arXiv subjects

M. Bala

Publications and source records attributed to M. Bala.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Three-Photon Bayesian Imaging of Ortho-Positronium

PET provides functional images relying on two-photon coincidences from positron-electron annihilation. In human tissue, about 40\% of annihilations are preceded by Ps formation, of which o-Ps component partially decays into three photons, with the remainder annihilating via pick-off or spin-exchange into two photons. This three-photon channel carries additional information about the surrounding micro-environment, including the three-to-two-photon yield ratio as a potential diagnostic marker. We propose the TRIO algorithm, a novel three-photon event-by-event image reconstruction algorithm formulated as a Bayesian maximum a posteriori inference problem. TRIO unifies time-based trilateration, energy-based reconstruction and, for the first time, a physics-informed prior derived from the QED description of Ps decay within a single probabilistic framework. In contrast to positronium lifetime imaging, which requires a prompt photon and is therefore restricted to specific radionuclides, TRIO relies solely on the three photons and is fully compatible with standard radionuclides such as 18F. Monte Carlo simulation modelled after the Siemens Biograph Quadra scanner demonstrates a mean position error of 1.62~cm, improving by approximately a factor of two over the time-based trilateration (3.05 cm) and by about an order of magnitude over energy-based reconstruction alone (18 cm). More importantly, the proposed Bayesian approach is compatible with existing TOF-PET scanners that can register three-photon annihilation coincidences.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2025

Probing arbitrary polarized photon pairs undergoing double Compton scatterings by a dedicated MC simulator validated with experimental data

Quantum correlations in the polarization degrees of freedom of the two-photon system have been extensively studied and form our current understanding of the quantum nature of our world. Most of the studies are concentrated on the low-energy (optical) photon pairs, for which efficient polarization measurement devices exist. However, for high-energetic (MeV) pairs of photons, e.g. produced in the decay of positronium atoms, no polarizers are available. Partial information about the polarization degree of freedom can be extracted by exploiting the measurements of photon pairs that undergo double Compton scattering. We present a Geant4-based Monte Carlo Vienna-Warsaw model capable of simulating any initial polarization state of bipartite photons. This puts us in a position to derive the behavior of the experimental observable, the angular difference $\Delta\hat\Phi$ formed by the two scattering planes. We validate our Vienna-Warsaw simulator with the high-statistics experimental sample -- based on a total of $3 \times 10^5 $ event candidates -- of two-photon pairs measured with the J-PET Big Barrel detector. We deduce the value of the squared visibility (interference contrast) encoding the polarization in the angle difference of the two scattering planes, $\Delta\hat\Phi$. The simulated spectra are in good agreement with the experimental correlation spectra and behave as predicted by theory.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

A Comparison of CPU and GPU implementations for the LHCb Experiment Run 3 Trigger

The LHCb experiment at CERN is undergoing an upgrade in preparation for the Run 3 data taking period of the LHC. As part of this upgrade the trigger is moving to a fully software implementation operating at the LHC bunch crossing rate. We present an evaluation of a CPU-based and a GPU-based implementation of the first stage of the High Level Trigger. After a detailed comparison both options are found to be viable. This document summarizes the performance and implementation details of these options, the outcome of which has led to the choice of the GPU-based implementation as the baseline.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Assessing thermal spike model of swift heavy ion-matter interaction via Pd$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$/Si interface mixing

Thermal spike model (TSM) is presently a widely accepted mechanism of swift heavy ion (SHI) - matter interaction. It provides explanation to various SHI induced effects including mixing across interfaces. The model involves electron-phonon (e-p) coupling to predict the evolution of lattice temperature with time. SHI mixing is considered to be a result of diffusion in transient molten state thus achieved. In this work, we assess this conception primarily via tuning the e-p coupling strength by taking a series Pd$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$ of a completely solid soluble binary, and then observing 100 MeV Au ion induced mixing across Pd$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$/Si interfaces. The extent of mixing has been parametrised by the irradiation induced change $\Delta \sigma^2$ in variances of Pd and Ni depth profiles derived from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The $x$-dependence of $\Delta \sigma^2$ follows a curve that is concave upward with a prominent minimum. Theoretically, e-p coupling strength determined using density functional theory has been used to solve the equations appropriate to TSM, and then an equivalent quantity L$^2$ proportional to $\Delta \sigma^2$ has been calculated. L$^2$, however, increases monotonically with $x$ without any minimum, bringing out a convincing disparity between experiment and theory. Perhaps some mechanisms more than the TSM plus the transient molten state diffusion are operative, which can not be foreseen at this point of time.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗