Max-Planck-Institute for Physics / Werner-Heisenberg-Institute (MPP)

Course with Participations of Group Members

Offers for Theses in the Group

Development and test of new fast readout electronics for future collider experiments

Experimente an kuenftigen Hochenergiebeschleunigern benoetigen wegen der hohen Teilchenkollisionsraten immer schnellere Ausleseelektronik, wobei die Messgenauigkeit nicht beeintraech-tigt werden darf. Verschiende Konzepte dafuer werden derzeit am Max-Planck-Institute in Muenchen entwickeltund in integrierte Schaltkreise (sog. ASIC Chips) in modernster Halbleitertechno-logie ueberfuehrt. Die verschiedenen Stufen der Entwicklung sollen in Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten im Messlabor und auf einsatzbereiten Teilchendetektoren unter den realistischen Betriebsbedingungen getestet werden. Die Testergebnisse fuehren wiederum zu einer Weiterentwicklung der Chips.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics

Supervisor: Hubert Kroha

Germanium Detector development

Das MPI bietet eine Bachelorarbeit auf dem Gebiet der Germanium Detektortechnik an. Das MPI betreibt eine Reihe von Prüfständen. Der erfolgreiche Kandidat wird einige Messungen durchführen mit neuartigen Germanium-Detektoren durchführen und eine erste Analyse im Hinblick auf die Detektor-F&E durchführen. The MPI offers a bachelor thesis in the field of germanium detector technology. The MPI operates a number of test stands. The successful candidate will conduct some measurements with novel germanium detectors and perform a first analysis with respect to detector R&D.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics

Supervisor: Allen C. Caldwell

Modern computing, statistics and Machine Learning for Physics

You will develop novel algorithms in the context of the Bayesian Analysis Toolkit. Possibilities include implementing a Nested Sampling algorithm, developing highly parallelized versions of Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms, developing novel test statistics for rare event searches, etc. The specific topic will be decided based on the background and interests of the student.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics

Supervisor: Allen C. Caldwell

Novel Clustering Methods for Jet Finding in High Energy Collisions

Quarks and Gluons scattered in high energy collisions result in so-called jets of observed particles in the detectors such as ATLAS or CMS. Recognizing and grouping the scattered particles into jets is a form of clustering. Algorithms have been developed in the particle physics community for this task and are in common use. The Master's project will investigate whether the state-of-the-art techniques developed in the computer science community can bring a benefit to the jet finding algorithms used in particle physics. The project will be co-supervised by scientists from the particle physics and computer science departments.

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics

Supervisor: Allen C. Caldwell

New methods for the measurement of the tau mass with the Belle II Experiment in Japan

The tau lepton is the least understood lepton of the Standard model. Its short lifetime and decays involving invisible particles make it the most challenging charged lepton to study. The Belle II experiment at KEK in Japan will provide an unprecedentedly large dataset of tau lepton events, enabling highly precise measurements of the properties of this particle. In this project, new approaches to measuring the tau lepton mass will be investigated, making use of simulation studies to explore the potential of this new technique, with possible subsequent applications to real data in longer-term projects.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics

Supervisor: Allen C. Caldwell

Particle decay vertex reconstruction

The Belle II experiment, situated in Tsukuba, Japan, performs precision measurements of parameters of the Standard Model using decays of B mesons. The MPI Belle II group is very involved in measurements that depend on the decay time of the B mesons. This type of measurements can provide very strong constraints on the Standard Model, and they require a precise knowledge of the position of the B meson decay, the so called B vertex. It is therefore primordial to have an excellent knowledge of the B vertex resolution, and to be able to calibrate it using control channels. The project proposed here will be the development of a calibration method using  the decay of D0 mesons to four charged tracks as a control channel. Measuring the resolution on the distance between two pairs of tracks in the D0 decay provides a very useful way to control the vertex resolution using real data. The student will develop the selection and full analysis of this control channel, and his or her results will be an important input for all forthcoming time-dependent analyses at Belle II.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics

Supervisor: Allen C. Caldwell

Qualification of Piezo motors at cryogenic temperatures for the MADMAX axion dark matter search experiment

Für den Betrieb des MADMAX Experimentes wurden Piezo Motoren entwickelt, die bei kryogenen Temperaturen (4 K) funktionieren und einen Hub von bis zu 1 m haben. Die ersten gelieferten Prototypmotoren müssen bei kryogenen Temperaturen getestet und auf verschiedene Betriebsparameter untersucht werden. Qualification of Piezo motors at cryogenic temperatures for the MADMAX axion dark matter experiment In the context of the MADMAX dark matter axion search experiment Piezo motors have been developed for operation at cryogenic temperatures (4 K) for a stroke of up to 1 m. The first prototype motors that have been delivered will need to be tested at cyrogenic temperatures and several parameters need to be investigated.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics
• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics

Supervisor: Bela Majorovits

Studies of Belle-II Physics

New theoretical studies indicate an up to 5% difference of the calculated cross section from final state radiation on the measurement of the B0 -> K+pi- cross section.  The student will implement  the new calculations in a Monte Carlo simulation program. The impact will be studies and included in the systematic error and verified in the data.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics

Supervisor: Allen C. Caldwell

Search for CP Violation in production and decay of the Higgs boson with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

Eine wichtige Quelle fuer die Verletzung der CP- und damit der Zeitumkehrsymmetrie koennte in den Produktions- und Zerfalls-mechanismen des Higgs-Bosons zu finden sein. Neue Quellen der CP-Verletzung werden dringend gesucht, um die Existenz von Materie im Universum zu erklaeren. Das ATLAS-Experiment am Large Hadron Collider am CERN bietet die einzigartige Moeglichkeit nach solchen Effekten zu suchen. Dazu werden bereits aufgenommene Daten und Simulationsrechnungen der relevanten Prozesse im ATLAS-Detektor verwendet.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics

Supervisor: Hubert Kroha

Search for doubly charged Higgs bosons with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

Doppelt geladene Higgs-Bosonen sind ein eindeutiges Kennzeichen von Erweiterungen des Standardmodells der Teilchenphysik. Elementaren Teilchen mit doppelter wurden bisher noch nicht beobachtet. Die Experimente am LHC bieten die einzige Moeglichkeit nach solchen Teilchen in verschiedenen Produktions- und Zerfallskanaelen zu suchen. Dazu koennen vorhandene Daten des ATLAS-EXperiments im Rahmen von Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten verwendet werden.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics

Supervisor: Hubert Kroha

Search for boosted Z->e+e- decays with the ATLAS detector at the LHC using Machine Learning methods

In den Zerfaellen neuer schwerer Teilchen am Large Hadron Collider (LHC) treten haeufig stark geboostete Z-Bosonen auf, die in Elektron-Boson-Paare zerfallen koennen. Wegen der starken Buendelung der e+e-Paare werden neue Identifikationsmethoden benoetigt. Vorhergehende Studien im Rahmen einer Bachelorarbeit haben bereits gezeigt, dass mittels Machine Learning eine enorme Erhoehung der Nachweiswahrschein-lichkeit erreicht werden kann. Diese Methoden sollen nun weiterentwickelt und auf die Daten des ATLAS-Experiments am LHC angewendet werden

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics

Supervisor: Hubert Kroha

Search for charged Higgs bosons with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

In vielen Erweiterungen des Standardmodells der Teilchenphysik werden zusaetzliche Higgs-Bosonen vorhergesagt, darunter auch geladene Higgs-Bosonen, deren Zerfaelle sich deutlich von denen neutraler Higgs-Bosonen abheben, indem schwere top-Quarks im Endzustand auftreten. Im Rahmen von Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten sollen die verschiedenen Zerfallskanaele und Modelle jenseits des Standardmodells mit Hilfe von Daten und Simulationen des ATLAS-Experiments am LHC untersucht werden.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics

Supervisor: Hubert Kroha

Search for Physics beyond the Standard Model in tau decays with the Belle II Experiment in Japan

The tau lepton is the least understood lepton of the Standard model. Its short lifetime and decays involving invisible particles make it the most challenging charged lepton to study. On the other hand it is the most promising lepton candidate to display BSM signatures, since its high mass enhances the coupling to new effects in many New Physics models. Recently LHCb obtained results which are in tension with the SM, as there is an indication for Lepton Flavour Violation. The Belle II experiment at KEK in Japan is in a unique position to study the tau and being able to find signatures of dark matter, lepton flavour violation, or both. Several topics can be offered to students in this area, involving Machine learning methods and analysis with Bayesian Analysis tools.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics

Supervisor: Allen C. Caldwell

Test of new muon deetctors for the upgrade of the ATLAS detector at Super-LHC

Die Strahlintensitaet des Large Hadron Colliders wird in den naechsten Jahren um beinahe eine Groessenordnung erhoeht werden, um noch besseren Zugang zu neuer Physik jenseits des Standardmodells der Teilchenphysik zu gewinnen. Fuer die erhoehten Proton-Kollisionsraten an diesem Super-LHC muessen auch die Experimente wie der ATLAS-Detektor noch wesentlich verbessert werden. Hierzu werden am Max-Planck-Institut in Muenchen neuartige Myondetektoren und deren Elektronik entwickelt und gebaut. Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten sollen sich mit dem Test dieser Detektoren befassen, die in der Regel am Institut stattfinden, aber bei hohen Bestrahlungsraten auch am CERN durchgefuehrt werden koennen.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics

Supervisor: Hubert Kroha

Neural Network Training for a Track Trigger at the Belle II Experiment

For the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB Collider located in Japan a first level track trigger has been launched recently, based on fast neural network techniques and implemented in Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA). For the new round of experiments in this year, the machine luminosity will be substantially increased, accompanied with much larger expected backgrounds. The task of the thesis is to train sets of neural networks with real data taken by the Belle II experiment under the new conditions, and determine suitable neural architectures, optimized for high track efficiency and powerful background rejection. The resulting set of optimized networks will be implemented in the trigger hardware. Existing program chains for network training and performance analyses need to be mastered, suitably modified and physically exploited under the supervision of experienced physicists within the project.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics

Supervisor: Allen C. Caldwell

Investigation of signal response of the MADMAX axion dark matter search experiment

Im Rahmen des MADMAX Projektes zur Suche nach dunkler Materie Axionen werden verschiedene
Testaufbauten bei Raumtemperatur und in flüssigem Helium (4 K)
zur Kalibrierung und zur Untersuchung der genauen Signalantwort des
experimentellen Aufbaus betrieben. Es werden Reflektionsdaten Daten
genommen und ausgewertet.

In the frame work of the MADMAX projects several test stands at room tamperature and in liquid helium
for the investigation of the detailled system response and for calibration of the setup are being operated. Reflectivity data will be atken and analyzed.

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics
• Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics

Supervisor: Bela Majorovits

Current and Finished Theses in the Group