B.Sc. Berkin Ulukutlu

Offered Bachelor’s or Master’s Theses Topics

Building and characterising a hybrid gaseous particle detector

Micropattern gas detectors (MPGD) are a type of particle detector used in many large high energy physics experiments (Atlas, CMS, ALICE). MPGDs work by amplifying the signals generated by charged particles traversing a gas volume. This is made possible by using amplification structures with micrometre scale patterns. There are different designs of such detectors, which include Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) and Micro-Mesh Gaseous Structure (Micromegas). These are both highly scalable and offer good performance on their own but by combining both designs in a hybrid detector the performance can be pushed even further. The Hydra (Hypernuclei Decay R3B Apparatus) TPC project in GSI plans to make use of the high radiation hardness and tracking capabilities of a hybrid Micromegas+GEM detector to study the mesonic decay of hypernuclei into nuclei and pions. In the scope of this thesis project, the building and characterization of a prototype Micromegas+GEM detector will be conducted. For this task, a new dedicated detector chamber will be built, and performance tests will be conducted looking at the achievable signal amplification, energy & spatial resolution, and ion back flow suppression. In addition to these, novel exciting studies investigating electric field distortions under an applied magnetic field using a strong electromagnet will also performed. The results obtained from this research and development effort will be used for the final design of the Hydra TPC detector!

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics

Supervisor: Laura Fabbietti

Performance evaluation of humidified gaseous particle detectors

Micropattern gas detectors (MPGD) are a type of particle detector used in many large high energy physics experiments (Atlas, CMS, ALICE). MPGDs work by amplifying the signals generated by charged particles traversing a gas volume. This is made possible by using amplification structures with micrometre scale patterns. There are different designs of such detectors, which include Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) and Micro-Mesh Gaseous Structure (Micromegas). These are both highly scalable and offer good performance. Still, one of the main limiting factors for the long-term stable operation of MPGDs is the formation of electrical discharges inside the amplification structures. Due to this, there has been an extensive effort over the years to understand and develop methods to mitigate these discharges. One of the remaining questions however is how the humidity (the water content) of the used gas mixture affects the formation of discharges in MPDS. This project aims to conduct the first comprehensive studies investigating the correlation between gas humidity and MPGD discharge stability. For this task, a dedicated detector chamber will be used with modifications to the gas system which enables the precise control of the ambient humidity levels. This venture is a great entry point for anyone interested in particle detector hardware research and development. The achieved results of which might end up shaping the next generation of cutting-edge high energy physics experiments!

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics

Supervisor: Laura Fabbietti

Performance evaluation of humidified gaseous particle detectors

Micropattern gas detectors (MPGD) are a type of particle detector used in many large high energy physics experiments (Atlas, CMS, ALICE). MPGDs work by amplifying the signals generated by charged particles traversing a gas volume. This is made possible by using amplification structures with micrometre scale patterns. There are different designs of such detectors, which include Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) and Micro-Mesh Gaseous Structure (Micromegas). These are both highly scalable and offer good performance. Still, one of the main limiting factors for the long-term stable operation of MPGDs is the formation of electrical discharges inside the amplification structures. Due to this, there has been an extensive effort over the years to understand and develop methods to mitigate these discharges. One of the remaining questions however is how the humidity (the water content) of the used gas mixture affects the formation of discharges in MPDS. This project aims to conduct the first comprehensive studies investigating the correlation between gas humidity and MPGD discharge stability. For this task, a dedicated detector chamber will be used with modifications to the gas system which enables the precise control of the ambient humidity levels. This venture is a great entry point for anyone interested in particle detector hardware research and development. The achieved results of which might end up shaping the next generation of cutting-edge high energy physics experiments!

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics

Supervisor: Laura Fabbietti