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Measurement of the impact-parameter dependent azimuthal anisotropy in coherent ρ0 photoproduction in Pb–Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV
Full text linkThis Letter presents the first measurement of the impact-parameter dependent angular anisotropy in the decay of coherently photoproduced ρ0 mesons. The ρ0 mesons are reconstructed through their decay into pion pairs. The measured anisotropy corresponds to the amplitude of the cos(2φ) modulation, where φ is the angle between the two vectors formed by the sum and the difference of the transverse momenta of the pions, respectively. The measurement was performed by the ALICE Collaboration at the LHC using data from ultraperipheral Pb–Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sNN=5.02 TeV per nucleon pair. Different impact-parameter regions are selected by classifying the events in nuclear-breakup classes. The amplitude of the cos(2φ) modulation is found to increase by about one order of magnitude from large to small impact parameters. Theoretical calculations describe the measured cos(2φ) anisotropy and its impact-parameter dependence as the result of a quantum interference effect at the femtometer scale, arising from the ambiguity regarding which of the nuclei is the photon source in the interaction
Study of long term stability of a 50 liters TPC, based on TRIPLE-GEM with optical readout, for the CYGNO experiment
No full textThe CYGNO project aims to study rare events, as low-mass (few GeV) Dark Matter (DM) particle or solar neutrino interactions, exploiting the approach of the optical readout of the scintillation light produced in the amplification in a multiple Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) structure, of the primary ionization originated in large volume Time Projection Chamber (TPCs). The volume is filled with an He:CF4 gas mixture at atmospheric pressure. The 3D topology, and therefore direction of the recoils, is reconstructed thanks to the combined use of high-granularity, high sensitivity sCMOS cameras, for the precise tracking of the projection of the recoils on the GEM plane, and of fast light sensors in order to obtain the coordinate perpendicular to the camera plane. To conclude the R&D phase, the 50 L prototype, called Long Imaging ModulE (LIME), was moved underground at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) in order to study the performance of the CYGNO experimental approach in a low background environment and to assess the contributions to the background from different sources, also comparing with Monte Carlo simulations. Stability studies and the effects of environmental condition on the light yield will be discussed, focusing on the effect of humidity on the detector response and stability amount and rate of self-sustaining micro-discharges. This is a crucial step towards the development of a large demonstrator
HUM-CARD: A human crowded annotated real dataset
Full text linkThe growth of data-driven approaches typical of Machine Learning leads to an ever-increasing need for large quantities of labeled data. Unfortunately, these attributions are often made automatically and/or crudely, thus destroying the very concept of “ground truth” they are supposed to represent. To address this problem, we introduce HUM-CARD, a dataset of human trajectories in crowded contexts manually annotated by nine experts in engineering and psychology, totaling approximately 5000 hours. Our multidisciplinary labeling process has enabled the creation of a well-structured ontology, accounting for both individual and contextual factors influencing human movement dynamics in shared environments. Preliminary and descriptive analyzes are presented, highlighting the potential benefits of this dataset and its methodology in various research challenges
Impurity behaviour in JET high-current baseline scenario for Deuterium, Tritium and Deuterium-Tritium plasmas
Full text linkTo support future ITER operation, experimental campaigns at the Joint European Torus (JET) with an ITER-like wall (tungsten divertor and beryllium main chamber) in pure deuterium (D), tritium (T) and Deuterium-Tritium (D-T) were performed. One of the most important challenges in recent years was the development of two main scenarios that investigated different approaches to achieve the high fusion power as well as good plasma confinement (Garzotti et al., 2023). The first one, so-called baseline scenario is relying on high plasma current (Ip≈3.5 MA), normalized beta βN < 2 and safety factor q95 ≈ 3 (Garzotti et al., 2023). On the other hand, the second one, so-called Hybrid scenario is operating at lower plasma current (flat-top Ip ≤ 2.6 MA) and density with respect to the baseline, higher normalized beta βN > 2 and safety factor q95 ≈ 4.8 (Hobirk et al., 2023). In this paper we focus on the impurity behaviour analysis for the baseline discharges at Ip = 3.5 MA and BT = 3.3 T with D, T and DT plasmas, in which the gas and power waveform were optimized to achieve the best possible performance. In particular, we study the impact of total heating power (Ptot + Palpha), flat-top gas flow and ELM (edge localized modes) frequency on mid-Z (Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu)) and high-Z (Tungsten (W)) impurities. In addition, we compared the two best performing pulses of the baseline scenario (Ip = 3.5MA, BT = 3.3 T and Pin ≈ 35 MW) in D and DT in order to identify the causes responsible for the increase in radiation during the DT pulse, which led to an early plasma termination. All presented results rely on the data collected by the VUV as well as the bolometry system. Detailed analysis indicates that in the baseline scenario, higher radiation, which is most likely due to the tungsten (W), is observed for T and DT plasmas in comparison to D. Moreover, for the two best performing baseline pulses, tomographic reconstructions show that the radiated power density is mainly emitted from the low field side (LFS) of the plasma and W does not accumulate in the plasma center (Telesca et al., 2024)
Divertor Tokamak Test facility project: status of design and implementation
Full text linkAn overview is presented of the progress since 2021 in the construction and scientific programme preparation of the Divertor Tokamak Test (DTT) facility. Licensing for building construction has been granted at the end of 2021. Licensing for Cat. A radiologic source has been also granted in 2022. The construction of the toroidal field magnet system is progressing. The prototype of the 170 GHz gyrotron has been produced and it is now under test on the FALCON facility. The design of the vacuum vessel, the poloidal field coils and the civil infrastructures has been completed. The shape of the first DTT divertor has been agreed with EUROfusion to test different plasma and exhaust scenarios: single null, double null, X-divertor and negative triangularity plasmas. A detailed research plan is being elaborated with the involvement of the EUROfusion laboratories
Hydrogen blending effect on fiscal and metrological instrumentation: A review
Full text linkA green hydrogen (H2) economy requires a sustainable, efficient, safe, and widespread infrastructure for transporting and distributing H2 from production to consumption sites. Transporting a hydrogen/natural gas (H2NG) mixture, including pure H2, through the existing European natural gas (NG) infrastructure is considered a cost-effective solution, particularly in the transitional phase. Several reasons justify the H2NG blending option. The NG infrastructure can be efficiently repurposed to transport H2, by blending H2 with NG, to operate as H2 daily storage, matching production and demand and to enable large-scale seasonal H2 storage. Although many benefits exist, the potential of existing NG grids for transporting and distributing green H2 may face limitations due to technical, economic, or normative concerns. This paper focuses on the state of the art of the European NG transmission and distribution metrology normative framework and identifies the gaps to be filled in case of H2NG flowing into the existing grids. The paper was revised to provide a comprehensive analysis of the practical implications resulting from the H2NG blend option
A systematic approach for the adequacy analysis of a set of experimental databases: Application in the framework of the ATRIUM activity
No full textIn the Best-Estimate Plus Uncertainty (BEPU) framework, the use of best-estimate code requires to go through a Verification, Validation and Uncertainty Quantification process (VVUQ). The relevance of the experimental data in relation to the physical phenomena of interest in the VVUQ process is crucial. Adequacy analysis of selected experimental databases addresses this problem. The outcomes of the analysis can be used to select a subset of relevant experimental data, to encourage designing new experiments or to drop some experiments from a database because of their substantial lack of adequacy. The development of a specific transparent and reproducible approach to analyze the relevance of experimental data for VVUQ still remains open and is the topic of this contribution. In this paper, the concept of adequacy initially introduced in the OECD/NEA SAPIUM (Systematic APproach for model Input Uncertainty quantification Methodology) activity is formalized. It is defined through two key properties, called representativeness and completeness, that allows considering the multifactorial dimension of the adequacy problem. A new systematic approach is then proposed to analyze the adequacy of a set of experimental databases. It relies on the introduction of two sets of criteria to characterize representativeness and completeness and on the use of multi-criteria decision analysis method to perform the analysis. Finally, the approach is applied in the framework of the new OECD/NEA ATRIUM activity which includes a set of practical IUQ exercises in thermal-hydraulics to test the SAPIUM guideline in determining input uncertainties and forward propagating them on an application case. It allows evaluating the adequacy of eight experimental databases coming from the Super Moby-dick, Sozzi-Sutherland and Marviken experiments and identifying the most adequate ones
Graphene Quantum Dots from Agricultural Wastes: Green Synthesis and Advanced Applications for Energy Storage
Full text linkCarbon nanostructures are highly promising materials for applications in a variety of different fields. Besides their interesting performances, the possibility to synthesize them from biowaste makes them an eco-friendly resource widely exploitable within a circular economy context. The present work deals with the green, one-pot synthesis of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) from carbon aerogels (CAs) derived from rice husk (RH). After having obtained CAs upon purification of RH, followed by gelification and carbonization of the resulting cellulose, the one-pot solventless production of GQDs was obtained by ball milling. This method determined the formation of crystalline nanostructures with a diameter of around 20 nm, which were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy to obtain a full morphological and structural characterization. GQDs were used as electrode materials for supercapacitors and Li-ion batteries, showing the ability to both accumulate charges over the surface and intercalate lithium-ions. The reported results are a proof of principle of the possibility of exploiting GQDs as support material for the development of advanced systems for energy storage
Microplastics in bulk atmospheric deposition along the coastal region of Victoria Land, Antarctica
Full text linkThe increasing global concern over microplastic pollution has driven a surge in research efforts aimed at detecting microplastics across various ecosystems. Airborne microplastics (MPs) have been identified in remote environments worldwide, including Antarctica. However, data on bulk atmospheric deposition remain scarce. From January to December 2020, atmospheric deposition was directly collected using passive samplers placed in eight sites across Victoria Land. Using Raman Microspectroscopy, MPs were identified in six out of the seven samples collected (one sample was lost due to the extreme weather conditions). The average daily MP deposition for Victoria Land was 1.7 ± 1.1 MPs m−2 d−1, with values ranging from 0.76 to 3.44 MPs m−2 d−1. The majority (53 %) of MPs found in the atmospheric deposition were in the size class of 5–10 μm, and the main shape of MPs was fragments (95 %). The predominant plastic type was polypropylene (31 %), followed by polyethylene (19 %) and polycarbonate (12 %). Polystyrene, polyester, styrene and polyethylene terephthalate each accounted for ~6 %. Microplastics identified in the coastal sites may have local origins, potentially associated with scientific activities at research stations. Conversely, a backward trajectories analysis suggested a potential contribution of atmospheric transport to microplastic deposition at Larsen Glacier and Tourmaline Plateau, the two most remote sites of the study area, where the highest MP concentrations were detected. Our findings present the first evidence of microplastics in the Antarctic atmospheric deposition directly collected via passive samplers, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and research to assess the environmental impact of MPs, particularly in sensitive and remote ecosystems like Antarctica
Calculation of toroidal Alfvén eigenmode mode structure in general axisymmetric toroidal geometry
Full text linkA workflow is developed based on the ideal MHD model to investigate the linear physics of various Alfvén eigenmodes in general axisymmetric toroidal geometry by solving the coupled shear Alfvén wave (SAW) and ion sound wave (ISW) equations in ballooning space. The model equations are solved by the FALCON code in the singular layer, and the corresponding solutions are then taken as the boundary conditions for calculating parallel mode structures in the whole ballooning space. As an application of the code, the frequencies and mode structures of toroidal Alfvén eigenmode (TAE) are calculated in the reference equilibria of the Divertor Tokamak Test facility with positive and negative triangularities, respectively. As typical result for reactor relevant plasma conditions, which are strongly triangular in the outer core region where magnetic shear is of order unity, we show that the triangularity effect on TAE is generally small. Furthermore, by properly handling the boundary conditions, we demonstrate finite TAE damping due to coupling with the local acoustic continuum and find that the damping rate is small for typical plasma parameters