INFN Sezione di Roma I

Since its first observation in the 1970s, neutrino-induced neutral-current single positive pion production (NC1π^{+}) has remained an elusive and poorly understood interaction channel. This process is a significant background in neutrino oscillation experiments and studying it further is critical for the physics program of next-generation accelerator-based neutrino oscillation experiments. In this Letter, we present the first double-differential cross-section measurement of NC1π^{+} interactions using data from the ND280 detector of the T2K experiment collected in ν-beam mode. The measured flux-averaged integrated cross section is σ=(6.07±1.22)×10^{-41} cm^{2}/nucleon. We compare the results on a hydrocarbon target to the predictions of several neutrino interaction generators and final-state-interaction models. While model predictions agree with the differential results, the data show a weak preference for a cross-section normalization approximately 30% higher than predicted by most models studied in this Letter.

Abstract Quantum Physics (QPs) is increasingly being integrated into secondary school curricula across Europe; however, its practical implementation remains challenging. This study investigates the views of 165 Italian high school teachers on the inclusion of QP in secondary education, using a structured questionnaire addressing four research questions: whether QP should be taught, why it is important, what core topics and experiments should be prioritised, and how it should be taught. Teachers’ responses were compared with expert views, which we investigated in a previous study. While teachers broadly support QP instruction, they report insufficient curricular time and inadequate preparation as major obstacles. Cultural motivations emerged as the primary rationale for including QP in the curriculum, but the growing relevance of quantum technologies and the need to address quantum misinformation were also acknowledged. In terms of content, teachers tended to prioritise topics and examples from ‘old quantum physics’, reflecting textbooks treatments and national guidelines. Regarding teaching methods, most reported relying on quasi-historical narratives, although with low consensus about their appropriateness. Finally, teachers expressed interest in professional development opportunities and indicated some specific areas of interest. The findings of this study may serve as a guide for targeted teacher training.

Systematic effects can hinder the sought-after detection of primordial gravitational waves, impacting the reconstruction of the B-mode polarization signal which they generate in the cosmic microwave background (CMB). In this work, we study the impact of an imperfect knowledge of the instrument bandpasses on the estimate of the tensor-to-scalar ratio r in the context of the next-generation LiteBIRD satellite. We develop a pipeline to integrate over the bandpass transmission in both the time-ordered data (TOD) and the map-making processing steps. We introduce the systematic effect by having a mismatch between the “real”, high resolution bandpass τ, entering the TOD, and the estimated one τs , used in the map-making. We focus on two aspects: the effect of degrading the τs resolution, and the addition of a Gaussian error σ to τs . To reduce the computational load of the analysis, the two effects are explored separately, for three representative LiteBIRD channels (40 GHz, 140 GHz and 402 GHz) and for three bandpass shapes. Computing the amount of bias on r, Δr, caused by these effects on a single channel, we find that a resolution ≲ 1.5 GHz and σ ≲ 0.0089 do not exceed the LiteBIRD budget allocation per systematic effect, Δr < 6.5 × 10-6. We then check that propagating separately the uncertainties due to a resolution of 1 GHz and a measurement error with σ = 0.0089 in all LiteBIRD frequency channels, for the most pessimistic bandpass shape of the three considered, still produces a Δr < 6.5 × 10-6. This is done both with the simple deprojection approach and with a blind component separation technique, the Needlet Internal Linear Combination (NILC). Due to the effectiveness of NILC in cleaning the systematic residuals, we have tested that the requirement on σ can be relaxed to σ ≲ 0.05.

Introduction and Objective: The valine catabolite 3-hydroxyisobutyrate (3HIB) was shown to promote insulin resistance in skeletal muscle by increasing lipid content in vivo. Translating this finding to cardiovascular system, it might be hypothesized that 3HIB deranges trans-endothelial fatty acid transport with potential clinical implications. Methods: To measure the impact of 3HIB on the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions in vivo, ApoE-/- mice were fed a standard laboratory diet (SD) or a Western Diet (WD) for 12 weeks starting at 8 weeks of age to induce atherosclerosis, in presence or not of 3HIB (300mg/kg, i.p injected 3 times a week) (n=6 per group). Results: After the treatment WD+3HIB mice showed a significant reduction in weight and serum triglycerides content and in aortic mean plaque areas compare to WD mice. To investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the effect of 3HIB, aorta RNA seq analysis was performed (n=6 per group). Biological process enrichment analysis revealed significant modulation of several pathways, including circadian rhythm, calcium signalling, membrane potential regulation. Preliminary RT-PCR experiments confirmed the significant increase of NR1D2 and decrease of CCL2 and NOS2 expression in WD+3HIB mice compared to WD. Next, mRNA expression levels of oxidative stress, lipid metabolism and circadian rhythm genes were evaluated in liver. The preliminary results suggest a significant improvement of liver functions induced by 3HIB treatment under WD conditions and confirmed the modulation of genes involved in circadian rhythm. Finally, preliminary results show that, in HepG2 cells, 3HIB treatment lowered FA uptake and induced the modulation of circadian genes expression, suggesting a direct link that is under investigation. Conclusion: In contrast to elevated levels of endogenous 3HIB serum levels during metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, the 3HIB treatment induces protective effects involving at least in part the modulation of circadian genes. Disclosure V. Casagrande: None. L. Panarello: None. A. Quatrana: None. L. Antonetti: None. C. Internò: None. A. Lepri: None. M. Cardellini: None. M. Federici: None. R. Menghini: None. Funding EFSD/Sanofi 2022

We present the first measurement of cosmic-ray fluxes of ^{6} Li and ^{7} Li isotopes in the rigidity range from 1.9 to 25GV. The measurements are based on 9.7×10^{5} ^{6} Li and 1.04×10^{6} ^{7} Li nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station from May 2011 to October 2023. We observe that over the entire rigidity range the ^{6} Li and ^{7} Li fluxes exhibit nearly identical time variations and, above ∼4 GV, the time variations of ^{6} Li, ^{7} Li, He, Be, B, C, N, and O fluxes are identical. Above ∼7 GV, we find an identical rigidity dependence of the ^{6} Li and ^{7} Li fluxes. This shows that they are both produced by collisions of heavier cosmic-ray nuclei with the interstellar medium and, in particular, excludes the existence of a sizable primary component in the ^{7} Li flux.

Muon collisions are considered a promising means for exploring the energy frontier, leading to a detailed study of the possible feasibility challenges. Beam intensities of the order of 1012 muons per bunch are needed to achieve the necessary luminosity, generating a high flux of secondary and tertiary particles from muons decay that reach both the machine elements and the detector region. To limit the impact of this background on the physics performance, tungsten shieldings have been studied. A machine learning-based approach to the geometry optimization of these shieldings will be discussed.

Cooling down large test masses up to 200 kg, as foreseen for the Einstein Telescope, is a complex challenge combining cutting-edge technological achievements from different disciplines with the experience gained from both room-temperature and cryogenic-temperature detector development communities. We set up an apparatus designed to test cryogenic mechanical suspensions for the payload system. They should have high quality factors and enable sufficient heat extraction greater than 0.3 W. The facility is on a university campus where cryofluid servicing is not feasible. As a result, a system that incorporates conductive cooling technology was developed. The project has two main goals: validating crystalline suspensions in a realistic Einstein Telescope cryogenic payload and testing new solutions for radiative thermal shielding. No particular measures are planned for the vibration isolation system.

We present results over an 11-year Solar cycle of cosmic antiprotons based on 1.1×10^{6} events in the rigidity range from 1.00 to 41.9GV. The p[over ¯] fluxes exhibit distinct properties. The magnitude of the p[over ¯] flux temporal variation is significantly smaller than those of p, e^{-}, and e^{+}. A hysteresis between the p[over ¯] fluxes and the p fluxes is observed, whereas the p[over ¯] and e^{-} fluxes show a linear correlation. With a model-independent analysis, we found a universal relation between the shape of the rigidity spectrum and the magnitude of flux temporal variation over an 11-year Solar cycle for both positively and negatively charged particles. The simultaneous results on p[over ¯] and p, e^{-}, and e^{+} provide unique information for understanding particle transport in the Solar System as a function of mass, charge, and spectral shape.

The Crab (Calibrated nuclear Recoils for Accurate Bolometry) project aims to precisely characterize the response of cryogenic detectors to sub-keV nuclear recoils of direct interest for coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering and dark matter search experiments. The Crab method relies on the radiative capture of thermal neutrons in the target detector, resulting in a nuclear recoil with a well-defined energy. We present a new experimental setup installed at the TRIGA Mark-II reactor at Atominstitut (Vienna), providing a low intensity beam of thermal neutrons sent to the target cryogenic detector mounted inside a wet dilution refrigerator Kelvinox 100. After the presentation of all components of the setup we report the analysis of first commissioning data with CaWO_{4} detectors of the Nucleus experiment. They show stable operation of the cryostat and detectors on a week-scale. Due to an energy resolution currently limited to 20 eV we use neutron beam induced events at high energy, in the 10 to 100 keV range, to demonstrate the excellent agreement between the data and simulation and the accurate understanding of external background. Thanks to these data we also propose an updated decay scheme of the low-lying excited states of ^{187}W. Finally, we present the first evidence of neutron-capture induced coincidences between BaF_2gamma -detectors installed around the dewar and the inner cryogenic detector. These promising results pave the way for an extensive physics program with various detector materials, like CaWO_{4}, Al_{2}O_{3}, Ge and Si.