2016
2016/09/26 - Luciano Pandola’s NYUAD Visit
Luciano Pandola from the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare gave a talk at NYUAD on Wednesday, September 26, 2016, titled, "Search for neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge with the GERDA experiment at LNGS" in the Experimental Research Building, seminar room # 045 @ 11:50am for the Physics Seminar Series - Fall 2016. Pandola was a guest of Professor Francesco Arneodo.
Abstract: The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment at the Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS) of INFN is searching for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge, i.e. 76Ge à 76Se + 2e-. The neutrinoless double beta decay has been searched for in many nuclei, and the lower limits of the half-lives are of the order of 1024-1025 yr. While the neutrino-accompanied version of the double beta decay is an allowed (and rare) process in the Standard Model of particle physics, the neutrinoless double beta decay is forbidden because of the violation of the lepton number conservation. The observation of this nuclear process, which is predicted by models beyond the Standard Model, would imply that neutrinos have a Majorana mass component. Provided that the exchange of light Majorana neutrinos is the leading mechanism of neutrino-less double beta decay, measuring or constraining the half-life also sheds light on the absolute neutrino mass scale.
The experiment makes use of high-purity Germanium (HPGe) made of material isotopically enriched in 76Ge. The detectors are operated naked in liquid argon, which serves as a cooling medium and as shielding against the external radiation. The GERDA setup is complemented by a 5m-thick water buffer, which is equipped with photo-multipliers and operated as a Cherenkov muon veto. The experimental signature for the neutrinoless double beta decay is a mono-energetic peak at the Qββ-value of the 76Ge decay (2039 keV).
The first phase of the experiment was completed between November 2011 and May 2013, totaling a total exposure of 21.6 kg·yr. A blind analysis was performed, such that all calibrations and event selection criteria had been finalized before the data were processed around the Qββ-value of the 76Ge decay. Data of GERDA Phase I gave no positive indication for the neutrinoless double beta of 76Ge and allowed to place a lower limit on the process half-life T1/2 > 2.1 1025 yr (90% CL), or T1/2 > 3.0 1025 yr when combined with other 76Ge experiments.
The second phase of the experiment aims to reach a sensitivity in the range of the 1026 yr for the 76Ge half-life with an exposure of about 100 kg·yr, by deploying a larger detector mass and by further reducing the background. The data taking started in December 2015 and it is presently ongoing. The liquid argon volume surrounding the detector array is now equipped with photo-sensors and it is operated as an active veto, thus providing a powerful tool for background suppression and diagnostic. The same blinding procedure of Phase I is being followed, in order to guarantee an unbiased and coherent analysis in the region of interest at the Qββ-value of the 76Ge decay.
The first unblinding and data release of GERDA Phase II was performed in June 2016, with a total exposure of 10.8 kg·yr (plus 1.9 kg·yr of unpublished Phase I data). Thanks to the superior background rejection of Phase II, the combined Phase I+II sensitivity was improved by a factor of two with respect to the previous GERDA result. The detector performance, the achieved background level and the background model for GERDA Phase II will be first shown. Updated physics results on neutrinoless double beta decay will be then presented and discussed, together with the short- and medium-term future perspectives of the GERDA project.
2016/09/21 - NYUAD Talk by Prof. Francesco Arneodo and Dr. Adriano Di Giovanni
Professor Francesco Arneodo and Research Scientist Dr. Adriano Di Giovanni gave a talk at NYUAD on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, titled, "X-Ray Fluorescence as a tool for cultural heritage studies in the Middle East" in the Experimental Research Building, seminar room # 045 @ 11:50am for the Physics Seminar Series - Fall 2016.
Abstract: The technique of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) is a powerful tool to analyse the elemental composition of the surface of an object. An X-ray beam is directed to the point of interest, exciting the atoms on the surface and underneath it. The consequent atomic excitation releases X-rays of a characteristic wavelength, allowing to understand which elements are present on the surface, and thus furnishing valuable information to the restorer, the art historian, or the owner of an art object.
At NYUAD, within the research group of Prof. Arneodo, a collaboration has begun with the Italian laboratory LABEC (specialized in the application of nuclear physics to cultural heritage) to develop and improve an X-ray scanner and spectrometer, that can be used in the laboratory or deployed in museums or other cultural heritage sites. This instrument joined with other technologies already present at NYUAD, could be a valuable component of a possible Center for Cultural Heritage Science.
During the seminar, we will illustrate the physics of XRF, describe the instrument with its possible improvement, and give a live demonstration of its capabilities.
2016/06 - First scan with the XRF scanner spectrometer!
The LABEC-NYUAD XRF scanner has seen its first real image, the scan of a PCB board. It may be not as exciting as a Leonardo Da Vinci painting, but it is a very promising start! Congratulations to Adriano Di Giovanni who made it work!
2016/05 - Planet and Stargazing Event with the Space Agency
On May 21st, some faculty and postdocs participated in an event on the Corniche in occasion of the Mars-Sun opposition. NYUAD participated with two telescopes and the Cosmic-Ray detector. Introductory talks on astronomy and physics have been given by Prof. Mallory Roberts, Prof. Joseph Gelfand, and Dr. Jasmina Blecic. More than 40 people, including several Emirati nationals, attended the event.
2016/05 - First events from the XENON1T detector at Gran Sasso Laboratory
The first 'complete' events (featuring a signal both in the liquid and gaseous phase) have been recorded by the XENON1T detector at Gran Sasso, now in the final stage of the commissioning phase.
2016/05 - XRF Scanner-Spectrometer used in Interdisciplinary Research
Professor Francesco Arneodo, Associate Professor of Physics and Program Head, had the XRF scanner-spectrometer developed by his research group (Arneodo’s group) in collaboration with the INFN-LABEC laboratory in Florence, has been used for some measurement of metal content in algae, in collaboration with Dr. Nelson (Prof. Salehi-Ashtiani group). This marks the beginning of a hopefully wide and interdisciplinary use of this new facility at NYUAD.
2016/04/27 - Participation in the UAE Space Agency ESIG Workshop
On April 27th and 28th, the UAE Space Agency organized the first Emirates Space Innovation Group workshop at the Dusit Thani Hotel. Prof. Arneodo, Prof. Dobbs-Dixon and Dr. Di Giovanni were present, as well as colleagues of the Engineering division. Prof. Arneodo, on behalf of the Physics Program, presented three projects: the astroparticle physics laboratory, the idea for a CubeSat that will study Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes, and the proposal of the scientific exploitation of a DSN radio antenna that will be built in the UAE. On the latter proposal, a meeting with the UAE SA has been scheduled for May 8th.
2016/04/19 - The Cosmic Rays Telescope presented at Think Science
One of the two cosmic rays telescopes (aka Muon Telescopes) that a team of undergraduate students has been assembling, has been presented on April 19th at the Think Science fair in Dubai. Two Emirati students, Aisha Al Mannaei and Fatema Al Khouri, illustrated the telescope to the public.
2016/04/19 - First Real Time Cosmic Rays Tracker of the Middle East!
Congratulations to the team of NYUAD students that assembled, with the help of Dr. Adriano Di Giovanni and Valerio Conicella, the first of two cosmic-ray tracking detectors, possibly the first in the Gulf area: Aisha Al Mannaei, Enes Krijestorac, Fatema Al Khouri, Maryam Al Hammadi, Mounir Elghabarawi, Silviu Udrescu (with a special mention to Enes and Mounir for their dedication).
2016/04/16 to 2016/04/22 - Collaborators from INFN-LABEC at NYUAD
From April 16 to April 22, Dr. Francesco Taccetti and Dr. Lisa Castelli, of the INFN-LABEC laboratory, Italy, have collaborated with the group of F. Arneodo in the final commissioning of the X-Ray fluorescence scanner and spectrometer that will become part of the Core platform.
2016/04/12 to 2016/04/14 - Activities on XENON1T
Francesco Arneodo and Ioana Maris participated in the XENON1T Collaboration meeting at Gran Sasso, 12-14 April. Ioana Maris gave two talks, one on the data offline monitoring (responsibility of NYUAD) and the other on the Kr analysis of XENON100.
The NYUAD offline server has also been brought and installed in the computing room of Gran Sasso.
Ioana also stayed until May 12th to complete a XE100 shift and follow the filling and startup if the XENON1T TPC.
2016/04/03 to 2016/04/08 - Visit of Dr. Giorgio Paolucci
Giorgio Paolucci, scientific director of the SESAME synchrotron machine, Jordan, visited NYUAD and the UAE during the week 3- 8 April. Giorgio met with faculty at NYUAD and visited Khalifa University, University of Sharjah and the Masdar Institute, where several faculty and researchers expressed interest in proposing experiments for SESAME. The final decision was to put together a white paper and explore the interest of the UAE in joining the SESAME consortium.
2016/04 - Participation in XENON1T calibration activities at PTB, Germany
Dr. Mohammed Lotfi Benabderrahmane spent one week (from May at Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)), in Braunschweig, Germany, to participate in the calibration activities of a neutron generator that will be employed for XENON1T at Gran Sasso. The PTB is a well-known particle acceleration and metrology facility.
2016/03/21 - Dr. Di Giovanni’s talk at La Thuile and Florence – Gran Sasso visit
Dr. Adriano Di Giovanni gave a talk at the "51st Rencontres de Moriond, Cosmology", in La Thuile, Italy, on March 21st: "The XENON1T Dark Matter experiment".
He then visited the LABEC laboratory in Florence, under the framework of our collaboration on X-Ray Fluorescence. He also was in Gran Sasso during the first week of April.
2016/02/23 - Prof. Eugenio Coccia’s NYUAD Visit
Prof. Eugenio Coccia, of University of Rome Tor Vergata, and Director of the Gran Sasso Science Institute, gave a seminar titled, " Opening the ravitational wave window to the Universe" where more than 100 people attended, making it the most successful seminar of the season.
2016/02/02 - Prof. Pier Andrea Mando’s NYUAD Visit
Professor Pier Andrea Mandò, of the University of Florence, guest of Prof. Arneodo, gave a seminar on ‘Nuclear techniques applied to Cultural Heritage’. Prof. Mandò is a world expert on this intriguing subject, and he is the former Director of the LABEC laboratory in Florence. A collaboration with LABEC and Prof. Arneodo’s group is actually ongoing. During his visit to Abu Dhabi Prof. Mandò also met with Ms. Rita Aoun (Art and Cultural Advisor of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Development & Investment Company) and he has been guest of the Capital Club in Dubai. The seminar was one with the highest attendance of the season, with about 50 people.
