A. Di Crescenzo

On a symmetry-based constructive approach to probability densities for two-dimensional diffusion processes

The method earlier introduced for one-dimensional diffusion processes [6] is extended to obtain closed form expressions for the transition p.d.f.s of two-dimensional diffusion processes in the presence of absorbing boundaries and for the first-crossing time p.d.f.s through such boundaries. Use of such a method is finally made to analyse a two-dimensional linear process.

Readout technologies for directional WIMP Dark Matter detection

The measurement of the direction of WIMP-induced nuclear recoils is a compelling but technologically challenging strategy to provide an unambiguous signature of the detection of Galactic dark matter. Most directional detectors aim to reconstruct the dark-matter-induced nuclear recoil tracks, either in gas or solid targets. The main challenge with directional detection is the need for high spatial resolution over large volumes, which puts strong requirements on the readout technologies. In this paper we review the various detector readout technologies used by directional detectors. In particular, we summarize the challenges, advantages and drawbacks of each approach, and discuss future prospects for these technologies.

On some computational results for single neurons' activity modeling.

The classical Ornstein-Uhlenbeck diffusion neuronal model is generalized by inclusion of a time-dependent input whose strength exponentially decreases in time. The behavior of the membrane potential is consequently seen to be modeled by a process whose mean and covariance classify, it as Gaussian-Markov. The effect of the input on the neurons firing characteristics is investigated by comparing the firing probability densities and distributions for such a process with the corresponding ones of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model. All numerical results are obtained by implementation of a recently developed computational method.

NEWS: Nuclear Emulsions for WIMP Search

Nowadays there is compelling evidence for the existence of dark matter in the Universe. A general consensus has been expressed on the need for a directional sensitive detector to confirm, with a complementary approach, the candidates found in conventional searches and to finally extend their sensitivity beyond the limit of neutrino-induced background. We propose here the use of a detector based on nuclear emulsions to measure the direction of WIMP-induced nuclear recoils. The production of nuclear emulsion films with nanometric grains is established. Several measurement campaigns have demonstrated the capability of detecting sub-micrometric tracks left by low energy ions in such emulsion films. Innovative analysis technologies with fully automated optical microscopes have made it possible to achieve the track reconstruction for path lengths down to one hundred nanometers and there are good prospects to further exceed this limit. The detector concept we propose foresees the use of a bulk of nuclear emulsion films surrounded by a shield from environmental radioactivity, to be placed on an equatorial telescope in order to cancel out the effect of the Earth rotation, thus keeping the detector at a fixed orientation toward the expected direction of galactic WIMPs. We report the schedule and cost estimate for a one-kilogram mass pilot experiment, aiming at delivering the first results on the time scale of six years.

A new generation scanning system for the high-speed analysis of nuclear emulsions

The development of automatic scanning systems was a fundamental issue for large scale neutrino detectors exploiting nuclear emulsions as particle trackers. Such systems speed up significantly the event analysis in emulsion, allowing the feasibility of experiments with unprecedented statistics. In the early 1990s, R&D programs were carried out by Japanese and European laboratories leading to automatic scanning systems more and more efficient. The recent progress in the technology of digital signal processing and of image acquisition allows the fulfillment of new systems with higher performances. In this paper we report the description and the performance of a new generation scanning system able to operate at the record speed of 84 cm2/hour and based on the Large Angle Scanning System for OPERA (LASSO) software infrastructure developed by the Naples scanning group. Such improvement, reduces the scanning time by a factor 4 with respect to the available systems, allowing the readout of huge amount of nuclear emulsions in reasonable time. This opens new perspectives for the employment of such detectors in a wider variety of applications.

A novel approach to dark matter search based on nanometric emulsions

The most convincing candidate as main constituent of the dark matter in the Universe consists of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP). WIMPs must be electrically neutral and interact with a very low cross-section (σ < 10−40 cm2) which makes them detectable in direct searches only through the observation of nuclear recoils induced by the WIMP rare scatterings. In the experiments carried out so far, recoiled nuclei are searched for as a signal over a background produced by Compton electrons and neutron scatterings. Signal found by some experiments have not been confirmed by other techniques. None of these experiments is able to detect the track, typically less than one micron long, of the recoiled nucleus and therefore none is able to directly detect the incoming direction of WIMPs. We propose an R&D program for a new experimental method able to observe the track of the scattered nucleus based on new developments in the nuclear emulsion technique: films with nanometric silver grains, expansion of emulsions and very fast completely automated scanning systems. Nuclear emulsions would act both as the WIMP target and as the tracking detector able to reconstruct the direction of the recoiled nucleus. This unique characteristic would provide a new and unambiguous signature of the presence of the dark matter in our galaxy.

Stochastic population models with interacting species

Abstract. A stochastic model concerning the evolution of a multi-species population is presented assuming species competition for a habitat. The model takes into account colonization, death and replacement for all individuals. Two cases are treated: (i) colonizations follow the hierarchic rule by which species of lower rank are always outcompeted by those of higher rank and (ii) there are no privileged species. In both cases, under suitable assumptions, a thorough description of the evolution of the population is obtained. The two models are finally compared and the corresponding evolutionary behaviors of the populations are discussed.

Measurement of low-energy neutrino cross-sections with the PEANUT experiment

The PEANUT experiment was designed to study the NuMi neutrino beam at Fermilab. The detector uses a hybrid technique, being made of nuclear emulsions and scintillator trackers. Emulsion films act as a micrometric tracking device and are interleaved with lead plates used as passive material. The detector is designed to precisely reconstruct the topology of neutrino interactions and hence to measure the different contributions to the cross section. We present here the full reconstruction and analysis of 147 neutrino interactions and the measurement of the quasi-elastic, resonance and deep-inelastic contributions to the total charged current cross section at the energies of the NuMi neutrino beam. This technique could be applied for beam monitoring in future neutrino facilities, and this paper shows its proof-of-principle.

Nuclear emulsions as a very high resolution detector for directional dark matter search

The use of nuclear emulsions in particle physics dates back to the very early stages. They are now used when an extremely high position resolution is required like in the search for short lived particles. The capability to detect nuclear recoils induced by WIMPs relies on the possibility to detect sub-micrometric trajectories. Recently nuclear emulsions with silver grains of 20 nm diameter were developed, opening the way for the reconstruction of nanometric particles. This challenging purpose requires the development of fully automated optical readout systems for a fast scanning of the emulsion films. This is meant for a pre-selection of recoil candidates. Once candidates have been identified, a fine grained X-ray microscope is used to detect the grains making up the tracks. We report here the present results on the current development along this line.

SuperNova neutrino physics with nuclear emulsion detectors

Supernova explosions are very powerful phenomena occurring in the space. Although the observation of these events is very rarely achieved, the new generation of ton-scale detectors for dark matter search are sensitive to neutrinos coming for supernovae which can also represent a serious and unremovable background source. A directional detector based on nuclear emulsions provides the unique capability to observe neutral current interactions of neutrinos originated by a supernova explosion. NEWSdm is a detector based on nuclear emulsions made of nanometric size crystals which can make the reconstruction of trajectories with path lengths down to 50 nm possible if analyzed by means of microscopes with enough resolution.