arXiv subjects

M. Barbanera

Publications and source records attributed to M. Barbanera.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Toward High-Resolution Detection of Target Fragmentation: TEA-Sensitized NIT for Proton Therapy Applications

Nano Imaging Trackers (NIT) are fine-grained nuclear emulsions capable of tracking charged particles with sub-micrometric spatial resolution. The DAMON (Direct Measurement of Target Fragmentation) experiment recently employed NIT to detect target-fragmentation events relevant to proton therapy in direct kinematics. These measurements showed that the small crystal size, while providing high spatial resolution, limits the reconstruction efficiency for primary proton tracks and high-energy secondary protons. This work reports an enhancement of NIT sensitivity achieved through alternative chemical sensitization methods, namely gold-plus-sulfur (Au-S) and triethanolamine (TEA), together with the use of the GR-1 developer. The detector response was evaluated with gamma-ray, carbon-ion and proton exposures, including clinically relevant proton energies.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Angular differential and elemental fragmentation cross sections of a $400\,\text{MeV/nucleon}$ $^{16}\text{O}$ beam on a graphite target with the FOOT experiment

This paper presents the measurements of the angular differential cross sections for the forward production of He, Li, Be, B, C and N nuclei in the fragmentation process of a 400$\text{MeV/nucleon}$ $^{16}\text{O}$ beam interacting with a graphite target. Due to the limited data available in this energy regime, these measurements of nuclear fragmentation cross sections are relevant to improve nuclear interaction models for Particle Therapy and space radioprotection applications. The data analyzed in this paper were collected during a measurement campaign carried out at the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research facility in Darmstadt (Germany) by the FOOT collaboration. The results are compared with similar results found in the literature and with a previous FOOT measurement of the same process, using the same setup, from a previous pilot run performed at GSI. The pilot run data, however, had limited statistics and only allowed for the measurement of elemental fragmentation cross sections integrated in the setup acceptance. This data set, with statistics more than 100 times larger compared to the data collected in the previous run, enabled the measurement of angular differential cross sections, fully exploiting the granularity of the FOOT $Δ\text{E}$-TOF system. Furthermore, a better comprehension of the FOOT apparatus allowed to improve the analysis techniques, leading to a reduction in the final systematic uncertainties.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Cross Section Measurements of Large Angle Fragments Production in the Interaction of Carbon Ion Beams with Thin Targets

The fragmentation cross sections of carbon ion beams with kinetic energies of $115 - 353~\text{MeV/u}$ impinging on thin targets of graphite (C), polyvinyl-toluene (C$_9$H$_{10}$) and PMMA (C$_2$O$_5$H$_8$) have been measured at 90$^{\text{o}}$ and 60$^{\text{o}}$ at the CNAO particle therapy center (Pavia, Italy). The presented measurements are a complete reanalysis by the FOOT collaboration of already published elemental cross section on composite targets, in order to refine the analysis, improve the systematic uncertainties and show the comparison with the FLUKA Monte Carlo code calculations. In this work, the kinetic energy at production of measured fragments has been completely redefined, together with the efficiencies computation. The new analysis strategy has been successfully validated against the Monte Carlo cross sections. Two detection arms were positioned at two different angles to perform the measurement at 90$^{\text{o}}$ and 60$^{\text{o}}$. The fragment species have been identified in charge (Z$_{id}$ = H) and mass (M$_{id}$ = $^1$H, $^2$H, $^3$H) combining the information of the deposited energy in thin plastic scintillators, of the deposited energy in a thick LYSO crystal and of the fragments Time of Flight (ToF) measurement. The ToF was also used to compute the fragments measured kinetic energy. The cross sections are presented as a function of the fragments kinetic energy at production thanks to an unfolding technique applied to the data.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2024

Performance assessment of the HERD calorimeter with a photo-diode read-out system for high-energy electron beams

The measurement of cosmic rays at energies exceeding 100 TeV per nucleon is crucial for enhancing the understanding of high-energy particle propagation and acceleration models in the Galaxy. HERD is a space-borne calorimetric experiment that aims to extend the current direct measurements of cosmic rays to unexplored energies. The payload is scheduled to be installed on the Chinese Space Station in 2027. The primary peculiarity of the instrument is its capability to measure particles coming from all directions, with the main detector being a deep, homogeneous, 3D calorimeter. The active elements are read out using two independent systems: one based on wavelength shifter fibers coupled to CMOS cameras, and the other based on photo-diodes read-out with custom front-end electronics. A large calorimeter prototype was tested in 2023 during an extensive beam test campaign at CERN. In this paper, the performance of the calorimeter for high-energy electron beams, as obtained from the photo-diode system data, is presented. The prototype demonstrated excellent performance, e.g., an energy resolution better than 1% for electrons at 250 GeV. A comparison between beam test data and Monte Carlo simulation data is also presented.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Design, Construction, and Test of the Gas Pixel Detectors for the IXPE Mission

Due to be launched in late 2021, the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is a NASA Small Explorer mission designed to perform polarization measurements in the 2-8 keV band, complemented with imaging, spectroscopy and timing capabilities. At the heart of the focal plane is a set of three polarization-sensitive Gas Pixel Detectors (GPD), each based on a custom ASIC acting as a charge-collecting anode. In this paper we shall review the design, manufacturing, and test of the IXPE focal-plane detectors, with particular emphasis on the connection between the science drivers, the performance metrics and the operational aspects. We shall present a thorough characterization of the GPDs in terms of effective noise, trigger efficiency, dead time, uniformity of response, and spectral and polarimetric performance. In addition, we shall discuss in detail a number of instrumental effects that are relevant for high-level science analysis -- particularly as far as the response to unpolarized radiation and the stability in time are concerned.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2020

Light Detection System and Time Resolution of the NA62 RICH

A large RICH detector is used in NA62 to suppress the muon contamination in the charged pion sample by a factor of 100 in the momentum range between 15 and 35 GeV/c. Cherenkov light is collected by 1952 photomultipliers placed at the upstream end. In this paper the characterization of the photomultipliers and the dedicated Frontend and Data Acquisition electronics are described, the time resolution and the light detection efficiency measurement are presented.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

The integrated low-level trigger and readout system of the CERN NA62 experiment

The integrated low-level trigger and data acquisition (TDAQ) system of the NA62 experiment at CERN is described. The requirements of a large and fast data reduction in a high-rate environment for a medium-scale, distributed ensemble of many different sub-detectors led to the concept of a fully digital integrated system with good scaling capabilities. The NA62 TDAQ system is rather unique in allowing full flexibility on this scale, allowing in principle any information available from the detector to be used for triggering. The design concept, implementation and performances from the first years of running are illustrated.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Precise Mirror Alignment and Basic Performance of the RICH Detector of the NA62 Experiment at CERN

The Ring Imaging Cherenkov detector is crucial for the identification of charged particles in the NA62 experiment at the CERN SPS. The detector commissioning was completed in 2016 by the precise alignment of mirrors using reconstructed tracks. The alignment procedure and measurement of the basic performance are described. Ring radius resolution, ring centre resolution, single hit resolution and mean number of hits per ring are evaluated for positron tracks. The contribution of the residual mirror misalignment to the performance is calculated.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Search for $K^{+}\rightarrowπ^{+}ν\overlineν$ at NA62

$K^{+}\rightarrowπ^{+}ν\overlineν$ is one of the theoretically cleanest meson decay where to look for indirect effects of new physics complementary to LHC searches. The NA62 experiment at CERN SPS is designed to measure the branching ratio of this decay with 10\% precision. NA62 took data in pilot runs in 2014 and 2015 reaching the final designed beam intensity. The quality of 2015 data acquired, in view of the final measurement, will be presented.

hep-ex↗