119372630
Linear perturbative theory of the discrete cosmological N-body problem
We present a perturbative treatment of the evolution under their mutual self-gravity of particles displaced off an infinite perfect lattice, both for a static space and for a homogeneously expanding space as in cosmological N-body simulations. The treatment, analogous to that of perturbations to a crystal in solid state physics, can be seen as a discrete (i.e. particle) generalization of the perturbative solution in the Lagrangian formalism of a self-gravitating fluid. Working to linear order, we show explicitly that this fluid evolution is recovered in the limit that the initial perturbations are restricted to modes of wavelength much larger than the lattice spacing. The full spectrum of eigenvalues of the simxple cubic lattice contains both oscillatory modes and unstable modes which grow slightly faster than in the fluid limit. A detailed comparison of our perturbative treatment, at linear order, with full numerical simulations is presented, for two very different classes of initial perturbation spectra. We find that the range of validity is similar to that of the perturbative fluid approximation (i.e. up to close to ''shell-crossing''), but that the accuracy in tracing the evolution is superior. The formalism provides a powerful tool to systematically calculate discreteness effects at early timesmore » in cosmological N-body simulations.« less
119390803
Statistical Physics for Cosmic Structures
The recent observations of galaxy and dark matter clumpy distributions have provided new elements to the understanding of the problem of cosmological structure formation. The strong clumping characterizing galaxy structures seems to be present in the overall mass distribution and its relation to the highly isotropic Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation represents a fundamental problem. The extension of structures, the formation of power-law correlations characterizing the strongly clustered regime and the relation between dark and visible matter are the key problems both from an observational and a theoretical point of view. We discuss recent progresses in the studies of structure formation by using concepts and methods of statistical physics.
15688477
Scaling and fluctuations in galaxy distribution: two tests to probe large scale structures
We present a brief introduction to the statistical properties of systems with large fluctuations. We point out that for such systems the relevant statistical quantities are scaling exponents and the nature of fluctuations is completely different from the one belonging to system with small fluctuations. We then propose two test to be performed on galaxy counts data as a function of apparent magnitude, which may clarify in a direct way the nature of the large scale galaxy clustering
33621420
Point processes and stochastic displacement fields.
The effect of a stochastic displacement field on a statistically independent point process is analyzed. Stochastic displacement fields can be divided into two large classes: spatially correlated and uncorrelated. For both cases exact transformation equations for the two-point correlation function and the power spectrum of the point process are found, and a detailed study of them with important paradigmatic examples is done. The results are general and in any dimension. Particular attention is devoted to the kind of large-scale correlations that can be introduced by the displacement field and to the realizability of arbitrary "superhomogeneous" point processes.
9116544
Gravitational dynamics of an infinite shuffled lattice: Particle coarse-graining, nonlinear clustering, and the continuum limit.
We study the evolution under their self-gravity of particles evolving from infinite "shuffled lattice" initial conditions. We focus here specifically on the comparison between the evolution of such a system and that of "daughter" coarse-grained particle distributions. These are sparser (i.e., lower density) particle distributions, defined by a simple coarse-graining procedure, which share the same large-scale mass fluctuations. We consider both the case that such coarse-grainings are performed (i) on the initial conditions, and (ii) at a finite time with a specific additional prescription. In numerical simulations we observe that, to a first approximation, these coarse-grainings represent well the evolution of the two-point correlation properties over a significant range of scales. We note, in particular, that the form of the two-point correlation function in the original system, when it is evolving in the asymptotic "self-similar" regime, may be reproduced well in a daughter coarse-grained system in which the dynamics are still dominated by two-body (nearest neighbor) interactions. This provides a simple physical description of the origin of the form of part of the asymptotic nonlinear correlation function. Using analytical results on the early time evolution of these systems, however, we show that small observed differences between the evolved system and its coarse-grainings at the initial time will in fact diverge as the ratio of the coarse-graining scale to the original interparticle distance increases. The second coarse-graining studied, performed at a finite time in a specified manner, circumvents this problem. It also makes it more physically transparent why gravitational dynamics from these initial conditions tends toward a self-similar evolution. We finally discuss the precise definition of a limit in which a continuum (specifically Vlasov-type) description of the observed linear and nonlinear evolution should be applicable. This requires the introduction of an additional intrinsic length scale (e.g., a physical smoothing in the force at small scales), which is kept fixed as the particle density diverges. In this limit the different coarse-grainings are equivalent and leave the evolution of the "mother" system invariant.
14013791
Initial Conditions, Discreteness and Non-Linear Structure Formation in Cosmology
In this lecture we address three different but related aspects of the initial continuous fluctuation field in standard cosmological models. Firstly we discuss the properties of the so-called Harrison-Zeldovich like spectra. This power spectrum is a fundamental feature of all current standard cosmological models. In a simple classification of all stationary stochastic processes into three categories, we highlight with the name “super- homogeneous” the properties of the class to which models like this, with P(0) = 0, belong. In statistical physics language they are well described as glass-like. Secondly, the initial continuous density field with such small amplitude correlated Gaussian fluctuations must be discretised in order to set up the initial particle distribution used in gravitational N-body simulations. We discuss the main issues related to the effects of discretisation, particularly concerning the effect of particle induced fluctuations on the statistical properties of the initial conditions and on the dynamical evolution of gravitational clustering.
111132370
Recent developments in 130 nm CMOS monolithic active pixel detectors
We developed monolithic active pixel detectors, by exploiting the triple well option available in a deep-submicron CMOS process. The novel features are the full analog signal processing and digital functionality implemented at the pixel level. The charge collecting element is realized using the deep N-well (DNW), the full in-pixel signal processing chain includes charge preamplifier, shaper, discriminator and latch. We report on the characterization of the two prototype chips, the first (APSEL0) containing single-channel sensors, with different collecting electrode area, and the latter (APSEL1) with several single pixel structures with improved noise figure implementing also an 8 × 8 matrix of 50 × 50 μm 2 pixel area. So far, the pixel matrix has a simple row by row readout, successfully tested with clock frequency up to 30 MHz. The response of the sensors to infra-red laser, β -rays and soft X-rays (from radioactive sources, 90 Sr and 55 Fe respectively) will be presented. The results achieved so far demonstrate the viability of the technology and suggest new design improvements implemented in the next prototype chips submission (APSEL2).
110682003
High efficiency readout circuits for large matrices of pixels
Abstract In future collider experiments the increasing luminosity and center of mass energy are rising challenges in the research field of tracking systems where it is crucial to have very fast sensors with efficient readout in order to sustain the high particle flux. In this context we propose a high-efficiency digital readout architecture for large binary pixel matrices that is meant to cope with high hit-rates, up to 100 MHz/cm 2 , foreseen in the innermost tracker layer of the new generation particle accelerators. We modelled and designed several readout circuits to be integrated in the periphery of hybrid detectors. In this work we focus on a particular solution, to be interconnected to a 200 × 256 ‐ pixel matrix covering an area of 1.3 cm 2 . The hits are latched at pixel level, and the matrix provides a digital interface to the peripheral digital readout. The architecture is highly paralleled in order to reduce the pixels dead time introduced by readout which can be operated in data-push or triggered mode. In addition, a cluster compression algorithm, exploiting also the time sorted hit extraction, has been developed to reduce the output bandwidth. The architecture has been modelled in a hardware description language, to be synthesized in a net-list of foundry standard-cells. A Monte Carlo hit generator has been attached to simulations to evaluate the readout efficiency, both in data-push and triggered working mode. Simulation results will be presented, pointing out beside the efficiency results, the benefits introduced by the compression algorithm.
110590916
NEMO: Status of the Project
The activities towards the realisation of a km 3 Cherenkov neutrino detector, carried out by the NEMO Collaboration are described. Long term exploration of a 3500 m deep site close to the Sicilian coast has shown that it is optimal for the installation of the detector. A complete feasibility study, that has considered all the components of the detector as well as its deployment, has been carried out demonstrating that technological solutions exist for the realization of an underwater km 3 detector. The realization of a technological demonstrator (the NEMO Phase 1 project) is under way.
122993753
Recent results and perspectives of the NEMO project
Abstract The latest results and the activities towards the realization of a km 3 Cherenkov neutrino detector carried out by the NEMO Collaboration are described. The realization of a Phase-1 project has validated all relevant technologies proposed for the realization of the km 3 detector on a test site at 2000 m depth. The realization of a new infrastructure on the candidate Capo Passero site (for Phase-2 project) will provide the possibility to test detector components at 3500 m depth.
61680556
Realization and test of a 0.25$\mu$m rad-hard chip for ALICE ITS data acquisition chain