Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Work Hours
Monday to Friday: 7AM - 7PM
Weekend: 10AM - 5PM
About us
The XENON Bologna group has been part of the XENON Collaboration since 2009, starting with XENON100 and later playing leading roles in XENON1T and XENONnT at the INFN Gran Sasso underground laboratories, contributing to the direct search for dark matter as well as to studies of ultra-rare processes and neutrino physics.
Who We Are
The scientists and students of our research group.
What We Do
Our contributions within the XENON experiment.
Theses
Our students’ thesis work at all academic levels.
Documents
Some resources to approach XENON and our research.
Gallery
Photos and videos from our scientific activities.
Organized by Us
Outreach and educational programs for students at different levels.
Our Team
Get to know the members of the XENON Bologna research group.
Gabriella Sartorelli
sartorelli@bo.infn.it
Professore ordinario
PI XENON Bologna
Marco Selvi
selvi@bo.infn.it
Primo ricercatore INFN
XENON INFN National Responsible
XENON Collaboration Board Chair
Guido Zavattini
zavattini@fe.infn.it
Professore associato
Graziano Bruni
bruni@bo.infn.it
Dirigente di ricerca INFN
Lorenzo Bellagamba
bellagamba@bo.infn.it
Primo ricercatore INFN
Franco Semeria
semeria@bo.infn.it
Primo tecnologo INFN
Stefania Vecchi
vecchi@fe.infn.it
Ricercatore INFN
Pietro Di Gangi
digangi@bo.infn.it
Ricercatore INFN
Gian Marco Lucchetti
PhD student
Virginia Mazza
PhD student
Elena Bonali
Master student
Filippo Campanini
Master student
Our activity in XENON
XENONnT is the latest in a long line of experiments of the XENON Collaboration searching for WIMP dark matter with a dual phase liquid Xenon (LXe) Time Projection Chamber, deep underground at LNGS, Italy.
Muon Veto
The Bologna group designed, built, and now operates the Muon Veto for XENON1T and XENONnT. This water Cherenkov detector reduces background from muon-induced neutrons in the LNGS halls.
Neutron Veto
XENONnT includes an additional detector surrounding the TPC that vetoes neutrons from material radioactivity. The Bologna group is responsible for this system, including its upgrade with gadolinium-doped water to enhance performance.
Monte Carlo Simulations
The Bologna group has strong expertise in simulation and background studies for XENON. These simulations are essential to understand detector response and to predict experimental performance.
Data Analysis
Bologna contributes to XENONnT data analysis for the TPC and the water-Cherenkov Muon and Neutron Veto systems. Activities range from calibration data analysis and background modeling to statistical inference for the experiment’s key physics searches.
Interested in a bachelor’s or master’s thesis? Contact us to explore available theses and project opportunities.
Our Theses at the University of Bologna
Discover our students’ research contributions over the years.
PhD
Andrea Mancuso
XXXVI PhD Cycle – Defended on 17/6/2024
Pietro Di Gangi
XXXI PhD Cycle – Defended on 18/3/2019
Federica Agostini
XXIX PhD Cycle (GSSI) – Defended on 23/10/2017
Fabio Valerio Massoli
XXVII PhD Cycle – Defended on 26/2/2015
Master Degree
Ana Barahona Roda
Defended on 19/12/2025
Veronica Beligotti
Defended on 30/10/2025
Virginia Mazza
Defended on 31/10/2024
Federico Casadei
Defended on 31/3/2023
Andrea Mancuso
Defended on 21/2/2020
Federica Pompa
Defended on 13/12/2019
Francesco Toschi
Defended on 23/3/2018
Maria Corasaniti
Defended on 21/7/2017
Arianna Rocchetti
Defended on 31/3/2017
Pietro Di Gangi
Defended on 27/3/2015
Federica Agostini
Defended on 18/10/2013
Giuseppe Morana
Academic Year 2011/2012
Fabio Valerio Massoli
Academic Year 2010/2011
Bachelor Degree
Elena Bonali
Defended on 30/10/2024
Veronica Beligotti
Defended on 20/10/2023
Luca Damele
Defended on 21/10/2022
Alessandro Montanari
Defended on 20/10/2017
Andrea Mancuso
Defended on 20/10/2017
Paolo Girotti
Defended on 28/10/2016
Margherita Ugoletti
Defended on 11/12/2015
Francesco Toschi
Defended on 25/9/2015
Monica Rossi
Defended on 25/10/2013
Massimiliano Fabianelli
Academic Year 2011/2012
Matteo Pancaldi
Academic Year 2010/2011
Federica Agostini
Academic Year 2010/2011
Lucia Leardini
Academic Year 2010/2011
Useful Resources to Approach Our Research
If you are a student or a newcomer to the field, this selection of resources and posters below will help you get familiar with XENON and the research work of our group.
The XENON1T Muon Veto
XENON Bologna
MC Simulations for XENON1T
XENON Bologna
XENON Dark Matter Project
P. Di Gangi
XENON1T First Results
P. Di Gangi
Gd-loaded Vetoes in XENONnT
V. Mazza et al.
S1(x,y,z,t) correction in XENONnT SR2
G.M. Lucchetti
S1 Area Fraction Top cut in XENONnT SR2
V. Mazza
Our Gallery
Browse photos and videos to get a closer look at our research work and the people behind it.
2020
The Building of the XENONnT Neutron Veto
Summer 2020 – Neutron Veto installation
Outreach and Education
Beyond research, the XENON Bologna group is actively involved in education and outreach, organizing advanced schools, masterclasses, and activities aimed at students and the wider community.
SoUP 2026
Bertinoro (FC) – October 2026
School of Underground Physics for PhD students, post-docs and young researchers willing to acquire deeper knowledge in topics related to underground physics.
Dark Matter Masterclass
Bologna – December 2024
Outreach initiative for high-school students, offering a hands-on introduction to one of the Universe’s greatest mysteries through the analysis of real dark matter experiment data.
SoUP 2024
Bertinoro (FC) – October 2024
School of Underground Physics for PhD students, post-docs and young researchers willing to acquire deeper knowledge in topics related to underground physics.
Dark Matter Masterclass
Bologna – February 2024
Outreach initiative for high-school students, offering a hands-on introduction to one of the Universe’s greatest mysteries through the analysis of real dark matter experiment data.
SoUP 2022
LNGS – October 2022
School of Underground Physics for PhD students, post-docs and young researchers willing to acquire deeper knowledge in topics related to underground physics.
SoUP 2021
Online – October 2021
School of Underground Physics for PhD students, post-docs and young researchers willing to acquire deeper knowledge in topics related to underground physics.