arXiv subjects

Riccardo Faccini

Publications and source records attributed to Riccardo Faccini.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Measurement of 80-200 MeV/n $^{16}$O nuclear cross-section on Carbon and Polyethylene targets with the nuclear emulsion detector of the FOOT experiment

Accurate knowledge of nuclear fragmentation cross-sections is essential for optimizing charged particle therapy. In this study, conducted within the framework of the FOOT (FragmentatiOn Of Target) experiment, we present the first measurements with a large angular acceptance of total charge-changing cross-section and the cross-section for the production of fragments (production cross-section) for $^{16}$O ions interacting with Carbon (C) and Polyethylene (C$_2$H$_4$) targets in the kinetic energy range of 80 to 200 MeV/nucleon. Measurements were performed using the Emulsion Cloud Chamber (ECC) technique, which combines high spatial resolution and angular acceptance, up to 45$^\circ$. The results are compared with Monte Carlo model predictions. Moreover, the total charge-changing and fragment production cross-sections for $^{16}$O on Hydrogen in the same energy range are derived.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2021

Studio di un urto anelastico: una proposta per le Scuole Secondarie di II grado nell'ambito del progetto "Lab2Go"

When a free falling ping-pong ball collides on a horizontal surface, it loses kinetic energy. The ratio between the height reached by the ball after the collision and the initial height is called restitution coefficient. A method to measure it by using a home-made cathetometer was proposed during the Olimpiadi di Fisica 2018. In this paper we show how to measure it also by using the PhyPhox app and Arduino board.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2021

Il progetto Lab2Go per la diffusione della pratica laboratoriale nelle Scuole Secondarie di II grado

Even if laboratory practice is essential for all scientific branches of knowledge, it is often neglected at High School, due to lack of time and/or resources. To establish a closer contact between school and experimental sciences, the University Sapienza of Roma and the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) launched the Lab2Go project, with the goal of spreading laboratory practice among students and teachers in high schools.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2016

Feasibility of the $β^-$ Radio-Guided Surgery with a Variety of Radio-Nuclides of Interest to Nuclear Medicine

The $β^-$ based radio-guided surgery overcomes the corresponding $γ$ technique in case the background from healthy tissues is relevant. It can be used only in case a radio-tracer marked with $^{90}$Y is available since the current probe prototype was optimized for the emission spectrum of this radio-nuclide. Here we study, with a set of laboratory tests and simulations, the prototype capability in case a different radio-nuclide is chosen among those used in nuclear medicine. As a result we estimate the probe efficiency on electrons and photons as a function of energy and we evaluate the feasibility of a radio-guided surgery exploiting the selected radio-nuclides. We conclude that requiring a 0.1~ml residue to be detected within 1~s by administering 3~MBq/Kg of radio-isotope, the current probe prototype would yield a significant signal in a vast range of values of SUV and TNR in case $^{31}$Si,$^{32}$P, $^{97}$Zr, and $^{188}$Re are used. Conversely, a tuning of the detector would be needed to efficiency use $^{83}$Br, $^{133}$I, and $^{153}$Sm, although they could already be used in case of high SUV or TNR values. Finally, $^{18}$F,$^{67}$Cu, $^{131}$I, and $^{177}$Lu are not useable for radio-guided surgery with the current probe design.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

Design of a new tracking device for on-line dose monitor in ion therapy

Charged Particle Therapy is a technique for cancer treatment that exploits hadron beams, mostly protons and carbons. A critical issue is the monitoring of the dose released by the beam to the tumor and to the surrounding tissues. We present the design of a new tracking device for monitoring on-line the dose in ion therapy through the detection of secondary charged particles produced by the beam interactions in the patient tissues. In fact, the charged particle emission shape can be correlated with the spatial dose release and the Bragg peak position. The detector uses the information provided by 12 layers of scintillating fibers followed by a plastic scintillator and a small calorimeter made of a pixelated Lutetium Fine Silicate crystal. Simulations have been performed to evaluate the achievable spatial resolution and a possible application of the device for the monitoring of the dose profile in a real treatment is presented.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2016

Secondary radiation measurements for particle therapy applications: prompt photons produced by $^{4}$He, $^{12}$C and $^{16}$O ion beams in a PMMA target

Charged particle beams are used in Particle Therapy (PT) to treat oncological patients due to their selective dose deposition in tissues and to their high biological effect in killing cancer cells with respect to photons and electrons used in conventional radiotherapy. Nowadays, protons and carbon ions are used in PT clinical routine but, recently, the interest on the potential application of helium and oxygen beams is growing due to their reduced multiple scattering inside the body and increased linear energy transfer, relative biological effectiveness and oxygen enhancement ratio. The precision of PT demands for online dose monitoring techniques, crucial to improve the quality assurance of treatments. The beam range confined in the irradiated target can be monitored thanks to the neutral or charged secondary radiation emitted by the interactions of hadron beams with matter. Prompt photons are produced by nuclear de-excitation processes and, at present, different dose monitoring and beam range verification techniques based on the prompt γ detection have been proposed. It is hence of importance to perform the γ yield measurement in therapeutical-like conditions. In this paper we report the yields of prompt photons produced by the interaction of helium, carbon and oxygen ion beams with a PMMA target. The measurements were performed at the Heidelberg Ion-beam Therapy center (HIT) with beams of different energies. A LYSO scintillator has been used as photon detector. The obtained γ yields for $^{12}$C ion beams are compared with results from literature, while no other results from $^{4}$He and $^{16}$O beams have been published yet. A discussion on the expected resolution of a slit camera detector is presented, demonstrating the feasibility of a prompt-γ based monitoring technique for PT treatments using helium, carbon and oxygen ion beams.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2015

Polycrystalline para-terphenyl scintillator adopted in a $β^-$ detecting probe for radio-guided surgery

A radio-guided surgery technique exploiting $β^-$ emitters is under development. It aims at a higher target-to-background activity ratio implying both a smaller radiopharmaceutical activity and the possibility of extending the technique to cases with a large uptake of surrounding healthy organs. Such technique requires a dedicated intraoperative probe detecting $β^-$ radiation. A first prototype has been developed relying on the low density and high light yield of the diphenylbutadiene doped para-therphenyl organic scintillator. The scintillation light produced in a cylindrical crystal, 5 mm in diameter and 3 mm in height, is guided to a photo-multiplier tube by optical fibres. The custom readout electronics is designed to optimize its usage in terms of feedback to the surgeon, portability and remote monitoring of the signal. Tests show that with a radiotracer activity comparable to those administered for diagnostic purposes the developed probe can detect a 0.1 ml cancerous residual of meningioma in a few seconds.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

An Intraoperative $β^-$ Detecting Probe For Radio-Guided Surgery in Tumour Resection

The development of the $β^-$ based radio-guided surgery aims to extend the technique to those tumours where surgery is the only possible treatment and the assessment of the resection would most profit from the low background around the lesion, as for brain tumours. Feasibility studies on meningioma, glioma, and neuroendocrine tumors already estimated the potentiality of this new treatment. To validate the technique, prototypes of the intraoperative probe required by the technique to detect $β^-$ radiation have been developed. This paper discusses the design details of the device and the tests performed in laboratory. In such tests particular care has to be taken to reproduce the surgical field conditions. The innovative technique to produce specific phantoms and the dedicated testing protocols is described in detail.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2014

Towards a Radio-guided Surgery with $β^{-}$ Decays: Uptake of a somatostatin analogue (DOTATOC) in Meningioma and High Grade Glioma

A novel radio guided surgery (RGS) technique for cerebral tumors using $β^{-}$ radiation is being developed. Checking the availability of a radio-tracer that can deliver a $β^{-}$ emitter to the tumor is a fundamental step in the deployment of such technique. This paper reports a study of the uptake of 90Y labeled (DOTATOC) in the meningioma and the high grade glioma (HGG) and a feasibility study of the RGS technique in these cases.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2008

Heavy Quarkonium Spectroscopy

This paper reviews the experimental status of the Heavy Quarkonium Spectroscopy and highlights the measurements that hint at the existence of a new form of quark and gluon aggregation beyond the mesons and the baryons.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2001

Measurements of CP violation, mixing and lifetimes in B meson decays with the BABAR experiment at PEP-II

The BABAR detector, which operates at the SLAC PEPII asymmetric e+e- collider at energies near the Y(4S) resonance has collected about 23M B-anti-B pairs in year 2000. Based on this data sample, we present the first study of sin(2b), with samples of B^0 --> J/psi K0S, B^0 --> psi(2S) K0S and B^0 --> J/psi K0L decays. The measured value is 0.34+-0.20+-0.05. In addition, we present preliminary measurements of charged and neutral B meson lifetimes and B^0-anti-B^0 oscillation frequency.

hep-ex↗