Potential IPP Summer Student Projects 2020
Serge Charlebois, serge.charlebois@usherbrooke.ca
Université de Sherbrooke
Project Name:
New photon detector technology for low background neutrino and dark matter experiments
Overview:
The nature of the neutrino is among the most pressing question in the field of particle physics. The nEXO experiment is seeking for the observation of a so-called neutrinoless double beta decay which could point to neutrinos being their own antiparticule (Majorana particles). We are developing a new detector to search for this decay in isotope xenon-136 in a time projection chamber anticipated to be located at SNOLab (Sudbury).
The proposed project is hosted by the Université de Sherbrooke group in radiation instrumentation GRAMS, a member of the nEXO collaboration. We develop a new technology of photodetectors called 3D digital SiPM which should outperform the present silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) technology in power consumption, noise performance and signal processing capability. Part of the challenge in this technology is the mechanical assembly of a top photosensitive layer (array of diodes) with an underlying CMOS electronic readout circuit. Thermomechanical simulations of constraints in silicon devices and various device assemblies are required to ensure the reliability of the detectors under their required cryogenic operating conditions.
The student will perform thermomechanical simulations (ANSYS) and proceed with mechanical testing of real devices to validate both models and fabrication quality. The student will work in state-of-the-art facility at 3IT (UdeSherbrooke) in a dynamic research group under the close supervision of a senior Ph.D. student. The student will be exposed to various aspects of the project for details of the nEXO experiment design to method of characterization of photodetectors. Part of the group is also involved in medical imaging (PET and CT) using the same photodetectors.
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William Trischuk, william@physics.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto
At the U of T, we have our USRA ad for summer students posted at:
https://www.physics.utoronto.ca/students/undergraduate-program/USRA/2020/ATLAS%20Toronto%20Group%20in%202020.pdf
Any of those positions would be suitable for an IPP student if one wanted to start the summer in the Toronto area.
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Michael Roney mroney@uvic.ca
University of Victoria
Project with the Belle II Experiment
Three Potential Topics: Detector R&D; Physics Analysis; and Accelerator Physics R&D
Belle II is a particle physics detector that started collecting electron-positron collision data from the SuperKEKB collider in Japan in 2018. It will perform precision measurements in the quark and lepton sectors of the Standard Model to search for new fundamental physical processes. The energy and momentum of particles produced in the collisions are measured in several subsystems of Belle II. There are three possible projects available, the topic to be decided with the student:
1) One of the subsystems is an array of roughly 9000 CsI(Tl) scintillation crystals arranged around the interaction region of the electron-positron collider. This project will investigate the impact of using differences in the pulse shapes of signals from a Belle II CsI(Tl) scintillator produced by different types of particles as they interact in the crystal to help identify the type of interacting particle. Particles interacting with the strong force, such as neutrons, protons, pions, have a different pulse shape than other particles. The student project will involve the collection and analysis of data from spare Belle II CsI(Tl) crystals exposed to cosmic rays and radio-active sources to study the impact of various systematic effects, such as temperature and radiation damage, on the effectiveness of hadronic/electromagnetic pulse shape discrimination. It will also involve work with GEANT4 simulations of the CsI(Tl) scintillator detector;
2) With early collision data being collected from SuperKEKB the student will contribute to an analysis of tau lepton physics.
3) A proposal is being developed to upgrade the SuperKEKB accelerator with a polarized electron beam. The students will contribute to a project to study the expected impact of installing a spin-rotator magnet system on the spin lifetime and overall performance of the collider.
All projects will be conducted in the University of Victoria’s VISPA Research Centre (www.uvic.ca/science/physics/vispa/)