Advances in Space AstroParticle Physics (ASAPP2025) - 2nd edition

Session

R&D of novel approaches and instruments

R&D

13 May 2025, 15:00

Hotel Eden Roc

8. MAPS: from vertex detectors to space applications

Suljic, Miljenko (CERN)

13/05/2025, 15:00

Oral

Over the past decade, Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) have well established their position in high-energy physics experiment vertex detectors. By integrating both the readout circuitry and the sensitive volume on a single chip manufactured via commercial processes, MAPS enable the development of ultra-thin, large-scale tracking detectors. The ALICE Inner Tracking System 2 (ITS2),...

5. First results of the second batch of Space LGADs for AstroParticle Physics (SLAPP-2)

Cavazzini, Leo (Universita degli Studi di Trento and INFN (IT))

13/05/2025, 15:25

Oral

Low Gain Avalanche Diodes (LGADs) are silicon detectors with an intrinsic gain, developed for timing measurements in High Energy Physics Experiments. The sate-of-the-art LGADs foreseen for ATLAS and CMS experiments feature a channel size of about 2 mm$^2$ on 50 $\mu$m thick silicon providing a timing resolution of about 30 ps for Minimum Ionizing Particles (MIPs). These detectors are radiation...

40. Advancing Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors for Space Applications: Results from the ARCADIA MD3 Demonstrator

Ricci, Ester (Universita degli Studi di Trento and INFN (IT))

13/05/2025, 15:50

Oral

Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) have emerged as a key enabling technology in particle physics, offering µm-level spatial resolution, low material budget, simplified assembly, and lower production costs compared to alternative detector technologies.
Following the success of ALPIDE, designed by the ALICE collaboration and currently operational in LHC Run 3, interest in MAPS has expanded...

37. High-Efficiency WLS Plastic for a Compact Cherenkov Detector

Nozzoli, Francesco (Universita degli Studi di Trento and INFN-TIFPA (IT))

13/05/2025, 16:30

Oral

The PHeSCAMI project (Pressurized Helium Scintillating Calorimeter for AntiMatter Identification) aims to detect anti-deuterium in cosmic rays by utilizing delayed annihilations (~μs) expected within a pressurized helium target. This technique relies on capturing the helium scintillation signal (80 nm), which requires a two-stage Wavelength Shifter (WLS) conversion.
This study presents...

51. A SiPM-based RICH detector with timing capabilities for ion identification

Mazziotta, Nicola (Universita e INFN, Bari (IT))

13/05/2025, 16:55

Oral

In this contribution we present a novel compact particle identification (PID) detector concept based on Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) optimized to perform combined Ring-Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) and Time-of-Flight (TOF) measurements using a common photodetector layer. The system consists of a Cherenkov radiator layer separated from a photosensitive surface equipped with SiPMs by an...

38. Flexible and Low-Material-Budget Packaging for Particle Detectors in Space

Novel, David

13/05/2025, 17:20

Oral

This study presents an innovative approach to manufacturing flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs) with a low-material-budget stack, inspired by developments in the ALICE ITS1 and STAR tracker. The core of this method is the use of ultra-thin flexible cables, composed of aluminum and polyimide with thicknesses on the order of tens of micrometers, to establish connections between a sensor and...

80. FIT: a scintillating-fiber tracker for new-generation space-borne experiments

Dr Perrina, Chiara (EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Federale Lausanne (CH))

13/05/2025, 17:45

Oral

A new era of space missions is needed to address the unresolved questions raised by current experiments, and further advance our understanding of charged cosmic rays and gamma rays. The challenge of the direct detection at increasingly higher energies, combined with enhanced energy and angular resolutions, is shaping the design of future detectors. FIT is a modular, high-resolution particle...

81. A-STEP, the AstroPix Sounding rocked Technology dEmonstrator Payload: Multi-detector performance

Laviron, Adrien (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), NASA Post-doctoral Program (NPP))

16/05/2025, 09:00

Oral

A gamma-ray observatory with high sensitivity in the MeV range (100 keV - 100 MeV) and with good spectral and polarimetric capabilities will bring unprecedented insights into many astrophysical domains such as cosmic ray production and propagation, nucleosynthesis processes and transient and extreme phenomena, and will be key in addressing fundamental physics questions such as the nature of...

39. R&D on Plasma-Etched Gas Electron Multipliers for X-ray Polarimetry in Space

Lega, Alessandro (INFN)

16/05/2025, 09:25

Oral

Gas Electron Multipliers (GEMs) play a critical role in high-resolution X-ray polarimetry, enabling precise measurements for astrophysical missions such as IXPE, Polarlight, and the upcoming eXTP telescope. These detectors rely on the ability to amplify electron signals generated by incoming X-rays with high spatial resolution while maintaining optimal detection efficiency in the 2–8 keV...

9. X-POT: X-ray Polarimetry with Optical Time projection chamber

Fiorina, Davide (GSSI & INFN LNGS)

16/05/2025, 09:50

Oral

We present a novel large-volume, extended field-of-view Time Projection Chamber (TPC) tailored for hard X‑ray polarimetry. Originally developed for directional Dark Matter searches, the system has been adapted to measure the polarization of X‑rays, providing a new tool to probe the high-energy universe. The detector employs a triple-GEM configuration coupled with an optical readout, using a...

11. The EPSI R&D: Development of an innovative electron-positron discrimination technique for space application

Volpato, Chiara (University of Firenze)

16/05/2025, 10:15

Oral

The direct measurement of the antimatter components in cosmic rays provides a crucial information on the mechanisms responsible for their acceleration/propagation and represent a powerful tool for the indirect search of dark matter. At present, charge sign discrimination has been performed by the use of magnetic spectrometers, which are not suited to extend the current measurements at higher...

22. The Pentadimensional Tracking Space Detector, R&D for spaceborne LGAD Si-microstrip trackers

Duranti, Matteo (Universita e INFN, Perugia (IT))

16/05/2025, 10:55

Oral

In the context of the Pentadimensional Tracking Space Detector
project (PTSD), we are currently developing a demonstrator to increase the Technological Readiness Level of LGAD Si-microstrip tracking detectors for applications in space-borne instruments.

Low Gain Avalanche Diodes (LGAD) is a consolidated technology developed for particle detectors at colliders which allows for simultaneous...

87. Onboard machine learning for high-energy observatories for spacecraft autonomy and ground segment operations

Mr Castaldini, Luca (INAF/OAS Bologna)

16/05/2025, 11:20

Oral

Machine Learning (ML) techniques have proven highly effective in gamma-ray data analysis performed in ground-based pipelines. Implementing ML analysis directly onboard satellites introduces transformative capabilities that enhance both spacecraft autonomy and ground segment efficiency. Onboard ML processing significantly reduces the required downlink bandwidth by selecting relevant data before...

3. Advanced Tracking Analysis in Space Experiments with Graph Neural Networks

Cuna, Federica (Universita e INFN, Bari (IT))

16/05/2025, 11:45

Oral

The integration of advanced artificial intelligence techniques into astroparticle experiments marks a transformative step in data analysis and experimental design. As space missions grow increasingly complex, the adoption of AI technologies becomes critical to optimizing performance and achieving robust scientific outcomes.
This study focuses on the development of innovative AI-driven...

43. Machine Learning techniques for Cosmic Rays Physics analysis and simulations

Tabarroni, Luca (INFN e Universita Roma Tor Vergata (IT))

16/05/2025, 12:10

Oral

The growing demand for GPUs has led to the rapid development of machine learning research techniques in all areas of science, including High Energy Physics.
We present a study focused on the classification task of simulated electrons and protons as they would be detected by the High Energy Cosmic-Radiation Detection (HERD) Facility. HERD is a high-energy cosmic-ray detector based on a deep...

28. Unsupervised machine learning techniques for the selection of cosmic-ray electrons and positrons in Fermi-LAT data

Cibrario, Nicolo'

16/05/2025, 12:35

Oral

In astroparticle physics, machine learning (ML)-based analyses often rely heavily on Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, yet discrepancies between simulated and real experimental data can pose significant challenges, particularly in the context of supervised ML techniques. In its 2017 publication, the Fermi-LAT collaboration conducted an analysis of the cosmic electrons and positrons spectrum,...