Abstract
In this paper we investigate how the complex rotation and quivering motion of an elongated polarized dust grain in the presence of a monochromatic electromagnetic (EM) wave can produce dipolar emission with two distinct spectral components. We present a model for the emission of radiation by elongated polarized dust grains under the influence of both an external EM wave and a constant background magnetic field. The dust, exhibiting rotational motion at the external EM field frequency w(0) as well as quivering motion at a frequency Omega(0), proportional to the EM field amplitude, will radiate with frequencies that will depend on the external field wavelength and amplitude. The radiated spectra exhibits a frequency around w(0), and sidebands at w(0) +/- Omega(0) and w(0) +/- 2 Omega(0). Since the amplitude and the frequency of the background EM field are independent parameters, this model establishes a correlation between different spectral components of galactic dipolar emission, which may help to explain the correlation between a component of the Galactic microwave emission and the 100 mu m thermal emission from interstellar dust that has been recently measured.

Abstract
The use of the scintillation produced in the charge avalanches in GEM holes as signal amplification and readout is investigated for xenon. A VUV-sensitive avalanche photodiode has been used as photosensor. Detector gains of about 4 x 104 are achieved in scintillation readout mode, for GEM voltages of 490 V and for a photosensor gain of 150. Those gains are more than one order of magnitude larger than what is obtained using charge readout. In addition, the energy resolutions achieved with the scintillation readout are lower than those achieved with charge readout. The GEM scintillation yield in xenon was measured as a function of GEM voltage, presenting values that are about a half of those achieved for the charge yield, and reach about 730 photons per primary electron at GEM voltages of 490 V.

Abstract
The xenon secondary scintillation yield was studied as a function of the electric field in the scintillation region, in a gas proportional scintillation counter operated at room temperature. A large area avalanche photodiode was used for the readout of the VUV secondary scintillation produced in the gas, together with the 5.9 keV x-rays directly absorbed in the photodiode. The latter was used as a reference for the determination of the number of charge carriers produced by the scintillation pulse and, thus, the number of VUV photons impinging the photodiode. A value of 140 photons/kV was obtained for the scintillation amplification parameter. The attained results are in good agreement with those predicted, for room temperature, by Monte Carlo simulation and Boltzmann calculations, as well as with those obtained for saturated xenon vapour, at cryogenic temperatures, and are about a factor of two higher than former results measured at room temperature.

Abstract
The xenon secondary scintillation yield was studied as a function of the electric field in the scintillation region, in a gas proportional scintillation counter operated at room temperature. A large area avalanche photodiode was used for the readout of the VUV secondary scintillation produced in the gas, together with the 5.9 keV x-rays directly absorbed in the photodiode. The latter was used as a reference for the determination of the number of charge carriers produced by the scintillation pulse and, thus, the number of VUV photons impinging the photodiode. A value of 140 photons/kV was obtained for the scintillation amplification parameter. The attained results are in good agreement with those predicted, for room temperature, by Monte Carlo simulation and Boltzmann calculations, as well as with those obtained for saturated xenon vapour, at cryogenic temperatures, and are about a factor of two higher than former results measured at room temperature. © 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA.

Abstract
The performance of a xenon high-pressure gas proportional scintillation counter (GPSC) instrumented with a large area avalanche photodiode (LAAPD) as the VUV-photosensor has been investigated for filling pressures from 1 up to 10 bar, for 22- and 60-keV photons. The LAAPD photosensor is placed directly within the xenon envelope, as a substitute for the photomultiplier tube, avoiding the constraints of the use of a quartz scintillation window for GPSC-photosensor coupling, which absorbs a significant amount of scintillation and is a drawback for applications where large detection areas and high filling pressures are needed. The lowest energy resolutions are achieved for pressures around 5 bar (4.5% and 3.0% full width at half-maximum (FWHM), for 22- and 60-keV photons, respectively). Increasing the pressure to the 8 bar range, competitive energy resolutions of 5.0% and 3.6% are still achieved for 22- and 60-keV photons, respectively. This detector could be a compelling alternative in applications where compactness, large detection area, insensitivity to strong magnetic fields, room temperature operation, large signal-to-noise ratio and good energy resolution are important requirements.

Abstract
We report the performance of a single-Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) operating in pure Ar, Xe, and in Ar-50lmbar Xe mixtures, in the range of 1-7lbar. The maximum gain and voltage that can be applied to the GEM are investigated as a function of filling pressure and compared to the results obtained with triple-GEM and MHSP (Micro Hole and Strip Plate) multipliers. The maximum gain achieved at llbar Xe is about 103, presenting a fast decrease with pressure to values around 300, 50 and 10 at 2, 3 and 5lbar, respectively. Gains around 100 were achieved in Ar up to 4lbar, decreasing to values of few tens at 6lbar. On the other hand, gains around 500 can be achieved in Ar-50lmbar Xe mixtures up to 5lbar, presenting a fast reduction at higher pressures due to the limitations on the maximum gain imposed by the GEM discharge limit. Nevertheless, gains above 100 can be obtained for pressures between 6 and 7lbar, indicating a good potential for neutron detection.