Particle Physics Consolidated Grant from the University of Sheffield - ATLAS, ATLAS upgrade, T2K, LBNE/F, Hyper-K, MICE, LZ, DMGS, DRIFT, R&D, KE
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Abstract
It is an exceptional time for discoveries in particle physics and particle astrophysics and the research we wish to conduct in this STFC consolidated grant programme at Sheffield is at the heart of this action. Foremost recently has been the discovery by ATLAS of a Higgs boson particle. Members of the group led and helped to develop the key 4-lepton analysis upon which the discovery was based. We will now use our expertise to measure carefully the properties of the new particle to establish whether it is the Higgs boson predicted by theory, or something else. We will also search for squark and gluino particles predicted by supersymmetry theory, which will be the main target of the next, higher energy, run of the LHC. Preparing for the future, we will expand our role in the ATLAS upgrade programme to build key components of a new ATLAS tracker. Our involvement in the T2K experiment in Japan also greatly benefited from confirmation of a non-zero third neutrino mixing angle, a result fundamental to our understanding of the neutrino. The group's respected work in neutrino analyses for T2K, particularly of so-called charge current and neutral current events, will continue along with international responsibilities for data management and for the critical light injection calibration system. However, bolstered by the exciting new results we will now also accelerate participation in next generation long baseline neutrino experiment for CP violation aimed to unravel the mystery of antimatter in the Universe, notably using LBNE/F in the US and Hyper-K in Japan. For these our particular focus will be on detector construction. For the precursor LAr1-ND experiment at Fermilab we plan to construct the central Anode Plane Array for the detector, while working also on our pioneering liquid argon R&D. We will also establish novel detector prototypes at the new CERN-based neutrino platform and for LBNE/F itself. Closely related here will be work on the MICE experiment towards a potential future neutrino factory, plus related R&D on high power particle beam targets for future neutrino beams and experiments.
For particle astrophysics we plan to expand work on gravitation waves, through specialist noise analysis for Advanced Ligo, and develop new effort on dark matter, thought to comprise 90% of the Universe. There is strong motivation here because the US LUX experiment recently produced a step-change in sensitivity to dark matter particles. We will complete leading analysis for the EDELWEISS experiment and then lead key simulations for the upcoming LZ experiment in the US. Following our pioneering work on detectors with sensitivity to galactic signatures, the group will also lead analysis and construction tasks for the DRIFT direction sensitive experiment at Boulby and the new DM-ICE250 NaI experiment, which US collaborators recently agreed will be hosted at Boubly. DM-ICE will seek a new annual modulation signal for dark matter. These experiments are all searching WIMP particles, but we will also expand study of axions as a potential alternative.
Meanwhile, our generic detector R&D and knowledge exchange programme is vital to underpinning the group's expertise and skills-base. It benefits from our historic links to the Boulby deep underground science laboratory but critically now involves multiple industrial and non-STFC projects. Noteworthy aims now will be to complete our DECC-funded programme on muon tomography for climate change, develop new instrumentation for radon assay, spin-out work on novel motor control electronics via a new patent and continue development of novel welding technology. It is interesting that our long-standing efforts to develop liquid argon technology for neutrino physics are also relevant to medical imaging requirements. We plan to complete a new prototype instrument, building on a recent MRC award. This all reflects the group's commitment to contributing to societal and impact agendas.
For particle astrophysics we plan to expand work on gravitation waves, through specialist noise analysis for Advanced Ligo, and develop new effort on dark matter, thought to comprise 90% of the Universe. There is strong motivation here because the US LUX experiment recently produced a step-change in sensitivity to dark matter particles. We will complete leading analysis for the EDELWEISS experiment and then lead key simulations for the upcoming LZ experiment in the US. Following our pioneering work on detectors with sensitivity to galactic signatures, the group will also lead analysis and construction tasks for the DRIFT direction sensitive experiment at Boulby and the new DM-ICE250 NaI experiment, which US collaborators recently agreed will be hosted at Boubly. DM-ICE will seek a new annual modulation signal for dark matter. These experiments are all searching WIMP particles, but we will also expand study of axions as a potential alternative.
Meanwhile, our generic detector R&D and knowledge exchange programme is vital to underpinning the group's expertise and skills-base. It benefits from our historic links to the Boulby deep underground science laboratory but critically now involves multiple industrial and non-STFC projects. Noteworthy aims now will be to complete our DECC-funded programme on muon tomography for climate change, develop new instrumentation for radon assay, spin-out work on novel motor control electronics via a new patent and continue development of novel welding technology. It is interesting that our long-standing efforts to develop liquid argon technology for neutrino physics are also relevant to medical imaging requirements. We plan to complete a new prototype instrument, building on a recent MRC award. This all reflects the group's commitment to contributing to societal and impact agendas.
Planned Impact
Impact from the Sheffield group continues to play a major role in our programme. This aspect of our research has high priority in the group, not only as a source of income and impact, but as a springboard for new ideas and approaches to our research work.
The work of French is particularly prominent, enabling multi-million-pound profits from U.K. company VBCie through the development of InterPulse welding techniques, enabling contracts for VBCie with Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney, and securing selection of VBCie InterPulse welding methods for ATLAS and CMS upgrade engineering. This work has led to world sales of the developed products of £2.87M to date.
Daw has developed a pioneering controller for improving the efficiency and performance of permanent magnet and induction motors; the University is funding the patent application in this area - the first Physics-based patent application since 2011. The IP involved effects a global multi-billion-pound market, with the demonstrated advantages of the new technique resulting in potential cost savings in motor controllers and improved efficiency in the motors themselves, especially when operating at low speeds. Multiple projects using cosmic ray muons have been undertaken, notably muon tomography for carbon capture and storage, where public/private funding in the oil sector indicates the commercial potential of a new technique for monitoring underground carbon storage facilities. Also of note is application of our knowledge base in muon detection to deliver muon detectors for portal detector prototypes for the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
Again in portal detection, John McMillan is working on neutron activation analysis as a method for detection of explosives in cargo; this work has led to the acquisition and commissioning of a new pulsed thermal neutron source facility at the University of Sheffield; this facility is impacting UK industry, notably The Welding Institute, and in partnership with TWI, Sheffield is a provider to the EU FP7 SafeHPower project, delivering neutron flux and radiography for assessment of pressure vessels for hydrogen fuel systems. McMillan has in addition developed a novel thermal neutron detector using boron nitride for neutron capture, eliminating the need for scarce Lithium-6 or Helium-3 based detectors. This technology impacts future neutron detectors for security applications. Spooner and Paganis are applying expertise in liquid Argon physics to medical instrumentation applications. With their Portuguese collaborators, they have developed a liquid argon test stand for prototype imaging GPMTs. Target applications include positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), where superior energy and position resolution promises higher image fidelity and reduced patient radiation doses.
Spooner has also worked in collaboration with Durridge, Inc., who have spun out a Sheffield-University-Based U.K. subsidiary to develop RadTrack, a new radon assay instrument. Steve Sadler, a recently graduated STFC Ph.D. student is working at this U.K. subsidiary. The RadTrack detector will utilize technology developed in collaboration with Sheffield for measuring radon and other background levels in the Boulby underground laboratory. French has developed a high pressure CO2 based cooling system as an alternative to CFC based existing technology. French is an international leader in this alternative approach to cooling. Combined with his expertise in InterPulse welding, the new CO2 cooling technology can potentially be applied in aerospace applications. Exploitation of French's contacts with the Shadow Robot Company, Ltd., and Dawson's expertise in radiation monitoring, the group is seeking an IPS award to support research into highly dexterous robot manipulators for high radiation environments. This work has potential applications in rator engineering and the nuclear industry.
The work of French is particularly prominent, enabling multi-million-pound profits from U.K. company VBCie through the development of InterPulse welding techniques, enabling contracts for VBCie with Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney, and securing selection of VBCie InterPulse welding methods for ATLAS and CMS upgrade engineering. This work has led to world sales of the developed products of £2.87M to date.
Daw has developed a pioneering controller for improving the efficiency and performance of permanent magnet and induction motors; the University is funding the patent application in this area - the first Physics-based patent application since 2011. The IP involved effects a global multi-billion-pound market, with the demonstrated advantages of the new technique resulting in potential cost savings in motor controllers and improved efficiency in the motors themselves, especially when operating at low speeds. Multiple projects using cosmic ray muons have been undertaken, notably muon tomography for carbon capture and storage, where public/private funding in the oil sector indicates the commercial potential of a new technique for monitoring underground carbon storage facilities. Also of note is application of our knowledge base in muon detection to deliver muon detectors for portal detector prototypes for the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
Again in portal detection, John McMillan is working on neutron activation analysis as a method for detection of explosives in cargo; this work has led to the acquisition and commissioning of a new pulsed thermal neutron source facility at the University of Sheffield; this facility is impacting UK industry, notably The Welding Institute, and in partnership with TWI, Sheffield is a provider to the EU FP7 SafeHPower project, delivering neutron flux and radiography for assessment of pressure vessels for hydrogen fuel systems. McMillan has in addition developed a novel thermal neutron detector using boron nitride for neutron capture, eliminating the need for scarce Lithium-6 or Helium-3 based detectors. This technology impacts future neutron detectors for security applications. Spooner and Paganis are applying expertise in liquid Argon physics to medical instrumentation applications. With their Portuguese collaborators, they have developed a liquid argon test stand for prototype imaging GPMTs. Target applications include positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), where superior energy and position resolution promises higher image fidelity and reduced patient radiation doses.
Spooner has also worked in collaboration with Durridge, Inc., who have spun out a Sheffield-University-Based U.K. subsidiary to develop RadTrack, a new radon assay instrument. Steve Sadler, a recently graduated STFC Ph.D. student is working at this U.K. subsidiary. The RadTrack detector will utilize technology developed in collaboration with Sheffield for measuring radon and other background levels in the Boulby underground laboratory. French has developed a high pressure CO2 based cooling system as an alternative to CFC based existing technology. French is an international leader in this alternative approach to cooling. Combined with his expertise in InterPulse welding, the new CO2 cooling technology can potentially be applied in aerospace applications. Exploitation of French's contacts with the Shadow Robot Company, Ltd., and Dawson's expertise in radiation monitoring, the group is seeking an IPS award to support research into highly dexterous robot manipulators for high radiation environments. This work has potential applications in rator engineering and the nuclear industry.
Organisations
- University of Sheffield (Lead Research Organisation)
- ATLAS Experiment (Collaboration)
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Collaboration)
- Super-Kamiokande (Collaboration)
- University of Tartu (Collaboration)
- VBC Group (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Shadow Robot (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Durridge UK Ltd (Project Partner)
- Oliver Crispin Robotics (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Rolls-Royce (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Lablogic Systems (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Swagelok London (Project Partner)
- National Instruments (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
Aad G
(2016)
Measurement of the inclusive isolated prompt photon cross section in pp collisions at s = 8 $$ \sqrt{s}=8 $$ TeV with the ATLAS detector
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Aaboud M
(2017)
Measurement of the inclusive cross-sections of single top-quark and top-antiquark t-channel production in pp collisions at s = 13 $$ \sqrt{s}=13 $$ TeV with the ATLAS detector
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Aad G
(2019)
Measurement of the inclusive cross-section for the production of jets in association with a Z boson in proton-proton collisions at 8 TeV using the ATLAS detector
in The European Physical Journal C
Aaboud M
(2018)
Measurement of the inclusive and fiducial t t ¯ production cross-sections in the lepton+jets channel in pp collisions at s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
Aaboud M
(2018)
Measurement of the Higgs boson mass in the H ? ZZ? ? 4l and H ? ?? channels with s = 13 TeV pp collisions using the ATLAS detector
in Physics Letters B
Akerib D
(2020)
Measurement of the gamma ray background in the Davis cavern at the Sanford Underground Research Facility
in Astroparticle Physics
Aad G
(2015)
Measurement of the forward-backward asymmetry of electron and muon pair-production in pp collisions at s = 7 $$ \sqrt{s}=7 $$ TeV with the ATLAS detector
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Aaboud M
(2018)
Measurement of the exclusive ???µ+µ- process in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
in Physics Letters B
Aaij R
(2015)
Measurement of the exclusive ? production cross-section in pp collisions at s = 7 $$ \sqrt{s}=7 $$ TeV and 8 TeV
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Aad G
(2022)
Measurement of the energy response of the ATLAS calorimeter to charged pions from $$W^{\pm }\rightarrow \tau ^{\pm }(\rightarrow \pi ^{\pm }\nu _{\tau })\nu _{\tau }$$ events in Run 2 data
in The European Physical Journal C
Aad G
(2022)
Measurement of the energy asymmetry in $$t{\bar{t}}j$$ production at $$13\,$$TeV with the ATLAS experiment and interpretation in the SMEFT framework
in The European Physical Journal C
Aaboud M
(2017)
Measurement of the Drell-Yan triple-differential cross section in pp collisions at s = 8 $$ \sqrt{s}=8 $$ TeV
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Aad G
(2016)
Measurement of the double-differential high-mass Drell-Yan cross section in pp collisions at s = 8 $$ \sqrt{s}=8 $$ TeV with the ATLAS detector
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Aaboud M
(2018)
Measurement of the cross-section for producing a W boson in association with a single top quark in pp collisions at s = 13 $$ \sqrt{s}=13 $$ TeV with ATLAS
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Aad G
(2019)
Measurement of the cross-section and charge asymmetry of W bosons produced in proton-proton collisions at $$\sqrt{s}=8~\text {TeV}$$ with the ATLAS detector
in The European Physical Journal C
Aaboud M
(2018)
Measurement of the cross section for isolated-photon plus jet production in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV using the ATLAS detector
in Physics Letters B
Aaboud M
(2017)
Measurement of the cross section for inclusive isolated-photon production in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV using the ATLAS detector
in Physics Letters B
Aad G
(2016)
Measurement of the CP-violating phase ? s and the B s 0 meson decay width difference with B s 0 ? J/?? decays in ATLAS
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Aad G
(2021)
Measurement of the CP-violating phase $$\phi _s$$ in $$ B_{s}^{0} \rightarrow J/\psi \phi $$ decays in ATLAS at 13 TeV
in The European Physical Journal C
Armengaud E
(2017)
Measurement of the cosmogenic activation of germanium detectors in EDELWEISS-III
in Astroparticle Physics
Atlas Collaboration
(2016)
Measurement of the charged-particle multiplicity inside jets from [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] pp collisions with the ATLAS detector.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
Atlas Collaboration
(2016)
Measurement of the charge asymmetry in top-quark pair production in the lepton-plus-jets final state in pp collision data at [Formula: see text] with the ATLAS detector.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
Aad G
(2015)
Measurement of the charge asymmetry in dileptonic decays of top quark pairs in pp collisions at s = 7 $$ \sqrt{s}=7 $$ TeV using the ATLAS detector
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Aad G
(2022)
Measurement of the c-jet mistagging efficiency in $$t\bar{t}$$ events using pp collision data at $$\sqrt{s}=13$$ $$\text {TeV}$$ collected with the ATLAS detector
in The European Physical Journal C
Aad G
(2015)
Measurement of the branching ratio G ( ? b 0 ? ? ( 2 S ) ? 0 ) / G ( ? b 0 ? J / ? ? 0 ) with the ATLAS detector
in Physics Letters B
Aad G
(2020)
Measurement of the azimuthal anisotropy of charged-particle production in Xe + Xe collisions at s N N = 5.44 TeV with the ATLAS detector
in Physical Review C
Aaboud M
(2018)
Measurement of the azimuthal anisotropy of charged particles produced in s NN = 5.02 TeV Pb+Pb collisions with the ATLAS detector.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
Aad G
(2016)
Measurement of the angular coefficients in Z-boson events using electron and muon pairs from data taken at s = 8 $$ \sqrt{s}=8 $$ TeV with the ATLAS detector
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Aaboud M
(2016)
Measurement of the [Formula: see text] dijet cross section in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV with the ATLAS detector.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
Aaboud M
(2017)
Measurement of the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] production cross sections in multilepton final states using 3.2 fb[Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
Aaboud M
(2018)
Measurement of t polarisation in Z / ? * ? t t decays in proton-proton collisions at s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
Aad G
(2015)
Measurement of spin correlation in top-antitop quark events and search for top squark pair production in pp collisions at vs=8 TeV using the ATLAS detector.
in Physical review letters
Aad G
(2021)
Measurement of single top-quark production in association with a W boson in the single-lepton channel at $$\sqrt{s} = 8\,\text {TeV}$$ with the ATLAS detector
in The European Physical Journal C
Aaboud M
(2018)
Measurement of quarkonium production in proton-lead and proton-proton collisions at 5.02 TeV with the ATLAS detector.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
Aaboud M
(2019)
Measurement of prompt photon production in s NN = 8.16 TeV p + Pb collisions with ATLAS
in Physics Letters B
Aaboud M
(2019)
Measurement of photon-jet transverse momentum correlations in 5.02 TeV Pb + Pb and pp collisions with ATLAS
in Physics Letters B
Abe K
(2016)
Measurement of Muon Antineutrino Oscillations with an Accelerator-Produced Off-Axis Beam.
in Physical review letters
Cherwinka J
(2016)
Measurement of muon annual modulation and muon-induced phosphorescence in NaI(Tl) crystals with DM-Ice17
in Physical Review D
Aaboud M
(2017)
Measurement of multi-particle azimuthal correlations in pp, p + Pb and low-multiplicity Pb + Pb collisions with the ATLAS detector.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
Aaboud M
(2018)
Measurement of longitudinal flow decorrelations in Pb+Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 and 5.02 TeV with the ATLAS detector.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
Aaboud M
(2020)
Measurement of long-range two-particle azimuthal correlations in Z-boson tagged pp collisions at $$\sqrt{s}=8$$ and 13 TeV
in The European Physical Journal C
Aaboud M
(2017)
Measurement of lepton differential distributions and the top quark mass in $$t\bar{t}$$ t t ¯ production in pp collisions at $$\sqrt{s}=8$$ s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector
in The European Physical Journal C
Aaboud M
(2017)
Measurement of jet pT correlations in Pb + Pb and pp collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV with the ATLAS detector
in Physics Letters B
Aaboud M
(2017)
Measurement of jet fragmentation in Pb+Pb and pp collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
| Description | We continue to perform studies that help to educate our understanding of the make-up and interactions of the Universe's most elementary particles, examples include: leading analyses at ATLAS on high precision measurements of SM Higgs boson couplings and mass, searches for beyond the standard model physics such as SUSY and vector boson scattering. We perform measurements of neutrino interactions, cross-sections and oscillations at labs in the US and Japan and have leadership roles in WATCHMAN, an applied antineutrino physics project that aims to harness particle physics techniques for studies of nuclear non-proliferation. We have expertise in the simulations of cosmic ray muons used by many experiments and are expert in activation studies, neutron production and muon-induced backgrounds. We perform searches for dark matter in large underground labs and participate in experiments that have observed gravitational waves. We play a leading role in a project coordinating the HEP involvement with the UKRI exascale software programme (ExCALIBUR). |
| Exploitation Route | Our work at the energy frontier, in neutrino physics and in the search for dark matter is at the forefront of the field, and discoveries in these areas will benefit all members of the HEP community, both experimenters and theorists; neutrino astrophysics and searches for dark matter also benefit the astrophysics and cosmology communities. This work will be disseminated through appropriate peer reviewed journals under an open access policy, with associated public data releases. In addition, group members present the work at national and international conferences and at seminars, in accordance with the policy of the relevant collaboration. Work on muon tomography has potential relevance to geology and geophysics. We have made contact with academic partners in relevant departments and will strive to publish results in widely read journals to ensure maximum reach. Public data releases are foreseen. Our work on applied particle physics is carried out in close collaboration with appropriate public or private sector bodies, such as the Met Office and LabLogic Ltd. This work will benefit diverse sectors of the community by improving public safety, developing new technology to benefit UK industry, and contributing to the health of the environment. Public data releases by experiments are typically provided on websites curated by the experiments, in formats readable by open-access software such as ROOT. Documentation explaining the format of the data and any necessary usage notes is also provided. |
| Sectors | Education,Security and Diplomacy |
| URL | https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/physics/research/pppa |
| Description | Muon tomography work has been spun out to a company, Geoptic, and is being applied to imaging of civil infrastructure, e.g., location of hidden voids in rail tunnels, see, e.g. https://journals.aps.org/prresearch/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.023017. Applications to other sectors are underway. Geoptic is now working regularly with Network Rail and has received funding from the US Office of Naval Research. Applications of muon tomography to CCS monitoring and nuclear waste imaging are also in progress. See www.geoptic.co.uk and various social media streams, e.g. LinkedIn for more information. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Construction,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | DUNE UK Production Project |
| Amount | £1,037,151 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/S003398/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | Nucleon decay search and cosmic rays in the DUNE experiment |
| Amount | £119,924 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/R006709/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Particle Physics Consolidated Grant from the University of Sheffield: Energy Frontier, Neutrinos, Dark Matter |
| Amount | £2,427,602 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/S000747/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 09/2023 |
| Title | Method of modelling muon transport through complex geological structures |
| Description | We have developed a new method of producing computer model of a geological structure that can be interfaced with the particle transport code used in particle physics, Geant4. The method allowed us to simulate muon transport down to and through a geological structure. The method was validated for a specific type of a geological repository. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Simulation of muon transport through a geological repository - potential site of carbon dioxide storage. Development of the muon tomography technique. |
| Title | Monte Carlo modelling of muon events (from 2008) |
| Description | This is the method of simulating and analysing muon events that produce background for rare event search experiments. This method was developed and improved over a number of years as part of various projects and affected the outcomes of these projects. R&D towards new facility at the Boulby Underground Laboratory to host large rare event search experiments DUNE and other neutrino related experiments (Monte Carlo generator for cosmic-ray muons) LZ experiment Muon tomography work |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2008 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Many scientific collaborations are using this method. |
| Title | Muon tomography of volcanoes |
| Description | The method/tool includes interfacing several computer models to allow simulations of cosmic-ray muons applied to muon tomography of volcanoes. The first step is the geophysical model of a volcano, including faults in rock structure and possible route for magma in case of eruption. The 2nd step is the simulation of cosmic-ray showers in the atmosphere above the volcano and recording of muons. The third step is the transport of muons through the volcano. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The method allows us to study the sensitivity of muon tomography technique to investigate volcanic structure and predict possible paths for magma during eruptions. Given a large number of volcanoes in South America, some of them causing potential threat to population and infrastructure, monitoring volcanoes using this muon tomography technique may be vital for preventing large-scale disasters. Our Colombian and Mexican partners are very interested in developing this technique and the first muon telescope is currently under construction at the Industrial University of Santander (Bucaramanga, Colombia), our partner organisation. |
| URL | http://www.hep.shef.ac.uk/research/muontomographyvolcanoes |
| Description | ATLAS Collaboration |
| Organisation | ATLAS Experiment |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The Sheffield team is a founder of the ATLAS experiment at CERN and contributes to its construction, development and exploitation |
| Collaborator Contribution | Construction of the Semiconductor tracker, development of the software and computing of the experiment. Physics analysis, Higgs, Standard Model, Supersymmetry, top |
| Impact | Discovery of the Higgs boson and many others |
| Description | Collaboration with SuperKamiokande (SuperK) Collaboration |
| Organisation | Super-Kamiokande |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Selected members of the UK HyperKamiokande team, including Lee Thompson and Andrew Cole from Sheffield joined SuperK in January 2016. We are working with members of the SuperK EGADS team on measuring the activity of Gadolinium samples at the so-called Boulby Underground Germanium Suite (BUGS) at STFC's Boulby Underground Lab. There are also plans to use SuperK as a testbench ofr some of the HyperK calibration work that we are involved in. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in calibration. Production of Gd samples. Expertise in handing and measurement of Gd samples. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing, no direct impact yet. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | DUNE Collaboration |
| Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The DUNE project is a collaboration of more than 10 universities and national laboratories in the UK and more than 200 institutions across the world from more than 50 countries. The Collaboration continues to grow so number of members, institutes and countries is not fixed and changes every year. The DUNE project also includes the ProtoDUNE experiment and is linked to Short-Baseline Near Detector activities at Fermilab. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The whole DUNE Collaboration contributes to DUNE Construction and future exploitation, including ProtoDUNE activities. |
| Impact | The output is the operating ProtoDUNE experiment and associated publications. Another output is the publications by the DUNE Collaboration. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | DUNE Collaboration |
| Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The DUNE project is a collaboration of more than 10 universities and national laboratories in the UK and more than 200 institutions across the world from more than 50 countries. The Collaboration continues to grow so number of members, institutes and countries is not fixed and changes every year. The DUNE project also includes the ProtoDUNE experiment and is linked to Short-Baseline Near Detector activities at Fermilab. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The whole DUNE Collaboration contributes to DUNE Construction and future exploitation, including ProtoDUNE activities. |
| Impact | The output is the operating ProtoDUNE experiment and associated publications. Another output is the publications by the DUNE Collaboration. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | SilentBorder |
| Organisation | University of Tartu |
| Country | Estonia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a project funded by Horizon 2020 in collaboration with the University of Tartu, Universite Catholique de Louvain, German Aerospace Centre, G-Scan, SGS, CAEN and border agencies. The collaboration is working on a muon tomography system for scanning lorries and containers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This is a project funded by Horizon 2020 in collaboration with the University of Tartu, Universite Catholique de Louvain, German Aerospace Centre, G-Scan, SGS, CAEN and border agencies. The collaboration is working on a muon tomography system for scanning lorries and containers. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary collaboration involving universities and industrial partners. Disciplines: particle physics, engineering, electronics, border security. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Title | Modified SOURCES4 code (from 2014) |
| Description | The original code SOURCES4 developed at LANL (USA) has been modified to allow more accurate calculation of neutron yield in (alpha, n) reactions on a large number of isotopes relevant to material construction for rare event experiments. Further modifications to the libraries and user interface done in 2019-2023. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Impact | The code is now widely used by physicists working with underground experiments for rare event searches. |
| Title | Muon simulation code (from 2013) |
| Description | A Monte Carlo code for modelling cosmic-ray muons at different underground sites, including SURF at South Dakota, USA (site for DUNE, LZ and LUX experiments), Modane, France (site for the EDELWEISS experiment) and Boulby in the UK (potential site for the next generation rare search experiment). |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | The code allows calculation of the muon fluxes and energy spectra underground. Initial simulations have been done for underground laboratories in Italy, France and others. In 2015 the model and method have first been applied to the SURF underground laboratory in the USA. Recent improvements to the model have been made for the DUNE experiment at SURF and recently for the Boulby site. Also used for muon simulations in geological repositories. |
| Company Name | GEOPTIC LIMITED |
| Description | Geoptic provides cosmic ray imaging services to the civil engineering sector. Our novel technique is able see through many tens of metres of soil and rock, or equivalent materials, in order to identify regions of anomalous density. |
| Year Established | 2019 |
| Impact | Work with Network Rail to image railway tunnels to locate and characterise hidden shafts. |
| Website | https://www.geoptic.co.uk/ |
| Description | "STEM for girls - Promoting science in person" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Stall with activities to represent HEP grorup (Virtual visit to ATLAS, Lego model) at a local/regional science fair for girls |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | AstroSoc talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk about HyperKamiokande to Chesterfield Astronomical Society |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Cocktails & Physics public outreach event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An evening event called "Cocktails & Physics" in a bar in Sheffield involving 3 presentations about neutrinos, supernovae and SuperK/HyperK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Colloquium, DESY, Hamburg |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Colloquium on HyperK at DESY Hamburg national lab in Germany |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| URL | https://physikseminar.desy.de/hamburg/colloquia_in_2019/29_january_2019/ |
| Description | Colloquium, DESY, Zeuthen, Berlin |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Colloquium on HyperK at DESY Zeuthen national lab |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://physikseminar.desy.de/hamburg/colloquia_in_2019/29_january_2019/ |
| Description | HyperK "STEMinar", Jan 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on HyperK to STEM postgraduates, academics and people from industry at university-wide LGBT+ event at the University of Sheffield. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | International Masterclass |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 40 pupils attended the research institute, learned about particle physics and participated in hands-on exerices on particle physics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://indico.shef.ac.uk/event/31/ |
| Description | Interview with The New York Times magazine (Science) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview with a science journalist of The New York Times magazine (Science). Extract published in the magazine. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Interview with the Register |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview with the journalist from The Register on the LZ programme. An article published online. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/08/01/upgraded_lux_experiment_hunt_for_dark_matter/ |
| Description | Lectures for UKM students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A set of online lectures for students from UKM (Malaysia) and their supervisors/lecturers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Mini-workshop at Sheffield Festival of Science and Engineering |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A talk plus mini-exhibition on neutrinos and HyperKamiokande as part of the Sheffield Festival of Science and Engineering |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Physics World online |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview with a journalist from Physics World Online, an article in this online journal. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2015/apr/09/dark-matter-and-muons-are-ruled-out-as-dama-sig... |
| Description | Public Lecture from Nobel Laureate |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Public lecture at the University of Sheffield. Given by Nobel Laureate, Professor Kajita. Topic was neutrinos, HyperK and SuperK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/nobel-prize-winner-sheffield-1.705852 |
| Description | Royal Society EXhibition |
| 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 | This was a exhibition stand at the Royal Society's summer exhibition featuring a number of exhibits, including an SK VR system, a 20" SK PMT and a (not-working) beam target from RAL, other exhibits, leaflets, take away information on neutrinos. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2018/summer-science-exhibition/exhibits/ |
| Description | Seminar at IPPP Durham |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scientific seminar at IPPP Durham |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Talk at a conference for undergraduate students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A PDRA gave a review talk at a conference for students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Talk in local school |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A PDRA gave a talk in a local school |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Talk to U3A (University of the Third Age) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk about neutrinos and HyperK to the Science and Technology Group of the Sheffield branch of the U3A (University of the Third Age) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Talking to New Scientist (NL) for article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Response to dutch journalist in response to a new measurements (and press release by CERN/ the ATLAS experiment) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.newscientist.nl/nieuws/lhc-ziet-deeltjes-met-massa-ontstaan-uit-botsing-massaloze-lichtd... |
| Description | Tapton School, Sheffield |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Talk on HyperKamiokande at Tapton School Sheffield. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Uh it's cold, Science of liquid nitrogen |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Sparking interesting in science for younger audiences by playing with liquid nitrogen |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Virtual international masterclass |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | discussed with school students on particle physics |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://indico.shef.ac.uk/event/34/ |