arXiv subjects

Michele Doro

Publications and source records attributed to Michele Doro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

On the Codesign of Scientific Experiments and Industrial Systems

The optimization of large experiments in fundamental science, such as detectors for subnuclear physics at particle colliders, shares with the optimization of complex systems for industrial or societal applications the common issue of addressing the inter-relation between parameters describing the hardware used in data production and parameters used to analyse those data. While in many cases this coupling can be ignored -- when the problem can be successfully factored into simpler sub-tasks and the latter addressed serially -- there are situations in which that approach fails to converge to the absolute maximum of expected performance, as it results in a mis-alignment of the optimized hardware and software solutions. In this work we consider a few use cases of interest in fundamental science collected primarily from particle physics and related areas, and a pot-pourri of industrial and societal applications where the matter is similarly of relevance. We discuss the emergence of strong hardware-software coupling in some of those systems, as well as co-design procedures that may be deployed to identify the global maximum of their relevant utility functions. We observe how numerous opportunities exist to advance methods and tools for hardware-software co-design optimization, bridging fundamental science and industry through application- and challenge-driven projects, and shaping the future of scientific experiments and industrial systems.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2026

Constraining the synchrotron peak and estimating the VHE brightness of a sample of extreme high synchrotron peak blazars

We present the results of a multi-wavelength study of a population of X-ray bright ($\rm log(F_{0.2-12 \ keV})>-12.5$), non-$\gamma$-ray detected high and extreme high synchrotron peak (HSP, EHSP; $\rm log(\nu_{\rm peak,\ Hz})>16$) BL Lacs to $i$) put stronger constraints on the synchrotron peak location and shape and $ii$) model their expected behaviour in the very high-energy band. First, we performed an X-ray spectral analysis, using XMM-Newton, Chandra, Swift-XRT, and eROSITA data, and fitting the spectra using both a power law and a log parabola model. Out of 78 sources in the initial sample, 17 were best described by a log parabola model, a result that supports a scenario where the synchrotron peak falls in the X-ray band. Among these 17 sources, we further selected the 10 objects dominated by the jet emission, with no significant contamination of the host galaxy. We performed a $\gamma$-ray analysis of \lat\ data for these objects, obtaining upper limits providing information on their flux in the 100 MeV - 300 GeV energy range. We then modelled the broadband SED of these objects with JetSeT using two models: one assuming a log parabola for the electron distribution and the other one with a broken power law electron distribution, using parameters consistent with those describing the emission of the prototypical EHSP 1ES 0229+200. We found the models to be generally consistent with the available multi-wavelength detections and upper limits. Furthermore, they confirmed that a subsample of sources could display relevant emission in the TeV energy range, even potentially reaching the threshold for detectability by the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Is There New Physics Beyond 30 TeV in the BOAT?

We show that the GRB 221009A spectrum detected by LHAASO can be used to probe effects of quadratic subluminal Lorentz Invariance Violation (LIV) through the enhancement of the observed flux at the highest energies. In particular, we argue that excesses in the GRB 221009A data currently classified as non-detections at energies $E \gtrsim 30$ TeV warrant further investigation, as they may indicate a recovery of the intrinsic source spectrum consistent with the LIV-induced suppression of $\gamma\gamma \to e^-e^+$ interactions within the quadratic subluminal scenario. This would increase the accessible parameter space of the energy scale of new physics.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Recasting and Forecasting Dark Matter Limits Without Raw Data: A Generalized Algorithm for Gamma-Ray Telescopes

We present a novel method for both forecasting and recasting upper limits (ULs) on dark matter (DM) annihilation cross sections, $\left< \sigma v \right>^{UL}$, or decay lifetime $\tau^{LL}$ . The forecasting method relies solely on the instrument response functions (IRFs) to predict ULs for a given observational setup, without the need for full analysis pipelines. The recasting procedure uses published ULs to reinterpret constraints for alternative DM models or channels. We demonstrate its utility across a range of canonical annihilation channels, including $b\bar{b}$, $W^+W^-$, $\tau^+\tau^-$, and $\mu^+\mu^-$, and apply it to several major gamma-ray experiments, including MAGIC, \textit{Fermi}-LAT, and CTAO. Notably, we develop a recasting approach that remains effective even when the IRF is unavailable by extracting generalized IRF-dependent coefficients from benchmark channels. We apply this method to reinterpret ULs derived from standard spectra (e.g., PPPC4DMID) in terms of more recent DM scenarios, including a Higgsino-like model with mixed final states and spectra generated with the CosmiXs model. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations and direct comparison with published results confirm the robustness and accuracy of our method, with discrepancies remaining within statistical uncertainties. The algorithm is generally applicable to any scenario where the expected signal model is parametric, offering a powerful tool for reinterpreting existing gamma-ray limits and efficiently exploring the DM parameter space in current and future indirect detection experiments.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Line emission search from DM annihilation in the Galactic Center with LST-1

Dark Matter remains a great mystery in modern physics. Among various candidates, the weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) scenario stands out and is under extensive study. The detection of the hypothetical gamma-ray emission from WIMP annihilation could act as a direct probe of electroweak-scale interactions, complementing DM collider searches and other direct DM detection techniques. At very high energies (VHE), WIMP self-annihilation is expected to produce gamma rays together with other Standard Model particles. The galactic center (GC), due to its relative proximity to the Earth and its high expected DM density, is a prime target for monoenergetic line searches. IACTs have placed strong constraints on the DM properties at the GC, with the MAGIC providing the most stringent limits from 20 TeV to 100 TeV, exploiting large zenith angle (LZA) observations. However, the limited field of view (FoV) of the MAGIC telescopes (< 3.5{\deg} ) prevented a detailed study of the extended region around the GC in which an enhanced DM density is expected. The LST-1 of the CTAO, located at the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory (La Palma, Spain), close to the MAGIC site, has been observing the GC since 2021. With its wide FoV of 4.5{\deg}, LST-1 could contribute significantly to the WIMPs search at the GC. The observations are performed at LZA (ZA > 58{\deg}), which, while required due to the source's low altitude, also optimizes the detection of gamma rays up to 100 TeV and beyond. We present a study of the systematic uncertainties in WIMP line emission searches with LST-1. Our work examines the instrument response functions for LZA observations, background rejection in monoscopic mode, and includes updated results from simulations, highlighting new methods for spectral line searches.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Trustworthy scientific inference with generative models

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) excels at producing complex data structures (text, images, videos) by learning patterns from training examples. Across scientific disciplines, researchers are now applying generative models to "inverse problems" to directly predict hidden parameters from observed data along with measures of uncertainty. While these predictive or posterior-based methods can handle intractable likelihoods and large-scale studies, they can also produce biased or overconfident conclusions even without model misspecifications. We present a solution with Frequentist-Bayes (FreB), a mathematically rigorous protocol that reshapes AI-generated posterior probability distributions into (locally valid) confidence regions that consistently include true parameters with the expected probability, while achieving minimum size when training and target data align. We demonstrate FreB's effectiveness by tackling diverse case studies in the physical sciences: identifying unknown sources under dataset shift, reconciling competing theoretical models, and mitigating selection bias and systematics in observational studies. By providing validity guarantees with interpretable diagnostics, FreB enables trustworthy scientific inference across fields where direct likelihood evaluation remains impossible or prohibitively expensive.

stat.ML↗

arXiv2025

Recasting Experimental Constraints on Relativistic Magnetic Monopoles

Magnetic monopoles with masses up to $10^{14}$ GeV can be accelerated to relativistic velocities in Galactic and intergalactic magnetic fields. The cosmic flux of relativistic monopoles is constrained by various experiments, with the limits given as functions of the monopole velocity (Lorentz factor) at the detectors. The velocity, however, is usually treated as a free parameter due to the ambiguity in the computation of the acceleration before the monopoles arrive at Earth. We explicitly evaluate the velocity by exploiting recent studies on cosmic magnetic fields and the monopole acceleration therein, to recast experimental limits in terms of the mass of monopoles. By applying our method to various terrestrial experiments, including the Pierre Auger Observatory, IceCube, MACRO, and the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory, as well as to astrophysical constraints, we report limits on the flux of monopoles for a wide range of monopole masses. We also highlight the role of monopoles as messengers of cosmic magnetic fields, and discuss the possibility of using monopole experiments to probe intergalactic magnetic fields.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

A 1.8 m class pathfinder Raman LIDAR for the Northern Site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory -- Performance

The Barcelona Raman LIDAR (BRL) will provide continuous monitoring of the aerosol extinction profile along the line of sight of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO). It will be located at its Northern site (CTAO-N) on the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos. This article presents the performance of the pathfinder Barcelona Raman LIDAR (pBRL), a prototype instrument for the final BRL. Power budget simulations were carried out for the pBRL operating. under various conditions, including clear nights, moon conditions, and dust intrusions. The LIDAR PreProcessing (LPP) software suite is presented, which includes several new statistical methods for background subtraction, signal gluing, ground layer and cloud detection and inversion, based on two elastic and one Raman lines. Preliminary test campaigns were conducted, first close to Barcelona and later at CTAO-N, albeit during moonlit nights only. The pBRL, under these non-optimal conditions, achieves maximum ranges up to about 35 km, range resolution of about 50 m for strongly absorbing dust layers, and 500 m for optically thin clouds with the Raman channel only, leading to similar resolutions for the LIDAR ratios and Angstrom exponents. Given the reasonable agreement between the extinction coefficients obtained from the Raman and elastic lines independently, an accuracy of aerosol optical depth retrieval in the order of 0.05 can be assumed with the current setup. The results show that the pBRL can provide valuable scientific results on aerosol characteristics and structure, although not all performance requirements could be validated under the conditions found at the two test sites. Several moderate hardware improvements are planned for its final upgraded version [truncated].

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

Toward the End-To-End Optimization of the SWGO Array Layout

In this document we consider the problem of finding the optimal layout for the array of water Cherenkov detectors proposed by the SWGO collaboration to study very-high-energy gamma rays in the southern hemisphere. We develop a continuous model of the secondary particles produced by atmospheric showers initiated by high-energy gamma rays and protons, and build an optimization pipeline capable of identifying the most promising configuration of the detector elements. The pipeline employs stochastic gradient descent to maximize a utility function aligned with the scientific goals of the experiment. We demonstrate how the software is capable of finding the global maximum in the high-dimensional parameter space, and discuss its performance and limitations.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

A 1.8 m class pathfinder Raman LIDAR for the Northern Site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory -- Technical Design

This paper presents the technical design of the pathfinder Barcelona Raman LIDAR (pBRL) for the northern site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO-N) located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM). The pBRL is developed for continuous atmospheric characterization, essential for correcting high-energy gamma-ray observations captured by Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs). The LIDAR consists of a steerable telescope with a 1.8 m parabolic mirror and a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with frequency doubling and tripling. It emits at wavelengths of 355 nm and 532 nm to measure aerosol scattering and extinction through two elastic and Raman channels. Built upon a former Cherenkov Light Ultraviolet Experiment (CLUE) telescope, the pBRL's design includes a Newtonian mirror configuration, a coaxial laser beam, a near-range system, a liquid light guide and a custom-made polychromator. During a one-year test at the ORM, the stability of the LIDAR and semi-remote-controlled operations were tested. This pathfinder leads the way to designing a final version of a CTAO Raman LIDAR which will provide real-time atmospheric monitoring and, as such, ensure the necessary accuracy of scientific data collected by the CTAO-N telescope array.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

On the Utility Function of Experiments in Fundamental Science

The majority of experiments in fundamental science today are designed to be multi-purpose: their aim is not simply to measure a single physical quantity or process, but rather to enable increased precision in the measurement of a number of different observable quantities of a natural system, to extend the search for new phenomena, or to exclude a larger phase space of candidate theories. Most of the time, a combination of the above goals is pursued; this breadth of scope adds a layer of complexity to the already demanding task of designing the measurement apparatus in an optimal way, by defining suitable geometries and choosing the most advantageous materials and appropriate detection technologies. The precise definition of a global optimality criterion may then require experimentalists to find a consensus on the relative scientific worth of those goals. In this work, we discuss the problem of formulating a utility function for multipurpose experiments, as an enabling step to employ artificial intelligence tools to explore the design space and assist humans in finding solutions at the Pareto front.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2024

Dark Matter and Fundamental Physics Searches with IACTs

Cosmic gamma rays are a valid probe to search for fundamental physics. Some of these exotic and exciting scenarios are the subject of this contribution to the book. All current Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) have invested a great deal of time and resources in scouting these out. In this chapter, we focus on the case of indirect search for weakly interacting massive particles (Sec. 8.1) and that of search for axion-like particles (Sec. 8.2). We continue with less debated, yet interesting studies on the search for primordial black holes (Sec. 8.3), tau-neutrinos (8.4), and magnetic monopoles (8.5). Other scenarios of fundamental physics like the search for Lorentz Invariance violations are treated elsewhere in the book. We structured the contribution providing a self-contained (yet minimal) theoretical framework, as well as a complete report of all IACTs' published contribution to the topics under consideration (updated until 2022). Our aim is to provide a reference review as well as take a photograph of the effort of the current generation of IACTs and the challenges taken, in preparation of the next-generation instrument to come, the Cherenkov Telescope Array.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Monopole acceleration in intergalactic magnetic fields

We provide a comprehensive analysis of the acceleration of magnetic monopoles in intergalactic magnetic fields. We demonstrate that monopoles with intermediate to low masses can be accelerated to relativistic velocities. This can significantly affect direct and indirect searches for magnetic monopoles. As an example, we show that the Parker bound is relaxed in the presence of intergalactic fields. We also find that a cosmic population of monopoles can produce significant backreaction on the intergalactic fields.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

A new look at the extragalactic Very High Energy sky: searching for TeV-emitting candidates among the X-ray bright, non-Fermi detected blazar population

We present the results of a multi-wavelength study of blazars selected from the 5th ROMABZCAT catalog. We selected from this sample a subsample of 2435 objects having at least one counterpart in one of the three main archival X-ray catalogs, which is, the fourth release of the XMM-Newton Survey Science Catalogue, the second release of the Chandra Source Catalog, and the second Swift X-ray Point Source catalog of detections by Swift-XRT, or in the recently released eROSITA-DE Data Release 1 catalog. We first searched for different multi-wavelength trends between sources with a Gamma-ray counterpart in the Fermi-LAT 14-year Source Catalog (4FGL-DR4) and sources lacking one. We find that the non-4FGL sources are on average fainter both in the X-rays and in the radio with respect to the 4FGL-detected ones, but the two samples have similar X-ray-to-radio flux ratios, as well as synchrotron peak frequencies. We then focused on the 1007 non-Gamma-ray detected population, to determine if there is a sample of X-ray sources that could be TeV emitters. We find that a large number of sources, mostly BL Lacs or BL Lacs with host-galaxy contribution to the spectral energy distribution, have large synchrotron peak frequency and X-ray to radio flux ratio, two properties that characterize the vast majority of known TeV emitters. With respect to these known TeV emitters, our targets have X-ray fluxes ~1 order of magnitude fainter. We then computed the 0.2-12 keV and 20 GeV - 300 TeV fluxes for the known 5BZCAT TeV emitters, and determined the existence of a direct correlation between X-ray and TeV fluxes in the BL Lacs population. We used this trend to estimate the VHE flux of our targets, and found a promising sample of sources for follow-up observations with current or future, more sensitive, Cherenkov telescopes, first and foremost the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Detailed Analysis of Local Climate at the CTAO-North Site on La Palma from 20 Years of MAGIC Weather Station Data

The Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos will host the northern site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), in an area about 200 m below the mountain rim, where the optical telescopes are located. The site currently hosts the MAGIC Telescopes, which have gathered a unique series of 20 years of weather data. We use advanced profile likelihood methods to determine seasonal cycles, the occurrence of weather extremes, weather downtime, and long-term trends correctly taking into account data gaps. The fractality of the weather data is investigated by means of multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis. The data are published according to the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) principles. We find that the behaviour of wind and relative humidity show significant differences compared to the mountain rim. We observe an increase in temperature of $0.55\pm0.07\mathrm{(stat.)}\pm0.07\mathrm{(syst.)}^\circ C$/decade, the diurnal temperature range of $0.13\pm0.04\mathrm{(stat.)}\pm0.02\mathrm{(syst.)}^\circ C$/decade (accompanied by an increase of seasonal oscillation amplitude of $ΔC_m=0.29\pm0.10\mathrm{(stat.)}\pm0.04\mathrm{(syst.)}^\circ C$/decade) and relative humidity of $4.0\pm0.4\mathrm{(stat.)}\pm1.1\mathrm{(syst.)}$%/decade, and a decrease in trade wind speeds of $0.85\pm0.12\mathrm{(stat.)}\pm0.07\mathrm{(syst.)}$(km/h)/decade. The occurrence of extreme weather, such as tropical storms and long rains, remains constant over time. We find a significant correlation of temperature with the North Atlantic Oscillation Index and multifractal behaviour of the data. The site shows a weather-related downtime of 18.5%-20.5%, depending on the wind gust limits employed. No hints are found of a degradation of weather downtime under the assumption of a linear evolution of environmental parameters over time.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2024

Classification under Nuisance Parameters and Generalized Label Shift in Likelihood-Free Inference

An open scientific challenge is how to classify events with reliable measures of uncertainty, when we have a mechanistic model of the data-generating process but the distribution over both labels and latent nuisance parameters is different between train and target data. We refer to this type of distributional shift as generalized label shift (GLS). Direct classification using observed data $\mathbf{X}$ as covariates leads to biased predictions and invalid uncertainty estimates of labels $Y$. We overcome these biases by proposing a new method for robust uncertainty quantification that casts classification as a hypothesis testing problem under nuisance parameters. The key idea is to estimate the classifier's receiver operating characteristic (ROC) across the entire nuisance parameter space, which allows us to devise cutoffs that are invariant under GLS. Our method effectively endows a pre-trained classifier with domain adaptation capabilities and returns valid prediction sets while maintaining high power. We demonstrate its performance on two challenging scientific problems in biology and astroparticle physics with data from realistic mechanistic models.

stat.ML↗

arXiv2024

Firmamento: a multi-messenger astronomy tool for citizen and professional scientists

Firmamento (https://firmamento.hosting.nyu.edu) is a new-concept web-based and mobile-friendly data analysis tool dedicated to multi-frequency/multi-messenger emitters, as exemplified by blazars. Although initially intended to support a citizen researcher project at New York University-Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Firmamento has evolved to be a valuable tool for professional researchers due to its broad accessibility to classical and contemporary multi-frequency open data sets. From this perspective Firmamento facilitates the identification of new blazars and other multi-frequency emitters in the localisation uncertainty regions of sources detected by current and planned observatories such as Fermi-LAT, Swift , eROSITA, CTA, ASTRI Mini-Array, LHAASO, IceCube, KM3Net, SWGO, etc. The multi-epoch and multi-wavelength data that Firmamento retrieves from over 90 remote and local catalogues and databases can be used to characterise the spectral energy distribution and the variability properties of cosmic sources as well as to constrain physical models. Firmamento distinguishes itself from other online platforms due to its high specialization, the use of machine learning and other methodologies to characterise the data and for its commitment to inclusivity. From this particular perspective, its objective is to assist both researchers and citizens interested in science, strengthening a trend that is bound to gain momentum in the coming years as data retrieval facilities improve in power and machine learning/artificial intelligence tools become more widely available

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Progress in End-to-End Optimization of Detectors for Fundamental Physics with Differentiable Programming

In this article we examine recent developments in the research area concerning the creation of end-to-end models for the complete optimization of measuring instruments. The models we consider rely on differentiable programming methods and on the specification of a software pipeline including all factors impacting performance -- from the data-generating processes to their reconstruction and the extraction of inference on the parameters of interest of a measuring instrument -- along with the careful specification of a utility function well aligned with the end goals of the experiment. Building on previous studies originated within the MODE Collaboration, we focus specifically on applications involving instruments for particle physics experimentation, as well as industrial and medical applications that share the detection of radiation as their data-generating mechanism.

physics.ins-det↗