85 research outputs found
Fast pixelated quantum-well-based sensor for multi-wavelength photon detection
No full textIn order to cover a wide range of experimental applications, the opportunity to use InGaAs/InAlAs quantum well (QW) devices as fast pixelated photon detectors has been investigated. QW structures are planar objects in which electrons are confined in one dimension. Devices with several combinations of barrier and well materials can be fabricated by using compound semiconductors; in the case of InGaAs/InAlAs QWs this allows to tune the energy band gap down to 0.6 eV. Thanks to their direct, low-energy gap such devices operated at room temperature may be used as detectors for photon energies ranging from visible to hard X-ray. Internal charge amplification mechanism can be applied for very low signal levels, while the high carrier mobility allows the design of very fast photon detectors with sub-nanosecond response times. QW devices grown with molecular beam epitaxy have been pixelated by using standard photolithographic techniques. In order to fit commercially available readout chips, a pixelated sensor with pixel size of 172 × 172 μm2 is currently under development. A small-scale version of the pixelated QW sensor has been preliminarily tested with synchrotron radiation, conventional X-rays and UV laser light. The reported results indicate that these devices show fair charge sharing in the clearances between the pixels and feature very short response times to 100-fs-wide laser pulse
Fast, multi-band photon detectors based on quantum well devices for beam-monitoring in new generation light sources
No full textIn order to monitor the photon-beam position for both diagnostics and calibration purposes, we have investigated the possibility to use InGaAs/InAlAs
Quantum Well (QW) devices as position-sensitive photon detectors for Free-Electron Laser (FEL) or Synchrotron Radiation (SR).
Owing to their direct, low-energy band gap and high electron mobility, such QW devices may be used also at Room Temperature (RT) as fast multi-band sensors for photons ranging from visible light to hard X-rays. Moreover, internal charge-amplification mechanism can be applied for very low signal levels, while the high carrier mobility allows the design of very fast photon detectors with sub-nanosecond response times. Segmented QW sensors have been preliminary tested with 100-fs-wide 400 nm laser pulses and X-ray SR. The reported results indicate that these devices respond with 100 ps rise-times to such ultra-fast laser pulses. Besides, linear scan on the back-pixelated device has shown that these detectors are sensitive to the position of each ultrashort beam bunch
Fast Synchrotron and FEL Beam Monitors Based on Single Crystal Diamond Detectors and InGaAs/InAlAs Quantum-Well Devices
No full textSimultaneous photon-beam position and intensity monitoring is becoming of increasing importance for new-generation synchrotron-radiation (SR) sources and free-electron lasers (FEL). Thus, novel concepts of beam diagnostics are required in order to keep such beams under control.
From this perspective diamond is a promising material for the production of semitransparent in situ photon-beam monitors which can withstand the high dose rates occurring in such radiation facilities. Here, we report on the development of freestanding, single-crystal chemical-vapor-deposited diamond detectors with segmented electrodes.
Due to their direct, low-energy band gap, InGaAs quantum-well (QW) devices operated at room temperature may be used as fast detectors for photons ranging from visible to X-ray. These features are valuable in low-energy and time-resolved FEL applications. In particular, a novel segmented InGaAs/InAlAs device has been developed and will be discussed.
Dedicated measurements carried out on both these devices at the Elettra Synchrotron show their capability to monitor the position and the intensity of the photon beam with bunch-by-bunch temporal performances. Furthermore, preliminary tests have been performed on diamond detectors at the Fermi FEL, extracting quantitative intensity and position information for 100-fs-wide FEL pulses with a photon energy of 28.8 eV
Bunch by bunch beam monitoring in 3rd and 4th generation light sources by means of single crystal diamond detectors and quantum well devices
No full textNew generation Synchrotron Radiation (SR) sources and Free Electron Lasers (FEL) require novel concepts of beam diagnostics to keep photon beams under surveillance, asking for simultaneous position and intensity monitoring. To deal with high power load and short time pulses provided by these sources, novel materials and methods are needed for the next generation BPMs.
Diamond is a promising material for the production of semitransparent in situ X-ray BPMs withstanding the high dose rates of SR rings and high energy FELs. We report on the development of freestanding, single crystal CVD diamond detectors. Performances in both low and radio frequency SR beam monitoring are presented. For the former, sensitivity deviation was found to be approximately 2%; a 0.05% relative precision in the intensity measurements and a 0.1-um precision in the position encoding have been estimated. For the latter, single-shot characterizations revealed sub-nanosecond rise-times and spatial precisions below 6 um, which allowed bunch-by-bunch monitoring in multi-bunch operation.
Preliminary measurements at the Fermi FEL have been performed with this detector, extracting quantitative intensity and position information for FEL pulses (~ 100 fs, energy 12 ÷ 60 eV), with a long-term spatial precision of about 85 um; results on FEL radiation damages are also reported.
Due to their direct, low-energy band gap, InGaAs quantum well devices too may be used as fast detectors for photons ranging from visible to X-ray. Results are reported which show the capability of a novel InGaAs/InAlAs device to detect intensity and position of 100-fs-wide laser pulses
Efeito do canabidiol sobre a reconsolidação da memória de medo ao contexto: envolvimento dos receptores CB1 do córtex pré-límbico
No full textTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Florianópolis, 2014.A busca por drogas que prejudicam a reconsolidação de memórias traumáticas pode ter um impacto clínico bastante importante. O canabidiol (CBD) é o principal componente da Cannabis sativa desprovido de efeitos psicotomiméticos e seguro para o uso em animais de laboratório e em humanos. Considerando que o CBD atenua a expressão da ansiedade e facilita o processo de extinção de memórias aversivas, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar em ratos se ele também interfere com a reconsolidação de uma memória de medo condicionada ao contexto, bem como avaliar a participação do córtex pré-frontal medial (CPFm) no processo de reconsolidação e nos efeitos sistêmicos do CBD. Para tanto, imediatamente após a evocação da memória de ratos previamente condicionados, o CBD foi administrado (3 ? 30 mg/kg). Foi observado, uma redução na porcentagem de congelamento até 22 dias após o tratamento com a dose de 10 mg/kg. Não ocorreu reinstalação da memória, e o mesmo efeito foi observado quando testado em uma memória mais velha (7 dias), foi bloqueado pelo antagonista dos receptores canabinoides do tipo 1 (AM251 1 mg/kg; CB1), mas não pelo antagonista dos receptores de serotonina do tipo 5-HT1A (WAY 0,1 mg/kg), e não foi evidente quando a evocação da memória foi omitida. Tais resultados indicam que o CBD prejudica a reconsolidação de uma memória aversiva, um efeito dependente da ativação indireta do sistema endocanabinoide. Uma hora após a evocação da memória, foi observado um aumento na expressão da proteína Zif268 no CPFm, principalmente nas subdivisões do córtex cingulado (CC) e pré-límbico (PL), mas não no infralímbico (IL). Esse aumento não foi observado quando a memória não foi evocada e foi atenuado com a administração de CBD. Esse conjunto de resultados sugere que o CC participa da reconsolidação, indicando também um papel para o PL nesse fenômeno. Para confirmar o papel do córtex PL na reconsolidação, essa estrutura foi inativada imediatamente após a evocação da memória de 1, 7 e 21 dias. Em todos os casos, foi observada, uma redução na porcentagem de congelamento quando os animais foram retestados no dia seguinte. Novamente, esse efeito foi duradouro e não sofreu reinstalação, confirmando que a atividade do córtex PL é importante para essa etapa de re-estabilização da memória. Quando o CBD foi administrado sistemicamente, o bloqueio dos receptores CB1 com AM251 (50 pmol/0.2 µL) no córtex PL preveniu o efeito amnéstico. A inibição da FAAH pelo URB597 (200 pmol/0,2 µL)administrado diretamente no córtex PL imediatamente após a evocação da memória, também prejudica a reconsolidação. Em conjunto, esses resultados confirmam a participação do córtex PL na reconsolidação de uma memória de medo e demonstram que os receptores CB1 dessa área são recrutados pelo CBD quando ele prejudica a reconsolidação.Abstract : The search for reconsolidation blockers may uncover clinically relevant drugs to disrupt memories of significant stressful life experiences. In this sense, cannabidiol (CBD), the major non-psychotomimetic component of Cannabis and a compound safe to be used in rodents and in humans, might be relevant. Based on the fact that CBD facilitates fear extinction and is anxiolityc, and on the evidence that many CBD effects are mediated by the medial prefrontal cortex activity (mPFC), the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the systemic injection of CBD in rats, could mitigate an established contextual fear memory, by blocking its reconsolidation, evaluating the role of mPFC in this step of memory processing and in the CBD effects. CBD (3 ? 30 mg/kg) was administered immediately after fear memory retrieval in rats previously conditioned. It was observed a reduction in the percentage of freezing time until 22 days after the treatment, with the most effective dose (10 mg/kg). This effect was not accompanied by fear memory reinstatement, it was seen when tested in an older memory (7 days old), it could be blocked by the cannabinoid receptor CB1 antagonist AM251 (1 mg/kg), but not by the serotonin receptor 5-HT1A antagonist WAY100635 (0.1 mg/kg), suggesting that CBD disrupts fear memory reconsolidation by the endocannabinoid system. One hour after retrieval, it was observed an increase in Zif268 expression in the mPFC, mainly in its cingulate (CC) and prelimbic (PL) parts, but not in infralimbic (IL). When memory retrieval was omitted, the Zif268 expression was not seen and the CBD systemic administration prevented the expression in CC and PL. These results confirm the CC role in reconsolidation and suggest a role for PL cortex. To confirm the role of PL cortex in fear memory reconsolidation, this structure was temporarily inactivated with muscimol (4.0 nmol/0.2 µL) immediately after retrieval of different memory ages (1, 7 and 21 days old). In all cases, a reduction in the percentage of freezing time was observed one day later. This effect was long lasting and did not present reinstatement, confirming that PL cortex activity subserves fear memory reconsolidation. When the CBD was administered systemically, the blockade of CB1 receptors with AM251 (50 pmol/0.2 µL) in PL cortex prevented the CBD effect in fear memory reconsolidation. The inhibition of FAAH by URB597 injected bilaterally into the PL cortex (200 pmol/0.2 µL) immediately after fear memory retrieval also impaired its reconsolidation. Altogether, the results confirm that theactivity of PL cortex subserves fear memory reconsolidation, acting as a neural substrate to the CBD effects
X-Ray Beam Position Monitor Based on a Single Crystal Diamond Performing Bunch by Bunch Detection
No full textDiamond is a promising material for the production of semitransparent in situ photon beam monitors which can withstand the high dose rates occurring in new generation synchrotron radiation storage rings and in free electron lasers. We report on the development of a 500 μm thick freestanding, single crystal chemical vapor deposited diamond detector with segmented electrodes. Performances in both low and radio frequency beam monitoring are presented as well. By using charge integration techniques at a frame rate of 6.5 kHz in combination with a needle synchrotron radiation beam and mesh scans, the inhomogeneity of the sensor was found to be of the order of 2%; with a measured electronics noise of 2 pA / √Hz a 0.05% relative precision in the intensity measurements (at 1 μA) and a 0.1 μm resolution in the position encoding have been estimated. Moreover, the high electron–hole mobility of diamond compared with other active materials enables very fast charge collection characterized by rise-times below 1 ns; this allowed us to utilize single pulse integration to simultaneously detect the intensity and the position of each synchrotron radiation photon bunch generated by a bending magnet
The role of spatial coherence, diffraction and refraction in the focusing of x-rays with prism arrays of the Clessidra type
No full text
- …
