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The Radial X-ray Camera (RXC), as an important diagnostic system among more than one hundred ones in ITER Tokamak, is used to measure the poloidal profile of plasma X-ray emission with high spatial and temporal resolution. The automatic and safe operation of RXC will require a reliable and rugged Instrumentation and Control (I&C) system which is used to monitor and control, acquire and process data and design operation procedures. The I&C has been preliminarily designed based on ITER CODAC (COntrol, Data Access and Communication) architecture and ITER-PCDH (Plant Control Design Handbook) Journeaux, [ 1 ] guidelines since the technical understanding of CODAC technology was helpful in development of plant system I&C for RXC. The monitor and the control functions, which were implemented by Slow Controller (SC) using PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), manage the slow signals such as status of various sensors, parameters of amplifiers, temperature of detectors and health status of cubicle. Data acquisition and data processing, which were realized by Fast Controller (FC) utilizing EPICS (Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System), are responsible for collection of raw signal from detectors, data archiving, data calculation through algorithmic and publishing to PCS (Plasma Control System). A state machine was developed to coordinate the execution of operation steps of RXC. The prototype I&C system for RXC was successfully tested on Mini−CODAC.

The first results obtained by the DAMA/LIBRA–phase2 experiment with the data collected deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory over 6 independent annual cycles (corresponding to a total exposure of 1.13 ton × yr) are presented. The DAMA/LIBRA–phase2 apparatus, about 250 kg highly radio-pure NaI(Tl), profits of a second generation high quantum efficiency photomultipliers and of new electronics; in the new configuration the software energy threshold is at 1 keV. The DAMA/LIBRA–phase2 data confirm the evidence of a signal that meets all the requirements of the model independent Dark Matter annual modulation signature, at 9.5 σ C.L. in the energy region (1-6) keV. In the energy region between 2 and 6 keV, where data are also available from DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA–phase1 the achieved C.L. for the full exposure (2.46 ton × yr) is 12.9 σ.

Preliminary design of ITER Radial X-ray Camera (RXC) has been finished. The structure design is optimized and installation process is studied considering the simplification and easiness of maintenance. Remote handling procedures are designed for the system maintenance after being activated. For detector cooling against high environment temperature which can be up to 240°, a dedicated gas cooling system using heat exchanger is designed. The structure analysis indicates that the stresses and displacements of most of the components under load combinations are within the allowable limits and no Safety Important Component (SIC) boundary is damaged. Through putting B4C material in the front part of DSM and around detectors for neutron shielding, the detectors are expected to survive the whole D–D phase. As for electronics, preliminary design of highly integrated pre-amplifier and program controllable mid-amplifier has been completed, both with bandwidth greater than 100 kHz to meet time resolution requirement of 20 kHz. To protect the electronics from intensive neutron and gamma irradiation, shielding cabinet capable of attenuating neutron flux down to 0.0001 and gamma dose 0.01 is designed. Besides, many R&D has been done to support the design. The tests of pre-amplifier and mid-amplifier indicated the electronics had no functional problem when debugging together and generally passed preliminary ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) test and nuclear test. The highly-integrated compact pre-amplifier has been used in EAST and proved useful. To test the feasibility of dedicated gas cooling system for detectors, a cooling test platform was built and preliminary cooling test has been done, indicating that during 250°baking the detector temperature is promising to be cooled down to the detector temperature limit of 75°. To increase signal to noise ratio, large area detector with dark current less than 2nA has been manufactured and worked steadily in EAST experiments.

Several of the many proposed Dark Matter candidate particles, already investigated with lower exposure and a higher software energy threshold, are further analyzed including the first DAMA/LIBRA--phase2 data release, with an exposure of 1.13 ton $\times$ yr and a lower software energy threshold (1 keV). The cumulative exposure above 2 keV considering also DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA--phase1 results is now 2.46 ton $\times$ yr. The analysis permits to constraint the parameters' space of the considered candidates restricting their values -- with respect to previous analyses -- thanks to the increase of the exposure and to the lower energy threshold., 48 pages, 33 figures; in press on Nucl. Phys. At. Energy (2019)

The design of ITER Radial X-ray Camera (RXC) is nearly finished. The design of internal camera was updated using gas detector modules and considering the mechanical, electrical and gas interfaces with Diagnostic Shielding Module (DSM). The design of camera structure was optimized for the purpose of easy maintenance, safety and simplification, including support flange, Be window flange, boron carbide shielding module, external camera chamber, back flange assembly, cooling and feedthrough. The design of camera electronics was also optimized. The pre-amplifiers and mid-amplifiers are more resistant to disturbances. The chassis facilitates the maintenance and provides efficient cooling to the components inside.

ITER is the first international experimental nuclear fusion device. In the project, the RAMI approach (reliability, availability, maintainability and inspectability) has been adopted for technical risk control to mitigate all the possible failure of components in preparation for operation and maintenance. RAMI analysis of the ITER Radial X-ray Camera diagnostic (RXC) system during preliminary design phase was required, which insures the system with a very high performance to measure the X-ray emission and research the MHD of plasma with high accuracy on the ITER machine. A functional breakdown was prepared in a bottom-up approach, resulting in the system being divided into 3 main functions, 6 intermediate functions and 28 basic functions which are described using the IDEFO method. Reliability block diagrams (RBDs) were prepared to calculate the reliability and availability of each function under assumption of operating conditions and failure data. Initial and expected scenarios were analyzed to define risk-mitigation actions. The initial availability of RXC system was 92.93%, while after optimization the expected availability was 95.23% over 11,520 h (approx. 16 months) which corresponds to ITER typical operation cycle. A Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) was performed to the system initial risk. Criticality charts highlight the risks of the different failure modes with regard to the probability of their occurrence and impact on operations. There are 28 risks for the initial state, including 8 major risks. No major risk remains after taking into account all the actions. It was assessed that the RAMI analysis results meet the project requirement during preliminary design phase and the result will be qualified further when the system design is more mature.

The radial X-ray camera (RXC) is designed to measure the poloidal profile of plasma X-ray emission with high spatial and temporal resolution. Its primary diagnostic role includes measuring low (m, ...

The DAMA/LIBRA experiment, consisting of about 250 kg of highly radio-pure NaI(Tl) target, is running deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N.; its main aim is the investigation of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the Galactic halo by means of the model independent DM annual modulation signature. In this paper we briefly summarize the results obtained in its first phase of measurements (DAMA/LIBRA–phase1) lasted for 7 annual cycles with a total exposure of 1.04 ton x year . The DAMA/LIBRA–phase1 and the former DAMA/NaI data (cumulative exposure 1.33 ton x year, corresponding to 14 annual cycles) give evidence at 9.3 σ C.L. for the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo. No systematic or side reaction able to mimic the exploited DM signature has been found or suggested by anyone over more than a decade. At fall 2010 a relevant upgrade of the experiment has been performed: all the PMTs have been replaced by new ones having higher quantum efficiency. After some optimization periods, a new phase of measurement, DAMA/LIBRA–phase2, has began in this new configuration with increased sensitivity. Some of the perspectives of the presently running DAMA/LIBRA–phase2 are mentioned.

The first DAMA/LIBRA–phase2 model-independent results (exposure: [Formula: see text], and software energy threshold at 1 keV). They further confirm — with high confidence level — the evidence already observed by DAMA/NaI and DAMA/LIBRA–phase1 on the basis of the exploited model-independent dark matter (DM) annual modulation signature. The total exposure of the three experiments above the 2 keV software energy threshold is [Formula: see text]. Here, several DM candidate particles and related scenarios are analyzed including the latest results. Thanks to the increased exposure and to the lower software energy threshold, corollary model-dependent analyses permit to significantly restrict the allowed regions for the parameters spaces of various dark matter candidates and astrophysical, particle and nuclear physics scenarios.

Experimental observations and theoretical arguments at galactic and larger scales pointed out that a large fraction of the Universe is composed of Dark Matter (DM) particles. This has motivated the pioneer DAMA experimental efforts to investigate the presence of such particles in the galactic halo, by exploiting a model independent signature and very highly radio-pure apparatus in deep underground. In this paper, after a short introductory part, the long-standing model-independent annual modulation effect measured by DAMA Collaboration, with various experimental configurations, is examined. In the energy region between 2 and 6 keV, the data from DAMA/NaI, DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 and DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 (full exposure: 2.46 ton × yr) confirm the evidence of a signal that meets all the several specific requirements of the exploited model independent DM annual modulation signature, at 12.9 σ C.L. The DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 configuration, profiting from new high quantum efficiency photomultipliers, new electronics and other improvements with respect to DAMA/LIBRA-phase1, has also allowed the confirmation of such an evidence down to a software energy threshold of 1 keV. The complexity and the uncertainties of corollary model dependent quests for the DM candidate particle(s) and related scenarios are also addressed at some extent and several of the many possibilities are examined. The efforts towards the new phase3 of the experiment are summarized, showing the strategies and the results obtained with the present developments.

International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Radial X-ray Camera (RXC) is installed in the equatorial port #12 (middle drawer) to measure the poloidal profile of the plasma x-ray emission with high spatial and temporal resolution. According to the irradiation test results with Co-60 gamma ray source, Cf-252 neutron source and the result in Deuterium - Tritium (DT) accelerator neutron irradiation experiment for RXC electronics before, the weak parts of the circuit have been improved by radiation resistance design such as using radiation-hard power chip and optimizing the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) code. Other factors related to radiation, such as easiness of maintenance, compact electronics structure and remote state monitoring are also considered in the design. The performance of the electronics and chassis has been preliminarily verified in Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) experiments showing resistance to interference from discharge environment. Besides, the irradiation resistance of electronics was investigated in high fluence neutron irradiation experiment in fission reactor, where the detector, pre-amplifier, mid-amplifier and cables under test received the accumulated neutron fluence over 9.89×1013n/cm-2 (1MeV equivalent), and the quality of output signal was monitored in real time. It’s found after the experiment that the pre-amplifier worked well, while the detector and mid-amplifier were partly damaged.

International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor radial X-ray camera is designed to measure the poloidal profile of the plasma X-ray emission with high spatial and temporal resolutions and will be installed inside equatorial port 12. Due to the harsh environment of neutron and gamma radiations, nuclear radiation hardness of many components has to be considered in design and test, including silicon detector array, electronics, and cabling. As for electronics put in a port cell, a preliminary design of highly integrated preamplifier and program controllable mid-amplifier has been completed, and many tests have been done to investigate the radiation hardness performance of the amplifiers together with detectors. In the Cf-252 neutron test with flux of $\sim 2.23\times 10^{3}\,\,\text {n}\cdot \text {cm}^{-2}\cdot \text {s}^{-1}$ and fluence greater than $1.0\times 10^{10}\,\,\text {n}\cdot \text {cm}^{-2}$ , there was no performance degradation in detector and preamplifier. In the Co-60 gamma test with a dose rate of $0.5\,\,\text {Gy}\cdot \text {min}^{-1}$ and an accumulated dose of 200 Gy, the performance change was not found in preamplifier and mid-amplifier except for some radiation damage to the power module in the board of preamplifier. In the following accelerator neutron test where the neutron flux is $\sim 5\times 10^{7}\,\,\text {n}\cdot \text {cm}^{-2}\cdot \text {s}^{-1}$ and neutron fluence is $2\times 10^{12}\,\,\text {n}\cdot \text {cm}^{-2}$ , the functional problem was not found in preamplifier and cable, while there were occurrences of single-event effect in mid-amplifier. The detector underwent 10% decrease of sensitivity to visible light. In addition, shielding cabinet was designed to provide good protection for electronics inside.

The DAMA/LIBRA experiment ($\sim$ 250 kg of highly radio-pure NaI(Tl)) is running deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N. Here we briefly recall the results obtained in its first phase of measurements (DAMA/LIBRA--phase1, total exposure: 1.04 ton $\times$ yr). DAMA/LIBRA--phase1 and the former DAMA/NaI (cumulative exposure: $1.33$ ton $\times$ yr) give evidence at 9.3 $\sigma$ C.L. for the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo by exploiting the model-independent DM annual modulation signature. No systematic or side reaction able to mimic the exploited DM signature has been found or suggested by anyone over more than a decade. At present DAMA/LIBRA--phase2 is running with increased sensitivity., Comment: Proceedings to the 19th Workshop "What Comes Beyond the Standard Models", Bled, July 11. -- 19., 2016

Profiting of the favourable conditions offered by the Gran Sasso underground laboratory and of the several low-background DAMA set-ups, many and competitive results have been obtained for rare processes. Here the main results will be briefly resumed and some more details about the latest activities will be given. In particular, the searches on ββdecays of 106Cd and 116Cd and the perspectives of a complementary investigation on those Dark Matter (DM) candidates inducing just nuclear recoils, by exploiting the directionality approach with the anisotropic ZnWO4 scintillators, will be underlined.

Many experimental observations and theoretical arguments have pointed out that a large fraction of the Universe is composed by Dark Matter particles. Many possibilities are open on the nature and interaction types of such relic particles. In particular, this paper summarizes the main results obtained by exploiting the model independent Dark Matter annual modulation signature for the presence of Dark Matter particles in the galactic halo by DAMA experiment.

The DAMA/LIBRA experiment, running at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN, has a sensitive mass of about 250 kg highly radiopure Nal(Tl). It is mainly devoted to the investigation of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the Galactic halo by exploiting the model independent DM annual modulation signature. The present DAMA/LIBRA experiment and the former DAMA/NaI one (the first generation experiment having an exposed mass of about 100 kg) have released so far results corresponding to a total exposure of 1.17 ton x year over 13 annual cycles. They provide a model independent evidence of the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo at 8.9 sigma C.L. After the upgrade at fall 2010 when all the PMTs have been replaced with new ones having higher quantum efficiency, the feasibility to decrease the software energy threshold has been demonstrated and the set-up is running in this new configuration, named DAMA/LIBRA-phase2. The perspectives of DAMAILIBRA-phase2 will be shortly summarized. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Radial X-ray camera (RXC) is a diagnostic device planned to be installed in the ITER Equatorial Port #12. Beryllium window will be installed between the inner and outer camera of RXC, which severs as the transmission photocathode substrate and also the vacuum isolation component. In this paper the design and manufacture process of two types of beryllium windows were introduced. Although 50 μm thickness of beryllium foil is the best choice, the 80 μm one with X-ray threshold of 1.34 keV was selected for safety consideration. Using the intermediate layer (low purity of beryllium) between the beryllium foil and the stainless steel base flange is an effective strategy to limit the welding thermal deformation and thermal stress of the thin foil caused by bonding between different materials. By using ANSYS software, the feasibility of the aperture design was analyzed and validated. Metal sealing ring was applied in the mechanical clamped beryllium window for its good stability under high temperature and neutron radiation. Although both of the hollow metal sealing ring with 0.03 mm silver coating and the pure silver sealing ring can satisfy the sealing requirement, the later one was chosen to produce the final product. Two hours 240 °C high temperature baking test, two hours 3.3 Hz vibration test and fatigue test were performed on the two types of beryllium windows. Based on the tests results, the two types of beryllium windows could stand the high temperature baking during the wall conditioning phase of ITER tokamak and the vibration during transportation without causing large leakage. Both of the two types of beryllium windows could bear impact load (0.1 MPa pressure difference) for many times without failure.

In the field of dark matter direct detection, on the one hand, it is predicted by theoretical models that many dark matter candidates and scenarios are possible. On the other hand, a variety of detectors has been proposed, but most of them — by the fact — are still at R&D stage. Such a situation leads to some considerations on technical aspects on dark matter direct detection.

The results obtained with the total exposure of 1.04 ton × yr collected by DAMA/LIBRA–phase1 deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N. during 7 annual cycles are summarized. The DAMA/LIBRA–phase1 and the former DAMA/NaI data (cumulative exposure 1.33 ton × yr, corresponding to 14 annual cycles) give evidence at 9.3 σ C.L. for the presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo, on the basis of the exploited model independent DM annual modulation signature by using highly radio-pure NaI(Tl) target. No systematic or side reaction able to mimic the exploited DM signature has been found or suggested by anyone over more than a decade. The same data of DAMA/LIBRA–phase1 have also been analyzed searching for possible DM second-order diurnal effect; at present, the DM diurnal modulation amplitude – expected because of the Earth diurnal motion – evaluated on the basis of the DAMA Dark Matter annual modulation results is below the reached experimental sensitivity. Some of the perspectives of the presently running DAMA/LIBRA–phase2 are outlined.

The DAMA/LIBRA experiment, running at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the I.N.F.N. in Italy, has a sensitive mass of about 250 kg highly radiopure NaI(Tl). It is mainly devoted to the investigation of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the Galactic halo by exploiting the model independent DM annual modulation signature. The present DAMA/LIBRA experiment and the former DAMA/NaI one (the first generation experiment having an exposed mass of about 100 kg) have released so far results corresponding to a total exposure of 1.17 ton yr over 13 annual cycles. They provide a model independent evidence of the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo at 8.9 sigma C.L.. A short summary of the obtained results is presented and future perspectives of the experiment mentioned., 12 pages, Proceed. of the 15th Bled Workshop "What Comes Beyond Standard Models" (December 2012), Vol. 13, No. 2

The presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo can be unambiguously pointed out in a model-independent way by exploiting the DM annual modulation signature with an apparatus of specific features placed deep underground. At present DAMA/LIBRA is running at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the I.N.F.N. and has presented so far the results obtained with the data collected in the first six annual cycles (exposure 0.87 ton × yr). When including the exposure of the former DAMA/NaI experiment (0.29 ton × yr), the total exposure is 1.17 ton × yr for 13 annual cycles, a value order of magnitude larger than those typically released in the field. These DAMA/LIBRA data have further confirmed the model-independent evidence of the presence of Dark Matter particles in the galactic halo on the basis of the exploited DM signature (8.9 σ C.L. for the cumulative exposure).

The $\simeq$ 250 kg highly radiopure NaI(Tl) DAMA/LIBRA apparatus, running at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N., is described., Comment: 37 pages, 27 figures

The DAMA/LIBRA experiment (about 250 kg of highly radiopure NaI(Tl)) is in operation at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN. The main aim of the experiment is to further investigate the Dark Matter (DM) particles in the Galactic halo by exploiting the model independent DM annual modulation signature. At the time of this Workshop, the DAMA/LIBRA experiment and the former DAMA/NaI one (the first generation ex- periment having an exposed mass of about 100 kg) have released results corresponding to a total exposure of 1.17 ton × yr over 13 annual cycles; they have provided a model independent evidence of the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo at 8.9 σ C.L.. The results of a further annual cycle, concluding the DAMA/LIBRA–phase1, have been released after this Workshop and are not included here. After the upgrade at fall 2010 when all the PMTs have been replaced with new ones having higher quantum efficiency, the feasibility to decrease the software energy threshold has been demonstrated and the set-up is running in this new configuration, named DAMA/LIBRA–phase2.

The DAMA/LIBRA–phase1 and the former DAMA/NaI data (cumulative exposure 1.33 ton [Formula: see text] yr, corresponding to 14 annual cycles) give evidence at 9.3[Formula: see text] C.L. for the presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo, on the basis of the exploited model independent DM annual modulation signature by using highly radio-pure NaI(Tl) target. Results and comparisons will be shortly recalled. Recent analyses on possible diurnal effects and on the Earth shadowing effect (the latter holds only for some DM candidates) will be mentioned. The analysis of the time distribution of the low-energy single-hit events in DAMA/LIBRA–phase1 is reported for the first time. Finally, some perspectives of the presently running DAMA/LIBRA–phase2 will be mentioned.

This paper shortly summarizes the results obtained with the total exposure of 1.04 ton × yr collected by DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N. during 7 annual cycles. The DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 and the former DAMA/NaI data (cumulative exposure 1.33 ton × yr, corresponding to 14 annual cycles) give evidence at 9.3 σ C.L. for the presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo, on the basis of the exploited model independent DM annual modulation signature by using highly radio-pure NaI(Tl) target. The modulation amplitude of the single-hit events in the (2–6) keV energy interval is: (0.0112 ± 0.0012) cpd/kg/keV; the measured phase is (144 ± 7) days and the measured period is (0.998 ± 0.002) yr, values well in agreement with those expected for DM particles. No systematic or side reaction able to mimic the exploited DM signature has been found or suggested by anyone over more than a decade. Some of the perspectives of the presently running DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 are outlined.

The DAMA/LIBRA experiment, running at LNGS, has a sensitive mass of about 250 kg highly radiopure NaI(TI) and it is mainly devoted to the investigation of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the Galactic halo by exploiting the model independent DM annual modulation signature. The present DAMA/LIBRA experiment and the former DAMA/NaI one have released so far results corresponding to a total exposure of 1.17 ton x yr over 13 annual cycles. They provide a model independent evidence of the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo at 8.9 sigma C.L. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The DAMA/LIBRA experiment, running at the Gran Sasso National Labo- ratory of the I.N.F.N. in Italy, has a sensitive mass of about 250 kg highly radiopure NaI(Tl). It is mainly devoted to the investigation of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the Galactic halo by exploiting the model independent DM annual modulation signature. The present DAMA/LIBRA experiment and the former DAMA/NaI one (the first generation experiment having an exposed mass of about 100 kg) have released so far results cor- responding to a total exposure of 1.17 ton × yr over 13 annual cycles. They provide a model independent evidence of the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo at 8.9 σ C.L. on the basis of the investigated DM signature. The data of another annual cycle in the same DAMA/LIBRA running conditions are at hand. After the replacement at the end of 2012 of all the photomultipliers (PMTs) with new ones, having higher quantum efficiency, DAMA/LIBRA has entered to its phase 2; such a replacements allowed the lowering of the software energy threshold of the experiment in the present data taking. A short summary of the obtained results is presented and future perspectives of the experi- ment mentioned.

The studies performed in the research of new materials and purification techniques allow us a wide choice among inorganic scintillators for a variety of use. In this paper crystal scintillators and their application and potentialities in low background measurements are discussed, with a particular attention to direct dark matter investigation.

The DAMA project is an observatory for rare processes operating deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the I.N.F.N. In particular, the main apparatus DAMA/LIBRA is mainly dedicated to the investigation of the presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo by exploiting the model independent DM annual modulation signature. The present DAMA/LIBRA and the former DAMA/ NaI (exposed masses: ≃ 250 kg and ≃ 100 kg of highly radiopure NaI ( Tl ), respectively) experiments have released so far a total exposure of 1.17 ton × yr, collected over 13 annual cycles. They have obtained a positive model independent result for the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo at 8.9σ C.L. Some of the obtained results are shortly summarized and future perspectives mentioned.

Development of low radioactive technique allows to investigate many other rare nuclear and subnuclear processes: double [Formula: see text] decay, rare [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] decays, and to search for hypothetical particles and processes like axions, charge nonconserving decays, the nucleon, di-nucleon and tri-nucleon decays into invisible channels, to test the Pauli principle. Here, we present results of the rare processes searches and development of instrumentation for low counting experiments.

Experimental observations and theoretical arguments at Galaxy and larger scales have suggested that a large fraction of the Universe is composed by Dark Matter (DM) particles. This has motivated the DAMA experimental efforts to investigate the presence of such particles in the galactic halo by exploiting a model independent signature with highly radiopure setups deep underground. In this paper, a review of the results obtained with the total exposure of 1.04 ton × yr collected by DAMA/LIBRA–phase1 deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the INFN during seven annual cycles is given. The DAMA/LIBRA–phase1 data give evidence for the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo, on the basis of the exploited model independent DM annual modulation signature by using highly radiopure NaI(Tl) target, at 7.5[Formula: see text] C.L. Including also the data of the first generation DAMA/NaI experiment (cumulative exposure 1.33 ton × yr, corresponding to 14 annual cycles), the C.L. is 9.3[Formula: see text] and the modulation amplitude of the single-hit scintillation events in the (2–6) keV energy interval is: (0.0112 ± 0.0012) cpd/kg/keV; the measured phase is (144 ± 7) days and the measured period is (0.998 ± 0.002) yr, values well in agreement with those expected for DM particles. No systematic or side reaction able to mimic the exploited DM signature has been found or suggested by anyone over more than a decade.

A high spatial and temporal resolution soft x-ray (SXR) imaging diagnostic has been installed in EAST for the study of magnetohydrodynamics activities and core high-Z impurity transport. Up to 122 lines of sight view the poloidal plasma from three directions (two up-down symmetrical horizontal arrays and one vertical array), which renders the diagnostic able to provide detailed tomographic reconstructions under various conditions. Fourier-Bessel method based on flux coordinates was employed for 2-D SXR tomographic reconstruction. Examples of several events measured by SXR diagnostic in EAST are shown, namely the crash patterns of sawtooth, periodical burst of edge localized modes, and the transport of high-Z intrinsic impurities.

The DAMA project develops and uses new/improved low background scintil- lation detectors to investigate the Dark Matter (DM) particle component(s) in the galactic halo and rare processes deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N.. Here some highlights of DAMA/LIBRA (Large sodium Iodide Bulk for Rare processes) as a unique apparatus in direct DM investigation for its full sensitive mass, target material, intrinsic radio-purity, methodological approach and all the controls performed on the experimental parameters are outlined. The DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 and the former DAMA/NaI data (cumulative exposure 1.33 ton × yr, corresponding to 14 annual cycles) have reached a model-independent evidence at 9.3 σ C.L. for the pres- ence of DM particles in the galactic halo exploiting the DM annual modulation signature with highly radio-pure NaI(Tl) target. Some of the perspectives of the presently run- ning DAMA/LIBRA-phase2 are summarised and the powerful tools offered by a model independent strategy of DM investigation are pointed out.

New dedicated high quantum efficiency (Q.E.) photomultipliers (PMTs) have been produced by HAMAMATSU company, tested, selected and installed in the DAMA/LIBRA set-up at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N.. In this paper the results obtained in the measurements of various features of these high Q.E. PMTs are reported, and some performances of DAMA/LIBRA in this new configuration are shown.

The DAMA/LIBRA experiment has a sensitive mass of about 250 kg highly radiopure NaI(Tl). It is running at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN in Italy and is mainly devoted to the investigation of dark matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo by exploiting the model-independent DM annual modulation signature. The present DAMA/LIBRA and the former DAMA/NaI experiments (the first generation experiment having an exposed mass of about 100 kg) have thus far cumulatively released the results of data collected over 13 annual cycles (total exposure: 1.17 t year). They give model-independent evidence of the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo on the basis of the investigated DM signature at 8.9 sigma C.L. for the cumulative exposure. The main aspects of the obtained results are summarized and some comments are addressed.

Repetitive impurity snake modes are observed after H—L mode transitions (high to low confinement modes) in EAST plasmas exhibiting multiple H—L—H transitions. Such snake modes are observed to lower the core plasma toroidal rotation. A critical impurity strength factor associated with snake-mode formation is estimated to be as high as αZ,c = nZ,cZ2/ne ~ 0.75. These observations have implications for ITER H-mode sustainability when the heating power is only slightly above the H-mode power threshold.

The results obtained with the total exposure of 1.04 ton × yr collected by DAMA/LIBRA–phase1 deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N. during 7 annual cycles are briefly summarized. The DAMA/LIBRA–phase1 and the former DAMA/NaI data (cumulative exposure 1.33 ton × yr, corresponding to 14 annual cycles) give evidence at 9.3 σ C.L. for the presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo, on the basis of the exploited model independent DM annual modulation signature by using highly radio-pure NaI(Tl) target. The modulation parameters are well in agreement with those expected for DM particles. No systematic or side reaction able to mimic the exploited DM signature has been found or suggested by anyone over more than a decade. Some of the perspectives of the presently running DAMA/LIBRA–phase2 are outlined.

The DAMA/LIBRA experiment, running at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the I.N.F.N. in Italy, has a sensitive mass of about 250 kg highly radiopure NaI(Tl). It is mainly devoted to the investigation of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the Galactic halo by exploiting the model independent DM annual modulation signature. The present DAMA/LIBRA experiment and the former DAMA/NaI (the first generation experiment with an exposed mass of about 100 kg) have released so far results corresponding to a total exposure of 1.17 ton × yr over 13 annual cycles. They provide a model independent evidence of the presence of DM particles in the galactic halo at 8.9 (C.L. The obtained results are shortly summarized and the future perspectives of the experiment addressed.

New lifetime limits on the charge non-conserving (CNC) electron capture with excitation of the 417.9 keV nuclear level in the I-127 are established by using the coincidence technique. The analysed exposure is 0.87 ton x yr, collected deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN by the highly radiopure DAMA/LIBRA setup (approximate to 250 kg of highly radiopure NaI(Tl)). The new limit on the mean life is tau > 1.2 x 10(24) yr (90 % C.L.), about one order of magnitude larger than those previously available for CNC electron capture involving nuclear level excitations of I-127 and of the same order of magnitude than those achieved for analogous processes in Xe-129.