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.

Abstract
The photoelectron-collection efficiency from photocathodes in noble gases and methane is experimentally investigated. The ratio between the number of transmitted photoelectrons in the gas media and in vacuum is determined as a function of the applied reduced electric field Elp, where p is the gas pressure. Results are presented for He, Ne, Ar, Xe, Kr and CH4.

Abstract
The technique to realize 3D position sensitivity in a two-phase xenon time projection chamber (XeTPC) is described. Results from a prototype detector (XENON3) are presented.

Abstract
The XENON experiment aims at the direct detection of dark matter in the form of WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) via their elastic scattering off Xenon nuclei. With 1 ton of LXe distributed in ten identical modules, the proposed XENON1T experiment will achieve a sensitivity more than a factor of thousand beyond current limits. The detectors are time projection chambers operated in dual (liquid/gas) phase, to detect simultaneously the ionization, through secondary scintillation in the gas, and primary scintillation in the liquid produced by low energy recoils. We review some of the results from the prototype XENON3 detector and briefly discuss about the status of current XENON10 at Gran Sasso Laboratory in Italy.

Abstract
In this work, numerical simulations are performed and the performance comparison of four types of dispersion compensating Raman/EDFA hybrid amplifiers configurations in terms of gain, noise figure and nonlinear effect induced penalty is presented. A numerical simulator is presented for the analysis and design optimization of Raman/EDFA hybrid amplifiers for multi-wavelength operation. This simulator combines a steady-state model of a discrete Raman Amplifier (RA) with a spectrally resolved model for the Erbiurn Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA). The numerical simulator allows us to calculate the overall gain, the noise figure (NF), the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) and the signal and ASE spectrum at the output of a Raman/EDFA hybrid amplifier. We concluded that performance tradeoffs should be considered when an optimum hybrid amplifier configuration for a given fiber optic transmission system is to be decided.