Planar channeling in bent crystals has been observed in LHC with multi-TeV proton beam in 2015. Two crystals, mounted on novel high-accuracy goniometers (one in the horizontal and one in the vertical ...plane), are integrated in the LHC collimation system, for studying the feasibility of the crystal-based collimation scheme. Using this experimental setup, tests with fully-stripped lead ion beams at both 450 Z and 6500 Z GeV were carried during dedicated LHC beam time. Planar channeling was observed for the first time with lead ions at these unprecedented energies surpassing by more than 1 order of magnitude the previous state-of-the-art for lead heavy ions and providing an important experimental basis for future applications of bent crystals in beam manipulations. The set of measurements performed to confirm this observation, as the local loss reduction in presence of channeling and the evidence of a deflected beam downstream of the crystal, are presented.
A system to monitor the radiation levels is required in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and its injection lines in order to quantify the radiation effects on electronics. Thus, the RadMons were ...installed in critical areas where equipment is or will be placed. The first years of operation, successive test campaigns and new requirements, raised the need for a new design of the monitor. The architecture of the new RadMon, the radiation reliability and the design strategy adopted for the sensors, used for monitoring the mixed radiation field of the LHC accelerator, are described highlighting the achieved improvements in terms of radiation robustness and measurement accuracy of a device which is of interest for many other research institutes.
Background. The spread of Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) strains that produce K. pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPCs) has become a significant problem, and treatment of infections caused by these pathogens ...is a major challenge for clinicians. Methods. In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, conducted in 3 large Italian teaching hospitals, we examined 125 patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by KPC-producing Kp isolates (KPC-Kp) diagnosed between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2011. The outcome measured was death within 30 days of the first positive blood culture. Survivor and nonsurvivor subgroups were compared to identify predictors of mortality. Results. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 41.6%. A significantly higher rate was observed among patients treated with monotherapy (54.3% vs 34.1% in those who received combined drug therapy; P = .02). In logistic regression analysis, 30-day mortality was independently associated with septic shock at BSI onset (odds ratio OR: 7.17; 95% confidence interval CI: 1.65–31.03; P = .008); inadequate initial antimicrobial therapy (OR: 4.17; 95% CI: 1.61–10.76; P = .003); and high APACHE III scores (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02–1.07; P < .001). Postantibiogram therapy with a combination of tigecycline, colistin, and meropenem was associated with lower mortality (OR: 0.11; 95% CI: .02–.69; P = .01). Conclusions. KPC-Kp BSIs are associated with high mortality. To improve survival, combined treatment with 2 or more drugs with in vitro activity against the isolate, especially those also including a carbapenem, may be more effective than active monotherapy.
Two high-accuracy goniometers equipped with two bent silicon crystals were installed in the betatron cleaning insertion of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) during its long shutdown. First beam ...tests were recently performed at the LHC with 450 GeV/c and 6500 GeV/c stored proton beams to investigate the feasibility of beam halo collimation assisted by bent crystals. For the first time channeling of 6500 GeV/c protons was observed in a particle accelerator. A strong reduction of beam losses due to nuclear inelastic interactions in the aligned crystal in comparison with its amorphous orientation was detected. The loss reduction value was about 24. Thus, the results show that deflection of particles by a bent crystal due to channeling is effective for this record particle energy.
A high precision radiation-tolerant LVDT conditioning module Masi, A.; Danzeca, S.; Losito, R. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
05/2014, Letnik:
745
Journal Article
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Linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) position sensors are widely used in particle accelerators and nuclear plants, thanks to their properties of contact-less sensing, radiation tolerance, ...infinite resolution, good linearity and cost efficiency. Many applications require high reading accuracy, even in environments with high radiation levels, where the conditioning electronics must be located several hundred meters away from the sensor. Sometimes even at long distances the conditioning module is still exposed to ionizing radiation. Standard off-the-shelf electronic conditioning modules offer limited performances in terms of reading accuracy and long term stability already with short cables. A radiation tolerant stand-alone LVDT conditioning module has been developed using Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components. The reading of the sensor output voltages is based on a sine-fit algorithm digitally implemented on an FPGA ensuring few micrometers reading accuracy even with low signal-to-noise ratios. The algorithm validation and board architecture are described. A full metrological characterization of the module is reported and radiation tests results are discussed.
The sensitivity of linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) position sensors to external slowly varying magnetic fields represents a critical issue when these sensors are installed close to ...high-current cables or electrical motors with significant fringe fields. The resulting position error can reach several hundreds of micrometers against a specified uncertainty normally below a few micrometers. In this paper, the design of a LVDT position sensor with high rejection to external constant or slowly varying magnetic fields is addressed by exploiting the finite element method (FEM) simulator FLUX. A shield, isolated from the sensor's magnetic circuit, has been considered to reduce the effect of magnetic fields on the secondary voltages of the LVDT. In addition, a dc current is used in order to polarize the magnetic circuit to reduce the sensitivity of the sensor to external interferences.
Magnets for a Muon Collider-Needs and Plans Bottura, L.; Accettura, C.; Amemiya, N. ...
IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity,
08/2024, Letnik:
34, Številka:
5
Journal Article
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We describe the magnet challenges for a Muon Collider, an exciting option considered for the future of particle physics at the energy frontier. Starting from the comprehensive work performed by the ...US Muon Accelerator Program, we have reviewed the performance specifications dictated by beam physics and the operating conditions to satisfy the accelerator needs. Among the many magnets that make up a muon collider, we have identified four systems that represent well the envelope of challenges: the target and capture solenoid, the final cooling solenoid, the accelerator dipoles and the collider dipoles. These systems provide focus for the development of novel concepts, largely based on HTS for reasons of performance, cost and sustainability. After giving a consolidated overview of the needs for the magnet systems, we describe here the basic technology options considered, and the plan for design and development activities.
Experiments were performed at the CERN SPS with 120 GeV/c stored proton beams to assess the possibility of beam halo collimation assisted by bent crystals. A bent crystal was used to deflect ...horizontally by an angle of about 170 μrad the beam halo protons in channeling states directing them into a 60 cm long tungsten absorber. The halo loss rate due to nuclear inelastic interactions of protons in the aligned crystal was up to five times smaller than for its amorphous orientation. Channeled fractions, (75±4)% and (85±5)% for the two tested silicon crystals, were measured by intercepting the deflected beam with another collimator located between the crystals and the absorber. The pixel detector (MEDIPIX) installed in a Roman pot inside the beam pipe was used to obtain visual images of the deflected beam.
Strong reduction of multiple scattering for channeled particles has been observed in an experiment on the deflection of a 180 GeV/c π+-meson beam by bent silicon crystals. The RMS deflections due to ...multiple scattering for the channeled particles were about six times smaller than for non-channeled ones. It was shown that the approach suggested recently for the description of multiple scattering for channeled particles using the experimental data for random crystal orientations gives fair agreement with the experiment.
Beam merging assisted by a bent crystal Scandale, W.; Cerutti, F.; Esposito, L. S. ...
European physical journal plus,
11/2023, Letnik:
138, Številka:
11
Journal Article
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Bunch merging is a well-established technique to increase the intensity of synchrotrons and the luminosity of circular colliders. We suggest to exploit a combination of channeling, volume reflection ...and amorphous interactions in a bent crystal for beam merging in a transfer line. Two beams converging into the bent crystal along special directions should emerge in almost parallel directions. A merging scenario is discussed, and data collected by the UA9 Collaboration are reprocessed to prove its feasibility. Comparison with magnetic stacking, which is a similar process, is presented.