1,721,044 research outputs found
Status of the ICARUS experiment
No full textThe final phase of the ICARUS physics program requires a sensitive mass of liquid Argon of 5000 tons or more. This is still true today, even after the operation of large or the planning of even larger underground detectors. The superior bubble-chamber-like features of the ICARUS detector will always provide additional and fundamental contributions to the field. The most conservative way to reach a liquid Argon sensitive mass of 5000 tons is to start with a first prototype of a modest mass: the T600 detector. This step-wise strategy allowed to develop progressively the necessary know-how to build a large liquid Argon detector. After the successful completion of a series of technical tests to be performed at the assembly hall in Pavia, the T600 detector will be ready to be transported into the LNGS tunnel
The Atmospheric and Solar Neutrino Experiment with the ICARUS T600 Detector
No full textAs a major achievement, after the completion of the detector construction in 2000, a full test of the ICARUS T600 experimental set-up, has been carried out in an external site, during 2001. The test. extended over about 100 days of continuous operation, has been successful. It showed that the ICARUS technology, providing high reconstruction capability for events even at low energy deposition level, is now fully operational at experimental level. In this paper, two of the main physics issues of the ICARUS T600 programme, the solar model independent study of solar neutrinos and the detection of atmospheric neutrinos, are also reviewed
ICARUS project. A 3000ton detector for neutrino and matter stability searches
No full textThe ICARUS Collaboration has developed, in a long duration and stepwise R&D programme, the Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LAr TPC) technology.
Current state of the art is represented by a 600 ton detector (T600), that was built using fully industrial methods in about 5 years from 1997 to 2001. During 2001 the detector has been activated and fully tested in a 3-month run, taking cosmic rays data in the assembly hall located in Pavia (Italy). The quality of the recorded data, subsequently analyzed during 2002, demonstrates that the detector performances are consistent with those of laboratory sized prototypes.
Next step of the programme is the installation of the T600 in the INFN Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory where it will start to accumulate data and sensitivity for atmospheric neutrinos and proton decay studies. At the same time, by replicating the actual T600 module, we plan to progressively extend the sensitive mass. Taking advantage of the industrial serialization and of the tools already realized for the T600 construction, we will be able to achieve, by the end of 2006, an LAr sensitive mass of about 3000 ton, also complemented by a dedicated magnetized nation spectrometer.
The main chapter of the physics programme is a comprehensive study of neutrino oscillations. The contemporaneous observation of both atmospheric neutrinos and neutrinos from the CNGS Long Baseline beam (and possibly also solar and supernovae neutrinos), coupled with the capability to separate with high efficiency the various flavors and interaction channels allows a detailed analysis of several elements of the mixing matrix. In particular, statistically significant v(tau) appearance will be performed down to Deltam(2) greater than or equal to 1.5 x 10(-3) eV(2), and non zero theta(13) will be tested with a sensitivity five times better than the current CHOOZ limit. Also, thanks to the Superior imaging and calorimetric capabilities of the LAr TPC, we will be able to test the nucleon stability in a variety of possible decay channels with sensitivities, despite the limited active mass, largely exceeding those of Superkamiokande
ICARUS: Measurements and Analysis of Real Events waiting for Operation in Underground Laboratory
No full textThe ICARUS 600 ton liquid argon TPC, the first module of the final 3000 ton detector, has been completely mounted and tested in Pavia and it is ready since 2002 for transportation to the Gran Sasso laboratory. It has a self-contained experimental program, though with a strong connotation of technological development,
in view of the operability inside the underground site like a large mass liquid argon "electronic bubble chamber". The physics items are ranging from the search of the matter stability to the measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters.
After the completion of the first half module (300 ton) construction, a full test has been carried out with cosmic rays at see level. The data taking, extended over about 100 days of continuous operation, has been fully successful in checking both cryogenics and electronic equipment. The data analysis confirms that the ICARUS liquid argon TPC technology is now fully operational at real experimental level, also at the big mass scale necessary to look for the next generation neutrino experiments and for the proton-decay search. Some preliminary results are presented in this report
Possible application of the ICARUS Technology for Studies of Neutrino Interactions in the Intermediate Energy range
No full textThe precise measurement of the neutrino cross-section in the atmospheric neutrino range performed with best suited, available technologies has been identified as one of the most urgent experimental task for the next few years. The liquid Argon technology, developed by the ICARUS Collaboration, is an ideal candidate for a dedicated experiment operated on adequate, available neutrino beam line. Among various beam options, we have investigated on the expected performance with the present KEK neutrino beam and with the NuMI beam, presently under construction. Neutrino cross-section measurements with unprecedented accuracy can be performed in short time of run
Physics with the ICARUS detector
No full textThe multipurpose ICARUS detector, with its large sensitive volume, high granularity, excellent tracking and particle identification capabilities, is an ideal device for searching for phenomena beyond the Standard Model. A vast physics program, including accelerator (CNGS neutrino beam), and non-accelerator (supernova, atmospheric, and nucleon decay) physics, planned for the ICARUS detector, is reviewed
Test of a novel detector technique: the ICARUS T600 module
No full textThe T600 module is the first step of the ICARUS scientific program towards the construction of large liquid argon (LAr) masses (several kilotons) into the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory to study items of interest of the non-accelerator physics. The ICARUS LAr Time Projection Chamber provides a high resolution three-dimensional reconstruction of the ionising events that take place inside the sensitive volume. During the year 2001, after the completion of the first T600 half-module construction in the INFN laboratory in Pavia (Italy), the ICARUS Collaboration has accomplished a technical run of the detector collecting a large amount of data of cosmic ray interactions in LAr, in order to tune all the relevant detector parameters before the T600 physics run in the Gran Sasso Laboratory. Here we present the T600 main characteristics and the results of the Pavia test run
ICARUS: Proton Decay and the CERN-Gran Sasso Long Baseline Experiment
No full textThe ICARUS experiment is described, in particular regarding the search for proton decay and the CERN-Gran Sasso long baseline neutrino oscillations experiment. The first 600 ton module construction is reported in some details
Capabilities and Capacities of Research Reactors for Development of Materials and Fuels for Innovative Nuclear Energy Systems. IAEA Catalogue under Development
No full textFor the development of new generation nuclear power reactors, such as those being developed within the framework of the Generation IV (GenIV) project and/or being considered in the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) or in national programmes of the IAEA Member States, maintaining and development of a sophisticated up-to-date experimental base is crucial. Research reactors represent one of the major parts of this experimental base. The special attention paid by the IAEA and the general public to research reactors is due to the fact that these facilities are quite expensive, and they are sensitive to non-proliferation and safety issues.
In support of the above-mentioned international and national efforts the IAEA is developing a comprehensive Catalogue on existing and future services that can be provided by existing and planned research reactors for innovative nuclear energy system and technology R&D. A broad range of research reactor applications will be covered in the Catalogue. Potential opportunities for research reactors and associated facilities to cover major areas of research reactor applications, focusing on the support that such reactors can provide for advanced materials and fuel development, is presented
Status and Call for Project Proposals Related to the New IAEA CRP on “Benchmarks against Experimental Data on Fuel Burnup and Material Activation”
No full textThe IAEA is in the process of developing a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) for the term 2014-2017, titled “Innovative Methods in Research Reactor Analysis: Benchmarks against Experimental Data on Fuel Burnup and Material Activation.” The new CRP will be a follow up of already terminated CRP1496 on “Innovative Methods in Research Reactor Analysis: Benchmark against Experimental Data on Neutronics and Thermalhydraulic Computational Methods and Tools for Operation and Safety Analysis of Research Reactors”. The new CRP will collect the available experimental data on fuel burn-up and material/target activation and assess the computational methods and tools used in the related analysis for research reactors (RRs)
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