Updated December 2007
In January 2008 we will take delivery of two rack protection systems, and will receive two more later in the spring. These are essentially identical to the ones being used for MINOS. After delivery, someone needs to hook up all the pieces and test that they work on our test bench here at UMD or possibly at the test rack in the MINOS far detector lab. This project could be combined with one of the other MINERvA projects below, for a student who is able to put in more time. Suitable for advanced undergraduate or M.S. student with some electronics experience, I think this is approximately a one-month project.
The MINERvA experiment will put a scaled-down replica of the detector into a test beam to perform some essential calibrations of the detectors response to pions and protons. This will run at Fermilab in Summer 2008. During Spring and Summer 2008 there are several simulation projects to look at and optimize specific configurations and choices for the run plan. I'm looking for an interested M.S. student or advanced undergraduate, could be a physics major or possibly a CS major/physics minor with computer programming skills. In particular, an M.S. student would find a satisfactory project or thesis in this work. The student will have the option of continuing to work on some hardware and installation during the summer and into Fall 2008.
Alec Habig salvaged the scintillator that Rik Gran used for his Ph.D. thesis on the Soudan-2 experiment. This can be fashioned (at first) into a muon telescope to look at cosmic ray muons. Later, this setup can be used for muon lifetime experiments for an upper-level lab course or used to calibrate other physics apparatus for MINOS, or a traveling demonstration kit to take to local high schools. There are several projects, starting with the preparation and assembly of the scintillator (hardware and shop-work), followed by some data-taking which may involve both hardware and software work. We have a QuarkNet DAQ card and also some High Energy Physics VME modules to use to collect data. Duration: Several separate projects, starting with the assembly of scintillator, which might take one semester. Skill requirements: none at first (maybe some woodshop skills?). Some followup projects would involve programming and data analysis. Different sub-projects are suitable for students at all levels. Two students (Emily and Ryan) have been doing work on this project already. A new student would pick up an additional measurement or test with this equipment.
Rik is interested in looking at the MINOS data, especially the near detector data. One important aspect of this is to understand how electron neutrino interactions look like in the detector, and how to tell the difference between these and backgrounds that could fool us. I'm looking for one or more students to look at event displays of such events and classify what we see. Two students worked last spring on this, but now there are some followup questions we would like to address. Skill requirements: none. Suitable for students at all levels.
The predictions for what neutrinos do when they interact with matter are complicated because they do so many different things. What we do is take all the best information and combine it into a "neutrino event generator", a computer program. Of course, all the best information is not necessarily the right answer, so there is work for us to do. I have two or three such generators, and a big pile of questions to answer. Skill requirements: some programming in C++ or willingness to learn. There are different projects for students at all levels.
For undergraduates, any of the above projects would be good preparation for the MINERvA beam test. In the Summer 2008, I am looking for two or three students for a two-month trip to Fermilab. We are going to put a mini version of the MINERvA detector (Google: minerva neutrino) into a test beam to obtain calibration information about it. That will involve a lot of work at all levels, hardware, software, analysis. It will be a great experience, and people majoring (or M.S.) in Physics, ECE, and CS, or combinations of those will find lots of interesting things in this work. There is some advanced preparation work toward this that is avaialble now.
There are other possibilities within MINOS, relating to the far-detector calibration and hardware. There are also projects and funding during the summer for people who are interested in education and science outreach, especially if you want to spend the tour season up at the Soudan mine. Contact Alec Habig or myself for information about these.
Several of the projects above have or lead to substantial, quality M.S. projects, as well as significant projects for advanced undergraduates. Students interested in continuing to a Ph.D. as well as students interested in completing the M.S. and pursuing a position in industry or technology will find excellent opportunities and experience. We can craft the specifics of each project to your goals.