Browsing by Author "Carolino, N."
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- A large area TOF-tracker device based on multi-gap Resistive Plate ChambersPublication . Assis, P.; Bernardino, A.; Blanco, A.; Luz, R.; Mendes, L.; Michel, J.; Neiser, A.; Pereira, A.; Pimenta, M.; Shellard, R.; Traxler, M.; Clemêncio, Filomena; Carolino, N.; Cunha, O.; Ferreira, M.; Fonte, P.; Lopes, L.; Loureiro, C.The TOF-tracker concept, the simultaneous measurement of accurate time and bi-dimensional space coordinates in a single gaseous detector, has been previously demonstrated. The detector yielded a time resolution of 77 ps σ along with a bi-dimensional position resolution of 38 μm σ over a full active area of 60 × 60 mm2. In here, we report about a large area, 1550 × 1250 mm2, TOF-tracker device, tested by tracking cosmic muons, yielding a position resolution down to 1.33 mm σ, a simultaneous time resolution of 150 ps σ and 92% detection efficiency, over the entire area of the detector. The sub-millimetre electronic resolution of the readout chain suggests that the position resolution here reported could be dominated by non-corrected systematic effects and therefore it could be yet significantly improved.
- Multi-purpose trigger system for medium particle detector devicesPublication . Clemêncio, Filomena; Blanco, A.; Carolino, N.; Loureiro, C.We report on an architecture of a multi-purpose trigger system based on inexpensive and off-the-shelf modules, with logic implemented in three levels, that can be used in a variety of small/medium systems just by writing a few registers using the accompanying software. The developed trigger algorithms are described in Very High Speed Integrated Circuits (VHSIC) Hardware Description Language (VHDL) and implemented using a Xilinx XC6LX45-2 FPGA. In its present implementation, for the sake of simplicity, communication with the external world is done using the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), which allows easy connection to a Raspberry Pi2 running Linux. The Raspberry software was written in C++ and enables configuring and checking of the underlying FPGA and retrieving the monitoring data. The system has been used, with success, in several applications, from lab setup to industrial and pre-clinical environments showing its versatility and robustness.
- Outdoor systems performance and upgradePublication . Lopes, L.; Andringa, S.; Assis, P.; Blanco, A.; Carolino, N.; Cerda, M.A.; Clemêncio, Filomena; Conceição, R.; Cunha, O.; Dobrigkeit, C.; Ferreira, M.; Loureiro, C.; Mendes, L.; Nogueira, J.C.; Pereira, A.; Pimenta, M.; Saraiva, J.; Sarmento, R.; Teixeira, P.; Tomé, B.Over the last two decades, the possibility of using RPCs in outdoors systems has increased considerably. Our group has participated in this effort by installing several systems and continues to work on their optimization, while simultaneously studying and developing new approaches that can use RPCs in outdoor applications. In particular, four detectors were deployed in the field at the Pierre Auger Observatory in 2019 remained inactive, awaiting the commissioning of support systems. During the pandemic the detectors were left without gas flow for more thantwo years, but were recently reactivated with no major problems. The Lou Mu project combines particle physics and geophysics in order tomapmeter-scale geologic structures, using Muon Tomography. Transmission muography is sensitive to the total amount of matter crossed by the muons, allowing to separate targets of different densities. In this exploratory project, it serves to identify unconsolidated rockzones, like geological faults and ore masses around an old Pyritemine,now converted into a science center. The general goal is to compare how effective is the muographic survey when compared with the more standard geophysical techniques. The development of the RPC system used and the data from the last two years will be presented. Finally, recent advances in a large area(1m2) doubl egap-sealed RPC will be presented.
- The trigger system of a large area RPC TOF-tracker muon telescopePublication . Clemêncio, Filomena; Blanco, A.; Carolino, N.; Loureiro, C.The TOF-tracker concept, the simultaneous measurement of accurate time and bi dimensional space coordinates in a single gaseous detector, has been previously demonstrated based on Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC) technology. Recently, a larger area, 1550 × 1250 mm2 , RPC detector has been built. Signals are induced on metallic strips located in each side of the RPC active volume and coupled to both charge-sensitive and timing circuits, that can be used to generate a coincidence trigger. In this work, the architecture and performance of the trigger system of the detector is reported. The system is based on off-the-shelf inexpensive modules and in a custom program written in VHDL running in a Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA. It is fast, fully parameterized and supports several trigger strategies, allowing at the same time the collection of data referring to the operating condition of the detector, relevant for tests and detector maintenance.