The measurement of physics processes at new energy frontier experiments requires excellent spatial, time, and energy resolutions to resolve the structure of collimated high-energy jets. In a future Muon Collider, the beam-induced backgrounds (BIB) represent the main challenge in the design of the detectors and of the event reconstruction algorithms. The technology and the design of the calorimeters should be chosen to reduce the effect of the BIB, while keeping good physics performance. Several requirements can be inferred: i) high granularity to reduce the overlap of BIB particles in the same calorimeter cell; ii) excellent timing (of the order of 100 ps) to reduce the out-of-time component of the BIB; iii) longitudinal segmentation to distinguish the signal showers from the fake showers produced by the BIB; iv) good energy resolution (less than 10%/√E) to obtain good physics performance, as has been already demonstrated for conceptual particle flow calorimeters. Our proposal consists of a semi-homogeneous electromagnetic calorimeter based on lead fluoride crystals (PbF₂) read out by surface-mount UV-extended Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs): the Crilin calorimeter. In this paper, the performance of the Crilin calorimeter in the Muon Collider framework for hadron jets reconstruction has been analyzed. We report the characterisation of individual components together with the development of a small-scale prototype, consisting of 2 layers of 3 × 3 crystals each.

San Nicola in Carcere, one of the minor basilicas in the historical center of Rome, was the location of a wide investigation campaign of the water-related deterioration causes, present in the lower sector of the apse and adjacent pillars, affected by water infiltrations, mould and salt efflorescence. The results obtained identify the presence of water content and related effects mainly on the sides of the apsidal wall. This work focuses on the use of five Non-Destructive Techniques (NDT) and intends to show the gains obtained by integrating widely interdisciplinary methods, namely the Infrared Thermography (IRT), the Unilateral Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (Unilateral NMR), the Acoustic Tomography (AT), the Acoustic Imaging (AI) and the Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF). All the techniques contribute to the rapid, non-invasive and early identification of the moisture distribution, while some of them (LIF and AI) also address the determination of some moisture effects. The integrated use of different techniques helps to take the multidisciplinary point of view necessary to formulate an effective restoration intervention based on a sound scientific rationale; nonetheless, it allows to experiment a holistic approach, verifying the potential of a wide range of NDTs available within the context of a restoration yard.

IR Reflectography applied to the identification of hidden details of paintings is extremely useful for authentication purposes and for revealing technical hidden features. Recently, multispectral imaging has replaced traditional imaging techniques thanks to the possibility to select specific spectral ranges bringing out interesting details of the paintings. VIS–NIR–SWIR images of one of the The Drunkenness of Noah versions painted by Andrea Sacchi, acquired with a modified reflex and InGaAs cameras, are presented in this research. Starting from multispectral images we performed post-processing analysis, using visible and infrared false-color images and principal component analysis (PCA) in order to highlight pentimenti and underdrawings. Radiography was performed in some areas to better investigate the inner pictorial layers. This study represents the first published scientific investigation of The Drunkenness of Noah’s artistic production, painted by Andrea Sacchi.

Here, we describe an innovative Integrated Laser Sensor (ILS) that combines four spectroscopic techniques and two vision systems into a unique, transportable device. The instrument performs Raman and Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy excited at 355 nm and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) excited at 1064 nm, and it also detects Laser Scattering (LS) from the target under illumination at 650 nm. The combination of these techniques supplies information about: material change from one scanning point to another, the presence of surface contaminants, the molecular and elemental composition of top target layers. Switching between the spectroscopic techniques and the laser wavelengths is fully automatic. The instrument is equipped with an autofocus and it performs scanning with a chosen grid density over an interactively-selected target area. Alternative to the spectroscopic measurements, it is possible to switch the instrument to a high magnification target viewing. The working distances tested until now are between 8.5 and 30 m. The instrument is self-powered and remotely controlled via wireless communication. The ILS has been fully developed at ENEA for security applications and it was successfully tested in two outdoor campaigns where an automatic recognition of areas containing explosives in traces had been implemented. The strategies for the identification of nitro-compounds placed on various substrates as fingerprints and the results obtained at a working distance of 10 m are discussed in the following.

A new Raman-based apparatus for proximal detection of energetic materials on people, was developed and tested for the first time. All the optical and optoelectronics components of the apparatus, as well as their optical matching, were carefully chosen and designed to respect international eye-safety regulations. In this way, the apparatus is suitable for civil applications on people in public areas such as airports and metro or railway stations. The acquisition software performs the data analysis in real-time to provide a fast response to the operator. Moreover, it allows for deployment of the apparatus either as a stand alone device or as part of a more sophisticated warning system architecture made up of several sensors. Using polyamide as substrate, the apparatus was able to detect surface densities of ammonium nitrate (AN), 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNT), 3-nitrooxy-2,2-bis(nitrooxymethyl)propyl] nitrate (PETN) and urea nitrate (UN) in the range of 100–1000 μg/cm² at a distance of 6.4 m using each time a single laser pulse of 3 mJ/cm². The limit of detection calculated for AN is 289 μg/cm². AN and UN provided the highest percentages of true positives (>82% for surface densities of 100–400 μg/cm² and fingerprints) followed by TNT and PETN (17%–70% for surface densities of 400–1000 μg/cm² and fingerprints).