Noise measurements on a tunnel junction d.c. SQUID for a gravitational radiation detector at ultralow temperature

Summary We present noise measurements made at temperatures down to 200 mK on a tunnel junction d.c. SQUID, to be used as amplifier for the gravitational-wave experiment Nautilus of the Rome group. We find that the flux noise decreases with temperature, as expected, with a best measured value of at 0.2 K. The presence of an excess noise term independent of temperature is discussed.     

Experimental study of the dynamic Newtonian field with a cryogenic gravitational wave antenna

We present an experiment performed to study the behaviour of the dynamic gravitational interaction at laboratory scale. We used as field generator a mass quadrupole rotating in the range of 460 Hz and we detected the acceleration field with the cryogenic gravitational wave antenna Explorer of the Rome group. We report the measurements of this interaction as a function of the distance between the field source and the detector. An upper limit on the parameters of a Yukawa-like potential, modeling an hypotetic deviation from the Newtonian law of gravity, is derived. Received: 14 June 1998 / Published online: 16 September 1998     

Initial operation of theM=390 kg cryogenic gravitational-wave antenna

Summary The intermediate gravitational-wave antenna ofM=390 kg and ν₀=1795 Hz has been operated at 4.2 K in the Laboratorio Plasma Spazio of CNR from June 10 to July 18, 1978. The data collected during more than 50% of the time show an effective temperature of 1.5 K on the average, with periods of the order of a few hours during which it goes below 1 K. This corresponds to an instrumental sensitivity of 2 GPU=200 J/m²·Hz. The observed difference between observed and computed equivalent temperature is due to disturbances of mechanical and thermal origin which we believe can be further reduced.

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Riassunto L'antenna gravitazionale intermedia di massaM=390 kg e frequenza ν₀=1795 Hz è stata posta e mantenuta in funzione a 4.2 K nel Laboratorio del Plasma nello Spazio del CNR dal 10 Giugno al 18 Luglio 1978. I dati, raccolti per più del 50% del tempo, corrispondono in media ad una temperatura efficace di 1.5 K, con periodi dell'ordine di alcune ore durante i quali essa scende al di sotto di 1 K. Questa corrisponde a una sensibilità strumentale di 2 GPU-200 J/m²·Hz. La differenza fra il valore osservato e quello calcolato della temperatura efficace è dovuto a disturbi di origine meccanica e termica che noi riteniamo di poter ulteriormente ridurre.

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Резюме Промежуточная антенна гравитационных волн сM=390 кг и ν₀=1795 Гц действовала при 4.2 К в лаборатории плазмы Национального Исследовательского Центра с 10 июня по 18 июля 1978 г. Данные, полученные в течение более 50% времени, указывают эффективную температуру 1.5 К в среднем, с периодами порядка нескольких часов, в течение которЫх эффективная температура опускалась ниже 1 К. Это соответствует инструментальной чувствительности 2 GPU=200 Дж/м²·Гц. Обнаруженная разница между наблюденной и вычисленной эквивалентной температурой обусловлена возмущениями механическиой и тепловой природы, которые, как мы считаем, могут быть в дальнейшем уменьшены.

     

Magnetic study of the spontaneous brain activity of normal subjects

Summary An investigation of the spontaneous brain activity from normal subjects has been carried out by means of the neuromagnetic method. Two different systems were used for magnetic measurements. Both used 2nd-order gradiometers specifically designed for brain studies: 2.9 cm diameter, 5 cm baseline. A r.f. SQUID and a d.c. SQUID were coupled to the gradiometers. The measured noise levels are and , respectively. Thorough magnetic mapping of the spontaneous activity was performed on a few subjects. By mapping the average amplitude of the α-rhythm signals two maxima of activity over two symmetric regions of the scalp were clearly observed. Despite a general symmetry between hemispheres, however, the complexity of the measured maps suggests a corresponding complexity of the generators responsible for α-activity. Partially supported by Progetto Finalizzato Superconduttività     

A quadratic interaction estimate for conservation laws: motivations,techniques and open problems

In a series of joint works with S. Bianchini [3, 4, 5], we proved a quadratic interaction estimate for general systems of conservation laws. Aim of this paper is to present the results obtained in the three cited articles [3, 4, 5], discussing how they are related with the general theory of hyperbolic conservation laws. To this purpose, first we explain why this quadratic estimate is interesting, then we give a brief overview of the techniques we used to prove it and finally we present some related open problems.     

An experimentally based analytical model for the shear capacity of FRP-strengthened reinforced concrete beams

This paper deals with the shear strengthening of Reinforced Concrete (RC) flexural members with externally bonded Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRPs). The interaction between an external FRP and an internal transverse steel reinforcement is not considered in actual code recommendations, but it strongly influences the efficiency of the shear strengthening rehabilitation technique and, as a consequence, the computation of interacting contributions to the nominal shear strength of beams. This circumstance is also discussed on the basis of the results of an experimental investigation of rectangular RC beams strengthened in shear with “U-jacketed” carbon FRP sheets. Based on experimental results of the present and other investigations, a new analytical model for describing the shear capacity of RC beams strengthened according to the most common schemes (side-bonded and “U-jacketed”), taking into account the interaction between steel and FRP shear strength contributions, is proposed. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 339–356, May–June, 2008.     

Analysis of the data recorded by the Mont Blanc neutrino detector and by the Maryland and Rome gravitational-wave detectors during SN1987A

Summary The data recorded by the gravitational wave and the neutrino detectors mentioned in the title have been analysed over a period of several days that includes the Mont Blanc 5ν burst occurrence time. A correlation is found during a period of about two hours roughly centred on the 5ν burst, independently between Maryland and Mont Blanc and Rome and Mont Blanc. The probability that these two correlations be due to chance is of the order of between 10⁻⁶ and 10⁻⁵. It is found that this effect is mainly due to a dozen of large Maryland and Rome events distributed during the above two-hour period.

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Riassunto I dati registrati con le antenne gravitazionali ed i rivelatori di neutrini indicati nel titolo sono stati analizzati in un periodo di vari giorni, includendo il tempo di occorrenza dell'evento di 5 neutrini rivelato al Monte Bianco. è stata trovata una correlazione durante circa due ore centrata al tempo dei 5ν, indipendentemente Maryland/Monte Bianco e Roma/Monte Bianco. La probabilità che queste due correlazioni siano dovute al caso è dell'ordine di 10⁻⁶÷10⁻⁵. è stato trovato che questo effetto è dovuto essenzialmente ad una dozzina di segnali registrati a Roma e in Maryland durante il sopramenzionato periodo di due ore.

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Резюме Проводится анализ данных, зарегистрированных нейтринным детектором на Мон Блане и детекторами гравитационных волн в Мэриленде и Риме, за период, охватывающий несколько дней, которые включают время появления 5ν вспышки на Мон Блане. Обнаружена корреляция в течение приблизительно двух часов, центр которой приблизительно совпадает со временем 5ν вспышки, независимо в данных Мэриленд и Мон Блан и в данных Рим и Мон Блан. Вероятность того, что эти две корреляции являются случайными, имеет порядок величины 10⁻⁶÷10⁻⁵. Обнаружено, чтот эффект обусловлен в основном дюжиной сигналов, зарегистрированных в Риме и Мэриленде в течение периода около двух часов.