Project Info
Accessing particle physics in milliKelvin detectors
Wouter Van De Pontseele
wouter.vandepontseele@mines.edu
Kyle Leach
kleach@mines.edu
Project Goals and Description:
This project combines dilution refrigerators, microwave readout, and superconducting sensors to characterize and measure various backgrounds and particle interactions. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate the difference between electron and nuclear recoils in superconducting crystals. To enable this research, we need a) a well-shielded dilution refrigerator, b) superconducting amplifiers (SQUIDs/JPA), and c) well-coordinated configurable room temperature instruments. The project will focus on providing the software framework to complete these measurements and deploying proto-type detection units inside the dilution fridge.
Depending on fit and timelines, the project can connect to CURIE (Colorado Underground Research Institute), NIST and several world-leading neutrino physics experiments, including RICOCHET, the BeAST, SALER, and Project 8.
For this IMURF proposal, I aim to work directly with ideally two or one successful applicants. The students will be integrated into a fast-expanding group of PhD and Master students I mentor and a larger effort consisting of multiple PIs (Kyle Leach, Eric Mayotte, Uwe Greiffe) driving the CURIE effort. Beyond Mines, the IMURF will benefit from my association with NIST, local companies, and international particle physics collaborations. The student is expected to participate in multi-PI and external group meetings and present their final findings and contributions at a conference or (international) collaboration meeting regarding the over-arching experiment.
More Information:
Grand Challenge: Engineer the tools of scientific discovery.
https://curie.mines.edu/
https://indico.phy.ornl.gov/event/433/contributions/1890/attachments/1390/3431/202404_HFIR_cryo_bolometers_ricochet.pdf
https://indico.global/event/6083/contributions/50038/
https://www.project8.org/
https://www.maybellquantum.com/
And always happy to chat at my office CK320
Primary Contacts:
wouter.vandepontseele@mines.edu
Student Preparation
Qualifications
<ul>
<li>Python (required)</li>
</ul>
Recommended
<ul>
<li>Experience with data acquisition from sensors (Arduino, advanced lab classes, DAQ systems, microwave readout)</li>
<li>Experience with cryogenic systems</li>
<li>Advanced statistics (optimal filtering, anomaly detections, chi2 testing)</li>
<li>FPGA expertise (Xillinx RFSoC) and experience with custom drivers (PyVISA, ...)</li>
<li>Particle Physics (PHGN 423 or similar)</li>
</ul>
TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)
5
SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED
<ul>
<li>Dilution refrigerator operation</li>
<li>FPGA/RFSoC expertise</li>
<li>Particle physics collaborative environments</li>
<li>Underground science</li>
<li>Superconducting sensors</li>
<li>Statistics applied to real experiments</li>
</ul>
MENTORING PLAN
<ul>
<li>Bi-weekly half hour check-in meeting one-on-one</li>
<li>Assignment of peer-level mentor (Master student / PhD student)</li>
<li>Weekly meeting with a larger group.</li>
<li>Final presentation at a conference or large collaboration audience.</li>
</ul>
Preferred Student Status
Sophomore
Junior
Senior