Today, Wednesday July 10th, at the International Workshop on the Identification of Dark Matter (IDM2024) in L’Aquila (IT), the XENON collaboration announced their new results: the first measurement of low-energy nuclear recoils from neutrinos produced in nuclear reactions inside the Sun, particularly those involving the element boron. 

XENONnT is the first experiment to measure coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) from neutrinos produced in the core of the Sun, and in general from a natural neutrino source. CEvNS were discovered only recently, in 2017 with an artificial source of neutrinos at the SNS.

This result confirms the excellent performance of XENONnT In terms of its low-energy threshold and small background, and marks the entrance of a dark matter detector into the so-called “neutrino fog” region, where (at least in this part of the parameter space) neutrinos start to become a relevant background for WIMP search.

 

The research team led by Elisa Ercolessi, of the Department of Physics and Astronomy and local coordinator of the INFN IS “Quantum” (Gruppo IV), has conducted a successful experiment to run a specific quantum optimization algorithm on the first commercial quantum computer, Fresnel, realizsd by the French company PASQAL, whose technology is based on neutral atoms.
The activity is funded by the IFAB project “Quantum Computing Development”, a collaboration among the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Bologna and CINECA, INFN and Leithà-Unipol with the goal of developing new quantum algorithms for industrial applications.

The work, which has been carried out personally by Dr. Simone Tibaldi of the PhD School in Physics, has developed a hybrid optimization algorithm, the so-called Quantum Approximation Optimization Algorithm, that makes use of a combination of quantum and classical resources to solve a typical complex combinatorial problem on a network.
The goal of this work is two-fold: to adapt the algorithm to the experimental characteristics of the quantum platform and benchmark its correct evaluation on the Fresnel machine.

Together with other protocols that are tested worldwide, these results show that the use of a hybrid technology which interfaces classical and quantum computers is in reach and very promising.

Little was known about the origin of cerium, a “rare earth” metal found in many electronic devices. In a recent article published in Physical Review Letters (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.122701) and selected as an Editors’ Suggestion, the n_TOF collaboration (https://ntof-exp.web.cern.ch/) sought to shed light on the topic.

However, the nuclear data—particularly the high-accuracy data recently obtained at n_TOF—are not consistent with what is predicted by stellar nucleosynthesis models. This significant disagreement clearly indicates the need to reconsider the mechanisms responsible for cerium (and other heavier elements) production in the Universe.
The measurement of the radiative capture cross-section was performed at the neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF at CERN. The available intense neutron beams with excellent energy resolution made it possible to observe neutron resonances in the energy range involved in cerium production in stars.

The proposal (https://cds.cern.ch/record/2299593/files/INTC-P-533.pdf), stemming from a curious discrepancy between stellar models and observational data in the M22 globular cluster, is the result of a close collaboration between INFN-Bologna, INAF, and ENEA. Below are some press releases on Physical Review Letters: https://physics.aps.org/articles/v17/47, and CERN: https://www.media.inaf.it/2024/03/21/cerio-accendino-universo/

More information about the n_TOF collaboration: https://www.bo.infn.it/gruppo3/n_tof/
Contacts: Cristian Massimi massimi@bo.infn.it, Alberto Mengoni mengoni@bo.infn.it

In 2022, the LHC hadron collider began the Run 3 phase, and the Time of Flight (TOF) detector of the ALICE experiment entered its second decade of use.
The apparatus, built under the responsibility of the ALICE group of Bologna with the fundamental contribution of the section services, is made up of strips of high-performance Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPC) and covers the central rapidity region of ALICE for an area active total of 140 m2 segmented with more than 150,000 reading channels.
The ALICE TOF detector completed the readout electronics upgrades in early July 2022. This involved the production of a new readout board designed by INFN Bologna and using high-speed optical links.
In October 2023, ALICE collected the first Pb-Pb collisions, and the TOF was able to perform a calibration at levels similar to those of Run 2.
Thanks to a new calibration campaign, it was possible to significantly improve the temporal performance, exceeding, as already in Run 2, the 80 ps of resolution envisaged in the initial specifications of the project.
Thanks to its excellent performance and excellent temporal resolution, since 2009 the apparatus has allowed the identification of particles produced at the LHC at collision energies never before achieved in a laboratory.
This feature constitutes one of the pillars of the ALICE physics program, to which the TOF detector contributes in a crucial way.
The result achieved with this calibration confirms that the performance of the detector remains unchanged after 15 years of operations.
The ALICE group of Bologna oversaw the analysis that led to this result, which is expected to be published in an international journal.

On Monday 26th February we had a MasterClass at the Liceo Galvani in Bologna on the direct search of Dark Matter, organized by the CC3M project called Dark, with the joint involvement of researchers of the DarkSide and XENON experiments: for INFN-Bologna, Pietro Di Gangi, Marco Garbini, Luigi Pio Rignanese e Marco Selvi.
About 50 students of the Liceo Scientifico Galvani and Fermi, after attending a few introductory lectures on Dark Matter and the detectors, analysed data of the past DarkSide-50 and XENON100 (to whom we inserted also some fake WIMP events) applying selection cuts, and presenting at the end their results to the other classmates, as if it was a real scientific conference.
At the same time, other students from various italian cities (Cagliari, Genova, Roma, Catania e L’Aquila) were involved in similar activities: at 11:30 we had a Zoom teleconference among all the various involved sites, with the presence of researchers of XENONnT from the underground Gran Sasso laboratory, and of DarkSide from a clean room in Naples.

The European Consortium for Astroparticle Theory (EuCAPT) announces the appointment of Professor Silvia Pascoli as its new Director, succeeding the founding Director Professor Gianfranco Bertone of GRAPPA (GRavitation and AstroParticle Physics Amsterdam).

The consortium brings together European researchers in astroparticle physics, an interdisciplinary field of research that sits at the intersection of particle physics, astronomy, and cosmology. By investigating dark matter, neutrinos, gravitational waves, cosmic rays and other phenomena, EuCAPT scientists aim to elucidate the origin and evolution of the cosmos and to

answer fundamental questions about extreme astronomical environments, such as black holes and stellar explosions.

Founded in 2019, EuCAPT has played a pivotal role in advancing research and collaboration in the field. “EuCAPT has grown in the past 5 years to a vibrant community comprising over 140 universities and research institutions in Europe, and over 1700 member scientists.  I am confident that under the leadership of Prof. Pascoli, EuCAPT will continue to stimulate new ideas, inspire young researchers, and reach new heights,” said Prof. Bertone.

EuCAPT was formally established by the Astroparticle Physics European Consortium (APPEC). Its overarching objectives include increasing the exchange of ideas and knowledge, coordinating scientific and training activities, aiding scientists in securing resources for their projects and fostering a stimulating, fair, inclusive and open environment conducive to the professional growth of young scientists. “APPEC as a consortium of European funding agencies, which is primarily responsible for the coordination and support of international large-scale research institutions in astroparticle physics, strongly supports the structured activities of EuCAPT to promote theory and young scientists. We welcome Silvia Pascoli as our new Director and look forward to a lively exchange,” says Dr. Andreas Haungs, Chair of APPEC.

EuCAPT’s host institution is the renowned CERN, further reinforcing its commitment to excellence in astroparticle theory research. Dr. Gian Giudice, Head of the Theoretical Physics Department at CERN, highlights that “ CERN has been instrumental in establishing EuCAPT and is fully committed to its future. We welcome Professor Silvia Pascoli as new EuCAPT Director and wish her success in her guiding role for the astroparticle physics community in Europe”.

The new director, Professor Silvia Pascoli, Full Professor at the “A. Righi” Physics and Astronomy Department of Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna and INFN associate in Bologna, brings her experience and expertise to her role. She has made important contributions to the fields of neutrinos, dark sectors and astroparticle theory and has coordinated large networks, including the current European funded Horizon2020 ITN HIDDeN. Her mandate, which officially commences on February 1, 2024, will involve the strategic development of EuCAPT, as well as the promotion, coordination, and monitoring of its activities.

“It is a great honour and responsibility to become EuCAPT Director, after the brilliant job done by Prof. Gianfranco Bertone. My aim will be to continue and enhance EuCAPT activities as a key actor to bring together the European astroparticle theory community” declared prof. Silvia Pascoli.

In addition to the Director, EuCAPT’s renewed leadership includes Vice Director Professor David Marsh from Stockholm University, who will assist in running the consortium, and Dr. Francesca Calore from CNRS-LAPTh, Annecy, who will act as Chair of the EuCAPT Council.

To stay connected with the latest developments and activities, EuCAPT maintains a dedicated website at https://www.eucapt.org/.

About EuCAPT

The European Consortium for Astroparticle Theory (EuCAPT) is a collaborative network comprising over 140 universities and European research institutions. The consortium brings together European researchers in astroparticle physics, an interdisciplinary field of research that sits at the intersection of particle physics, astronomy, and cosmology. EuCAPT was formally established by the Astroparticle Physics European Consortium (APPEC) in 2019 and its host institution is CERN. Its overarching objectives include increasing the exchange of ideas and knowledge, coordinating scientific and training activities, aiding scientists in securing resources for their projects and fostering a stimulating, fair, and open environment conducive to the professional growth of young scientists.

https://www.eucapt.org/

RD-FCC is the acronym of CSN1 which deals with research and development to define both the detectors necessary for future large colliders (in particular FCC and its first phase FCC-ee), and to define some of the components of the accelerators themselves. RD-FCC proposed a new detector concept, called IDEA, for a large lepton collider, which attracted great international interest and was documented in FCC-ee’s Conceptual Design Report. RD-FCC also plays a central role in creating connections and collaborations with foreign institutes to internationalize the IDEA collaboration.

The responsibility of RN of RD-FCC falls during a particularly important period which will culminate with the next European Strategy Update for high energy physics, which will hopefully lead to the approval of the next large collider for high energy physics.

Congratulations from the entire section go to Paolo and “good luck” for the work to be done in the coming years.

 

As part of the “More women in Physics project” to promote and support girls in the study of Physics, the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) is launching a competition for the awarding of n. 25 scholarships for master’s students meeting the following requirements:

• Enrollment and matriculation for the entire academic year 2023/2024 in the first year of a master’s degree course in Physics or Universe Sciences
• Bachelor’s degree in physics obtained by 31 December 2023, with a grade of no less than 100/110 and with a weighted average of exam scores taken of no less than 26/30 (the weighted average is determined by multiplying the number of credits obtained in each exam for the grade obtained, the sum of the products obtained is divided by the total sum of the credits obtained).

The duration of the scholarship is one year, renewable for a further year. The gross amount of the scholarship is set at €1,500.00 and will be paid in the first month of starting the scholarship. Applications to participate in the competition must be completed and sent to the INFN electronically via the website https://reclutamento.dsi.infn.it no later than January 31, 2024 by 11.59.59 pm.
The announcement can be consulted at the link:
https://jobs.dsi.infn.it/dettagli_job.php?id=3763

 

 

“More women in Physics”

The award, intended for students enrolled in the first year of the master’s degree course in experimental and theoretical physics, was established by the INFN to promote and support girls in the study of physics and increase the presence of women in the world of research and work.

Of the 25 students awarded on 28 September in the presence of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of the INFN, 5 are enrolled at the University of Bologna.

Each student has received a scholarship of 1500 euros as an incentive to undertake their studies in Physics in the fields of interest to the INFN.

 

Matilde Dondi – Nuclear Physics
“Research is a fascinating challenge: I would like to be able to share the wonder and importance of physics even with those who don’t study it.”

 

Gaia Fabbri – Nuclear Physics
“I hope to continue learning, to always learn new things, and to never lose interest and passion for what I study.”

 

Alessia Musumeci – Theory Physics
“I love Physics because it allows me to explore and discover, day after day, something new and fascinating.”

 

Beatrice Magni – Theory Physics
“The thirst to know how the world around us works, from the infinitely small to the infinitely large, induced me to study Physics.” 

 

Noa De Cristofaro – Technological Research
“I would like to learn about new approaches to the research topics that interest me so that one day I can create something to make our presence on Earth more sustainable.”