Il Compressed Sensing

Introduzione al metodo del Compressed Sensing per il campionamento di segnali sparsi.

Tecniche per l'acquisizione a basso consumo di segnali sparsi tramite compressed sensing

Tecniche per l'acquisizione a basso consumo di segnali sparsi tramite compressed sensing

Ultra low power analog-to-information conversion by short-time compressed sensing

Il compressed sensing è un’innovativa tecnica per l’acquisizione dei dati, che mira all'estrazione del solo contenuto informativo intrinseco di un segnale. Ciò si traduce nella possibilità di acquisire informazione direttamente in forma compressa, riducendo la quantità di risorse richieste per tale operazione. In questa tesi è sviluppata un'architettura hardware per l'acquisizione di segnali analogici basata sul compressed sensing, specializzata al campionamento con consumo di potenza ridotto di segnali biomedicali a basse frequenze. Lo studio è svolto a livello di sistema mediante l'integrazione della modulazione richiesta dal compressed sensing in un convertitore analogico-digitale ad approssimazioni successive, modificandone la logica di controllo. Le prestazioni risultanti sono misurate tramite simulazioni numeriche e circuitali. Queste confermano la possibilità di ridurre la complessità hardware del sistema di acquisizione rispetto allo stato dell'arte, senza alterarne le prestazioni.

Compressed sensing in digital tomosynthesis reconstruction

In this work we study a model for the breast image reconstruction in Digital Tomosynthesis, that is a non-invasive and non-destructive method for the three-dimensional visualization of the inner structures of an object, in which the data acquisition includes measuring a limited number of low-dose two-dimensional projections of an object by moving a detector and an X-ray tube around the object within a limited angular range. The problem of reconstructing 3D images from the projections provided in the Digital Tomosynthesis is an ill-posed inverse problem, that leads to a minimization problem with an object function that contains a data fitting term and a regularization term. The contribution of this thesis is to use the techniques of the compressed sensing, in particular replacing the standard least squares problem of data fitting with the problem of minimizing the 1-norm of the residuals, and using as regularization term the Total Variation (TV). We tested two different algorithms: a new alternating minimization algorithm (ADM), and a version of the more standard scaled projected gradient algorithm (SGP) that involves the 1-norm. We perform some experiments and analyse the performance of the two methods comparing relative errors, iterations number, times and the qualities of the reconstructed images. In conclusion we noticed that the use of the 1-norm and the Total Variation are valid tools in the formulation of the minimization problem for the image reconstruction resulting from Digital Tomosynthesis and the new algorithm ADM has reached a relative error comparable to a version of the classic algorithm SGP and proved best in speed and in the early appearance of the structures representing the masses.

Risk assessment of liquid hydrogen tanks for heavy duty vehicles

The advent of the hydrogen economy has already been predicted but it does not represent a tangible reality yet. However, decarbonizing the global economy and particularly the energy sector is vital to limit global warming and reduce the incumbent environmental problems. Hydrogen is a promising zero-emission fuel that could replace traditional fossil fuels, playing a key role in the transition towards a more sustainable economy. At present, hydrogen-powered cars are already spread worldwide and the deployment of hydrogen buses seems to be the next goal in the decarbonization process of the transportation sector. In contrast with the undeniable benefits introduced by the use of this alternative fuel, given its hazardous properties, safety is a topic of high concern. The present study concerns the evaluation of the risks linked to the on board storage of hydrogen on hydrogen-powered buses in case of road accident. Currently, hydrogen can be stored on board as a high-pressure gas, as a cryogenic liquid or in cryo-compressed form. Those solutions are compared from a safety point of view. First, the final accidental scenarios that could follow the release of the fuel in case of a road crash are pointed out. Secondly, threshold values for the hazardous effects of each scenario are fixed and the corresponding damage distances are calculated thanks to the use of the software PHAST 8.4. Finally, indicators are quantified to compare the different options. Results are discussed to find out the safer solution and to evaluate whether the replacement of fossil fuels with hydrogen introduces new safety issues.

Experimental characterization of hydrogen containing flames

The current environmental and socio-economic situation promotes the development of carbon-neutral and sustainable solutions for energy supply. In this framework, the use of hydrogen has been largely indicated as a promising alternative. However, safety aspects are of concern for storage and transportation technologies. Indeed, the current know-how promotes its transportation via pipeline as compressed gas. However, the peculiar properties of hydrogen make the selection of suitable materials challenging. For these reasons, dilution with less reactive species has been considered a short and medium solution. As a way of example, methane-hydrogen mixtures are currently transported via pipelines. In this case, the hydrogen content is limited to 20% in volume, thus keeping the dependence on natural gas sources. On the contrary, hydrogen can be conveniently transported by mixing it with carbon dioxide deriving from carbon capture and storage technologies. In this sense, the interactions between hydrogen and carbon dioxide have been poorly studied. In particular, the effects of composition and operative conditions in the case of accidental release or for direct use in the energy supply chain are unknown. For these reasons, the present work was devoted to the characterization of the chemical phenomena ruling the system. To this aim, laminar flames containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide in the air were investigated experimentally and numerically. Different detailed kinetic mechanisms largely validated were considered at this stage. Significant discrepancies were observed among numerical and experimental data, especially once a fuel consisting of 40%v of hydrogen was studied. This deviation was attributed to the formation of a cellular flame increasing the overall reactivity. Hence, this observation suggests the need for combined models accounting for peculiar physical phenomena and detailed kinetic mechanisms characterizing the hydrogen-containing flames.

Quality controls for the Mu2e electromagnetic calorimeter and R&D studies for the muon capture rate determination

According to the SM, while Lepton Flavour Violation is allowed in the neutral sector, Charged Lepton Flavour Violation (CLFV) processes are forbidden. The Mu2e Experiment at Fermilab will search for the CLFV process of neutrinoless conversion of a muon into an electron within the field of an Al nucleus. The Mu2e detectors and its state-of-the-art superconducting magnetic system are presented, with special focus put to the electromagnetic crystal calorimeter. The calorimeter is composed by two annular disks, each one hosting pure CsI crystals read-out by custom silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). The SiPMs are amplified by custom electronics (FEE) and are glued to copper holders in group of 2 SiPMs and 2 FEE boards thus forming a crystal Readout Unit. These Readout Units are being tested at the Quality Control (QC) Station, whose design, realization and operations are presented in this work. The QC Station allows to determine the gain, the response and the photon detection efficiency of each unit and to evaluate the dependence of these parameters from the supply voltage and temperature. The station is powered by two remotely-controlled power supplies and monitored thanks to a Slow Control system which is also illustrated in this work. In this thesis, we also demonstrated that the calorimeter can perform its own measurement of the Mu2e normalization factor, i.e. the counting of the 1.8 MeV photon line produced in nuclear muon captures. A specific calorimeter sub-system called CAPHRI, composed by four LYSO crystals with SiPM readout, has been designed and tested. We simulated the capability of this system on performing this task showing that it can get a faster and more reliable measurement of the muon capture rates with respect to the current Mu2e detector dedicated to this measurement. The characterization of energy resolution and response uniformity of the four procured LYSO crystals are llustrated.