---

Home

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Home  ⪧  Research  ⪧  Technological Research  ⪧  MICRO

MICRO

The scientific goal of the MICRO experiment (coMpact-electronIcs soC paRticle-detectors and biOluminesceNce) is the development of All-In-One detectors (detectors, electronics, daq), using latest generation commercial integrated circuit systems (SoC), for particle detection or measurement of photons fluxes generated from bioluminescence and chemiluminescence chemical reaction.

The first SiPM-based All-in-One scintillation particle detector was developed by the Rome-based group, combining the maturity achieved by System On Chip mixed design (analog / digital) with that of the latest generation Silicon Photomultiplier sensors in the detector ArduSiPM [1]. Its first use was in CSN5 medical physics projects such as Chirone [2] [3] and as a beam loss monitor at CERN [4].

During 2020, the one-year project CSN5 SLICE (Soc eLectronIcs Compact dEtector), aimed to explore possible new application fields of these detectors by optimizing sensors, components, circuit solutions and firmware, for the realization of new generations of All-in-One detectors. This type of detector is very effective in physics applications where the channel density is low and where the acquisition system could be more cumbersome than the detector itself. The low cost of these devices has made them available in areas where, until now, the use of such high-performance systems was unthinkable, such as popularization, education or citizen science.

The low consumption (<1 Watt) and the extreme compactness makes this type of instrumentation promising for aerospace use on stratospheric balloons, on Cubesat, on the International Space Station and in any lunar missions, both as a cosmic ray detector and as a radiation monitor. . A first validation has already been carried out through launches on a “light” stratospheric balloon up to 36,000 meters. A rad-tolerant version for applications on cubesat in MEO (Medium Earth orbit) is being studied in scientific collaboration with Microchip Technology.[6] A new field of application of these detectors is in analytical chemistry, where very promising results have been obtained as photometers for biosensors [5]. In this sector, the use of SiPM in portable or field instruments is completely innovative.

The Covid-19 emergency and the experimental evidence on the excellent response of SiPMs as photometers, led the Rome group, together with the UniBo Analytical Chemistry Dip and the CNR IMM Catania, to propose the FISR "GeneHunter", (PI Valerio Bocci INFN Rome). The purpose of this project, if approved, is to create a portable system for the field research of Sars-Cov-2 RNA segments in wastewater.

MICRO wants to exploit the experience acquired with ArduSiPM and SLICE with the needs born in new very promising application areas, mainly that of biosensors and that of the radiation monitor for aerospace applications (EUSO-SPB2, SPB, Cubesat), developing new systems of all-in-one detectors that make the best use of current technologies without losing the current position of precursors in this field.

References
[1] [doi:10.1109/nssmic.2014.7431252] Bocci, V., Chiodi, G., Iacoangeli, F., Nuccetelli, M., & Recchia, L. (2014, November). The ArduSiPM a compact trasportable Software/Hardware Data Acquisition system for SiPM detector. 2014 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference (NSS/MIC). https://doi.org/10.1109/nssmic.2014.7431252
[2] [doi:/10.1038/s41598-018-34626-x] Collamati, F., Bocci, V., Castellucci, P., De Simoni, M., Fanti, S., Faccini, R., Giordano, A., Maccora, D., Mancini-Terracciano, C., Marafini, M., Mirabelli, R., Morganti, S., Schiavina, R., Scotognella, T., Traini, G., & Solfaroli Camillocci, E. (2018). Radioguided surgery with β radiation: a novel application with Ga68. Scientific Reports, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-34626-x
[3] [doi:10.1088/1748-0221/12/11/P11006] Carlotti, D., Collamati, F., Faccini, R., Fresch, P., Iacoangeli, F., Mancini-Terracciano, C., … Bocci, V. (2017). Use of bremsstrahlung radiation to identify hidden weak β− sources: feasibility and possible use in radio-guided surgery. Journal of Instrumentation, 12(11), P11006–P11006. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/12/11/p11006
[4] [doi:10.1140/epjc/s10052-018-5985-8] Scandale, W., Andrisani, F., Arduini, G., Cerutti, F., Garattini, M., Gilardoni, S., Masi, A., Mirarchi, D., Montesano, S., Petrucci, S., Redaelli, S., Schoofs, P., Rossi, R., Breton, D., Chaumat, D., Dubos, S., Maalmi, J., Natochii, A., Puill, V., … Raymond, M. (2018). Study of inelastic nuclear interactions of 400 GeV/c protons in bent silicon crystals for beam steering purposes. The European Physical Journal C, 78(6). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-018-5985-8
[5] Marcello D'Elia "Luminescent biosensors for forensic applications based on new ultrasensitive Silicon Photomultiplier detector " Alma Chemistry Ph.D. thesis MaterStudiorum Univ Bologna
[6] https://sites.google.com/view/particle-detectors/home

---

Websites:

• Particle Detectors

Thesis Opportunities:

For information regarding thesis opportunities, please contact: Valerio Bocci.

---

Local Coordinator

Valerio Bocci

People    ▽

---