Data for the angular distribution of the inclusive 7 Be production cross section in the 8 B + 208 Pb system at an incident energy of 50 MeV, equivalent to the nominal Coulomb barrier height, were measured at the CRIB facility. A coupled discretized continuum channel calculation was able to describe the data well, with no evidence for a significant contribution from nonelastic breakup. The energy dependence of the breakup cross section was investigated with the aid of previous measurements of the inclusive 7 Be production cross section for the same system at a deep sub-barrier energy and at approximately four times the Coulomb barrier. We infer an increasing importance of nonelastic breakup as the incident energy is increased above the barrier, ruling out proton-stripping as a possible mechanism for this process due to the increasingly badly Q-matched character of this transfer reaction as the incident energy increases.

CSES-01 (China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite) is a space mission dedicated to the study of the ionospheric environment, searching for disturbances that can be correlated to seismic activity. For this reason, the satellite is equipped with several instruments to monitor various physical parameters including the Earth's electric and magnetic field, ionospheric plasma principal parameters (i.e. density, temperature, and ions composition) and high energy particle flux fluctuations. The High Energy Particle Detector (HEPD), built by the Italian CSES-Limadou collaboration, is designed to detect mostly electrons in the energy range between 3 MeV and 100 MeV and protons in the energy range between 30 MeV and 300 MeV. The detector is composed of a tracking system, a segmented layer of plastic scintillator (used for the trigger), a range calorimeter and a veto system. After CSES-01 launch (February 2, 2018), the apparatus underwent the commissioning phase where its configuration was adjusted in order to guarantee optimal operational conditions in the space environment. Now the satellite is in stable data-taking mode. In this work a description of the HEPD detector will be reported, focusing on the results of the electron and proton test beam calibrations. In addition, a particular relevance will be given to the presentation of the HEPD in-flight performance, such as its good capability in particle identification. The high statistic collected by HEPD, thanks to its large acceptance window, makes it perfectly suitable for the investigation of fluctuations in the charged particle fluxes.

CSES (China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite) is a Chinese-Italian scientific space mission dedicated to monitor the variations of the main parameters of the topside ionosphere (electric and magnetic fields, plasma parameters, charge particle fluxes) caused by either natural emitters - especially earthquakes - or artificial ones. The CSES satellite was successfully launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center located in the west of Inner Mongolia on February 2nd, 2018, and it is now orbiting under nominal conditions. The expected mission lifetime amounts to 5 years. CSES is the first element of a multi-satellite monitoring system; several satellites are scheduled for the next few years. The High-Energy Particle Detector (HEPD) is the main contribution of the Italian collaboration to the mission. It was designed and built in order to detect electrons in the energy range between 3 and 100 MeV, protons between 30 and 200 MeV, and light nuclei in the MeV energy window. The electronics of the detector was designed following stringent requirements on mechanical and thermal stability, power consumption, radiation hardness and double redundancy. The system successfully went through the space qualification tests. In this paper, we describe the HEPD electronics, the space qualification tests performed before launch, and the in-flight performance of the detector.

CSES (China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite) is a Chinese-Italian space mission dedicated to monitoring of variations of the electromagnetic field and waves, plasma parameters, and particle fluxes induced by natural sources and artificial emitters in the near-Earth space. The satellite was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert (Inner Mongolia, China) on 2, 2018. The expected mission lifetime amounts to 5 years.

The elastic scattering process for the nuclear reactions induced by the Radioactive Ion Beams 7 Be and 8 B on a 208 Pb target was measured for the first time in the energy range around the Coulomb barrier. Extensive theoretical calculations within the framework of the optical model were performed. An excellent agreement between experimental data and theoretical predictions was achieved for the reaction 7 Be + 208 Pb, while a comprehensive understanding of the reaction dynamics induced by the more exotic projectile 8 B is still far to be reached. Predictions of the cross section for the breakup for both systems will also be given.

The High-Energy Particle Detector (HEPD) is one of the payloads of the CSES space mission. The HEPD is built by the Italian Limadou collaboration and has different goals. It will study the temporal stability of the inner Van Allen radiation belts, the precipitation of trapped particles in the atmosphere and the low energy component of the cosmic rays (5-100 MeV for electrons and 15 - 300 MeV for protons). It has been tested at the Beam Test Facility of the INFN National Laboratory of Frascati, for electrons, and at the Proton Cyclotron of Trento, for protons. Here is presented a study of the performance of the apparatus to separate electrons and protons and identify nuclei up to iron.

The elastic scattering of the weakly bound radioactive nuclei B-8 and Be-7 from a Pb-208 target was measured for the first time in the energy range around the Coulomb barrier. The data were analyzed using the optical model and the continuum discretized coupled channels (CDCC) formalisms. The reaction cross sections extracted from the optical model fits clearly indicate a remarkably enhanced reaction probability for the very weakly bound B-8 (S-p = 137.5 keV) compared to similar mass nuclei interacting with the same target nucleus. CDCC calculations assuming a He-3+He-4 cluster model well described the Be-7 experimental elastic scattering angular distributions, whereas the use of a Be-7+p cluster model of B-8 with an inert Be-7 core gave a relatively poor description of the corresponding experimental data, suggesting that this model may be too simplistic and the possibility of core excitation should not be ignored.

CSES-01 (China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite) is a mission developed by CNSA (Chinese National Space Administration) and ASI (Italian Space Agency) to investigate the near-Earth electromagnetic, plasma and particle environment, focusing on the disturbances of the ionosphere-magnetosphere transition region. In this framework, the Italian High Energy Particle Detector (HEPD) on board CSES-01, is an advanced detector based on a tower of scintillators and a silicon tracker that provide good energy resolution as well as a wide angular acceptance for electrons of 3-100 MeV, protons of 30-200 MeV and light nuclei (up to Oxygen). The very good capabilities in both detection and discrimination of particles make the detector well suited for space-weather purposes; indeed HEPD is able to continuously monitor the magnetospheric environment with high precision and stability in time. Turbulent conditions in the near-Earth environment translate into modification of particles and magnetic/electric measurements at different time-scales. In this work, the data-analysis techniques and some preliminary results concerning the study of different proton populations encountered along CSES-01 orbit (galactic cosmic rays, re-entrant albedo etc.) are presented.

The China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) aims to monitor electromagnetic, particle, and plasma perturbations in the iono-magnetosphere and inner Van Allen radiation belts originated by electromagnetic sources external and internal to the geomagnetic cavity, cosmic rays, and solar events. In particular, the objective of the space mission is to investigate lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling mechanisms (including the effects of lightning, earthquakes, volcanoes, and artificial electromagnetic emissions) that induce perturbations of the top side of the ionosphere and lower boundary of the radiation belts. To this purpose, the mission has been conceived to take advantage of a multi-instrument payload comprising nine detectors for the measurement of electromagnetic field components, plasma parameters, and energetic particles, as well as X-ray flux. The Italian team participating in the CSES mission has built one of these devices, the High-Energy Particle Detector (HEPD), for high-precision observations of electrons, protons, and light nuclei. During its trip along the orbit, and thanks to the large set of detectors operated on board, CSES completely monitors the Earth, acting as an excellent instrument for space weather. The satellite was launched on 2018 February 2, with an expected life span of 5 yr. This article describes the CSES mission with a particular focus on the HEPD apparatus and its in-flight performance.

ALPIDE, a monolithic active pixel sensor developed for the ALIDE Inner Tracker upgrade, is studied as possible sensor unit for a space-borne particle tracker. The aspect of power consumption and heat dissipation is investigated.

We investigated the reaction dynamics induced by the 7Be,8B+208Pb collisions at energies around the Coulomb barrier. Charged particles originated by both the col- lisions were detected by means of 6 ΔE-Eres telescopes of a newly developed detector array. Experimental data were analysed within the framework of the Optical Model and the total reaction cross-sections were compared together and with the 6,7Li+208Pb colli-sion data. According to the preliminary results, 7Be nucleus reactivity is rather similar to the 7Li one whereas the 8B+208Pb total reaction cross section appears to be much larger than those measured for reactions induced by the other weakly-bound projectiles on the same target.

The scattering process of weakly-bound nuclei at Coulomb barrier energies provides deep insights on the reaction dynamics induced by exotic nuclei. Within this framework, we measured for the first time the scattering process of the short-lived Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) 8B (Sp = 0.1375 MeV) from a 208Pb target at 50 MeV beam energy. The 8B RIB was produced by means of the in-flight facility CRIB (RIKEN, Japan) with an average intensity on target of 10 kHz and a purity about 25%. Elastically scattering ions were detected in the angular range θc.m. = 10°-160° by means of the detector array EXPADES. A preliminary optical model analysis indicates a total reaction cross section of about 1 b, a value, once reduced, 2-3 times larger than those obtained for the reactions induced by the stable weakly-bound projectiles 6,7Li on a 208Pb target in the energy range around the Coulomb barrier.

LIDAL (Light Ion Detector for ALTEA system) is a compact detector designed to upgrade ALTEA (Anomalous Long Term Effects on Astronauts) silicon detector apparatus, in order to study in detail the low-Z part of ions spectrum inside the International Space Station (ISS) and to enhance the Particle Identification (PID) capability of the system. The new detector is designed to trigger ALTEA and to perform Time-Of-Flight measurements. It is based on plastic scintillators for fast timing applications read by Photo-Multiplier-Tubes (PMTs). A custom Front End Electronics (FEE) has been designed to reach time resolutions less than 100 ps (sigma) for protons. A LIDAL prototype has been developed at the University of Rome Tor Vergata to test the timing performance of the scintillators, the PMTs and of the custom FEE using the proton beam line at the TIFPA (Trento Institute for Fundamentals Physics Applications) center in Trento, Italy. The results of these tests are reported and discussed. They have also been used for a preliminary evaluation of the Particle Identification (PID) capability of the final LIDAL-ALTEA detector system in response to the ions spectra expected on-board the ISS.

In this contribution we describe the first results obtained for the investigation of the elastic scattering process in the reactions induced by the Radioactive Ion Beams 7Be and 8B on a 208Pb target at Coulomb barrier energies. The experimental data were analyzed within the framework of the optical model in order to extract the total reaction cross section. The comparison with data available in literature for reactions induced on 208Pb by light ions in the mass range A = 6-8 shows that the loosely-bound 8B has the largest reactivity.

this contribution we describe the first results obtained for the investigation of the elastic scattering process in the reactions induced by the Radioactive Ion Beams Be-7 and B-8 on a Pb-208 target at Coulomb barrier energies. The experimental data were analyzed within the framework of the optical model in order to extract the total reaction cross section. The comparison with data available in literature for reactions induced on Pb-208 by light ions in the mass range A = 6-8 shows that the loosely-bound( 8)B has the largest reactivity.

Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) represent a class of instruments which are dedicated to the ground-based observation of cosmic VHE gamma ray emission based on the detection of the Cherenkov radiation produced in the interaction of gamma rays with the Earth atmosphere. One of the key elements of such instruments is a pixelized focal-plane camera consisting of photodetectors. To date, photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) have been the common choice given their high photon detection efficiency (PDE) and fast time response. Recently, silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are emerging as an alternative. This rapidly evolving technology has strong potential to become superior to that based on PMTs in terms of PDE, which would further improve the sensitivity of IACTs, and see a price reduction per square millimeter of detector area. We are working to develop a SiPM-based module for the focal-plane cameras of the MAGIC telescopes to probe this technology for IACTs with large focal plane cameras of an area of few square meters. We will describe the solutions we are exploring in order to balance a competitive performance with a minimal impact on the overall MAGIC camera design using ray tracing simulations. We further present a comparative study of the overall light throughput based on Monte Carlo simulations and considering the properties of the major hardware elements of an IACT.

The O-17+Ni-58 collision was studied by means of a detailed analysis of the experimental spectra based on Monte Carlo simulations. The elastic scattering angular distributions were measured at five near-barrier energies in the range of 40-50 MeV and were investigated within the framework of the Optical Model, observing a relation between the imaginary radius parameter and the target mass. The Optical Model potential trend shows a normal Threshold Anomaly whereas the total reaction cross section, compared to the O-16+Ni-58 case, is in agreement with the theoretical predictions.

O. Sgouros,1 A. Pakou,1,* D. Pierroutsakou,2 M. Mazzocco,3,4 L. Acosta,5,6 X. Aslanoglou,1 Ch. Betsou,1 A. Boiano,2 C. Boiano,7 D. Carbone,8 M. Cavallaro,8 J. Grebosz,9 N. Keeley,10 M. La Commara,2,11 C. Manea,4 G. Marquínez-Durán,12 I. Martel,12 N. G. Nicolis,1 C. Parascandolo,2 K. Rusek,13 A. M. Sánchez-Benítez,12,14 C. Signorini,15 F. Soramel,3,4 V. Soukeras,1 C. Stefanini,3 E. Stiliaris,16 E. Strano,3,4 I. Strojek,10 and D. Torresi3,4 1Department of Physics and HINP, The University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece 2INFN, Sezione di Napoli, via Cintia, 80126 Napoli, Italy 3Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Padova, via Marzolo 8, I-35131 Padova, Italy 4INFN, Sezione di Padova, via Marzolo 8, I-35131 Padova, Italy 5Instituto de Fisica, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico D.F. 01000, Mexico 6INFN, Sezione di Catania, via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy 7INFN, Sezione di Milano, via Celoria 16, I-20133 Milano, Italy 8INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, via Santa Sofia 62, 95125 Catania, Italy 9The Henryk Niewodniczański Institute of Nuclear Physics (IFJ PAN), Kraków, Poland 10National Centre for Nuclear Research, ulica Andrzeja Sołtana 7, 05-400 Otwock, Poland 11Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, Università di Napoli “Federico II”, via Cintia, I-80126 Napoli, Italy 12Departamento de Ciencias Integradas, Universidad de Huelva, E-21071 Huelva, Spain 13Heavy Ion Laboratory, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5a, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland 14Centro de Física Nuclear da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal 15INFN, LNL, viale dell’Università 2, I-35020 Legnaro, Italy 16Institute of Accelerating Systems and Applications and Department of Physics, University of Athens, Greece (Received 1 February 2017; published 11 May 2017)