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Carrio, F., Castillo Gimenez, V., Ferrer, A., Gonzalez, V., Higon-Rodriguez, E., Marin, C., et al. (2011). Optical Link Card Design for the Phase II Upgrade of TileCal Experiment. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 58(4), 1657–1663.
Abstract: This paper presents the design of an optical link card developed in the frame of the R&D activities for the phase 2 upgrade of the TileCal experiment. This board, that is part of the evaluation of different technologies for the final choice in the next years, is designed as a mezzanine that can work independently or be plugged in the optical multiplexer board of the TileCal backend electronics. It includes two SNAP 12 optical connectors able to transmit and receive up to 75 Gb/s and one SFP optical connector for lower speeds and compatibility with existing hardware as the read out driver. All processing is done in a Stratix II GX field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Details are given on the hardware design, including signal and power integrity analysis, needed when working with these high data rates and on firmware development to obtain the best performance of the FPGA signal transceivers and for the use of the GBT protocol.
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Pino, F., Roe, N., Orero, A., Falcon, C., Rojas, S., Benlloch, J. M., et al. (2011). Development of a variable-radius pinhole SPECT system with a portable gamma camera. Rev. Esp. Med. Nucl., 30(5), 286–291.
Abstract: Objective: To develop a small-animal SPECT system using a low cost commercial portable gamma camera equipped with a pinhole collimator, a continuous scintillation crystal and a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube. Material and methods: The gamma camera was attached to a variable radius system, which enabled us to optimize sensitivity and resolution by adjusting the radius of rotation to the size of the object. To investigate the capability of the SPECT system for small animal imaging, the dependence of resolution and calibration parameters on radius was assessed and acquisitions of small phantoms and mice were carried out. Results: Resolution values, ranging from 1.0 mm for a radius of 21.4 mm and 1.4 mm for a radius of 37.2 mm were obtained, thereby justifying the interest of a variable radius SPECT system. Conclusions: The image quality of phantoms and animals were satisfactory, thus confirming the usefulness of the system for small animal SPECT imaging.
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Olmo, G. J. (2011). Palatini approach to modified gravity: f(R) theories and beyond. Int. J. Mod. Phys. D, 20(4), 413–462.
Abstract: We review the recent literature on modified theories of gravity in the Palatini approach. After discussing the motivations that lead to consider alternatives to Einstein's theory and to treat the metric and the connection as independent objects, we review several topics that have been recently studied within this framework. In particular, we provide an in-depth analysis of the cosmic speed-up problem, laboratory and solar system tests, the structure of stellar objects, the Cauchy problem, and bouncing cosmologies. We also discuss the importance of going beyond the f(R) models to capture other phenomenological aspects related with dark matter/energy and quantum gravity.
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Domingo-Pardo, C. (2012). A new technique for 3D gamma-ray imaging: Conceptual study of a 3D camera. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 675, 123–132.
Abstract: A novel technique for 3D gamma-ray imaging is presented. This method combines the positron annihilation Compton scattering imaging technique with a supplementary position sensitive detector, which registers gamma-rays scattered in the object at angles of about 90 degrees. The 3D coordinates of the scattering location can be determined rather accurately by applying the Compton principle. This method requires access to the object from two orthogonal sides and allows one to achieve a position resolution of few mm in all three space coordinates. A feasibility study for a 3D camera is presented based on Monte Carlo calculations.
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Yepes, H. (2012). The ANTARES neutrino detector instrumentation. J. Instrum., 7, C01022–9pp.
Abstract: ANTARES is actually the fully operational and the largest neutrino telescope in the Northern hemisphere. Located in the Mediterranean Sea, it consists of a 3D array of 885 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) arranged in 12 detection lines (25 storeys each), able to detect the Cherenkov light induced by upgoing relativistic muons produced in the interaction of high energy cosmic neutrinos with the detector surroundings. Among its physics goals, the search for neutrino astrophysical sources and the indirect detection of dark matter particles coming from the sun are of particular interest. To reach these goals, good accuracy in track reconstruction is mandatory, so several calibration systems for timing and positioning have been developed. In this contribution we will present the design of the detector, calibration systems, associated equipment and its performance on track reconstruction.
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