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Author

Benno Margesin

Bio: Benno Margesin is an academic researcher from fondazione bruno kessler. The author has contributed to research in topics: Capacitive sensing & Surface micromachining. The author has an hindex of 26, co-authored 184 publications receiving 2371 citations.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Two different microsystems designed for multisite monitoring of the physiological state of a cell population are presented and one of them has been designed to monitor the electrical activity of neurons.

156 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a method to stabilize detector response is described: using calibrated amounts of energy, injected by means of alpha particles or resistive heaters, a correlation between pulse amplitude and detector bias can be established.
Abstract: Massive bolometric detectors operated at very low temperatures (≃10 mK) can be used to search for rare events, such as Double Beta Decay and interactions of Dark Matter candidates. In experiments of this type it is important to keep the detector response steady within 0.1% level over periods of the order of one year or more, often in conflict with the intrinsic instabilities of the cryogenic setups. Here, a powerful method to stabilize detector response is described: using calibrated amounts of energy, injected by means of alpha particles or resistive heaters, a correlation between pulse amplitude and detector bias can be established. This correlation can be used to correct off-line the amplitudes of every pulse. The satisfactory results achieved with this technique are reported and discussed. For this purpose heavily doped Si heaters with steady resistances at cryogenic temperatures were designed and succesfully tested.

125 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The final results of the Milano electron anti-neutrino mass experiment with 10 AgReO 4 microcalorimeters were reported in this article, where the experimental set-up, the detector performance and the measuring conditions were described.
Abstract: In the Standard Model of electroweak interactions an important input parameter is still missing: the absolute value of the mass of one of the neutrinos. In this paper we report the final results of the Milano electron anti-neutrino mass experiment after having measured for about one year the beta spectrum of 187 Re with 10 AgReO 4 microcalorimeters. We describe the experimental set-up, the detector performance and the measuring conditions. We present the updated limit on the electron anti-neutrino mass which is the most stringent so far obtained with thermal detectors. We also give the most precise estimates for the 187 Re transition energy and lifetime.

94 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the procedure for the realization of the heating elements, based on silicon planar technology, and report on the multi-step low temperature characterization (77 K, 4.2 K, 1.5 K, 35 K) of the heaters.
Abstract: One of the critical issues while operating bolometric detectors over periods of time of 1 year or more consists of keeping their response stable within a 0.1% level, despite the unavoidable temperature fluctuations of the cryogenic set-up. By using an energy pulser, which periodically delivers a fixed amount of energy in the absorber, it is possible to stabilize the response of the bolometers. A stabilization technique using heating devices, made up of heavily doped semiconductor material (well above the metal-to-insulator transition), has been developed in the framework of the CUORE experiment. In this paper we describe in detail the procedure for the realization of the heating elements, based on silicon planar technology. We then report on the multi-step low temperature characterization (77 K, 4.2 K, 1.5 K, 35 mK) of the heaters. Finally, an example of achieved stabilization for a CUORE-like detector is reported. The ∼ 1500 heaters tested at ∼ 1.5 K show less than 0.5% change in resistance between 30 μ V and 3 mV, and less than 1% change in value between 50 mK and 800 mK. In particular, the resistance change between 4.2 K and 1.5 K is less than 0.1%.

72 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a symmetric toggle switch (STS) is proposed for 8-14 GHz applications with low actuation voltage and high isolation, for high power and reliability applications in telecommunication.
Abstract: In this paper, we present a new type of rf MEMS switch with low actuation voltage and high isolation, for high rf power and reliability applications in telecommunication. ‘Symmetric toggle switch’ (STS) is based on push–pull mechanism and utilizes torsion springs and levers, placed symmetrically and transverse to CPW line. The switches designed for 8–14 GHz applications have analytically calculated and FEM simulated actuation voltages in the range of 8–10 V. The simulated insertion loss and isolation for the devices are 0.25 and 35 dB, respectively, at 10 GHz. The fabrication process and preliminary experimental results are also presented.

66 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There are an immense number of sensors reported in the literature for hydrogen detection and in this article these sensors are classified into eight different operating principles, such as measuring range, sensitivity, selectivity and response time.
Abstract: Hydrogen sensors are of increasing importance in connection with the development and expanded use of hydrogen gas as an energy carrier and as a chemical reactant. There are an immense number of sensors reported in the literature for hydrogen detection and in this work these sensors are classified into eight different operating principles. Characteristic performance parameters of these sensor types, such as measuring range, sensitivity, selectivity and response time are reviewed and the latest technology developments are reported. Testing and validation of sensor performance are described in relation to standardisation and use in potentially explosive atmospheres so as to identify the requirements on hydrogen sensors for practical applications.

1,217 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jun 2010-Sensors
TL;DR: The nature of the gas response and how it is fundamentally linked to surface structure is explored and Synthetic routes to metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors are discussed and related to their affect on surface structure.
Abstract: Metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors are utilised in a variety of different roles and industries. They are relatively inexpensive compared to other sensing technologies, robust, lightweight, long lasting and benefit from high material sensitivity and quick response times. They have been used extensively to measure and monitor trace amounts of environmentally important gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. In this review the nature of the gas response and how it is fundamentally linked to surface structure is explored. Synthetic routes to metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors are also discussed and related to their affect on surface structure. An overview of important contributions and recent advances are discussed for the use of metal oxide semiconductor sensors for the detection of a variety of gases—CO, NOx, NH3 and the particularly challenging case of CO2. Finally a description of recent advances in work completed at University College London is presented including the use of selective zeolites layers, new perovskite type materials and an innovative chemical vapour deposition approach to film deposition.

1,189 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The theoretical and experimental issues relevant to neutrinoless double beta decay are reviewed in this paper, with significant emphasis on proposals favored by recent panel reviews, and the importance of and challenges in the calculation of nuclear matrix elements that govern the decay are considered in detail.
Abstract: The theoretical and experimental issues relevant to neutrinoless double beta decay are reviewed. The impact that a direct observation of this exotic process would have on elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics, and cosmology is profound. Now that neutrinos are known to have mass and experiments are becoming more sensitive, even the nonobservation of neutrinoless double beta decay will be useful. If the process is actually observed, we will immediately learn much about the neutrino. The status and discovery potential of proposed experiments are reviewed in this context, with significant emphasis on proposals favored by recent panel reviews. The importance of and challenges in the calculation of nuclear matrix elements that govern the decay are considered in detail. The increasing sensitivity of experiments and improvements in nuclear theory make the future exciting for this field at the interface of nuclear and particle physics.

887 citations

Patent
02 Feb 2011
TL;DR: In this article, a flow expansion chamber is configured to allow fluids to flow from the expansion chamber to the outlet portion and to allow the fluids to interact along the way with material in the array of wells.
Abstract: An apparatus may include a semiconductor chip and a fluidics assembly. The semiconductor chip has an array of wells and an array of sensors and each sensor of the array of sensors is in fluid communication with a well of the array of wells. The fluidics assembly is located on top of the semiconductor chip and is configured to deliver fluids to the semiconductor chip. The fluidics assembly includes a flow expansion chamber configured to introduce the fluids, an outlet portion configured to pipe out the fluids, and a flow chamber portion. The flow chamber portion is configured to allow the fluids to flow from the flow expansion chamber to the outlet portion and to allow the fluids to interact along the way with material in the array of wells. The flow expansion chamber has a curved wall at the top or bottom so that the height of the flow expansion chamber at the center is less than at the walls that restrict the fluids to the left and right.

855 citations

Patent
27 May 2010
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present methods and apparatus relating to FET arrays for monitoring chemical and/or biological reactions such as nucleic acid sequencing-by-synthesis reactions.
Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to FET arrays including large FET arrays for monitoring chemical and/or biological reactions such as nucleic acid sequencing-by-synthesis reactions. Some methods provided herein relate to improving signal (and also signal to noise ratio) from released hydrogen ions during nucleic acid sequencing reactions.

649 citations