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Faculty
and Student Teams Program |
 Project Descriptions
Brookhaven
National Laboratory
Physics Department
Electronic Detector Group
Requesting applications from science or engineering faculty members at institutions
serving students underrepresented in science, engineering, mathematics and
technology, to work on the design of a high energy physics experiment to be
mounted at the BNL AGS.
Project Description The KOPIO experiment is a search for an ultra-rare decay
of the long-lived neutral kaon, the KL. In this decay, which is predicted to occur only once in 30 billion
times, the KL falls apart into a neutral pion, a neutrino and an anti-neutrino. The neutral pion immediately decays into two photons, so that the
signature of the process is an extremely challenging one: the appearance
of two photons pointing back into a beam of KL, accompanied by
no other detectable particle. This
process violates the combined charge-conjugation and parity (CP) conservation rule and
thus probes an essential element of the current explanation for the
observed great imbalance of matter and anti-matter in the universe. The experiment will be built and run at the Brookhaven Alternating
Gradient Synchrotron over the next several years. The project will involve a GEANT-based computer program that has
been developed to simulate the performance of the experiment. This program will be used to optimize the design of the experiment
and to develop triggering and analysis strategies for it.
In Phase 1, parameters in the current program (built on
the GEANT 3 simulation platform) will be varied to find optimal
performance. Modifications to the program that reflect more extensive
changes to the present detector, beam, and triggering system will also be
tested.In Phase 2, simulated
data will be generated and signal identification and background rejection
techniques developed.
Applicants Responsibilities
and Relationship to Project
Applicants will receive support under the
Department of Energy Faculty Student Team Research Program (FaST) to work collaboratively
with the project research team at BNL for up to 10 weeks during the year starting
in June, Summer and academic year visits to BNL will be scheduled by
mutual agreement between the Physics Department and the successful applicant.
Ideally faculty will work at BNL on the project for 10 weeks during the summer
in the first year. Faculty will be expected to identify students from their
campus to participate in the FaST program offered by the Department of Energy
at BNL. Ideally Faculty will provide some mentorship and/or advising support
to students during the summer research activities. It is expected that the
Faculty member will become an integral part of the research team working on
this project and will support the project through the academic year on her
or his campus.
Qualifications of Ideal Candidate
| Faculty: | Ph.D. in high energy or nuclear physics.
Experience in experiment simulation and analysis. Works well in a collaborative
environment with students and other researchers. Currently teaches and collaborates
with students in his/her field. Willing to work at BNL for an extended period
during the summer. |
| Student: | Working towards a BS in physics
with strong interests in experimental research. Works well in collaboration
with faculty, other students, and researchers. Willing to work at BNL for
an extended period. |
Support
and Financial Commitments See Financial
Information.
For More Information contact:
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