Cherenkov fast Monte Carlo
A ROOT-backed C++20 fast Monte Carlo for Cherenkov light — particles through radiators, Frank–Tamm photon yield, propagation to detection. Built on mist + mist-hep.
github.com/Nikolajal/Cherenkov_quick_mc
Posts by Collection
portfolio
ePIC dRICH Beam Test Analysis Framework
The C++ framework I built for the ePIC dRICH Cherenkov prototype — from raw SiPM data to collaboration-approved physics results.
github.com/Nikolajal/epic-drich-beam-test-analysis
lernkarto — offline-capable LaTeX flashcard engine
A self-hostable, offline-capable flashcard engine with LaTeX/KaTeX support — built as a single-page PWA in JavaScript with Python tooling.
github.com/lernkarto/lernkarto.github.io
mist-hep — ROOT-backed analysis helpers on top of mist
Sibling C++ library to mist, layering ROOT/RooFit on mist’s primitives for physics analysis.
github.com/Nikolajal/mist-hep
mist — dependency-free C++ infrastructure toolkit
A lightweight, dependency-free C++20 library of utilities I keep reusing across projects — the seed that ends up inside most of my other code.
github.com/Nikolajal/mist
SiPM Characterisation for ePIC
ROOT/C++ macros, Python DAQ and a Geant4 simulation for characterising the dRICH SiPMs — IV, DCR, gain, timing, PDE, irradiation.
github.com/Nikolajal/sipm-characterisation
sort — a sorting-algorithm visualiser
A small, dependency-free web app for watching classic sorting algorithms run, step by step. Built for fun and for teaching.
Live demo · source
publications
A SiPM-based optical readout system for the EIC dual-radiator RICH
Published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, 2023
Early SiPM-based optical readout system for the dRICH. My contribution: TIFPA irradiation sessions and the analysis software.
Study of radiation effects on SiPM for an optical readout system for the EIC dual-radiator RICH
Published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, 2023
Radiation damage on the dRICH SiPMs and its mitigation by annealing. My contribution: TIFPA irradiation shifts and the analysis software.
Prototype of a dual-radiator RICH detector for the Electron-Ion Collider
Published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, 2023
First prototype of the dual-radiator RICH for the EIC. My contribution: beam-test data taking as shifter, electronics calibration and analysis.
A readout system based on SiPM for the dRICH detector at the EIC
Published in Journal of Instrumentation (JINST), 2024
The SiPM-based readout system for the dRICH. My contribution: sensor timing-resolution analysis and TIFPA irradiation sessions.
SiPM photosensors for the ePIC dual-radiator RICH detector at the EIC
Published in Proceedings of Science (PoS EPS-HEP2023), 2024
SiPM photosensors for the dRICH. My contribution: beam-test data taking as shifter, electronics calibration and analysis.
A large-area SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC: Realisation and beam test results
Published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, 2024
Realisation and beam-test characterisation of the large-area SiPM readout plane. My contribution: beam-test data taking as shifter, electronics calibration and analysis.
The SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC: Overview and beam test results
Published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, 2025
Lead-author article on the photodetection unit, large-area SiPM array, and beam test characterisation of the ePIC dRICH prototype at the CERN PS.
The SiPM photodetector of the ePIC dual-radiator RICH at the EIC: overview and beam test results
Published in Journal of Instrumentation (JINST), 2025
The modular SiPM photodetector of the dRICH (PDU, cooling, front-end). My contribution: module assembly, data taking and analysis at the beam tests.
The ePIC dual-radiator RICH detector
Published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, 2026
Overview of the ePIC dRICH — concept, technologies and expected PID performance at the Electron-Ion Collider.
ALCOR: A SiPM readout chip for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC
Published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, 2026
The ALCOR front-end ASIC for SiPM readout in the dRICH. My contribution: validation of the ALCOR acquisition chain on beam-test data.
The SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC: Overview and beam test results
Published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, 2026
Second lead-author NIM A article, published under the same title as the article below: the photodetection unit, large-area SiPM array, and beam test characterisation of the ePIC dRICH prototype at the CERN PS.
talks
A new analysis for the measurement of φ-meson pair production
Published:
First presentation of the analysis strategy for measuring φ-meson pair production, developed during my Master’s thesis.
New results on φ-pair production in proton-proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV with the ALICE detector
Published:
Poster presenting new results on φ-meson pair production in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV with ALICE, at the flagship heavy-ion conference.
SiPM response to radiation damage and annealing treatment for the EIC dual-radiator RICH
Published:
Poster on the radiation-damage and annealing studies of the dRICH SiPM sensors.
Production of φ-meson pairs with ALICE at the LHC: a novel probe for strangeness production
Published:
Poster introducing φ-meson pair production as a novel probe of strangeness production in proton-proton collisions with ALICE.
Rescattering effects on resonances production in small systems
Published:
Talk on rescattering effects in the production of hadronic resonances in small collision systems at the LHC.
SiPM response to radiation damage and annealing treatment for the EIC dual-radiator RICH
Published:
Talk on how the dRICH SiPMs respond to radiation damage and how annealing recovers a large fraction of their performance.
Investigating strangeness
Published:
Invited talk on strangeness production in small collision systems and what φ-meson measurements reveal about its underlying mechanisms.
Irradiation and annealing studies on SiPM sensors for the ePIC-dRICH detector
Published:
Plenary talk on the irradiation and annealing studies of the dRICH SiPM sensors, presented at the EIC User Group early-career workshop.
A SiPM-based optical readout system for the EIC dual-radiator RICH
Published:
Talk on the SiPM-based optical readout system developed for the ePIC dual-radiator RICH, presented at TIPP 2023.
A large-area prototype SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC: realisation and beam test results
Published:
Poster on the realisation of the large-area SiPM readout plane for the dRICH prototype and the first beam-test results.
Studies of radiation damage and mitigation strategies for the SiPM of the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC
Published:
Talk on radiation-damage characterisation of the dRICH SiPMs and the annealing strategies used to recover sensor performance.
dRICH Prototype Beam Test: Overview and First Results
Published:
Plenary overview of the dRICH prototype beam test and its first results, presented to the full ePIC collaboration.
dRICH Prototype Beam Test: Overview and First Results
Published:
Plenary talk to the EIC early-career community on the dRICH prototype beam test and first results.
The SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH detector at the EIC: overview and beam test results
Published:
Update on the dRICH SiPM readout plane after the May 2024 beam test campaign, with the prototype scaled up to ~2000 sensors. Covers the photodetection unit design, ALCOR-based front-end, and the analysis pipeline behind the results.
The SiPM readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH photodetector at the EIC: overview and beam test results
Published:
Overview of the dRICH SiPM readout plane and the results of the CERN PS beam-test campaigns, presented to the Ring Imaging Cherenkov community.
Development and beam-test results of the SiPM-based readout plane for the ePIC-dRICH photodetector at the EIC
Published:
Poster on the development status and latest beam-test results of the SiPM-based readout plane for the ePIC dRICH, after the prototype reached its full ~2048-channel photosensor coverage.
teaching
Physics & maths tutor — high school
Private tutoring, Self-employed, 2010
I’ve been tutoring physics and mathematics to high school students since 2010, mostly liceo scientifico students preparing for the maturità and the early university transition.
International Masterclasses — ALICE particle physics for high-school students
Outreach / masterclass, ALICE Collaboration, 2019
Supervised data-analysis project on real ALICE data for high-school students, in the framework of the International Masterclasses. I contributed to the introductory presentation of the simulation framework and assisted the students through the hands-on exercises.
“Da dove vengono i colori?” — public outreach light show
Public outreach show, INFN Bologna / ePIC Italia, 2025
A hands-on light and colour show for children (ages 5–11) and their families, presented for INFN Bologna and the ePIC Italia outreach programme. Uses simple optics demonstrations to explain where colour comes from — the same physics of light detection that underpinned the SiPM-based Cherenkov detector work described elsewhere on this site.
SiPMs and radiation damage recovery — PhD topical course
PhD-level topical course, University of Bologna, Department of Physics & Astronomy, 2026
PhD-level topical course on silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) and the recovery of radiation damage through annealing, taught within the doctoral programme on advanced detectors at the University of Bologna in 2026.