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We report on the development of the first-ever inorganic radiation-hard moisture-insensitive large volume spectroscopic semiconductor-based scintillator with less than 2 ns decay time and light yields as high as 8000 ph/MeV. Despite extensive research into scintillator materials, the quest for an ideal scintillator combining ultrafast decay times (akin to BaF2 and Yb-doped scintillators such as Lu2O3:Yb), high light yields (exceeding 2000 photons per MeV), spectroscopic capabilities, and exceptional radiation hardness remain unfulfilled. In this study, we demonstrate and report for the first time the viability of large-volume (up to 20 mm thickness) gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3) semiconductor-based scintillators for applications requiring these properties. These β-Ga2O3 scintillators were grown using the fast turnaround (∼2 days) crucible-free optical float zone (FZ) technique. The high light yield and ultrafast decay time of these high-purity n-type semiconductors with free carrier concentration of 6 × 1017 cm−3 are attributed to native defects, specifically oxygen vacancies (VO) and gallium–oxygen vacancy pairs (VGa–VO), generated during optimized FZ growth. The ultrafast decay, along with high light yield, enables excellent timing resolution and high count rate detection for applications like time-of-flight positron emission tomography, physics experiments, and nuclear safety. The radiation hardness of these devices has been documented in a separate publication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern physics experiments are frequently very complex, relying on multiple simultaneous events to happen in order to obtain the desired result. The experiment control system plays a central role in orchestrating the measurement setup: However, its development is often treated as secondary with respect to the hardware, its importance becoming evident only during the operational phase. Therefore, the AE g ̄ IS (Antimatter Experiment: Gravity, Interferometry, Spectroscopy) collaboration has created a framework for easily coding control systems, specifically targeting atomic, quantum, and antimatter experiments. This framework, called Total Automation of LabVIEW Operations for Science (TALOS), unifies all the machines of the experiment in a single entity, thus enabling complex high-level decisions to be taken, and it is constituted by separate modules, called MicroServices, that run concurrently and asynchronously. This enhances the stability and reproducibility of the system while allowing for continuous integration and testing while the control system is running. The system demonstrated high stability and reproducibility, running completely unsupervised during the night and weekends of the data-taking campaigns. The results demonstrate the suitability of TALOS to manage an entire physics experiment in full autonomy: being open-source, experiments other than the AE g ̄ IS experiment can benefit from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues against the claim that high-energy physics experiments done so far could not be carried out without computer simulations. We show that it would be possible to completely dispense with computer simulations for experiments conducted to date, and that computer simulations up to now are mostly used for practical reasons. Our investigation covers all elements of experimental research in which computer simulations have been used. Dispensing with simulations would yield an advantage with regard to the complex theory dependence of experiments. We also point out that computer simulations may play a more essential role for the complex measurements foreseen at the Large Hadron Collider, where subtle dependencies between final state objects in high-energy physics experiments must be accurately described. Therefore, the conceivable complete replacement of computer simulations may have come to an end, and the theory dependence of high-energy physics experiments through computer simulations may be entering a new phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied a class of nonlinear magnetic diffusion problems with step-function resistivity η(e) in electromagnetically driven high-energy-density physics experiments. The stability of the nonlinear magnetic diffusion equation and its fully implicit scheme, based on the step-function resistivity approximation model ηδ(e) with smoothing, were studied. A rigorous theoretical analysis was established for the approximate model of one-dimensional continuous equations using Gronwall's theorem. Following this, the stability of the fully implicit scheme was proved using bootstrapping and other methods. The correctness of the theoretical proof was verified through one-dimensional numerical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagenetic physical simulation is a reliable means to study patterns of pore evolution and variations of physical properties, however, the current compaction model is mostly based on sandstone, and there is a lack of quantitative compaction and porosity reduction studies for more complex rock fabrics. In order to simulate the continuous change of intergranular porosity in the reservoir under compaction during the diagenesis of buried sedimentary strata, a self-designed diagenesis simulation experimental system was adopted. Using different modern sediment samples, the simulation experiment of mechanical compaction of glutenite was carried out. The experiment shows that during the process of mechanical compaction of glutenite, the change of porosity with depth is segmented, and there is a good logarithmic relationship between depth and porosity in the process of diagenetic compaction. The larger the grain size in the reservoir rock, the better the pore preservation capacity; When the sand particles fill the pores among gravel, stable secondary support structure formed by gravel and sand grades can effectively take over the bearing pressure, and when the sand-grade particle content is about 30%, the pressure-bearing capacity is the strongest; Intergranular heterobase filling is greater in samples with high heterobase content, high heterobasic content is not favourable to the preservation of primary pores. This study provides favorable experimental support for the preservation mechanism of deep clastic reservoir pores, and has important theoretical and practical significance for oil and gas exploration in the study area. The use of simulation experiment provides a useful idea for the evaluation and prediction of reservoirs and the search for favorable reservoir development zones in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are solid-state single-photon-sensitive detectors that show excellent performance in a wide range of applications. In FBK (Trento, Italy), we developed a position-sensitive SiPM technology, called "linearly graded" (LG-SiPM), which is based on an avalanche-current weighted-partitioning approach. It shows position reconstruction resolution below 250 μm on an 8 × 8 mm2 device area with four readout channels and minimal distortions. A recent development in terms of LG-SIPM is a larger chip version (10 × 10 mm2) based on FBK NUV-HD technology (near-ultraviolet sensitive), with a peak photon detection efficiency at 420 nm. Such a large-area detector with position sensitivity is very interesting in applications like MR-compatible PET, high-energy physics experiments, and readout of time-projection chambers, gamma and beta cameras, or scintillating fibers, with a reduced number of channels. These SiPMs were characterized in terms of noise, photon detection efficiency, and position resolution. We also developed tiles of 2 × 2 and 3 × 3 LG-SiPMs, reaching very large sensitive areas of 20 × 20 mm2 and 30 × 30 mm2. We implemented a "smart-channel" configuration, which allowed us to have just six output channels for the 2 × 2 elements and eight channels for the 3 × 3 element tiles, preserving a position resolution below 0.5 mm. These kinds of detectors provide a great advantage in compact and low-power applications by maintaining position sensitivity over large areas with a small number of channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shallow sediments can respond non‐linearly to large dynamic strains and undergo a subsequent healing phase as the material gradually recovers following the passing of seismic waves. This study focuses on the physical changes in the subsurface caused by the shaking from a buried chemical explosion detonated in a borehole in Nevada, USA, as a part of the Source Physics Experiment Phase II. The explosion damaged the shallow subsurface and modified the frequency content recorded by 491 geophones and 2240 Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) channels within 2.5 km from surface ground zero. We observe a gradual shift of resonance frequencies in the 10–25 Hz frequency band in the hours following the explosion and develop a method to characterize the related logarithm‐type healing process of the shallow (i.e., upper ∼25 m) subsurface. We find that stronger levels of ground motion increase the relative degree of damage and duration of the subsurface healing; with the spall region exhibiting the largest degree of damage and longest healing recovery time. We observe coherent spatial patterns of damage with the region located to the southeast of the explosion exhibiting more damage than the southwest region. This study demonstrates that both DAS and co‐located geophones capture similar temporal changes associated with the physical processes occurring in the subsurface, with the high‐density sampling of DAS measurements enabling a new capability to monitor the fine‐scale changes of the Earth's shallow subsurface following the detonation of a buried explosion. Plain Language Summary: Strong seismic waves can damage the soft sediments that compose the shallow layers of the ground. A healing phase of the sediments generally follows the passing of the seismic waves as the medium gradually recovers with time. We study the spatio‐temporal response of the subsurface in the vicinity of a large buried chemical explosion that was detonated in a borehole at the Nevada National Security Site, USA. The explosion, which was part of the Source Physics Experiment Phase II, was well instrumented along a surface fiber‐optic cable with Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) and hundreds of geophones. We find that the explosion, which generated a spallation of the shallow Earth, primarily damaged the upper ∼25 m of the subsurface. We characterize the healing of the sediments and find a correlation between the duration of the healing phase and the level of maximum shaking. The high density of sensors also allows us to study spatial variations in the response of the shallow subsurface. This study demonstrates that both DAS and geophone continuous data similarly capture the spatio‐temporal variations of the Earth's physical properties following strong ground motions, with DAS enabling meter‐scale measurements of the subsurface changes. Key Points: Shallow subsurface damage and subsequent healing caused by a buried chemical explosion are constrained with DAS and geophone dataThe explosion caused a relative drop of the average S‐wave velocity in the Earth's shallow layers of a few percentsThe logarithm‐type healing process of the subsurface exhibit a longer duration within the spall region [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently low-mass dark matter direct searches have been hindered by a low-energy background, drastically reducing the physics reach of the experiments. In the CRESST-III experiment, this signal is characterised by a significant increase of events below 200 eV. As the origin of this background is still unknown, it became necessary to develop new detector designs to reach a better understanding of the observations. Within the CRESST collaboration, three new different detector layouts have been developed, and they are presented in this contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy-ion storage rings allow for storing secondary ion beams for extended periods of time. Sophisticated beam manipulation techniques, detection capabilities and thin targets provide unique conditions for a broad range of physics experiments. In this work, the investigations related to nuclear isomeric states are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of the proton exhibits Fractal behavior at low x, where x is the fraction of the proton's momentum carried by the interacting partons. This Fractal behavior is characterized by self-similar properties at different scales and can be quantified using the concept of Fractal dimension. An investigation into the Fractal properties of the proton structure at low x is critical for understanding the fundamental properties of the strong force and developing a more comprehensive understanding of the hadron structure. Fractals, characterized by self-similar patterns across scales, demonstrate a direct correlation between their Fractal dimension and entropy, where higher Fractal dimensions correspond to increased informational content. Furthermore, it is essential for designing high-energy physics experiments and developing more accurate models of subatomic particle interactions. This paper has a fresh look at the self-similar properties of the proton structure at low x. Our study involves the use of the xFitter framework to parameterize the proton structure functions with a Fractal formalism at low x. We also examine how the inclusion of new data affects the results of our analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from a number of experiments in high-energy physics indicate difficulties in the description of the production of pions and -mesons using existing models of hadronic interactions. One of the possibilities for introducing new non-collective effects is to modernize the fragmentation models of relativistic Nambu–Goto strings. As an option, the use of initially extended strings is proposed, which makes it possible to calculate string parameters in configurations that are realistic for hadronic and nucleus–nucleus interactions. For this purpose, a special gauge is introduced, suitable for calculations with arbitrary initial conditions. The ability to determine the spin–orbital characteristics of strings allows us to impose additional restrictions on the mass of string fragments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the application of 3D printing technology, particularly using sand-type materials, in the creation of artificial rock models for rock mechanics experimentation. Design/methodology/approach: Using a comprehensive analysis, this research explores the utilization of 3D printing technology in rock mechanics. Sand-type materials are specifically investigated for their ability to replicate natural rock characteristics. The methodology involves a review of recent achievements and experimentation in this field. Findings: The study reveals that sand-type 3D printing materials demonstrate comparable properties to natural rocks, including brittle characteristics, surface roughness, microstructural features and crack propagation patterns. Research limitations/implications: While the research establishes the viability of sand-type 3D printing materials, it acknowledges limitations such as the need for further exploration and validation. Generalizability may be constrained, warranting additional research to address these limitations. Originality/value: This research contributes insights into the potential application of sand-type 3D printing materials in indoor rock physics experiments. The findings may guide future endeavors in fabricating rock specimens with consistent structures for practical rock mechanics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrowband laser sources are used in applications that require high-precision or stable optical frequency. Such applications include high-resolution spectroscopy, long-distance measurement, and coherent optical communication. The linewidth of a laser is a direct measure of the laser's stability; therefore, characterization of laser linewidth is essential. In practice, however, determining a laser's linewidth is not a trivial task and typically requires expensive equipment or a complex experimental arrangement. This paper presents a straightforward, low-cost method based on unbalanced interferometry, which allows us to determine the visibility of fringe patterns as a function of the optical path difference and, consequently, the linewidth of the laser. As a test laser, we use a tunable external cavity laser source at around 780 nm, where an interference filter is employed for wavelength selection. Data obtained by applying the interferometric technique to this laser and the analysis of these data, along with the resulting linewidth value, are presented. Given that the described measurement setup is inexpensive, straightforward, and pedagogically accessible, it is well-suited for an instructional physics laboratory experiment and will also be of interest to laboratory researchers. Editor's Note: This paper presents a low-cost interferometric technique for measuring the linewidth of a laser. The author first provides context for the interferometric technique by giving a comprehensive, clear, and detailed description of other techniques that can be used to measure a laser's linewidth, including the benefits and drawbacks of each. The principle behind the interferometric method is then presented, and the required experimental setup is explained. Data obtained by applying the interferometric technique to an external cavity laser are presented, and the analysis of these data, along with the resulting linewidth value, are given. This work provides a well-suited experiment for an advanced instructional physics laboratory or optics/laser course. It will also hold appeal as a cost-effective tool for laser linewidth measurement in laboratory research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present a detailed comparison of two independently developed models of the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) for Monte Carlo particle transport simulations: the constructive solid geometry (CSG) model that was developed in support of the MSRE benchmark in the International Handbook of Evaluated Reactor Physics Benchmark Experiments, and a CAD model that was developed by Copenhagen Atomics. The original Serpent reference CSG model was first converted to OpenMC's input format so that it could be systematically compared to the CAD model, which was already available as an OpenMC model, using the same Monte Carlo code. Results from simulations using the Serpent and OpenMC CSG models showed that keff agreed within 10 pcm while the flux distribution in space and energy generally agreed within 0.1%. Larger differences were observed between the OpenMC CAD and CSG models; notably, the keff computed for the CAD model was 1.00872, which is more than 1% lower than the value for the CSG model and much closer to experiment. Several areas of the reactor that were modeled differently in the CSG and CAD models were discussed and, in several cases, their impact on keff was quantified. Lastly, we compared the computational performance and memory usage between the CAD and CSG models. Simulation of the CSG model was found to be 1.4-2.3× faster than simulation of the CAD model based on the Embree ray tracer while using 4× less memory, highlighting the need for continued improvements in the CADbased particle transport ecosystem. Finally, major performance degradation was observed for CAD-based simulations when using the MOAB ray tracer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ATLAS experiment at CERN relies on a Worldwide Distributed Computing Grid infrastructure to support its physics program at the Large Hadron Collider. ATLAS has integrated cloud computing resources to complement its Grid infrastructure and conducted an R&D program on Google Cloud Platform. These initiatives leverage key features of commercial cloud providers: lightweight configuration and operation, elasticity and availability of diverse infrastructures. This paper examines the seamless integration of cloud computing services as a conventional Grid site within the ATLAS workflow management and data management systems, while also offering new setups for interactive, parallel analysis. It underscores pivotal results that enhance the on-site computing model and outlines several R&D projects that have benefited from large-scale, elastic resource provisioning models. Furthermore, this study discusses the impact of cloud-enabled R&D projects in three domains: accelerators and AI/ML, ARM CPUs and columnar data analysis techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a Bidirectional Electrode Control Arm Assembly (BECAA) for precisely manipulating dust clouds levitated above the powered electrode in RF plasmas. The reported techniques allow the creation of perfectly 2D dust layers by eliminating off-plane particles by moving the electrode from outside the plasma chamber without altering the plasma conditions. The tilting and moving of electrodes using BECAA also allows the precise and repeatable elimination of dust particles one by one to achieve any desired number of grains N without trial and error. Simultaneously acquired top and side view images of dust clusters show that they are perfectly planar or 2D. A demonstration of clusters with N = 1–28 without changing the plasma conditions is presented to show the utility of BECAA for complex plasma and statistical physics experimental design. Demonstration videos and 3D printable part files are available for easy reproduction and adaptation of this new method to repeatably produce 2D clusters in existing RF plasma chambers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental activities in physics learning are important to encourage students to interact directly with physical phenomena. This study integrates local culture with technology through an innovative approach to the design of physics experiments. Arduino, a low-cost microcontroller, is extensively utilized for learning physics. The local culture examined in this study is Angklung, a traditional musical instrument from West Java, Indonesia. This study utilizes Arduino with a microphone sensor to design experiments investigating the sound produced by Angklung. The experimental activity aims to determine the frequency generated on each musical instrument on the diatonic Angklung and the factors that influence that frequency. The experimental results show that each musical instrument has a different frequency. Programming on Arduino is easy for students even though students do not have basic programming knowledge. The results of this study can be used as a reference for conducting alternative experiments using affordable equipment and objects familiar to students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation models of critical systems often have parameters that need to be calibrated using observed data. For expensive simulation models, calibration is done using an emulator of the simulation model built on simulation output at different parameter settings. Using intelligent and adaptive selection of parameters to build the emulator can drastically improve the efficiency of the calibration process. The article proposes a sequential framework with a novel criterion for parameter selection that targets learning the posterior density of the parameters. The emergent behavior from this criterion is that exploration happens by selecting parameters in uncertain posterior regions while simultaneously exploitation happens by selecting parameters in regions of high posterior density. The advantages of the proposed method are illustrated using several simulation experiments and a nuclear physics reaction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the status and prospects of the Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment, one of the four large detectors based at the LHC. The physics programme of the experiment is discussed by highlighting the status of rare b-quark decays, charged current semileptonic decays and the searches for CP violation. These areas make a strong cases for a second upgrade of LHCb, which will fully harness the HL-LHC's potential as a flavour physics machine while maintaining a rich and diverse research programme. The upgrade also provides an opportunity for the development of novel detector technologies during an exciting period of anticipation in preparation for the future circular collider currently foreseen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major intention of this study is to design and validate manipulatives for homebased physics experiments. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused tremendous and rapid amendments to educational systems worldwide, immediately shifting from traditional on-the-ground teaching to virtual classroom instruction or modular learning approach to name a few. Similarly, it has made laboratory experiments problematic. Demonstrations are limited just to the four corners of the electronic gadget's screen, while simulations can only do so much in terms of experiential learning; hence, the urgency of developing these low-cost laboratory kits for students' use at home. The laboratory activities and kits went through thorough examination for validation by 3 experts in the field of Physics, all of them holding Masters-degree. The setup was found to be valid (overall mean of 4.67 from a 5-point Likert scale validation tool). The effectiveness, in terms of the performance of learners, was established using quasi-experimental methods involving 30 students (15 males and 15 females) in the control group and 30 learners (15 males and 15 females) in the experimental group. The control group was exposed to customary lectures via online classes with virtual simulations. The students in the experimental group attended the same online lectures and were provided with the home-based manipulative kit. The analysis and interpretation of data collected from the pretest-posttest scores of the student participants revealed that the laboratory manipulative kits are effective and highly acceptable. The normalized gain of the experimental group (g = 0.82, high gain) was significantly higher than that of the control group (g = 0.45, medium gain). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of associating spectral peaks in emission radiation data with particular charge states of specific elements is a common task in the field of plasma diagnostics in both laboratory and astrophysical settings. Existing techniques for this purpose are often highly manual or can rely heavily on theoretical models and assumptions of plasma parameters. We present a numerical approach to largely automate this process. The approach combines statistics from experimental data with theoretical predictions of transition strengths and observed emission intensity data in order to accomplish the task of spectral line identification in a rigorous, quantitative way, reporting confidence levels in its own predictions for each wavelength. Weighted by this confidence, the method identifies sources of 31 test emission lines in the C-2W device with 99.99% accuracy (compared to manual identification). Similar performance is demonstrated on synthetic datasets and spectroscopic observations of the planetary nebula NGC 6543, with accuracies of between 95% and 100%. The approach is scalable, portable to a wide variety of spectroscopic datasets and significantly faster and more rigorous than manual methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT), a non-invasive, radiation-free, and convenient imaging technique, has been widely used in the diagnosis of stroke. However, due to soft-field nonlinearity and the ill-posed inverse problem, EIT images always suffer from low spatial resolution. Therefore, a multi-scale convolutional attention residual-based U-Net (MARU-Net) network is proposed for stroke reconstruction. Based on the U-Net network, a residual module and a multi-scale convolutional attention module are added to the concatenation layer. The multi-scale module extracts feature information of different sizes, the attention module strengthens the useful information, and the residual module improves the performance of the network. Based on the above advantages, the network is used in the EIT system for stroke imaging. Compared with convolutional neural networks and one-dimensional convolutional neural networks, the MARU-Net network has fewer artifacts, and the reconstructed image is clear. At the same time, the reduction of noisy artifacts in the MARU-Net network is verified. The results show that the image correlation coefficient of the reconstructed image with noise is greater than 0.87. Finally, the practicability of the network is verified by a model physics experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sPHENIX experiment is a state-of-the-art jet and heavy flavor physics detector, which successfully recorded its first Au + Au collision data at 200 GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). sPHENIX will provide heavy flavor physics measurements at RHIC, covering an unexplored kinematic region and unprecedented precision, to probe the parton energy loss mechanism, parton transport coefficients in quark–gluon plasma, and the hadronization process under various medium conditions. At the center of sPHENIX, the monolithic active pixel sensor (MAPS)-based VerTeX detector (MVTX) is a high-precision silicon pixel detector. The MVTX provides excellent position resolution and the capability of operating in continuous streaming readout mode, allowing precise vertex determination and recording a large data sample, both of which are particularly crucial for heavy flavor physics measurements. In this work, we will show the general performance of heavy-flavor hadron reconstruction. In addition, we will discuss the commissioning experience with sPHENIX. Finally, we will provide the projection of b-hadron and jet observables and discuss the estimated constraints on theoretical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific properties of quantum field theory are described by considering the combination of the system under investigation and the cloud of virtual or real particles associated with the field. Such a structure is called a "dressed system", in contrast with the bare one in the absence of the interaction with the field. The description of the properties of such clouds in various physical situations is, today, an active research area. Here, we present the main features associated with virtual and real dressings, focusing on photon dressing. In analogy to virtual photon clouds dressing electrons in vacuum, virtual phonon clouds appear in solid-state physics. The interaction between real photons and the schematized two-level structure of an atom paves the way to flexible quantum control. Here, a unifying Floquet engineering approach is applied to describe single- and multiple-dressed atom configurations. Connections with the past and present atomic physics experiments are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: New technologies have great potential to facilitate students' understanding and appreciation of one of the most abstract and challenging school subjects -- physics. This study aimed to examine the effects of a gamebased virtual reality teaching method on secondary school students' self-beliefs, interest, and performance in physics through a quasi-experimental design using pre- and post-test data. The evaluation is based on the systemic actiotope model that explains a person's goal-oriented actions by an interplay of their environment, action repertoire (i.e., students' performance and interest in physics), and subjective action space (i.e., students' self-efficacy, self-concept, and implicit theories regarding physics). Method: A game-based virtual reality App to be used with Google cardboards was developed containing 10 teaching units from the secondary school physics class curriculum. Participants in the control group were taught using traditional teaching methods, while students in the experimental group went through the VR with the teacher and conducted the prepared VR experiments in addition to the traditionally presented content. Three tests measured students' physics performance during the semester. In addition, students answered questionnaires assessing their interest, self-efficacy, self-concept, and entity implicit theories regarding physics before and after the intervention, resulting in a Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design. Results: There were no significant differences between the control and experimental group in test scores on the first and second tests but compared to the control group, the experimental group achieved higher scores on the third test. In addition, the results indicate differential effects of the game-based virtual reality teaching method on students' interest and self-efficacy regarding physics to the advantage of students identifying as male, but no effects on students' self-concept, and entity implicit theories regarding physics. Discussion: The results of our pilot study suggest that incorporating innovative didactic methods into secondary school physics classes could potentially contribute to higher performance in and motivation for physics during this crucial period of adolescence when students develop educational and career aspirations. However, game-based virtual reality teaching methods seem to favor students identifying as male, which should be considered in their development and presentation. Other practical implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fluid Physics Research Rack (FPR) is a research platform employed on-board the Chinese Space Station for conducting microgravity fluid physics experiments. The research platform includes the Microgravity Active Vibration Isolation System (MAVIS) for isolating the FPR from disturbances arising from the space station itself. The MAVIS is a structural platform consisting of a stator and floater that are monitored and controlled with non-contact electromagnetic actuators, high-precision accelerometers, and displacement transducers. The stator is fixed to the FPR, while the floater serves as a vibration isolation platform supporting payloads, and is connected with the stator only with umbilicals that mainly comprise power and data cables. The controller was designed with a correction for the umbilical stiffness to minimize the effect of the umbilicals on the vibration isolation performance of the MAVIS. In-orbit test results of the FPR demonstrate that the MAVIS was able to achieve a microgravity level of 1–30 μg0 (where g0 = 9.80665 m ∙ s−2) in the frequency range of 0.01–125 Hz under the microgravity mode, and disturbances with a frequency greater than 2 Hz are attenuated by more than 10-fold. Under the vibration excitation mode, the MAVIS generated a minimum vibration acceleration of 0.4091 μg0 at a frequency of 0.00995 Hz and a maximum acceleration of 6253 μg0 at a frequency of 9.999 Hz. Therefore, the MAVIS provides a highly stable environment for conducting microgravity experiments, and promotes the development of microgravity fluid physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A powerful and robust control system is a crucial, often neglected, pillar of any modern, complex physics experiment that requires the management of a multitude of different devices and their precise time synchronisation. The AEḡIS collaboration presents CIRCUS, a novel, autonomous control system optimised for time-critical experiments such as those at CERN's Antiproton Decelerator and, more broadly, in atomic and quantum physics research. Its setup is based on Sinara/ARTIQ and TALOS, integrating the ALPACA analysis pipeline, the last two developed entirely in AEḡIS. It is suitable for strict synchronicity requirements and repeatable, automated operation of experiments, culminating in autonomous parameter optimisation via feedback from real-time data analysis. CIRCUS has been successfully deployed and tested in AEḡIS; being experiment-agnostic and released open-source, other experiments can leverage its capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavour physics is one of the essential elements of the Standard Model (SM). Experimental studies of weak decays of B and D mesons at B factories have, together with the discovery of the Higgs boson at LHC, provided the final confirmation of the validity of the SM. The present generation of precision flavour physics experiments is looking for departures from the SM. We discuss studies of anomalies in b hadron decays, and studies of rare decays, which are a very promising method for searching for new physics. This article is part of the theme issue 'The particle-gravity frontier'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A description of the setup for demonstration and educational experiments developed at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, which illustrates the physical phenomena that occur during plasma generation by injection of electron beams into dense gaseous media and aerosols, is given. The setup is equipped with a multifunctional working chamber with a set of interchangeable units able to demonstrate various effects observed when an electron-beam plasma interacts with matter within a wide range of conditions. Specially developed hardware and software control the operation of the unit and diagnostic tools ensuring the accumulation and computer processing of primary data and maintain the compatibility of the equipment with standard and specially designed visualization systems, which makes it possible to use the setup for demonstrations both offline and online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many scientific applications from rare-event searches to condensed matter system characterization to high-rate nuclear experiments require time-domain triggering on a raw stream of data, where the triggering is generally threshold-based or randomly acquired. When carrying out detector R &D, there is a need for a general data acquisition (DAQ) system to quickly and efficiently process such data. In the SPLENDOR collaboration, we are developing the Python-based SPLENDAQ package for this exact purpose—it offers two main features for offline analysis of continuous data: a threshold triggering algorithm based on the time-domain optimal filter formalism and an algorithm for randomly choosing nonoverlapping segments for noise measurements. Combined with the commercially available Moku platform, developed by Liquid Instruments, we have a full pipeline of event building off raw data with minimal setup. Here, we review the underlying principles of this detector-agnostic DAQ package and give concrete examples of its utility in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of cases, i.e. the informal elicitation of judgements in thought experiments for the purpose of philosophical theorising, has been much criticised in recent years. In this paper we point out that the method of cases is not peculiar to philosophy: it can also be found in physics, where it has made a more limited, but still valuable contribution to the probing and formulation of theories. The method of cases per se should therefore not be treated as intrinsically methodologically flawed. This paper has also a narrower goal: to show that when the analogy underlying the so-called 'expertise defence' is drawn between judgements in thought experiments in philosophy and in physics, several objections can be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Predicting models of the gamma passing rate (GPR) have been studied to substitute the measurement‐based gamma analysis. Since these studies used data from different radiotherapy systems comprising TPS, linear accelerator, and detector array, it has been difficult to compare the performances of the predicting models among institutions with different radiotherapy systems. Purpose: We aimed to develop unbiased scoring methods to evaluate the performance of the models predicting the GPR, by introducing both best and worst limits for the performance of the GPR prediction. Methods: Two hundred head‐and‐neck VMAT plans were used to develop a framework. The GPRs were measured using the ArcCHECK device. The predicted GPR [p] was generated using a deep learning‐based model [pDL]. The predicting model was evaluated using four metrics: standard deviation (SD) [σ], Pearson's correlation coefficient (CC) [r], mean squared error (MSE) [s], and mean absolute error (MAE) [a]. The best limit [σm${\sigma _m}$, rm${r_m}$, sm${s_m}$, and am${a_m}$] was estimated by measuring the SD of measured GPR [m] by shifting the device along the longitudinal direction to measure different sampling points. Mimicked best and worst p's [pbest and pworst] were generated from pDL. The worst limit was defined such that m and p have no correlation [CC ∼ 0]. The worst limit [σMix, rMix, sMix, and aMix] was generated using the event‐mixing (EM) technique originally introduced in high‐energy physics experiments. The range of σ, r, s, and a was defined to be [σm,σMix]$[ {{\sigma _m},{\sigma _{{\mathrm{Mix}}}}} ]$, [0,rm]$[ {0,{r_m}} ]$, [sm,sMix]$[ {{s_m},{s_{{\mathrm{Mix}}}}} ]$, and [am,aMix]$[ {{a_m},{a_{{\mathrm{Mix}}}}} ]$. The achievement score (AS) independently based on σ, r, s, and a were calculated for pDL, pbest and pworst. The probability that p fails the gamma analysis (alert frequency; AF) was estimated as a function of σd${\sigma _d}$ values within the [σm${\sigma _m}$, σMix] range for the 3%/2 mm data with a 95% criterion. Results: SDs of the best limit were well reproduced by σm=0.531100−m${\sigma _m} = \;0.531\sqrt {100 - m} $. The EM technique successfully generated the (m,p)$({m,p})$ pairs with no correlation. The AS using four metrics showed good agreement. This agreement indicates successful definitions of both best and worst limits, consistent definitions of the AS, and successful generations of mixed events. The AF for the DL‐based model with the 3%/2 mm tolerance was 31.5% and 63.0% with CL's 99% and 99.9%, respectively. Conclusion: We developed the AS to evaluate the predicting model of the GPR in an unbiased manner by excluding the effects of the precision of the radiotherapy system and the spreading of the GPR. The best and worst limits of the GPR prediction were successfully generated using the measured precision of the GPR and the EM technique, respectively. The AS and σp${\sigma _p}$ are expected to enable objective evaluation of the predicting model and setting exact achievement goal of precision for the predicted GPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-precision searches for an electric dipole moment of the neutron (nEDM) require stable and uniform magnetic field environments. We present the recent achievements of degaussing and equilibrating the magnetically shielded room (MSR) for the n2EDM experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute. We present the final degaussing configuration that will be used for n2EDM after numerous studies. The optimized procedure results in a residual magnetic field that has been reduced by a factor of two. The ultra-low field is achieved with the full magnetic-field-coil system, and a large vacuum vessel installed, both in the MSR. In the inner volume of ∼ 1.4 m 3 , the field is now more uniform and below 300 pT. In addition, the procedure is faster and dissipates less heat into the magnetic environment, which in turn, reduces its thermal relaxation time from 12 h down to 1.5 h . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]