon vertex. Indeed, while in the present space telescopes the incident photon converts in a tungsten foil, which is a passive material, in a LAr-TPC this conversion happens in LAr itself, which is fully active. In this proceeding is described a plausible design for the tracker-converter detector which fulfills the constraints on conversion efficiency, angular resolution, and wide field of view. It is demonstrated how this design can provide an unprecedented angular resolution for a $γ$-ray telescope, leading to a significant improvement in sensitivity and most important disclosing the possibility to detect the polarization of $γ$-ray emission.

astro-ph.IM↗