Maria Elena Ascioti

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Title: Study of charmed mesons as a probe for Triple Parton Scattering at CMS Topic:

Multi Parton Interactions (MPI) are studied with an eye to the past and one to the future, aiming for a better classification of the processes in hadron interactions and to improve the understanding of the hadron structure. In the overall pictures of MPI studies, my work as a PhD student represents a novel study for both open charmed mesons and charmed quarkonia as a probe for Triple Parton Scattering (TPS) at the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment.

I will analyze the Run II (and possibly Run III) data in search of final states with a double J/Psi plus a D* mesons, aiming to understand if the events have been produced via Single, Double or Triple Parton Scattering (SPS, DPS and TPS). In a second moment, we expect to characterize the events in terms of their kinematics and correlation relationships. These pieces of information might give crucial clues to improve the theory behind the MPIs and the understanding of the mechanisms that govern them. 

 

Maria Lisa Brozzetti

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Title: Evaluation of catalogues completeness in the Virtual Observatory framework to estimate the Hubble constant
 
The vision of the Universe and the insight of astrophysical phenomena are moving forward significant progress thanks to multi-messenger astronomy, using several "messengers". It is thereby necessary a synergetic work between all the different detectors working for astronomical and cosmological purposes. 
The first multi-messenger event in "light and gravity", was triggerd by the gravitational wave GW170817 which was the first 'standard siren', getting the Hubble constant value with redshift information from the host galaxy. Indeed, it is possible to derive the cosmological parameters of gravitational events: especially, we will focus on the estimation of rate expansion of the Universe using events without an electromagnetic counterpart. GW events are possible candidates to resolve the discrepancy between results obtained studying the Hubble flow at early-time and late-time Universe with different strategies as known as Hubble tension.
 
This project will deal with the caracterization of the incompleteness of astronomical catalogues for   cosmological applications and to maximize the performance of follow-up campaigns, reducing the number of pointings during the future starting run of LIGO- Virgo-Kagra interferometers.

 

Claudio Brugnoni

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Title: Study of electron and positron in HERD experiment

The High Energy cosmic-Radiation Detection (HERD) is a developing spaceborne facility for direct measurement of cosmic rays, which is planned to start operating around 2026 for about 10 years. Featuring an unprecedented acceptance (> 1 m2sr) and an advanced 3D segmentated isotrope calorimeter with elevated depth (55 X0) HERD will be able to extend our knowledge of cosmic rays spectra up to 10 times the actual limit for direct detection.
 
My work in the HERD collaboration will focus on the development of analysis and reconstruction tools for the tracking of events, particle identification and optimization of algorithms. This results will be achieved through implementation and optimization of both traditional and machine learning algorithms.
Part of the work will also feature acquisition of experimental data from the beam test on the new hardware in order to accurately calibrate the developing simulation and analysis tool.

 

Costanza Carrivale

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Title: “Standard Model Effective Field Theory interpretation of Vector Boson Scattering global combination with CMS”

The Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) allows for the description of the effects of a variety of theories beyond the Standard Model (SM) that introduce new physics states at a mass scale large compared to the electroweak scale. The theory provides predictions for experimental observables using a set of new operators with an energy dimension greater than 4. Measurements of observables sensitive to the effect of new operators allow setting constraints on SMEFT parameters.

Vector Boson Scattering processes provide an ideal field for studying possible deviations from SM since they present interactions through both triple and quartic vertices and given their close link with the EWBS mechanism. Thanks to the integrated Run II Luminosity, VBS measurements are quickly populating the experimental landscape of SM measurements. Global fits are a powerful tool to enhance SMEFT sensitivity and loosen assumptions: given the high interdependence between channels, it becomes essential to set up a combination of different final states to better constrain EFT parameters that affect VBS processes.

My project aims to provide global constraints on Wilson coefficients in a combined fit of measurements of VBS channels at the CMS experiment. The starting point for this work will be the SM combination of VBS analyses developed in Run II of LHC. Compared to the SM case, the SMEFT model introduces many new parameters, therefore during the project the Combine-based model for the combination of VBS analyses will be integrated: correlations between EFT parameters in different VBS channels will be explored and a prescription for their treatment will be outlined and implemented. In last part of the work will be studied how the combination of different channels improves the constraints on EFT degrees of freedom.

 

 Filippo Fornetti

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Title: OPTIQUAL (OPTImization Quantum Algorithms: from fundamental Physics to applications of general interest)

The aim of the project is to develop quantum computing technologies and to promote their use. In facts, some of these technologies are already applied in commercial devices, in principle accessible to public and private companies, but they are not properly exploited due to lack of information or expertise.

Initially, use will be made of a D-wave quantum annealer, which can read algorithms in the QUBO (Quantum Uncostrained Binary Optimization) form, in order to refine the algorithm for the GEVP (Generalized EigenValue Problem), developed for an international project coordinated in Perugia, approved by Q@TN (INFN-UNITN-FBK-CNR). The algorithm is exploitable for the description of relativistic bound states through the Bethe-Salpeter equation. During my PHD I will study other Quantum Computers, based on different quantum technology (multipurpose QC, gate oriented,...), to solve other problems arising in nuclear and subnuclear physics. Then, in collaboration with the partner company, the algorithms will be adapted in an hybrid conventional-quantum algorithm to solve optimization problems relevant in logistics.

 

Valentin Daniel Paccoia

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Title: Environmental monitoring by remote sensing and by a network of energetically autonomous ground sensors

Wireless sensor networks play a crucial role in environmental monitoring to prevent catastrophic events. In the last few years, drones have been considered to complement the data traditional ground sensors can obtain. Drones could also reduce the energy cost of data transfer and the system's vulnerability to losing one of the nodes. Therefore, realizing an integrated system combining sensors and drones is fundamental. 

The aim of my project is the physical realization of a wireless sensor network model consisting of two elements: a terrestrial node and a drone. The network must have data collection capabilities, effective short-range communication and energy autonomy. Energy harvesting systems connected to the terrestrial node and bidirectional energy transfer between the drone and the land node will guarantee the power supply. Furthermore, I will apply machine learning techniques to analyze the collected data.

I will perform a case study on the use of the system for monitoring volcanic activity. This application's requirements will guide the design choices for the sensors and the energy harvesting devices.

 

Lucia Salvi

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Title: Radiation Interactions Simulator development and testing for Aerospace and Terrestrial Applications

The aim of MRADSIM project consists in creating an innovative software in order to study the radiation effects in all possible applications. In this project a modern and intuitive graphic interface will be created thanks to which it will be possible to simulate the radiation effects on the electronic and electromechanical devices. MRADSIM-CONV can convert the STEP format into GDML format, in order to automatically transcribe the geometry in the GEANT4. The result can be used to simulate the radiation effects in all parts of the converted geometry. During this project algorithms will be created and optimized for operation through a combination of CPU and GPU, in the management of the MRADSIM software as a whole, with division of the software into modules, management of the different versions and the distribution process of the software, and finally in the creation and management of a cloud system with servers containing the MRADSIM software.

The applications of this software are: aerospace industry; medical centers for radiotherapy; research centers and particle accelerators; sustainable energy plants; study of biological samples (DNA) exposed to radiation.

Mattia Bassotti

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Title: Novel two-dimensional materials: growth and characterization of thin films for photovoltaics and ultra-low consumption electronics. 

The research project will deal with the physics of two-dimensional materials (2DM), in view of their application in the fields of photovoltaics and ultra-low consumption electronics. A first objective is to optimize the growth parameters for the deposition of thin films of novel 2DMs (such as porphyrin, perovskites or dichalcogenide) through evaporation techniques available at the “Laboratorio Congiunto Superfici e Nanostrutture”, where the experimental chamber ACROSS is present. Structural engineering as well as interactions with the substrates will also be considered as tuning factors in improving the films performance. 

Along with this, the research will focus on the characterization of deposited films. Structural and crystal properties of the samples will be investigated by means of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Low-Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) while the opto-electronic properties will be studied using, for example, Inverse Photoemission Spectroscopy (IPES) and Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS). 

The period of internship at the company will be managed in order to identify the materials that appear to be more promising and easily scalable at the industrial level and to optimize the growth processes. 

 

Giulio Bianchini

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Title: "Development of Solutions for Efficient FPGA-based computing architectures generation"

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are playing an increasingly important role in the data sampling and processing industry thanks to their highly parallel architecture, low power consumption and the flexibility of using custom algorithms. In particular, in the field of artificial intelligence, for the training and implementation of neural networks and machine learning algorithms, energy-efficient hardware and massive parallel processing capacity are in great demand. At the software level, programming in an FPGA environment is possible thanks to tools that provide a "firmware-agnostic" abstraction layer of multiple backends, from the proprietary Xilinx / Intel ones to the more generic and flexible ones such as BondMachine (BM), a reconfigurable computing system that uses the FPGA to create a highly specialized parallelizable architecture to solve a specific task. The aim of the project is to enable the integration of a neural network (DNN) on FPGA, starting from training up to its production in order to be subsequently used for data processing by developing open source software, for example evolving and extending tools such as the BM. The system will be accessible to the end user through GUI and will support automatic FPGA provisioning according to the cloud paradigm. The expected results include the realization of a system that allows the use of standard neural network models that can be integrated on FPGA using BM and the possibility of using, through cloud services, a registry of neural network models that will be pre-trained to perform a specific task.

  

Beatrice Caviglia

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Title: Arrest of the Proteome dynamics at the cell death temperature

Proteins can be physically seen as a marginally stable soft-matter entity, meaning that upon thermal stress they partially or completely lose their structure. The unfolding of either the whole proteome or a small set of proteins is thought to be the cause of cell death. The dynamics inside a cell can be studied as a proxy to monitor cell death. For instance, proteins live in a crowded space where the unfolding of a small set of proteins might affect the physical properties of the cytoplasm, impacting on the dynamics of the functional processes. Moreover, proteins perform local structural fluctuations. The excess of vibrational motion might lead to the melting of the proteome, in a like-wise Lindemann-criterion.

The goal of this project is to investigate the link between proteome structure and dynamics and cell death by combining Neutron scattering experiments and Molecular dynamics simulations.Different types of bacteria will be explored to correlate the stability of these microorganisms with the proteome dynamics at different temperatures.The work will investigated whether a small set of proteins triggers cell death and how the unfolding of a limited number of proteins can intact the cell functionality.

 

Paolo Cristarella Orestano

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Title: "Temporal studies of transient sources in multi-messenger and multi-wavelength Astronomy through the Coloti optical observatory"

The aim of this research project is to develop a strategy for electromagnetic follow-up through the use of the optical telescope located at the observatory of Borgo Coloti, also by making it usable remotely. This will allow the Coloti observatory to follow multi-messenger transient objects, such as the sources of gravitational waves detected by ground interferometers (i.e. LIGO, VIRGO), hence partecipate to GRAWITA, a national scientific network consisting of infrastructures and observatories following multi-messenger events. Furthermore, with the remote control of the observatory we can extend the work of the telescope also for multifrequency observation campaigns of X-ray and gamma-ray sources discovered by satellite instruments.

 

Francesco Faldi

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Title: Study of the temporal evolution of charged cosmic ray fluxes on the short term scale in relation to solar energetic events 

The aim of my project is to investigate the characteristics of transient and energetic phenomena that occasionally occur on the Sun, such as Coronal Mass Ejections and Solar Flares, analysing the charged particles' flux produced in these events. This investigation consists in measuring the main properties of the solar charged radiation, such as the energetic spectrum, chemical composition and temporal variability. The main objectives are:

- characterization of the temporal evolution of cosmic rays fluxes on quiet periods, during solar events and on subsequent phases. 

- reconstruction of the solar component of the energetic spectra during such events with the emission of highly energetic solar particles.

- analysis of possible correlations between charged particles' fluxes and other indicators of solar activity or geomagnetic disturbance in correspondence of solar events (e.g solar wind velocity, intensity and polarity of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field, solar irradiance, indexes of geomagnetic disturbance). 

All the measurements involved in this study will be retrieved from astroparticle experiments such as AMS-02 and CALET and from solar observatories such as the Wilcox Solar Observatory or the Solar Orbiter. 

 

Lisa Fantini

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Title: Study of rare B mesons decays at LHCb

During my PhD I will work within the LHCb group in Perugia. The main topic of my activity and thesis will be the search for signals of new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). These signals are searched in the rare decays of B mesons with data collected by LHCb experiment at CERN. I will take an active part in the new LHCb data collection period, starting in 2022. I will participate in data taking shifts and service assignments resulting from the Perugia group responsibilities within the collaboration. I will also take part in the research and development activities for future upgrades of the RICH detectors of LHCb undertaken in Perugia, such as the study of new sensors and related readout electronics. 

 

Jiang Yaozu

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Title: The Tracking System of HERD

The High Energy cosmic-Radiation Detection (HERD) facility is one of several space astronomy payloads of the cosmic light house  program onboard China’s Space Station, which is planned for operation  starting around 2026 for about 10 years. The main scientific  objectives of HERD are indirect dark matter searches with an unprecedented acceptance (> 1 m2sr), precise cosmic ray spectrum and composition measurements up to the knee energy(1 PeV), and gamma-ray monitoring and surveys (from 500 MeV up to 10 TeV). In the prototype phase, the HERD consists of 5 sub-detectors, from inside to outside is : 3-D cubic calorimeter (CALO),scintillating fiber tracker (FIT), microstrip silicon trackers (SCD), plastic scintillator detector (PSD), then a transition radiation detector (TRD) is located on the lateral side.

My work mainly contains those parts : the estimation of CALO and SCD parameters (the acceptance, efficiency, energy resolution, charge resolution and spatial resolution), the optimization of the Monte Carlo, so that the simulation is as close as possible to the data, the definition/implementation of the calibrating procedures and the analysis strategies .

 

Maria Enrica Mazzella

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Title: "Development of innovative Data Science tools for touristic applications"

A data-science project is proposed in order to develop predictive analysis tools on urban tourist flows. The starting database is represented by georeferenced points of interest that populate the tourist access application developed by the SME Int.Geo.Mod. srl. The system is based on the proprietary By-Way ™ technology platform, which creates multisensor apps (AR-iBeacon-WiFi), already applied by the company in numerous contexts. By crossing the georeferenced data, the frequency of use and the profile data, it will be possible to create the extended reference database for a high-level analysis capable of interpreting tourist flows on a predictive basis. It will therefore be possible to create specific metrics that can direct flows according to external constraints such as, degree of accessibility of the particular point of interest, level of crowding, specificity of the user, events of particular interest or other. Through the semiotic analysis of user profiles with predictive data-science tools (learning models based on neural networks, the so-called "machine learning") we intend to study the unexpressed tourist potential in order to enhance the marketing strategies of a place or a particular point of interest, even on a personalized basis. 

 

Francesco Millucci

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Title: Biophysical route to optimize the function of a novel enzyme for PET degradation

The discovery of a new leaf-branch compost cutinase variant (e-LCC), optimized for the efficient depolymerization of PET, has recently been reported. With a 90% degradation yield of PET waste reached in less than 10 hour, enzymatic recycling might now be regarded as a viable way to meet our sustainability goals.

The aim of the project is to provide the biophysical basis to:

(i) Improve the performances of e-LCC with respect to working temperture, thermal stability and catalytic efficiency  

(ii) Develop a novel biosensor for microplastic detection

To these purposes the structural and dynamical properties of the enzyme, along with the interactions established with PET, will be characterized in the presence of variable environment conditions ( i.e. changing cosolvents, pH, ionic strength etc...). 

Both computational methods (molecular docking and molecular dynamics, in collaboration with Molecular Horizon srl) and spectroscopic techniques (such as FTIR, Raman, neutron scattering etc...) will be employed.

 

Gabriele Perna

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Title: Study of Pb-free micro- and nano- structured piezoelectric materials for energy harvesting applications 

The micro- and nano- piezoelectric structures are of great interest for the implementation of micro systems of energy harvesting by means of mechanical vibrations. They transform any mechanical stress in electric energy which in turn can be stored in batteries or directly used for the power supply of wireless devices. Among the main materials we find the PZT, or lead zirconate titanate, a piezoelectric ceramic with a high energy conversion gain. However, this material is pollutant, toxic and not biocompatible as it contains lead.

The aim of my PhD research project is to select and synthesize chemically materials which can be a valid alternative to PZT, such as zinc oxide (ZnO), barium titanate (BTO) and KNN, or sodium potassium niobate and which have biocompatible characteristics, good piezoelectric performances and a low cost. They will be also characterized depending on their properties, measuring directly the piezoelectric coefficient of a single crystal, not a simple task but with results of strong relevance for the scientific community, not being present in literature yet.

Finally, will be realized a device based on the use of 10 micron crystals displayed as an array of pillars or ribbons, which potentially will have an energy conversion gain that increases in an order of magnitude, with the possibility of applying this idea and technology to an industrial setting. 

 

Francesca Peverini

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Title "Use a Si-H as a detection material for ionizing radiation for medical and space applications" 

The need for radiation-resistant detectors capable of high dynamic range and precise measurement of fluxes of ionizing radiation of different kind (photons, electrons, protons, ions) is growing. Current and new clinical procedures need high fluxes of particles, e.g. IORT and FLASH therapy. The development of new accelerators techniques, such as Reaccelerated Ion Beams (RIBs) and laser driven accelerators motivate the demand for detectors also for beam monitoring in nuclear physics, astrophysics, and medical research accelerators. Hence, the development of news detectors for dosimetry and ionizing radiation flux measurement is desirable. Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon (a:Si-H) is a candidate due to its bandgap wider than c silicon, its intrinsic non-crystalline nature that offers a natural resistance to the radiation damage, the possibility to grow in a very thin layer and wide surfaces in one go, because it has been widely used for solar cells, X-ray flat panels. 

The project wants to explore the possibility to use a:Si-H as a detection material for ionizing radiation of different types (photons, electrons, protons, ions, neutrons).
A:Si-H sensor has already been used to monitor therapeutic beam at CNAO [37], and we have already carried out some preliminary studies exposing some non-optimized structures either to photon beams, both clinical and laboratory X-rays, and electron clinical beams. 

The preliminary results look encouraging.
In order to reach the goals of the project, several steps need to be accomplished: fabrication and optimization of detectors, where sensors will be fabricated using different deposition technologies to characterize their basic physical, electrical and charge collection performances and optimize the quality and reproducibility. 

 

Daniele Pica 

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Title: Effective one-body description of binary black holes and its extensions. 

Since the first detection of gravitational waves in 2015 from the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration, the study of the physics and of the dynamics of binary systems in General Relativity has become of paramount importance.  At the same time, technological progress is making enormous steps forward and soon there will be available detectors of third generation with extreme high sensitivity. This requires also an improvement of the analytical understanding of the physics that the experiments will be able to detect. In view of this, the aim of this research project is to develop a systematic method for investigating how a 2-body system is modified by an external influence, such as a curved geometry or a third body. Assuming R < < L, where R is the length/time scale of the 2-body system and L the length/time scale of the external influence, we plan to develop an analytical method that captures the dynamics up to some desired order in an expansion in R/L. The methodology we plan to use will take inspiration from the powerful “blackfold” approach, which has been successfully used to describe black brane solutions in higher-dimensional spacetimes, and the Matched Asymptotic Expansions method. For the 2-body system, we will develop a modification of the Effective One Body approach, which is the most accurate and powerful method currently used to describe the dynamics of a binary system in General Relativity, to include the modification for the metric due to the presence of an external influence. 

Sehar Ajmal

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Title: Searching for New Physics at LHC and Future Colliders.         

Topic: The research project will focus on signals of physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM) at the LHC, as well as its High Luminosity option (HL-LHC) and future colliders.
We plan to study specific signatures of a composite fermion scenario where excited (heavy) states interact with SM ordinary fermions with both gauge and contact interactions. This model has been recently the object of detailed phenomenological studies in close synergy with two experimental analyses by the CMS Collaboration in the di-lepton and di-jet channel. Other final states should be studied in order to address the mass reach of other exotic particles, like for instance charge 5/3 quarks, at different collider options.

 

 Luca Bertini

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Title: Role of fast dynamics for complexation of M-pro from SARS-COV-2 with inhibitors

Topic:

The aim of this project is to provide a framework for the optimization of the interaction between the Main Protease (M-pro) from SARS-COV-2  with its putative inhibitors by means of a multi-technique approach.

Structure and dynamics of M-pro will be investigated both in its unbound state and following complexation with several inhibitors, including the alpha-ketoamides 13a and 13b, in order to provide a basis for the development of broad-spectrum anticoronaviral drugs.

Following the preparation of the samples, in-house spectroscopic techniques (such as UV-VIS absorption and circular dichroism) will be deployed, along with neutron scattering measurements performed at European large scale facilities like ILL in Grenoble (France) and MLZ in Munich (Germany).

 

 Diletta Borselli

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Skype: diletta.borselli

Title: Study of muon radiography applied to the civil engineering, geology and mining fields for the development of a non-invasive survey methodology for the securing of touristic sites and edifices of cultural and historical interest.

Topic: The work for the doctoral project is dedicated to the application of the muon radiography technique in the geological-mining field for the safety of some areas inside the Temperino mine and the Collins mine located in the San Silvestro Park in Campiglia Marittima (LI). The muon radiography technique allows, through muon absorption measurements, to create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images of the internal structure of the target. The project, in collaboration with the INFN of Florence and the Parchi Val di Cornia spa company, provides for a series of on-site measurements and the development and optimization of algorithms for the three-dimensional reconstruction of cavities and tunnels in still unexplored areas of the mine. In part, I will also work on the assembly of new detectors for muographic applications in various fields: geophysical, archaeological, civil and nuclear safety.

Publications:

G.Baccani et al., The MIMA project. Design, construction and performances of a compact hodoscope for muon radiography applications in the context of archaeology and geophysical prospections, JINST volume 13 (2018), P11001

 

Matteo Magherini

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Title: Vector boson scattering with tau leptons hadronic decays in the final state at proton-proton collision in CMS at LHC.

Topic:

The observation of the Higgs boson from ATLAS and CMS collaborations confirmed the standard model (SM) of elementary interactions. The presence of the Higgs boson, with couplings compatible with those predicted by the SM, provides evidence that contributions from the exchange of this boson may be responsible for preserving unitarity at high energies. However, new phenomena may be present in the electroweak symmetry breaking sector, where a probe of new physics is naturally given by the study of the scattering of massive electroweak bosons, know as vector boson scattering, at high energies, which cross section doesn’t diverge due to a cancellation provided from the exact SM coupling of the Higgs boson with the gauge bosons.

In my research project, we are planning to analyze a particular scattering of two gauge vector bosons: the one between two same-sign W bosons. In this framework, the goal of this research project is to include the hadronic decays of tau leptons as a probe for the final state, which have never been considered before. Thanks to the correlation between different final states and the inclusion of hadronic tau leptons decay, we plan to enhance the sensitivity to discrepancies from the Standard Model over the current results.

 

Gabriele Martelli

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Title: Study of the rare decay Σ^+→pμ^+ μ^- at LHCb

Topic:

This PhD work will focus on the analysis of the LHC Run2 data for the study of decay in dimuonic final states at LHCb. The decay can be described as proceeding through an s d quark flavor changing neutral current (FCNC) interaction, allowed only at loop level in the Standard Model, and by internal conversion. This decay is of interest since it also allows a direct search for a new scalar or vector particle, which could contribute an s d transition at the tree level. The results of this work will be compared with those of the previous analysis and with those obtained from the HyperCP experiment, which hypothesizes to have found a new vector boson that would open the way for new physics beyond the Standard Model.

 

Stefano Moneta

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Title: Precision electroweak measurements at the Belle II experiment

Topic:

Belle II is currently the leading particle physics experiment at the luminosity frontier. Located at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider, it plans to collect 50/ab integrated luminosity by 2030, looking for hints of new physics beyond the Standard Model.

My doctoral research project takes place within the Belle II Perugia group. The main activities include precise measurement of tau-lepton lifetime and analysis of rare B-meson decays. Furthermore, the group plays an important role in electromagnetic calorimeter operations. In particular, it is involved in background monitoring, leakage corrections, and studies for the full luminosity upgrade.

 

 

 

PhD Coordinator - Livio Fanò
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Members of the PhD Board

Giuseppina Anzivino - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Mateusz Bawaj - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Bruna Bertucci - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Giovanni Carlotti - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Claudia Cecchi - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Silvia Corezzi - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Suchandra Dutta - Saha Iinstitute for Nuclear Physics 

Emanuele Fiandrini - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Luca Gammaitoni - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Gianluca Grignani - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Troels Harmark - Niels Bohr Institute - University of Copenaghen, DK

Pasquale Lubrano - INFN

Marco Madami - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Maurizio Mattarelli - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Andrea Orecchini - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Simone Pacetti - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Alessandro Paciaroni - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Orlando Panella - INFN

Monica Pepe - INFN

Michele Punturo - INFN

Alessandro Rossi - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Attilio Santocchia - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Sergio Scopetta - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Leonello Servoli - INFN

Daniele Spiga - INFN

Silvia Tacchi - CNR-IoM

Nicola Tomassetti - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Gino Tosti - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Helios Vocca - Università degli Studi di Perugia

Xin Wu - University of Geneve, CH

 

Working groups and contact persons

Teaching
Claudia Cecchi - contact person
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Gino Tosti
Alessandro Paciaroni
Marco Madami
Simone Pacetti
Daniele Spiga

 

Communication
Monica Pepe - contact person
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Alessandro Rossi
Monica Pepe
Sara Palmerini
Simone Pacetti
Silvia Tacchi

 

Agreements and networks 
Marta Orselli - contact person 
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Giuseppina Anzivino
Bruna Bertucci
Sergio Scopetta
Andrea Orecchini
Leonello Servoli

Doctoral program courses of Cycle XXXVIII

General information about the courses is available here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ql6phcSYPoLA8bEirmePhQt669f_qQSmxLG0BsiuBhM/edit?usp=sharing

The detailed agenda is continuously updated and is here:

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=YWFkODIyYjM4NzdhMDlkOWNjY2NkMzYxYTg0ZjQwY2JkNjZmNmY4YjFmZGQzM2ZkMzdjMGEwMjU2NDIyZTk2ZEBncm91cC5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t

Doctoral program courses of Cycle XXXVII

First semester

1) Introduction to Effective Field Theory

2) Probability and measurement uncertainty 

3) Nanosystems and advanced materials

4) EU funding: opportunities for Research and Innovation and proposal writing

Second semester

5) Teaching and Learning Physics at University

6) Multimessenger Astrophysics - from em multifrequency to gravitational waves

7) Applied Machine Learning

8) Scientific Writing for Physicists

Total: 18 CFU.

The full agenda is available here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cihwSy0PeuZmJuqr9WMRW-8htB2vHdTqaKAOaQH8-Os/edit?usp=sharing

Doctoral program courses of Cycle XXXVI

Support material for the first-year courses is available here. 

First semester

1) Introduction to Effective Field Theory (EFT) 

• Module I - EFT in the framework of the Standard Model physics (Dario Buttazzo - INFN Pisa).
• Module II - Effective gauge theory in spintronics (Prof. Gen Tatara - Riken).
• Module III - Experimental searches EFT-based (Pietro Govoni - MIB).

2) Probability and measurement uncertainty (Contact person: C. Cecchi)

• Module I - (Prof. Giulio D'Agostini - Univ. Roma1).

3) Nanosystems and advanced materials (Contact person: A. Paciaroni).

• Nanosystems I (Prof. Paolo Postorino - Univ. Roma1).
• Nanosystems II (Dott.ssa Maddalena Pedio - CNR).
• Nanosystems III (Prof.ssa Stefania Chiesa - Univ. Ca' Foscari Venezia e Prof.ssa Elena Garlatti - Univ. di Parma)

Second semester

4) Multimessenger Astrophysics - from em multifrequency to gravitational waves (Contact persons: G. Tosti, C. Cecchi).

• Module I - Electromagnetic waves+neutrini - (Paolo Padovani - ESO Munich).
• Module II - Onde gravitazionali (Michele Punturo - INFN Perugia).
• Module III (Dott. Giuseppe Greco - Univ. di Urbino).

5) Physics at LHC

• Module I - (Dott. Michele Gallinaro - Lip Lisbona).

6) Introduction to Atmospheric Physics, Climate and COPERNICUS DATA STORE (CDS).

• Module I - (Dott.ssa Paolina Cerlini - Univ. Perugia).

7) Teaching and Learning Physics at University.

• Module I - (Dott. Giovanni Organtini - INFN Roma1).

Total: 18 CFU.

External courses (from 1.5 CFU)
1) Advanced topics in current and future researches in experimental particle physics - experimental particle physics
2) Advanced topics in current and future researches in theoretical particle physics  - theoretical particle physics
3) Future High-Energy Colliders - experimental and theoretical particle physics
4) Thematic Seminar Cycle: Future experiment and facilities (gravity, space, ESS, low energy searches…) - experimental physics
5) Thematic Seminar Cycle: New technologies for future experiments - experimental physics
6) Near Edge X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy for the study of surfaces and nanostructured materials - soft matter and solid-state physics -  (M. Pedio)
7) Sources for Ultrafast Spectroscopy - soft matter and solid-state physics

Internal courses (from 1.5 CFU)

8) Advanced Particle Physics - particle physics
9) Flavour Physics (K+B) - particle physics
10) Nuclear Astrophysics - astrophysics
11) Advanced low-energy experimental physics - soft matter and solid-state physics
12) Spintronics - soft matter and solid-state physics
13) Fundamental physical limits in computing - soft matter and solid-state physics
14) Ionizing Radiation and Space Weather - astroparticle physics
15) Photoelectron Spectroscopy - soft matter and solid-state physics

At least 6 CFU. 

1) Italian School of Magnetism - (POC Giovanni Carlotti).

2) International Doctorate School in Nuclear Physics, “Frontiers in Nuclear and Hadronic Physics, Galileo Galilei Institute (GGI) in Florence - (POC Sergio Scopetta).

3) European School of Instrumentation in Particle & Astroparticle Physics, Technologies and Applications - (POC Bruna Bertucci).

4) Winter School in Biotechnology - (POC Daniele Fioretto).

5) LACES School, Galileo Galilei Institute (GGI) for Theoretical Physics di Arcetri (Firenze) - (POC Gianluca Grignani).

6) International School of Pure and Applied Biophysics on Quantitative analysis of optical imaging for Medicine and Biophysics: foundations, applications and perspectives - (POC Silvia Caponi).

7) Detectors and Electronics for High Energy Physics - (POC Bruna Bertucci / Alessandro Rossi).

8) Seminar on Software for Nuclear, Subnuclear and Applied Physics - (POC Bruna Bertucci).

9) Conference and Course on Frontiers in Water Biophysics (FWB), Erice - (POC Lucia Comez).

10) SOSC - International School on Open Science Cloud (POC Daniele Spiga)

11) SAPP school - Dark Matter, from theory to detection, Vienna (POC Livio Fanò).

Seminars on topics that are not strictly related to the student research projects offer top-level training aimed at broadening the skills and increasing the awareness of PhD students.

In addition to the general seminars proposed by the Department and the partner research institutions (CNR and INFN), the Doctoral Advisory Committee organizes lectures given by external experts, members of the committee and former PhD students.

This is the Indico web page of "Physics Highlights Perugia" (PHP) and it is continuously updated.

• https://agenda.infn.it/category/1414/
• https://tinyurl.com/EventsAndSeminars

Attending seminars organized by national or international institutions can be also included in the doctoral training.

• Seminars from the INFN Section of Roma and from CERN.
  • https://tinyurl.com/INFNSeminars
  • https://indico.cern.ch/category/75/

The doctoral program includes visiting periods in other Italian universities or research institutes (average research stay of 3 months). Research stay periods will be possible as well abroad, either in one of the cooperating partner institutions involved in this PhD program (average research stay of 12 months) or in other high-level foreign institutions (average research stay of 6 months).

The PhD course benefits of several contracts of cooperation with the most prestigious universities and the most important research institutions. A collaboration agreement is established with CNR-IOM and INFN funding agencies that offer scholarship grants and the opportunity of participating in international research projects of excellence conducted at the most important large scale facilities in the field.

An international degree program is implemented jointly with other universities: an enduring relationship of cooperation has been established with the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, while the collaboration agreement with the Universities of Geneva, Ghent and Uppsala is being finalized. The double PhD doctoral degree will be awarded after spending a visiting period of at least 6 months, with the attribution of 5 CFU/ECTS per month.

The PhD course is being accredited to the International Doctorate Network in Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology (IDPASC).

The doctoral training program comprises joint activities with other doctoral curricula of the University of Perugia, as described in the following.

Disciplinary and interdisciplinary training, advanced linguistic and computing training:
- Foreign language courses at CLA (Centro Linguistico d'Ateneo/University Language Center) according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), of six-month (10 CFU/ECTS) or annual (13 CFU/ECTS) duration;
- Specific training to deepen the knowledge of PhD students with specialized workshops in collaboration with the Italian Association of Physics Students. The workshops consist of several teaching units, with a final exam of 1 CFU/ECTS each, concerning data analysis (ROOT, Mathematica, TensorFlow, R) and word processing (LaTeX).

Research management and knowledge of funding systems. Four courses of 1 CFU/ECTS each concerning:
- Research planning and development;
- Preparation and management of research project budgets;
- Project management for work schedule and budget report;
- Managing relationships with funding partners.

The exploitation of research results and intellectual property. Six courses of 1 CFU/ECTS each concerning:
- The transition from basic to applied research;
- Techniques for research exploitation;
- Funding for applied research;
- Protection of intellectual property;
- University support for patent application;
- Industry and research spin-off.

All courses described in the present section will be concluded by a final exam.

There are several laboratories equipped with experimental facilities and data acquisition systems; among them, the principal are:
Cleanroom, semiconductor and detector development laboratory, astrophysics and astronomical observatory; cryogenics and interferometry laboratory; optical and dielectric spectroscopic; X-ray fluorescence and diffractometry; electronic microscopy; SERMS - space-related technology; NiPS - Energy Harvesting; ICT - Simulation and Data Analysis.

A wide range of books and reference texts for students is available at the Mathematics, Physics and Geology Library. Access to the other libraries of the University of Perugia and online databases are available as well. Moreover, the main international journals and periodicals related to the fields of interest of the PhD course are available in electronic and print formats.
Finally, thanks to the association with the main worldwide laboratories, all databases necessary to the research activities can be consulted.

Databases: the main international public databases, relevant for the research activities, are available online.
Software: software licenses necessary to the doctoral research activities, such as Mathematica, LabView, Ansys and many others are made available by university, INFN or by research groups.

Computing: a medium-size (~500 cores) computing center is available at the Physics and Geology Department providing suitable resources in terms of computing power and storage.

General services, organized and managed in collaboration with the local divisions of CNR and INFN are also available, such as mechanical and electronic workshops, chemistry and microanalysis laboratory.

08/07/2020 

04/11/2020

01/02/2021

24/05/2021

17/09/2021