My research interests include: low-energy neutrinos, neutrinoless
double-decay and the search for dark matter. I have been very actively involved
in analysis and calibration of the SNO
experiment for the first two phases, and collaborate on
SNO+. My primary focus is on
DEAP. We are currently commissioning
a prototype dark matter detector with a target of approximately 10 kg of liquid
argon to aid in the design of a larger 3500 kg detector.
With the prototype we plan to demonstrate a discrimination of events that are
backgrounds to the dark matter search (beta and gamma events) in liquid argon at
the level of one in a billion. With this very low background level, the large
detector is projected to be sensitive to cross-sections down to
10-46cm2, and will increase the current experimental
sensitivity to dark matter particles by a factor of 1000. Commissioning of the
large detector underground at SNOLAB
is planned for 2009. The DEAP group at
Queen's is currently active in cryogenics design and construction, liquid argon
purification and scintillation studies, Monte-Carlo simulation, detector
calibration and analysis (for DEAP-1) and on the conceptual and engineering
design for the 1000 kg detector. We are planning several R&D activities for
the large detector, including bonding of a large acrylic sphere in an
ultra-clean environment, cold and cryogenic tests of photomultiplier tubes, and
techniques for radon mitigation for critical detector components.
My research interests include: neutrino physics, geoneutrinos, dark
matter and cosmic rays. Our group is developing the
SNO+ detector, a
follow-up experiment to SNO in which we
will replace heavy water with liquid scintillator. This will enable precision
study of the neutrino-matter interaction and the detection of geoneutrinos,
which can be used as a probe of the deep Earth. It's possible that we can
search for neutrinoless double beta decay using
SNO+ loaded with neodymium. I'm
a member of the DEAP experiment. An
additional project of mine is the attempt to detect ultra high energy cosmic
rays hitting the Moon by using the GMRT radio telescope in India to look for
weak radio impulses from the lunar surface.
Philippe Di Stefano (not pictured)
(home page,
contact)
The nature of the dark matter that makes up most of the matter in the
Universe remains an enigma after over seventy years. Cryogenic detectors that
operate at temperatures barely above absolute zero have some of the best
sensititives to the putative weakly-interacting, massive, particles (WIMPs) that
could elucidate this mystery. I currently work on the
SuperCDMS experiment that
aims to deploy 100 kg of such detectors in the SNOLAB underground laboratory
near Sudbury. My research interests also include development of low-temperature
scintillators and novel applications of cryogenic detectors to materials
science. Students (graduate and undergraduate) or postdoc candidates who are
motivated by this type of experimental work should not hesitate to contact me to
discuss possible projects.
My research activities are as follows:
The completion of the SNO data
to provide an independent check of our earlier results and a more precise
determination of the neutrino mixing properties.
The SNO+ project that is to
look in detail at low-energy solar neutrinos for further detailed information
about neutrino mixing parameters, as well as neutrinoless double beta decay with
150Nd added to liquid scintillator in the SNO detector.
The DEAP/CLEAN project with the
potential to provide greatly increased sensitivity for Dark Matter detection
with liquid noble gas.
My research interests are focused on aspects of astroparticle physics. I
am leading the Queen's effort in the
PICASSO Dark Matter search
collaboration while winding up activities on the
SNO project. Our
PICASSO
group is responsible for elements of detector design, construction and
operation, as well as determining ways to reduce the radioactive
backgrounds that otherwise limit our sensitivity. Students participate in
hardware, software and physics analysis. I am also actively involved in
establishing SNOLAB as the premier
international facility for underground astroparticle physics. I am always keen
to hear from prospective graduate students.
Wolfgang Rau
(contact)
My research is focused on direct search for dark matter using
cryogenic detectors. I recently joined the Particle Astrophysics group at Queen's
and plan to work with cryogenic detectors, that are developed and built by the
CDMS and SuperCDMS collaboration. I am
also interested in data analysis for the experiment and in all aspects of
background reduction. SuperCDMS is expected to be installed in
SNOLab starting in 2008, and one of
my activities will be to act as a link between the collaboration and the
laboratory to allow a smoth and successfull installation and operation of the
experiment.
Since arriving back at Queen's in the fall of 2012 as an
Institute of Particle Physics Research Scientist, my
research effort has focused on SNO+. Most recently, I am
working on the water purification system that will provide
the ultra-pure water to shield the active scintillator
volume, and on the method that will be used to load isotope
into the scintillator for the SNO+ neutrinoless double beta
decay phase.
Emeritus
Hamish Leslie
(contact)
Hay-Boon Mak
(contact)
Barry Robertson
(contact)
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