Progress in end-to-end optimization of fundamental physics experimental apparata with differentiable programming

In this article we examine recent developments in the research area concerning the creation of end-to-end models for the complete optimization of measuring instruments. The models we consider rely on differentiable programming methods and on the specification of a software pipeline including all factors impacting performance — from the data-generating processes to their reconstruction and the inference on the parameters of interest — along with the careful specification of a utility function well aligned with the end goals of the experiment. Building on previous studies originated within the MODE Collaboration, we focus specifically on applications involving instruments for particle physics experimentation, as well as industrial and medical applications that share the detection of radiation as their data-generating mechanism. This report illustrates the most recent advancements in the area, and outlines, for each of the discussed applications as well as for automatic differentiation itself, ongoing and future work.</p

Performance of the electromagnetic and hadronic prototype segments of the ALICE Forward Calorimeter

We present the performance of a full-length prototype of the ALICE Forward Calorimeter (FoCal). The detector is composed of a silicon-tungsten electromagnetic sampling calorimeter with longitudinal and transverse segmentation (FoCal-E) of about 20$X_0$ and a hadronic copper-scintillating-fiber calorimeter (FoCal-H) of about 5$\lambda_{\rm int}$. The data were taken between 2021 and 2023 at the CERN PS and SPS beam lines with hadron (electron) beams up to energies of 350 (300) GeV. Regarding FoCal-E, we report a comprehensive analysis of its response to minimum ionizing particles across all pad layers. The longitudinal shower profile of electromagnetic showers is measured with a layer-wise segmentation of 1$X_0$. As a projection to the performance of the final detector in electromagnetic showers, we demonstrate linearity in the full energy range, and show that the energy resolution fulfills the requirements for the physics needs. Additionally, the performance to separate two-showers events was studied by quantifying the transverse shower width. Regarding FoCal-H, we report a detailed analysis of the response to hadron beams between 60 and 350 GeV. The results are compared to simulations obtained with a Geant4 model of the test beam setup, which in particular for FoCal-E are in good agreement with the data. The energy resolution of FoCal-E was found to be lower than 3% at energies larger than 100 GeV. The response of FoCal-H to hadron beams was found to be linear, albeit with a significant intercept that is about factor 2 larger than in simulations. Its resolution, which is non-Gaussian and generally larger than in simulations, was quantified using the FWHM, and decreases from about 16% at 100 GeV to about 11% at 350 GeV. The discrepancy to simulations, which is particularly evident at low hadron energies, needs to be further investigated.Comment: 55 pages (without acronyms), 45 captioned figure

The Bergen proton CT system

The Bergen proton Computed Tomography (pCT) is a prototype detector under construction. It aims to have the capability to track and measure ions’ energy deposition to minimize uncertainty in proton treatment planning. It is a high granularity digital tracking calorimeter, where the first two layers will act as tracking layers to obtain positional information of the incoming particle. The remainder of the detector will act as a calorimeter. Beam tests have been performed with multiple beams. These tests have shown that the ALPIDE chip sensor can measure the deposited energy, making it possible for the sensors to distinguish between the tracks in the Digital Tracking Calorimeter (DTC)

Energetic and kinetic investigation of thermally induced molecular rearrangements of esters of (hydroxymethyl)hydridosilanes by DSC

No abstract availabl

Sila-Procyclidin: Eine neue Synthese sowie Untersuchungen zur peripheren und zentralen anticholinergen Wirkung

Sila-Procyclidin (1 b) sowie dessen Derivate 2b (Sila-Tribexyphenidyl), 3b und 4b (Sila-Cycrimin) wurden - ausgehend von Cl$_3$SiCH$_2$Cl - durch eine neue, sechsstufige Synthese mit einer Gesamtausbeute von 16 (lb), t9 (2b), 8 (3b) bzw. 7% (4b) dar· gestellt. - Vergleichende in-vivo-Untcrsuchungen (Maus, per-osApplikation) hinsichtlich der peripheren und zentralen auticholincrgen Wirkung haben gezeigt, daß die Silicium-Verbindung 1 b dem Kohlenstoff-Analogon Ia (Procyclidin) überlegen ist.Starting with Cl$_3$SiCH$_2$Cl. sila-procycUdine (I b) as well as its derivatives 2b (sila-trihexyphenidyl), 3b, and 4b (sila-cycrimine) were prepared by a new six-step synthesis witb a total yield of 16 (lb), 19 (2b), 8 (31) aud 7% (4b), respectively. - Comparative in vivo investigations (mice per os administration) with respect to the peripheral and centrat anticholinergic activity bavc shown that the silicon compound 1 b is advantageous over the c:arbon aualogue t a (procyclidine)

Esters of (Hydroxymethyl)diorganylsllanes: Synthesis and Thermally Induced Rearrangement

Twenty silanes of the type R$^1$R$^2$Si(H)CH$_2$OR$^3$ (A) were syn- and entropy of activation) of these reactions were studied by thesized {R$^1$, R$^2$ = Me, Ph, 1-naphthyl, PhCH$_2$, Me$_3$SiCH$_2$; OR$^3$ means of düferential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In addition, = OC(O)Me, OC(O)Ph, OC(O)CF$_3$ , OS(0)$_2$CF$_3$, OP(O)Ph$_2$, the kinetics of all reactions were investigated by 1H-NMR OC(O)Cl, and studied for their thermal behaviour. The silanes spectroscopy. The transition state of the rearrangement was A undergo a thermally induced rearrangement to give the investigated by an ab initio study based on the model comcorresponding silanes R$^1$R$^2$Si(OR$^3$)Me (B). For compounds with pound H$_3$SiCH$_2$OC(O)H (-> MeH$_2$SiOC(O)H]. The theoretical OR3 = OC(O)Cl, an additional decarboxylation takes place to data and the experimentally obtained energetic and kinetic yield the chlorosilanes R1R2Si(Cl)Me. Except for the deriva- data are discussed in terms of mechanistic aspects of the retives with OR$^3$ = OC(O)Cl, the energetic (reaction enthalpy) arrangement reaction A -> B. and kinetic data (reaction order, frequency factor, enthalpy ..