ATLAS Collaboration(Aad, G. et al), Amoros, G., Cabrera Urban, S., Castillo Gimenez, V., Costa, M. J., Escobar, C., et al. (2011). Search for stable hadronising squarks and gluinos with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. Phys. Lett. B, 701(1), 1–19.
Abstract: Hitherto unobserved long-lived massive particles with electric and/or colour charge are predicted by a range of theories which extend the Standard Model. In this Letter a search is performed at the ATLAS experiment for slow-moving charged particles produced in proton-proton collisions at 7 TeV centre-of-mass energy at the LHC, using a data-set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb(-1). No deviations from Standard Model expectations are found. This result is interpreted in a framework of supersymmetry models in which coloured sparticles can hadronise into long-lived bound hadronic states, termed R-hadrons, and 95% CL limits are set on the production cross-sections of squarks and gluinos. The influence of R-hadron interactions in matter was studied using a number of different models, and lower mass limits for stable sbottoms and stops are found to be 294 and 309 GeV respectively. The lower mass limit for a stable gluino lies in the range from 562 to 586 GeV depending on the model assumed. Each of these constraints is the most stringent to date.
|
Llosa, G., Barrio, J., Cabello, J., Crespo, A., Lacasta, C., Rafecas, M., et al. (2012). Detector characterization and first coincidence tests of a Compton telescope based on LaBr3 crystals and SiPMs. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 695, 105–108.
Abstract: A Compton telescope for dose monitoring in hadron therapy consisting of several layers of continuous LaBr3 crystals coupled to silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays is under development within the ENVISION project. In order to test the possibility of employing such detectors for the telescope, a detector head consisting of a continuous 16 mm x 18 mm x 5 mm LaBr3 crystal coupled to a SiPM array has been assembled and characterized, employing the SPIROC1 ASIC as readout electronics. The best energy resolution obtained at 511 key is 6.5% FWHM and the timing resolution is 3.1 ns FWHM. A position determination method for continuous crystals is being tested, with promising results. In addition, the detector has been operated in time coincidence with a second detector layer, to determine the coincidence capabilities of the system. The first tests are satisfactory, and encourage the development of larger detectors that will compose the telescope prototype.
|
Gomez Dumm, D., Roig, P., Pich, A., & Portoles, J. (2010). tau -> pi pi pi nu(tau) decays and the a(1)(1260) off-shell width revisited. Phys. Lett. B, 685(2-3), 158–164.
Abstract: The tau -> pi pi pi nu(tau) decay is driven by the hadronization of the axial-vector current. Within the resonance chiral theory, and considering the large-N-C expansion, this process has been studied in Ref. [1] (D. Gomez Dumm, A. Pich, J. Portoles, 2004). In the light of later developments we revise here this previous work by including a new off-shell width for the lightest a(1) resonance that provides a good description of the tau -> pi pi pi nu(tau) spectrum and branching ratio. We also consider the role of the rho(1450) resonance in these observables. Thus we bring in an overall description of the tau -> pi pi pi nu(tau) process in excellent agreement with our present experimental knowledge.
|
Degiovanni, A., Amaldi, U., Bonomi, R., Garlasche, M., Garonna, A., Verdu-Andres, S., et al. (2011). TERA high gradient test program of RF cavities for medical linear accelerators. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 657(1), 55–58.
Abstract: The scientific community and the medical industries are putting a considerable effort into the design of compact, reliable and cheap accelerators for hadrontherapy. Up to now only circular accelerators are used to deliver beams with energies suitable for the treatment of deep seated tumors. The TERA Foundation has proposed and designed a hadrontherapy facility based on the cyclinac concept: a high gradient linear accelerator placed downstream of a cyclotron used as an injector. The overall length of the linac, and therefore its final cost, is almost inversely proportional to the average accelerating gradient achieved in the linac. TERA, in collaboration with the CLIC RF group, has started a high gradient test program. The main goal is to study the high gradient behavior of prototype cavities and to determine the appropriate linac operating frequency considering important issues such as machine reliability and availability of distributed power sources. A preliminary test of a 3 GHz cavity has been carried out at the beginning of 2010, giving encouraging results. Further investigations are planned before the end of 2011. A set of 5.7 GHz cavities is under production and will be tested in a near future. The construction and test of a multi-cell structure is also foreseen.
|
Llosa, G., Barrio, J., Lacasta, C., Callier, S., Raux, L., & de La Taille, C. (2011). First tests in the application of silicon photomultiplier arrays to dose monitoring in hadron therapy. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 648, S96–S99.
Abstract: A detector head composed of a continuous LaBr3 crystal coupled to a silicon photomultiplier array has been mounted and tested, for its use in a Compton telescope for dose monitoring in hadron therapy. The LaBr3 crystal has 16 mm x 18 mm x 5 mm size, and it is surrounded with reflecting material in five faces. The SiPM array has 16 (4 x 4) elements of 3 mm x 3 mm size. The SPIROC1 ASIC has been employed as readout electronics. The detector shows a linear behavior up to 1275 keV. The energy resolution obtained at 511 keV is 7% FWHM, and it varies as one over the square root of the energy up to the energies tested. The variations among the detector channels are within 12%. A preliminary measurement of the timing resolution gives 7 ns FWHM. The spatial resolution obtained with the center of gravity method is 1.2 mm FWHM. The tests performed confirm the correct functioning of the detector.
|
