Introduction to QuarkNet Lab Activities

@SUSummer 2012

R. Mountain, M. Soderberg, S. Bluskwith

Erika Cowan, Anna Fadeeva, Dylan Hsu, Emily Kraus

SU QuarkNet Program, Summer 2012 2

OverviewPurpose of these lab activities • Reinforce material to be

presented in lectures• Give you some idea about

how experiments are done in High Energy Physics

Provide you with some take-away• Ideas and concepts from

High Energy Physics for your use in class lectures

• Hardware for classroom or lab activities of your own

R. Mountain, Syracuse University

SU QuarkNet Program, Summer 2012 3

Lab Activities1. Muon Lifetime2. Gamma Spectroscopy3. Wire Chamber Wires & Resonance Behavior4. Electronics I: Op Amps & Si Dets5. Electronics II: ADCs & DAQ

Plus: Cosmic Ray Telescope (Mini-Workshop)

R. Mountain, Syracuse University

SU QuarkNet Program, Summer 2012 4

OrganizationGroups• Four groups of 2–3 persons each, five lab activities,

assignments TBD• Round-robin, two days per activity, ~1½–2 hr per

session per day (AM/PM sessions)• Assistance from students who’ve done the labs:

Erika, Anna, Dylan, EmilyMaterials & Procedure• Logbooks for everyone! • Write-ups for each lab: introductory material and

specific activities (can do more)• Webpage with online references, help, background

tutorials, etc. (permanent feature) linked from main page *

Mini-Workshop• Separate, details will come during mini-workshop,

7/9-11

R. Mountain, Syracuse University

* http://www.phy.syr.edu/hep/HEPOutreach/QuarkNet/

R. Mountain, Syracuse University SU QuarkNet Workshop, Summer 2012 5

1. Muon LifetimeMotivation & Goals– Learn about cosmic rays– Hands-on experience with

subatomic particles– Lifetime msrmt– Statistics

Setup– Mini version of real high

energy physics experiment

Activities – Set up experiment 1st day– Take data overnight – Analyze 2nd day

Take-Away– Physics background and

concepts

Emily

R. Mountain, Syracuse University SU QuarkNet Workshop, Summer 2012 6

2. Gamma SpectroscopyMotivation & Goals– Learn about radioactivity,

radioactive decays– Radiation sources– Energy spectra– PMTs, Scintillators

Setup– Multi-Channel Analyzer– PMTs, Scintillators

Activities– Gamma spectra from several

sources and background– Study PMT behavior – Energy calibration

Take-Away– Physics concepts (nuke)

Erika

R. Mountain, Syracuse University SU QuarkNet Workshop, Summer 2012 7

3. Wire Chamber Wire & Resonance

Motivation & Goals– Study resonance behavior– Role of resonance

widespread, important application here in detector construction

Setup– Tensioned wire, magnets,

frequency generator

Activities– Observe, measure resonant

frequencies as function of tension, length, applied magnetic field, etc.

– Plus: fun with strobe light

Take-Away– Lots of wire available to take– Simple setup, may already

have all components at your home institution

Emilyand…

R. Mountain, Syracuse University SU QuarkNet Workshop, Summer 2012 8

4. Electronics I: Op Amps + Si DetMotivation & Goals– Learn about detector

readout chain in HEP (pt.1)– Detector– Amplifier– Shaping

Setup– Solderless breadboard– Electronic components – Oscilloscope – Silicon photodiode

Activities– Learn how amplifiers work– Learn limits in amplitude

and frequency– Learn how silicon detectors

work

Take-Away– Review of circuits– Oscilloscope operation– Electronics concepts

Dylan

R. Mountain, Syracuse University SU QuarkNet Workshop, Summer 2012 9

5. Electronics II: ADCs + DAQ

Motivation & Goals– Learn about detector

readout chain in HEP (pt.2)– Data conversion (and

digitization)– Data acquisition– Data manipulation and

generally, dealing w data

Setup– TNG3B ADC– Sensors – Computer readout software

Activities– Learn about ADCs, and their

properties in amplitude and frequency

– Learn how to interface ADC and sensors with computer

Take-Away– Hardware: TNG3B ADC unit,

cables, sensors of your choice– Software: NT (NeatTools)

interface package, with interactive control and digital logic and I/O (open ended programming component)

Anna

R. Mountain, Syracuse University SU QuarkNet Workshop, Summer 2012 10

Cosmic Ray TelescopeMotivation & Goals– Return to cosmic rays– Several measurements can

be made: flux, directionality, lifetime

Setup– PMTs– Scintillators – HV– GPS

Activities– Construct the telescope– Details to be discussed in

detail during mini-workshop

Take-Away– Two full telescopes, to share

among you– Software for acquiring and

analyzing data– Sharing with other stations,

at different locations and elevations nationwide

Be careful, be aware you are in a lab environment

Dealing with: • High Voltage• Radioactive Sources• Sensitive Detectors

Stay safe, just follow instructions

Any questions, just ask

Safety Issues

SU QuarkNet Program, Summer 2012 12

(Stop me if you’ve said this before…)

Read lab material • Ahead of time (…if possible)• Some reference material and links on the

activities webpage will be helpful

Use your logbook • For info, questions, data, etc. etc.

The point is to learn, so: • Ask questions (Pauli)• Try to figure things out• Find help, if you need help• Don’t get stuck!

This will be fun…R. Mountain, Syracuse University

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