Internal Summer Placements 2015
Projects for SUMMER 2015
Title: Defects in Spin Ice
Supervisor: Professor Jon Goff
Duration: 8 weeks
The proposal for the observation of magnetic monopoles in spin ice [1] has enjoyed much success in the intermediate temperature regime [2,3]. However, low-temperature measurements now point to the importance of defects in monopole dynamics, in providing extrinsic resistance for monopole currents [4]. This project is to study the defect structures of spin ice materials using x-ray diffraction. The work will include the measurements of single crystals using the x-ray equipment at Royal Holloway, structural refinement of the Bragg reflections, and computer simulations of the diffuse scattering.
[1] C. Castelnovo et al., Nature 451, 42 (2008)
[2] D.J.P. Morris et al., Science 326, 411 (2009)
[3] T. Fennel et al., Science 326, 415 (2009)
[4] H.M. Revell et al., Nature Physics 9, 34 (2013
Title: Studying Top quark events at ATLAS
Supervisor: Dr Veronique Boisvert
Duration: 8 weeks
This project will focus on using simulated events from ATLAS and using C++ code to analyse those events. The student will learn more about the particle physics done at the LHC and focus on learning about the top quark, in terms of its production, its decay and interesting signatures and its connection with the Higgs boson. Although an interest in programming is necessary as this project is purely computing based, prior knowledge of C++ is not required.
Title:Development of advanced instrumentation for charged particle beam using Cherenkov Diffraction Radiation
Supervisor: Dr Pavel Karataev
Duration: 8 weeks
Title: Applications of Quantum Field Theory in Theoretical Particle Physics
Supervisor: Dr Nikolas Kauer
Duration: 4-8 weeks
The project introduces the student to advanced concepts and methods in quantum mechanics and lets the student get experience with applications in theoretical particle physics. The student will work on one of the final projects in the standard introductory textbook of theoretical particle physics [1]. Available topics are: Radiation of gluon jets, The Coleman-Weinberg potential, and Decays of the Higgs boson. Other topics are possible and can be agreed with the supervisor.
[1] Michael E Peskin and Daniel V Schroeder: An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory, Westview Press, 1995. (Library: 530.143 PE
Title: Novel electronic states including unconventional superconductivity at the border of magnetism
Supervisor: Dr Philipp Niklowitz
Duration: 8 weeks
This research activity in which this project will be embedded has the aim to explore novel states of electronic matter including unconventional superconductivity. We focus in particular on electronic systems in the vicinity of magnetic order. Some states like conventional metallic states or conventional superconductivity are already well understood. However, magnetic interactions between conduction electrons, which are enhanced near magnetic quantum phase transitions can lead to more exotic states of matter.
Experimentally, magnetic quantum phase transitions are reached by cooling a magnetically ordered material to low temperatures and tune the system at low temperatures. We use high-pressure techniques for tuning. The project student will become familiar with high-pressure and low-temperature techniques. The student will have the opportunity to contribute to the exploration of pressure-temperature phase diagrams of promising candidate materials, which might include recently discovered Fe-based superconductors.
Title: Condensed Matter Physics
Supervisor: Dr Andrew Casey
Duration: 8 weeks
Experimental low temperature physics. We have activities developing SQUID based measurement techniques for thermometers, nano-mechanical resonators and NMR.
Title: Condensed Matter Physics
Supervisor: Dr James Nicholls
Duration: 8 weeks
As part of a collaboration (samples and theory from Cambridge & UCL) we wish to cool the electrons in semiconductor devices down to less than 1 mK. This has never been achieved before and in low-dimensional systems such as 1D wires and 0D quantum dots it is predicted that electrons will order into new quantum states. In this project there will be a variety of activities that will contribute to the setting up of preliminary measurements on new equipment: testing semiconductor devices at 4.2 K, making and testing filters for low noise measurements, writing software to control equipment or analyse data, modelling, etc. There will be opportunities to develop new skills and to work in a team of researchers (post docs, academics, technicians).
Title: Condensed Matter Physics
Supervisor: Vladimir Antonov
Duration: 8 weeks
Experimental Nanotechnology- details to be confirmed
Title: Study of ttH events at ILC
Supervisors: Dr V. Boisvert and Dr. M. Faucci Giannelli
Duration: 8 weeks
The ILC is the next generation electron-positron collider and is currently in the final stage of design. One of the main criteria for deciding the final detector design is the performances of several physics benchmarks; ttH is one of them. The student will learn about particle physics and in particular about Higgs and top physics at ILC. The student will learn to write code in C++ which will be used to select ttH events using the ILD detector official simulation. This project is purely software based and, although C++ knowledge is not required, it is a desirable skill for this project.
Title: Calibrating Beam Position Monitors for the Front End Test Stand
Supervisors: Gary Boorman, Stephen Gibson
A suite of instruments is to be installed at the Front End Test Stand (FETS) H- ion source to monitor the current, position and emittance of the beam. Beam Position Monitors (BPM) that have been designed and manufactured in-house, require calibration before installation in the beam-line. The BPMs require full characterisation, along with the associated electronics and signal processing software. The student undertaking the project is expected to be experienced at developing LabVIEW and Python code, and will carry out analysis of the acquired data to estimate the uncertainty in the beam position.
Title: Teaching / outreach project
Supervisors: Stephen Gibson/ Ian Murray/ Phil Meeson
Details to follow shortly.