High-rate tests on Resistive Plate Chambers operated with eco-friendly gas mixtures

Results obtained by the RPC ECOgas@GIF++ Collaboration, using Resistive Plate Chambers operated with new, eco-friendly gas mixtures, based on Tetrafluoropropene and carbon dioxide, are shown and discussed in this paper. Tests aimed to assess the performance of this kind of detectors in high-irradiation conditions, analogous to the ones foreseen for the coming years at the Large Hadron Collider experiments, were performed, and demonstrate a performance basically similar to the one obtained with the gas mixtures currently in use, based on Tetrafluoroethane, which is being progressively phased out for its possible contribution to the greenhouse effect. Long term aging tests are also being carried out, with the goal to demonstrate the possibility of using these eco-friendly gas mixtures during the whole High Luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider.Comment: Submitted to European Physical Journal C on October 24, 2023, 15 pages, 14 figure

Preliminary results on the long term operation of RPCs with eco-friendly gas mixtures under irradiation at the CERN Gamma Irradiation Facility

Since 2019 a collaboration between researchers from various institutes and experiments (i.e. ATLAS, CMS, ALICE, LHCb/SHiP and the CERN EP-DT group), has been operating several RPCs with diverse electronics, gas gap thicknesses and detector layouts at the CERN Gamma Irradiation Facility (GIF++). The studies aim at assessing the performance of RPCs when filled with new eco-friendly gas mixtures in avalanche mode and in view of evaluating possible ageing effects after long high background irradiation periods, e.g. High-Luminosity LHC phase. This challenging research is also part of a task of the European AidaInnova project. A promising eco-friendly gas identified for RPC operation is the tetrafluoruropropene (C$_{3}$H$_{2}$F$_{4}$, commercially known as HFO-1234ze) that has been studied at the CERN GIF++ in combination with different percentages of CO$_2$. Between the end of 2021 and 2022 several beam tests have been carried out to establish the performance of RPCs operated with such mixtures before starting the irradiation campaign for the ageing study. Results of these tests for different RPCs layouts and different gas mixtures, under increasing background rates are presented here, together with the preliminary outcome of the detector ageing tests

Development of a new CEDAR for kaon identification at the NA62 experiment at CERN

The NA62 experiment at CERN utilises a differential Cherenkov counter with achromatic ring focus (CEDAR) for tagging kaons within an unseparated monochromatic beam of charged hadrons. The CEDAR-H detector was developed to minimise the amount of material in the path of the beam by using hydrogen gas as the radiator medium. The detector was shown to satisfy the kaon tagging requirements in a test-beam before installation and commissioning at the experiment. The CEDAR-H performance was measured using NA62 data collected in 2023

In & about town piece on Creative Conversations, discussions on local art issu

In & about town piece on Creative Conversations, discussions on local art issues held monthly at Space Gallery in Portland. A recent meeting featured Jeff Sosnaud, co-chair of the Governor\u27s Creative Economy Council, speaking about a $25-million bond issue and about his council

Performance studies on Resistive Plate Chambers detectors operated with new environmentally friendly gas mixtures at CERN GIF++ facility

Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC) detectors are widely used at CERN LHC experiments as a muon trigger due to their excellent time resolution. They are operated with a Freon-based gas mixture containing $C_2 H_2 F_4$ and $SF_6$, both greenhouse gases (GHG) with a high Global Warming Potential (GWP) and therefore subject to European regulations aiming at reducing the GHG emissions. Alternative gases in the HydroFluoroOlefin (HFO) family have already been identified by the industry as a low GWP replacement of the $C_2 H_2 F_4$. The search of new environmental friendly gas mixtures is advisable for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, costs as well as optimize RPC performance and possible detector aging issues. The aim of this study is to characterize the RPC detector operation using low GWP gas mixtures based on HFO and compare the results with the standard gas mixture ($C_2 H_2 F_4$/$i C_4 H_{10}$/$SF_6$ - 95.2/4.5/0.3) used at the ATLAS and CMS experiments. The RPC detectors were tested in laboratory conditions and at the CERN Gamma Irradiation Facility (GIF++), which provides a high energy muon beam from the SPS combined with an intense gamma source, allowing to simulate the background radiation expected at the High Luminosity LHC Phase (HL-LHC). Firstly, several eco-friendly gas mixtures were tested on a dedicated experimental setup in laboratory. A five component gas mixture (HFO-1234ze/$C_2 H_2 F_4$/$CO_2$/$SF_6$/$i C_4 H_{10}$) was selected as a suitable candidate for its low GWP and for giving good detector performance comparable with the currently used mixture at LHC experiments. The setup was then moved to the GIF++ to validate the operation of RPC at high gamma rate with the selected gas mixture. At the GIF++, the RPC detectors were studied with different muon and gamma background rates in terms of efficiency, streamer probability, induced charge, cluster size, and rate capability. The results indicate that the use of HFO based mixtures lead to a working point shifted of 1000V towards higher voltage and a streamer probability at the efficiency knee higher than the one with the standard gas mixture. The RPC operated with the HFO based gas mixture proved to have efficiency versus rate curves comparable to the standard gas mixture, indicating a rate capability suitable for the background rate expected at HL-LHC. However, the higher streamer probability could induce long term ageing effects that are now under evaluation

in&about town piece on how, despite the death of Tony Montanaro in 2002, the C

in&about town piece on how, despite the death of Tony Montanaro in 2002, the Celebration Barn theater he created in Oxford County turns out the majority of the performing artists in Maine. Carol Brett now owns the school, which has residential space for 18, a house for faculty, an institutional kitchen, and a chef. The vision of Montanaro, a mime, remains firmly entrenched. With a schedule of Barn classes

Cross-sectoral collaborative teaching program: participation and school inclusion of students in special education

Uma equipe pedagógica que estabelece parcerias intersetoriais colaborativas tem maior possibilidade de compreender e atender as especificidades dos alunos. Os desafios da rotina escolar sugerem a promoção de um programa de ensino que deve nascer do perfil do grupo, das habilidades do aluno, do caso de ensino, das barreiras percebidas, da seleção e das contribuições dos membros que nele atuarão. Este estudo se constituiu após a implementação de um programa de ensino como apoio à participação, acesso e permanência de alunos público-alvo da Educação Especial (PAEE) na rotina escolar em uma escola privada de uma cidade da região Centro-Oeste do Estado de São Paulo. Como objetivo buscou identificar e analisar as etapas da implementação de um programa de apoio à participação de alunos PAEE. Ancorado na modalidade qualitativa, caracterizou-se como pesquisa exploratória com delineamento documental e se enquadrou como estudo de caso único. O período de coleta de dados foi de caráter retrospectivo e aconteceu de janeiro a julho de 2021. Os dados foram coletados na escola selecionada. O período analisado abrangeu do início de 2016 ao final do ano de 2019. Selecionou-se um aluno do PAEE com transtorno do espectro do autismo. Participaram como membros da equipe escolar quatro professores do ensino regular, quatro professores auxiliares, uma coordenadora do ensino regular, uma diretora pedagógica, uma coordenadora da Educação Especial e uma psicóloga. Os participantes da equipe da saúde compreenderam uma terapeuta ocupacional, uma psiquiatra, uma psicopedagoga, uma fonoaudióloga, uma psicóloga e um neurologista, além do pai e a mãe do aluno. Foram selecionados materiais de uso pessoal do aluno. Este estudo utilizou quatro instrumentos para coleta de dados: 1) Quadro para coleta das informações da escola e do aluno selecionado; 2) Folha de Relatório para descrição das etapas iniciais do programa; 3) Quadro de Registro para identificar o Acompanhamento do processo de participação do aluno; 4) Questionário para validação social, elaborado no Google Forms. O procedimento de análise se dividiu em sete momentos, contou com a elaboração de um documento único e buscou alcançar a máxima amplitude na descrição, explicação e compreensão do foco em estudo. Os temas identificados foram Organização da equipe, Caracterização do aluno, Adaptação Curricular, Avaliação e Orientação Processual do aluno pela equipe intersetorial colaborativa. Ao longo do estudo foram analisados os temas, subtemas e suas subdivisões. Os resultados revelaram que o processo educacional se constrói por diversas mãos empenhadas em reflexão, orientação e discussão, tecendo propostas que se findam quando identificam o máximo do desenvolvimento das habilidades que o aluno PAEE poderia alcançar. Conclui-se que a elaboração e a implementação de um programa de ensino precisa ser realizada por uma equipe orientada por objetivos em comum e deve ter como destaque procedimentos que afirmam e norteiam as práticas pedagógicas para uma proposta inclusiva. Este estudo assinala a importância de outras pesquisas que possam potencializar as propostas de ensino para diferentes perfis do PAEE e oferecer oportunidades de formação inicial e continuada para os professores, a fim de garantir equidade em suas práticas pedagógicas.A pedagogical team that establishes collaborative intersectoral partnerships is more likely to understand and meet the specificities of students. A teaching program must be born from the group's profile, from the student's abilities, from the teaching case, from the perceived barriers, from the selection and contributions of its members. The objective was to identify and analyze the implementation stages of a program to support the school inclusion of special needs students in a private school in a city in th western region of São Paulo State. Anchored in the qualitative modality, it was characterized as an exploratory research with a documentary design documentary and was framed as a single case study. The data collection period took place from January to July 2021 and was retrospective to the framework of the program's development and implementation. Data were collected at the selected school. The analyzed period ranged from the beginning of 2016 (beginning of elaboration and implementation) to the end of 2019. A special needs student, with autism spectrum disorder, was selected. Four regular school teachers, four mediator teachers (auxiliary and interns), a regular school coordinating teacher, a pedagogical director, a Special Education coordinating teacher and a school psychologist participated as members of the school team. The health team participants comprised: an occupational therapist, a psychiatrist, a psychopedagogue, a speech therapist, a psychologist and a neurologist. The father and mother of the student also participated. After choosing the special needs student, materials of his personal use were selected: notebooks, books and records made by members of the school team. This study used four instruments for data collection: 1) Table for collecting information about the school and the selected student; 2) Report Sheet to describe the initial stages of the program; 3) Record Chart to identify the Follow-up of the student participation process; 4) Questionnaire for social validation, prepared in Google Forms. The analysis procedure was divided into seven moments, with the elaboration of a single document and sought to achieve the maximum breadth in the description, explanation and understanding of the focus under study. The themes identified were Team Organization, Student Characterization, Curriculum Adaptation, Assessment and procedural guidance of the student by the collaborative intersectoral team. Throughout the study the themes, subthemes and their subdivisions were analyzed. The results revealed that the educational process is built by several hands engaged in reflection, guidance and discussion, weaving proposals that end when they identify the maximum development of skills that the PAEE student could achieve. In conclusions, the elaboration and implementation of a teaching program to support the participation and school inclusion of the special needs students need to be carried out by a team guided by common objectives and must highlight procedures that guide and affirm pedagogical practices for an inclusive proposal. This study highlights the importance of further research that can enhance teaching proposals for different special need students’ profiles and provide initial and ongoing training opportunities for teachers, in order to ensure equity in their pedagogical practices.Não recebi financiament

Études visant à réduire les émissions de gaz à effet serre émis par les détecteurs de particules des expériences LHC du CERN

Une large gamme de mélanges gazeux est utilisée pour le fonctionnement de différents dé-tecteurs à gaz dans les expériences LHC du CERN. Certains de ces gaz, notamment C2H2F4, CF4, SF6 et C4F10, sont classifiés parmi les gaz à effet de serre (GHG) à fort potentiel de ré-chauffement planétaire (GWP) et soumis donc à une politique de réduction progressive de leurs prix et de leur disponibilité sur le marché. Ces gaz sont responsables de 70% des émis-sions GHG directes provenant du fonctionnement du CERN. L’objectif de l’Organisation est de réduire ces émissions de 28% d’ici à la fin de 2024 (année de référence : 2018). Le présent travail montre le développement de deux stratégies de recherche définies par le groupe gaz du CERN pour réduire les émissions GHG. Dans la mesure du possible, les détecteurs de grand volume sont exploités avec des systèmes de recirculation des gaz, reu-tilisant jusqu’à 90 % de ceux-ci. Ce travail de thèse se concentre sur l’optimisation des tech-nologies de système à gaz existantes afin d’améliorer les performances d’exploitation et de permettre une réduction supplémentaire de la consommation. En particulier, des logiciels de surveillance ont été spécialement conçues pour régler correctement les parties de contrôle des différents modules des systèmes à gaz. En outre, des pipelines d’analyse de données spécifiques ont été développés pour évaluer la performance d’un système à gaz et pour sur-veiller les consommations. Un deuxième axe de recherche examiné dans ce travail consiste en l’étude des performances des détecteurs RPC avec l’utilisation de gaz alternatifs. Les RPCs des expériences ATLAS et CMS fonctionnent actuellement avec un mélange gazeux à trois composants, principalement basé sur le C2H2F4 (GWP100 = 1430), environ 5 % de i-C4H10, et de 0,3 % de SF6 (GWP100 = 22800). En raison de la présence de fuites au niveau des détecteurs, le C2H2F4 domine l’ensemble des émissions GHG du CERN. Une alternative à ce gaz pourrait-être le R-1234ze, une molécule appartenant à la famille des Hydro-Fluoro-Olefins (HFO) avec un GWP100 de 7, tandis que des alternatives au SF6 ont été trouvées parmi les gaz de la famille Novec (Novec™ 4710 et Novec™ 5110), C4F8O, CF3I et Amolea™ 1224yd. Les performances des RPC avec des mélanges de gaz basés sur des gaz alternatifs ont d’abord été évaluées en laboratoire en étudiant l’efficacité du détecteur, les courants, la probabilité de formation de streamers, la charge, la cluster size et la résolution temporelle. Quelques mélanges de gaz sélectionnés ont ensuite été testés dans la Gamma Irradiation Facility du CERN qui fournit un faisceau de muons et un rayonnement gamma de fond, permettant de simuler les conditions de rayonnement du HL-LHC. Quelques mélanges ga-zeux ont montré des performances similaires en termes de rate de détection par rapport au mélange standard. Des études de performance à long terme ont été lancées et des études préliminaires sur la production d’impuretés dans les mélanges gazeux à base de HFO sont présentées dans ce travail, mettant en évidence que la molécule R-1234ze produit environ dix fois plus d’ions F- que la molécule C2H2F4.A wide range of gas mixtures is used to operate different gaseous detectors at the CERN LHC experiments. Some of these gases, namely C2H2F4, CF4, SF6, C4F10, are classified as Greenhouse Gases (GHG) with a high Global Warming Potential, therefore subjected to a phase-down policy affecting their price and market availability. These gases are respon-sible for 70% of CERN particle detector operation’s direct greenhouse gas emissions. The Organisation’s objective is to reduce such emissions by 28% by the end of 2024 (baseline year: 2018). The present work shows the development of two main research strategies delineated by the CERN gas group to reduce GHG emissions. Wherever suitable, large detector volumes are operated with recirculating gas systems. The first part of this thesis focuses on optimizing existing gas system technologies to improve operating performances and further reduce gas consumption. In particular, dedicated monitoring infrastructures were designed to properly tune the active control parts of the different gas modules. Fur-thermore, specific data analysis pipelines were developed to evaluate a gas system’s per-formance and monitor gas consumption. A second research line examined in this work consisted of studying the performance of RPC detectors operated with eco-friendly gases. RPCs at ATLAS and CMS experiments are operated with a three-component gas mixture mainly based on C2H2F4 (R-134a, GWP100 = 1430), around 5% of i-C4H10, and a minor frac-tion of 0.3% of SF6 (GWP100 = 22800). Due to the presence of leaks at the detector level, C2H2F4 dominates the overall CERN GHG emissions. Alternatives to C2H2F4 were identi-fied in R-1234ze, a molecule in the family of HydroFluoroOlefins with a GWP100 = 7, while SF6 alternatives were found in the Novec family (Novec™ 4710 and Novec™ 5110), C4F8O, CF3I, and Amolea™ 1224yd. RPC performance with gas mixtures based on alternative gases was firstly evaluated in laboratory conditions by studying the detector’s efficiency, currents, streamer probability, prompt charge, cluster size, and time resolution. Few selected gas mix-tures were then tested at the Gamma Irradiation Facility, which provides muon beam and gamma background radiation, allowing to emulate the High Luminosity LHC background conditions. Few gas mixtures showed similar rate capability performance with respect to the standard gas mixture. Long-term performance studies were started, and preliminary studies on impurities productions for HFO-based gas mixtures are presented, showing the R-1234ze molecule produces an order of magnitude more F− ions than the C2H2F4 one

Studies to reduce greenhouse gases emissions from particles detectors operation at the CERN LHC experiments

A wide range of gas mixtures is used to operate different gaseous detectors at the CERN LHC experiments. Some of these gases, namely C$_2$H$_2$F$_4$, CF$_4$, SF$_6$, C$_4$F$_{10}$, are classified as Greenhouse Gases (GHG) with a high Global Warming Potential, therefore subjected to a phase-down policy affecting their price and market availability. These gases are responsible for 70\% of CERN particle detector operation’s direct greenhouse gas emissions. The Organisation’s objective is to reduce such emissions by 28\% by the end of 2024 (baseline year: 2018). The present work shows the development of two main research strategies delineated by the CERN gas group to reduce GHG emissions. Wherever suitable, large detector volumes are operated with recirculating gas systems. The first part of this thesis focuses on optimizing existing gas system technologies to improve operating performances and further reduce gas consumption. In particular, dedicated monitoring infrastructures were designed to properly tune the active control parts of the different gas modules. Furthermore, specific data analysis pipelines were developed to evaluate a gas system’s performance and monitor gas consumption. A second research line examined in this work consisted of studying the performance of RPC detectors operated with eco-friendly gases. RPCs at ATLAS and CMS experiments are operated with a three-component gas mixture mainly based on C$_2$H$_2$F$_4$ (R-134a, GWP$_{100}$ = 1430), around 5\% of \isobutane, and a minor fraction of 0.3\% of SF$_6$ (GWP$_{100}$ = 22800). Due to the presence of leaks at the detector level, C$_2$H$_2$F$_4$ dominates the overall CERN GHG emissions. Alternatives to C$_2$H$_2$F$_4$ were identified in R-1234ze, a molecule in the family of HydroFluoroOlefins with a GWP$_{100}$ = 7, while SF$_6$ alternatives were found in the Novec family (Novec™ 4710 and Novec™ 5110), C$_4$F$_8$O, CF$_3$I, and Amolea™ 1224yd. RPC performance with gas mixtures based on alternative gases was firstly evaluated in laboratory conditions by studying the detector’s efficiency, currents, streamer probability, prompt charge, cluster size, and time resolution. Few selected gas mixtures were then tested at the Gamma Irradiation Facility, which provides muon beam and gamma background radiation, allowing to emulate the High Luminosity LHC background conditions. Few gas mixtures showed similar rate capability performance with respect to the standard gas mixture. Long-term performance studies were started, and preliminary studies on impurities productions for HFO-based gas mixtures are presented, showing the R-1234ze molecule produces an order of magnitude more F$^{-}$ ions than the C$_2$H$_2$F$_4$ one

Études visant à réduire les émissions de gaz à effet serre émis par les détecteurs de particules des expériences LHC du CERN

A wide range of gas mixtures is used to operate different gaseous detectors at the CERN LHC experiments. Some of these gases, namely C2H2F4, CF4, SF6, C4F10, are classified as Greenhouse Gases (GHG) with a high Global Warming Potential, therefore subjected to a phase-down policy affecting their price and market availability. These gases are respon-sible for 70% of CERN particle detector operation’s direct greenhouse gas emissions. The Organisation’s objective is to reduce such emissions by 28% by the end of 2024 (baseline year: 2018). The present work shows the development of two main research strategies delineated by the CERN gas group to reduce GHG emissions. Wherever suitable, large detector volumes are operated with recirculating gas systems. The first part of this thesis focuses on optimizing existing gas system technologies to improve operating performances and further reduce gas consumption. In particular, dedicated monitoring infrastructures were designed to properly tune the active control parts of the different gas modules. Fur-thermore, specific data analysis pipelines were developed to evaluate a gas system’s per-formance and monitor gas consumption. A second research line examined in this work consisted of studying the performance of RPC detectors operated with eco-friendly gases. RPCs at ATLAS and CMS experiments are operated with a three-component gas mixture mainly based on C2H2F4 (R-134a, GWP100 = 1430), around 5% of i-C4H10, and a minor frac-tion of 0.3% of SF6 (GWP100 = 22800). Due to the presence of leaks at the detector level, C2H2F4 dominates the overall CERN GHG emissions. Alternatives to C2H2F4 were identi-fied in R-1234ze, a molecule in the family of HydroFluoroOlefins with a GWP100 = 7, while SF6 alternatives were found in the Novec family (Novec™ 4710 and Novec™ 5110), C4F8O, CF3I, and Amolea™ 1224yd. RPC performance with gas mixtures based on alternative gases was firstly evaluated in laboratory conditions by studying the detector’s efficiency, currents, streamer probability, prompt charge, cluster size, and time resolution. Few selected gas mix-tures were then tested at the Gamma Irradiation Facility, which provides muon beam and gamma background radiation, allowing to emulate the High Luminosity LHC background conditions. Few gas mixtures showed similar rate capability performance with respect to the standard gas mixture. Long-term performance studies were started, and preliminary studies on impurities productions for HFO-based gas mixtures are presented, showing the R-1234ze molecule produces an order of magnitude more F− ions than the C2H2F4 one.Une large gamme de mélanges gazeux est utilisée pour le fonctionnement de différents dé-tecteurs à gaz dans les expériences LHC du CERN. Certains de ces gaz, notamment C2H2F4, CF4, SF6 et C4F10, sont classifiés parmi les gaz à effet de serre (GHG) à fort potentiel de ré-chauffement planétaire (GWP) et soumis donc à une politique de réduction progressive de leurs prix et de leur disponibilité sur le marché. Ces gaz sont responsables de 70% des émis-sions GHG directes provenant du fonctionnement du CERN. L’objectif de l’Organisation est de réduire ces émissions de 28% d’ici à la fin de 2024 (année de référence : 2018). Le présent travail montre le développement de deux stratégies de recherche définies par le groupe gaz du CERN pour réduire les émissions GHG. Dans la mesure du possible, les détecteurs de grand volume sont exploités avec des systèmes de recirculation des gaz, reu-tilisant jusqu’à 90 % de ceux-ci. Ce travail de thèse se concentre sur l’optimisation des tech-nologies de système à gaz existantes afin d’améliorer les performances d’exploitation et de permettre une réduction supplémentaire de la consommation. En particulier, des logiciels de surveillance ont été spécialement conçues pour régler correctement les parties de contrôle des différents modules des systèmes à gaz. En outre, des pipelines d’analyse de données spécifiques ont été développés pour évaluer la performance d’un système à gaz et pour sur-veiller les consommations. Un deuxième axe de recherche examiné dans ce travail consiste en l’étude des performances des détecteurs RPC avec l’utilisation de gaz alternatifs. Les RPCs des expériences ATLAS et CMS fonctionnent actuellement avec un mélange gazeux à trois composants, principalement basé sur le C2H2F4 (GWP100 = 1430), environ 5 % de i-C4H10, et de 0,3 % de SF6 (GWP100 = 22800). En raison de la présence de fuites au niveau des détecteurs, le C2H2F4 domine l’ensemble des émissions GHG du CERN. Une alternative à ce gaz pourrait-être le R-1234ze, une molécule appartenant à la famille des Hydro-Fluoro-Olefins (HFO) avec un GWP100 de 7, tandis que des alternatives au SF6 ont été trouvées parmi les gaz de la famille Novec (Novec™ 4710 et Novec™ 5110), C4F8O, CF3I et Amolea™ 1224yd. Les performances des RPC avec des mélanges de gaz basés sur des gaz alternatifs ont d’abord été évaluées en laboratoire en étudiant l’efficacité du détecteur, les courants, la probabilité de formation de streamers, la charge, la cluster size et la résolution temporelle. Quelques mélanges de gaz sélectionnés ont ensuite été testés dans la Gamma Irradiation Facility du CERN qui fournit un faisceau de muons et un rayonnement gamma de fond, permettant de simuler les conditions de rayonnement du HL-LHC. Quelques mélanges ga-zeux ont montré des performances similaires en termes de rate de détection par rapport au mélange standard. Des études de performance à long terme ont été lancées et des études préliminaires sur la production d’impuretés dans les mélanges gazeux à base de HFO sont présentées dans ce travail, mettant en évidence que la molécule R-1234ze produit environ dix fois plus d’ions F- que la molécule C2H2F4