Capital Equipment for UCL Experimental Particle Physics (2013)
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Experiments capable of addressing the most important questions in particle physics - for example, why there is an excess of matter over anti-matter in the universe - are very technically demanding. We need to constantly develop and invest in new detector technologies, and we need state of the art laboratory equipment in order to do this. The UCL group will be further developing its expertise in a number of detector technologies but especially super-fast detector readout techniques, cryogenic noble-gas and liquid detectors and devices capable of reaching extremely low levels of background radioactivity.
For many more details of UCL's High Energy Physics research program, please refer to our 2012 Consolidated Grant application.
For many more details of UCL's High Energy Physics research program, please refer to our 2012 Consolidated Grant application.
Planned Impact
The requested equipment is for the development of new detectors, which can have a number of applications outside particle physics. In particular noble-gas and liquid detectors can be uniquely powerful radiation detectors with a number of interesting applications. The detector development expertise in the UCL group is being increasingly applied to the field of medical imaging, in collaboration with the medical physics group and UCL hospitals.
For many more details of UCL's High Energy Physics research program, please refer to our 2012 Consolidated Grant application.
For many more details of UCL's High Energy Physics research program, please refer to our 2012 Consolidated Grant application.
Organisations
| Description | This capital award was critical in the research program of the UCL HEP group. It enabled us to develop a liquid-argon test stand where we are developing new detection techniques for neutrino experiments. We have also further developed our expertise in high-bandwidth data-acquisition systems, and helped to establish a facility for making precise measurements of trace radioactive contamination in materials. |
| Exploitation Route | The detector & DAQ system we are developing can have application in future particle physics projects. |
| Sectors | Education |
| Description | See entry for ST/K001426/1, for which this capital award formed an essential contribution. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | Event Horizon Cafe Scientifique |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 30 people attended a Cafe Scientifique event organised by UCL undergraduate students where I talked about the search for Dark Matter in our Universe. Impact that has arisen since includes requests for more information on how to conduct further studies or apply for PhD and postgraduate positions in the field of Dark Matter and particle physics in general. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/events/197495787252785/ |
| Description | Article in Cosmos magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Featured in a Cosmos Magazine article about the search for Dark Matter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://cosmosmagazine.com/physical-sciences/ghost-traps-hunt-dark-matter |
| Description | BBC Today programme feature |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Radio feature discussing UK particle physics and involvement in 'Beyond Standard Model' experiments including Dark Matter searches. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03kpnjl |
| Description | Forbes magazine article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 5000 views of this article discussing Dark Matter experiments with UK involvement, where I discuss the implications of new results. This article led to changes in opinion of the readers as documented by the comments on the website, and further enquiries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.forbes.com/sites/bridaineparnell/2013/11/07/why-the-lux-results-matter-to-dark-matter-and... |
| Description | IOP Physics World article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Article highlighting the selection of the next generation of experiments in the search for Dark Matter, including LZ. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2014/jul/15/dark-matter-searches-get-us-government-approval |
| Description | IOP Physics World article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Article in Physics World magazine about underground science including Dark Matter searches. This article highlighted activities at the UK's Boulby Underground Laboratory. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/indepth/2015/may/07/subterranean-science |
| Description | Light and Dark TV series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a major BBC production broadcast on TV in two-parts, hosted by Prof. Jim Al-Khalili. It featured a section on Dark Matter where I discussed underground experimental techniques. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03jrxhv |
| Description | Naked Scientists Radio and Podcast feature |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Radio and Podcast feature by the Naked Scientists discussing Dark Matter searches. This feature led to several further media enquiries and questions from the general public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/naked-scientists/show/20150602/ |
| Description | New Scientist Public Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 270 members of the general public attended a Particle Physics Experts Masterclass organised by New Scientist. I was one of the 5 experts, presenting Dark Matter including the LZ experiment, and I was a member of the panel for a Q&A session. There was significant interest during the ticketed event (£150 per person), and outcomes that have arisen since include contact from schools and students regarding Dark Matter for their school projects, and contact from the media. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/instant-expert-mysteries-of-particle-physics-tickets-19713709235?aff=n... |
| Description | Public Lecture at Second Home |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Approximately 70 people that work at or operate from Second Home, London, attended a talk about Dark Matter that focused on technologies. Second Home houses numerous technology firms and businesses and this talk led to several questions about potential socioeconomic impact of particle physics and Dark Matter experiments, and potential areas for collaborative research and spin-offs. It has also led to arrangement of a trip to Boulby Underground Laboratory in 2016, where I will host 10 artists from across the UK on an underground tour of the science facility. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/events/1498288067129210/ |
| Description | Radio 5 Live feature |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dark Matter feature on Radio 5 live, highlighting UK research. This feature led to enquiries from the general public and other media outlets. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b043wvt9 |
| Description | Radio feature on Newsdrive |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview on BBC Newsdrive discussing UK involvement in international Dark Matter search experiments. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03zdylq |
| Description | School Visit (Newham Collegiate College, London) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Particle physics seminar focussing on searched for beyond the standard model physics, particularly for dark matter signatures. Approximately 40 students attended, and there was considerable interest afterwards with questions, discussion, and follow up emails to me. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |