:: Institute of Particle Physics :: Potential IPP Summer Student Projects 2022

Potential IPP Summer Student Projects 2022

Queen’s University

Project Name: PICO 40 Dark Matter Detector Operation and Analysis

Overview: The PICO 40 Detector is a bubble chamber that uses a superheated C3F8 fluid to search for dark matter. Potential dark matter interactions in the detector deposit enough energy locally to trigger a phase transition that is seen optically with cameras and heard acoustically with sensitive piezo detectors. The acoustic signals help discriminate between dark matter and radioactive backgrounds. The detector is in the process of being reinstalled at the SNOLAB for a second run, after extensive modifications. The project will involve supporting the installation of the detector, including participating in the data analysis of the initial commissioning date to ensure the detector is well calibrated and operating at the performance parameters. The work will take place at Queen’s, with possible trips to SNOLAB to assist with the hands-on installation and commissioning of the detector. For further information, please contact Tony Noble (noblet@queensu.ca).

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Brigitte Vachon, Brigitte dot Vachon at mcgill dot ca

McGill University

Project Name: Instrumentation development for the ATLAS detector at the CERN LHC

Overview: Subatomic physics aims to understand the nature of the basic building blocks of the universe and the laws that explain their behaviour. One approach to do so is to study the results of high energy particle collisions produced in a controlled laboratory environment. The highest energy particle collider in the world is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) located at the CERN laboratory in Geneva. In order to more precisely study properties of the Higgs boson, study extremely rare physics processes at the subatomic scale that have never been observed before, and search for hints of new physics, the LHC is scheduled to undergo a major upgrade in 2026-28 that will result in an increase of its beam intensity by an order of magnitude. The results of these proton-proton collisions will be recorded by the ATLAS detector, which requires major upgrades to all its subsystem in order to operate at high particle beam intensity. One of these upgrades consists in replacing the entire readout electronics of the Liquid Argon Calorimeter detector, a sub-system responsible for precisely measuring the energy of electrons/photons produced in proton-proton collisions.

The goal of this summer research project is to participate in the ongoing design and development of the future electronics readout. The students will take part in tasks such as the development of the lab infrastructure at McGill and development of analysis/monitoring tools for performing integration tests of different digital electronic components, the running of different integration tests, analysis of digital signals, simulation and validation of digital algorithms implemented in the FPGA, possible contributions to the development of the firmware environment used by the international project, and possible contributions to FPGA firmware programming.

The students will develop a variety of experimental skills, learn about particle detector instrumentation, different concepts of analogue and digital electronics, and develop familiarity with the use of FPGAs.

Research activities will take place in person at McGill University. The students will work alongside other members of the McGill ATLAS research group (research associates, engineer and graduate student), as well as closely collaborate with colleagues at other institutes in Canada and internationally. The students are required to be resourceful, curious and have a strong desire to learn. Knowledge and experience with computers (unix-based OS, shell scripts, python, C++, git) is considered an asset.

For more information contact: Brigitte Vachon (Brigitte dot Vachon at mcgill dot ca).

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Brigitte Vachon, Brigitte dot Vachon at mcgill dot ca

McGill University

Project Name: Studies of electroweak gauge bosons self-interactions in high-energy proton-proton collisions.

The student will participate in the analysis of proton-proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Specifically, the student will participate in the investigation of the electroweak force of nature through the search for evidence of extremely rare reactions predicted to exist but never observed before. The student tasks will involve writing and validating analysis code written in C++/Python, and based on ROOT analysis libraries.

Research activities will take place in person at McGill University. In the event that in-person meetings are not permitted due to pandemic-related restrictions, research activities will be carried out through online platforms allowing the student to work remotely from home.

The student will learn about particle physics theory, various data analysis techniques, develop programming skills, and familiarity with the use of computer batch systems.

Students are required to be resourceful, curious and have a strong desire to learn. Knowledge and experience with computers (unix-based OS, shell scripts, python, C++, git) is considered an asset.

For more information contact: Brigitte Vachon (Brigitte dot Vachon at mcgill dot ca).

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Jean-Francois Pratte, Jean-Francois.Pratte@USherbrooke.ca

Serge Charlebois, serge.charlebois@usherbrooke.ca

Université de Sherbrooke

Project Name:New photon detector technology for particle physics, medical imaging and quantum physics experiments

Overview: The Université de Sherbrooke – GRAMS group is looking for undergraduate students interested in the field of radiation instrumentation. The GRAMS develop a new technology of photodetectors called 3D Photon-to-Digital Converter (3D PDC) capable of single photon-detection and achieve excellent timing resolution. It should outperform the present silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) technology in power consumption, noise performance and signal processing capability. The 3D PDC is currently being design for various applications such as low background (1) neutrino and (2) dark matter search, (3) positron emission tomography and (4) quantum key distribution.

(1) The nature of the neutrino is among the most pressing question in the field of particle physics. The nEXO experiment is seeking the observation of a so-called neutrinoless double beta decay which could point to neutrinos being their own antiparticle (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). We also develop the components for a photon detection module, including silicon interposer and silicon photonics-based fibre-optic communication system with Triumf. Internships on both sites possible.

(2) Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMP) are hypothetical candidate particles for the explanation of dark matter, which constitutes 27% of the total energy density of the universe, in contrast to ordinary matter, which makes up only for 5%. The DarkSide-20k and ARGO are future tonne-scale experiments dedicated to the direct detection of dark matter through the interaction WIMP and argon nuclei. Similar to neutrino experiments, we are developing photon detectors to look at the scintillation of argon following the passage of WIMP.

(3) The 3D PDC could also benefit the field of medical imaging by providing a very precise time of arrival for each detected photon. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a metabolic imaging technique often used in the detection of cancerous tumors. A good photodetector timing resolution increases the contrast of PET scan images by better locating the position of the emitted photons. This will also lead to lower radiation dose, opening the field for pediatric care.

(4) The advent of quantum computers promises enormous technological and scientific advances. It is a paradigm shift in the world of modern computing. In particular, in the way we secure the information we transmit. Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a technique to exchange encryption keys that uses the properties of quantum mechanics to ensure its security from future quantum computer attack. In this application, the 3D PDC detector is used as a quantum receiver where keys are exchanged through single photons.

The proposed internship project is open to discussion with the selected candidate.

The student will work in the state-of-the-art 3IT facility on the Université de Sherbrooke campus in a dynamic research group under the close supervision of senior research assistants. The core tasks of the internship project will revolve around the electrical and optical characterization of the 3D PDC, silicon interposer or silicon photonic communication module and the development of test benches specific to the applications described above. That being said, we welcome motivated students to contact us to discuss internship projects.

Students should communicate with Prof. Jean-François Pratte and Prof. Serge Charlebois to discuss their field of interest and plan a possible internship with us. Note that we are seeking graduate students as well.

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Thomas Lindner, lindner@triumf.ca

TRIUMF

Project Name: Advanced Photosensor Characterization for the Hyper-Kamiokande Experiment

Overview: The Hyper-K experiment will use multi-channel photosensor modules called multi-PMTs in a water Cherenkov detector located near the neutrino source and in the Hyper-K detector itself. Hyper-K collaborators at TRIUMF are involved in the development of these multi-PMTs and sophisticated test stands that will be used to characterize the multi-PMTs’ performance. This student project would involve hands-on operation of the test stand to measure prototype multi-PMT performance, and development and application of analysis software to interpret the multi-PMT measurements. The student will have the opportunity to discuss these results with researchers on the Hyper-K project and consider how the multi-PMT performance will relate to the achievement of the physics objectives of the Hyper-K experiment.

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Michael Roney, mroney@uvic.ca

University of Victoria

Project Name: Belle II Projects in Detector R&D; Physics Analysis; and Accelerator Physics R&D

Overview: Belle II is a particle physics detector that started collecting electron-positron collision data from the SuperKEKB collider in Japan in 2018. It is performing 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 Belle II collision data being collected from SuperKEKB the student will contribute to an analysis of tau lepton physics. The work will involve development of selections of e+e- -> tau+ tau- events and measurements of properties of the events.

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/)