Author: Santonocito, D.
Paper Title Page
TUC1
Status and perspectives of the PANDORA experiment: investigating β-decays in magnetized plasmas  
 
  • D. Mascali
    INFN-LNS, Catania, Italy
  • D. Santonocito
    INFN-LNL, Legnaro (PD), Italy
 
  This contribution deals with the upcoming PANDORA (Plasmas for Astrophysics, Nuclear Decay Observations and Radiation for Archaeometry) facility [1], at INFN-LNS, Catania. PANDORA aims at measuring β-radioactivity rates and chemical element opacity in plasmas produced in an electron cyclotron resonance ion trap (ECRIT). The beta-decay rates are expected to vary of several orders of magnitude in a hot plasma, due to the interplay between the nuclear and atomic processes by the so-called bound-state-beta-decay mechanism (BSBD). Variations of decay rates have huge impact in astrophysical scenarios and cosmic nucleosynthesis processes, impacting on the chemical abundances in the Galaxy and in the early Universe. The PANDORA experimental setup will consist of: 1) a superconducting magnetic trap of 700 mm in length, 280 mm in diameter, operating up to 21 GHz, in triple-frequency heating mode; 2) an array of 14 of high efficiency High Purity Germanium detectors used to measure the gamma-rays emitted as by-products of beta-decays; 3) a unique multi-diagnostics system to characterize the plasma, including mm-wave super-heterodyne interfero-polarimeter, Thomson scattering, two high-resolution optical spectrometers, two CCD pin-hole camera systems for X-ray spectroscopy, imaging and tomography, SDD and Si-pin detectors for volumetric spectroscopy, and a mass-spectrometer. The talk will give an overview about the status of the facility construction.
[1] D. Mascali et al., Universe 8 80, 2022
 
Cite • reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)  
 
THA2 Numerical design of an innovative superconducting magnetic trap for probing β-decay in ECR plasmas 159
 
  • G.S. Mauro, L. Celona, G. Torrisi, A. Pidatella, E. Naselli, F. Russo, B. Mishra, G. Finocchiaro, D. Santonocito, D. Mascali
    INFN-LNS, Catania, Italy
  • A. Galatà
    INFN-LNL, Legnaro (PD), Italy
 
  The main aim of Plasmas for Astrophysics Nuclear Decays Observation and Radiation for Archaeometry (PANDORA) project is to build a flexible magnetic plasma trap where plasma reaches a density nₑ ∼ 10¹¹ – 10¹³ cm⁻³, and a temperature, in units of kT, kTₑ ∼ 0.1 – 30 keV in order to measure, for the first time, nuclear β-decay rates in stellar-like conditions. Here we present the numerical design of the PANDORA magnetic system, carried out by using the commercial simulators OPERA and CST Studio Suite. In particular, we discuss the design choices taken to: 1) obtain the required magnetic field levels at relevant axial and radial positions; 2) avoid the magnetic branches along the plasma chamber wall; 3) find the optimal position for the set of plasma diagnostics that will be employed. The magnetic trap has been conceived to be as large as possible, both in radial and axial directions, in order to exploit the plasma confinement mechanism on a bigger plasmoid volume. The plasma chamber will have a length of 700 mm and a diameter of 280 mm. The magnetic trap tender procedure has been completed in June 2024 and the structure realization is expected to start in late 2024.  
slides icon Slides THA2 [6.420 MB]  
DOI • reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ECRIS2024-THA2  
About • Received ※ 25 January 2025 — Revised ※ 28 January 2025 — Accepted ※ 30 January 2025 — Issued ※ 15 June 2025
Cite • reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)