Abstract: We have done a theoretical study of the gamma d -> pi(0)eta d reaction starting with a realistic model for the gamma N -> pi(0)eta N reaction that reproduces cross sections and polarization observables at low energies and involves the gamma N -> Delta(1700) -> eta Delta(1232) -> eta pi N-0 process. For the coherent reaction in the deuteron we considered the impulse approximation together with the rescattering of the pions and the eta on a different nucleon than the one where they are produced. We found this second mechanism very important since it helps share between two nucleons the otherwise large momentum transfer of the reaction. Other contributions to the gamma d -> pi(0)eta d reaction, involving the gamma N -> pi(+/-)pi N-0' process, followed by the rescattering of the pi(+/-) with another nucleon to give eta and a nucleon, have also been included. We find a natural explanation, tied to the dynamics of our model, for the shift of the eta-d mass distribution to lower invariant masses, and of the pi(0)-d mass distribution to larger invariant masses, compared to a phase space calculation. We also study theoretical uncertainties related to the large momenta of the deuteron wave function involved in the process as well as to the couplings present in the model. Striking differences are found with the experimental angular distribution and further theoretical investigations might be necessary.

Abstract: The AGATA collaboration has a long-standing leadership in the development of front-end electronics for high resolution ?-ray spectroscopy using large volume high purity germanium detectors. For two decades, the AGATA collaboration has been developing state-of-the-art digital electronics processing with high resolution sampling ADC, high-speed signal transfer and fast readout to a high throughput computing (HTC) farm for on-line pulse shape analysis. The collaboration is presently addressing the next challenge of equipping a 4p array with more than 6000 channels in high resolution mode, generating approximately 10 MHz of total trigger requests, coupled to a large variety of complementary instruments. A next generation of front-end electronics, presently under design, is based on industrial products (System on Module FPGA's), has higher integration and lower power consumption. In this contribution, the conceptual design of the new electronics is presented. The results of the very first tests of the pre-production electronics are presented as well as future perspectives.

Abstract: We investigate the well-known phenomenon of the beam-plasma instability in the gravitational sector when a fast population of particles interacts with the massive scalar mode of a Horndeski theory of gravity, resulting in linear growth of the latter amplitude. Following the approach used in the standard electromagnetic case, we start from the dielectric representation of the gravitational plasma, as introduced in a previous analysis of the Landau damping for the scalar Horndeski mode. We then set up the modified Vlasov-Einstein equation, using a Dirac delta function to describe the fast beam distribution. We thus provide an analytical expression for the dispersion relation, and we demonstrate the existence of a nonzero growth rate for the linear evolution of the Horndeski scalar mode. A numerical investigation is then performed with a trapezoidal beam distribution function, which confirms the analytical results and allows us to demonstrate how the growth rate decreases as the beam spread increases.