Environmental and Interfacial Actinide Chemistry
This group is currently researching the environmental and interfacial interactions of actinide elements with metal oxide surfaces such as manganese, iron, and aluminum oxides. They are currently investigating oxidation and reduction reactions in these systems and the role they play in environmental systems.
A student in this group would perform electrochemical expreiments with both actinide elements and with transition metals. The experiments will include cyclic voltammetry, polarography, and potentiometry of actinide-mineral solutions and aqueous actinide complexes. These experiments will play an integral role in help the group understand the environmental and interfacial chemistry of actinide elements.
This position is best suited to a student interested in the environmental and interfacial chemistry of actinides, specifically uranium, plutonium, and curium. The student can expect to gain a strong understanding of aqueous actinide chemistry and electrochemistry along with the fundamentals of soil and aquatic chemistry.
The group's website is at http://heavyelements.lbl.gov/
Major: Chemistry
Mentor: Heino Nitsche
Mailing Address: MS 70R0319
Phone: 510/486-5615
email: HNitsche@lbl.gov
Student Research Abstract; Summer, 2005
Re-posted: 1/18/2007

Isotopes Project
The Isotopes Projects measures, evaluates and disseminates nuclear structure and radioactive decay data. In addition, they conduct basic research in nuclear physics, nuclear techniques for chemical analysis, astrophysics, and archaeology.
Students will be offered projects that involve experiments at the LBNL Neutron Generator Facility, compilations of nuclear data, or the develoment of website applications. The projects will be designed so that students can work independently or in pairs with the help of the mentor. In some cases, successful projects may lead to journal publications. To be successful in this position, it is helpful that students have completed math through calculus and be comfortable using standard computer word processors and spreadsheets.
Majors:Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Applied Sciences that use nuclear techniques
Mentor: Richard Firestone
MS: 88R0192
Phone: 510.486.7646
email: RBFirestone@lbl.gov
Student Research Abstract; Summer, 2005
Re-posted: 1/18/2007

Luminosity Detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)
This group is designing, building, and commissioning a detector, which will measure the number of collisions in real-time at the new accelerator which is called the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). After commissioning, it will then be part of its controls system.
The LHC is expected to have its first commissioning run this year and have 7 TeV collisions by next year. This detector is an ion-chamber that is enclosed in a large iron absorber. It measures collisions when the two protons collide and the neutral products interact in the absorber. Two sets of detectors surround the intersection points at both the ATLAS and CMS experiments.
Depending on the group's schedule and interests that a student has, the student will participate and test the detector at LBNL's Advanced Light Source, analyze data taken at RHIC, or simulate the environment of the detector, so that we can understand the expected performance. Some details on the project, called LUMI, can be found at http://uslarp.lbl.gov/workshops/050411/agenda.html.
Mentor: Howard Matis
Mailing Address: 70-319
Telephone: 510/486-5031
Email: HSMatis@lbl.gov
Re-posted:14 January 2008

Nuclear Science Wall Chart
This group has developed a wall chart on Nuclear Science with appropriate material. This chart is the third in a series of wall charts of which the "Fundamental Particles and Interactions" was the first. This level of the chart is aimed at high school and introductory college courses. Now that the wall chart is finished, they want to expand their web site. They want include the material contained in the wall chart and a teacher's guide easily available to web users. They would like to add virtual experiments on their page so that students can do nuclear physics experiments from their home. The group is also working on an inexpensive cosmic ray detector. Effort is needed in creating background material for the detector. There are several projects available to a student. The project will be selected based on the interests of the student. Possible projects include:
1) Building and creating educational material for the Cosmic Ray detector. We would like web users to use the cosmic ray detector.
3) Placing material on the web site that will make use of the web's potential for interactive study of Nuclear Physics.
The student will learn much about Nuclear Physics. S/he will work with many scientists and high school teachers and learn about the teaching of science. It will be very useful experience for those students considering teaching careers in high school or college. The student will be able to contribute to an educational project that will have an impact on science teaching. The student should have a strong interest in science. The group is looking for a student who has good writing and graphic skills. Experience with making web pages is desirable.
Majors: Physics, chemistry. Also considered: education, English, journalism, Graphic Arts
Mentor: Howard Matis
Mailing Address: 70-319
Telephone: 510/486-5031
Email: HSMatis@lbl.gov
website: http://macmatis.lbl.gov
For more information about the wall chart, check the web site
http://www.lbl.gov/abc
Re-posted: 14 January 2008

Radioactive Atoms
A student working on this project will work with the Research Coordinator of the Laboratory's 88-Inch Cyclotron, a DOE national facility in nuclear science. The student will work with 88-Inch Cyclotron Operations on a joint project between LBNL and Lawrence Livermore National Lab which involves both nuclear and accelerator physics, some engineering and some chemistry. The project involves using the cyclotron to make radioactive atoms which live for a period of several hours to a few days and then accelerating those atoms to use in nuclear and astrophysics experiments. This project would give the student an opportunity to work in a team setting on an interdisciplinary project.
Major: Chemistry, Phyiscs
Mentor: Peggy McMahan Norris
MS: 88
Phone: 510-486-5980
email: P_McMahan@lbl.gov
Student Research Abstract; Summer, 2005
Re-posted 12/9/2005

STAR Detector Research
STAR Detector Research The Relativistic Nuclear Collisions group is working on an experiment (www.star.bnl.gov) to identify a state of matter, the Quark-Gluon Plasma, which existed about one microsecond after the big bang. The group is currently developing a new detector to study charmed-quark decays. They have built an APS (Active Pixel Sensor) detector. This detector uses standard CMOS IC technology. They are studying several different ways of designing the chip. The goal is to build a very thin (100 micron) pixel detector that can measure particles to an accuracy of 4 microns. We have built several different chip configurations and need to characterize their performance. We will test the chips with high energy electron beams and radioactive sources.
The student will be involved in studying the properties of the chip to ionizing particles. S/he will learn about CMOS technology and how to use silicon detectors to detect particles with very high accuracy
The student should have strong computing skills.
Major: Physics, Electrical Engineering
Mentor: Howard Matis
Mailing Address: 70-319
Telephone: 510/486-5031
Email: HSMatis@lbl.gov
Web: macmatis.lbl.gov
Student Research Abstract; Summer, 2005
Re-posted: 14 January 2008

Neutrino Astrophysics - Majorana Double Beta Decay and Sudbury Neutrino Observatory
The Neutrino Astrophysics Group is conducting research in neutrino physics, nuclear physics, and particle physics. The group is working on data analysis of SNO neutrino experiment, detector calibration, and running of Monte Carlo programs. The group is recently devoting an increasing effort to neutrinoless double beta decay experiments with solid-state Germanium detectors (the Majorana Experiment). The student's role would range from running analysis tasks and Monte Carlo jobs to assisting in preparing thse studies. The student can expect to learn modern physics, an introduction to neutrino physics, designing detectors for experiments, programming, and Monte Carlo techniques. You can read more about this group at the Neutrino Astrophysics Group website.
Major: Physics, Computer Science
Mentor: Kevin Lesko
Mailing address: MS 50-208
Phone: 510/486-6738
Summer Research Abstract; Summer, 2005
Posted 12/12/2005