Experimental Nuclear Physics - Experiments

Science goal: Search for neutrinoless double beta decay, which could answer why we live in a Universe of matter, not antimatter.

Yale involvement: Yale is responsible for detector calibration, the study of cosmogenic backgrounds, double beta decay analysis, & the search for solar axions. Heeger and Maruyama are CO-PIs of CUORE & CUPID.

Science goal: Search for and measure the yet unknown neutrino mixing angle theta13.

Yale involvement: Yale has overall responsibility in the U.S. for the design and construction of the antineutrino detectors and is involved in data analysis and measurements.

Science goal: Enable the study of parameters that determine the matter-antimatter imbalance in the Universe and the ordering of neutrino mass states.

Yale involvement: Yale is responsible for the assembly of Charge Readout Planes at Wright Lab and studying the detector response.

Science goal: Search for neutrinos by studying exploding stars, gamma-ray bursts, black holes, and neutron stars.

Yale involvement: The Maruyama group studies how supernovae explode, as well as fundamental properties of neutrinos.

Science goal: Search for neutrinoless double beta decay, which could answer why we live in a Universe of matter, not antimatter.

Yale involvement: Yale is leading efforts to build the photon detectors for nEXO. Moore serves as the sub-system scientist for the photon sensors. Moore is also collaborating with LLNL and SLAC to study ways to capture xenon directly from the atmosphere.

Science goal: Utilize a novel technique (CRES) to perform a precision measurement of the yet unknown neutrino mass.

Yale involvement: Yale performs R&D on antenna and cavity prototypes; develops algorithms for event reconstruction and analysis; and performs simulations to optimize the detector resolution.

Science goal: Precision measurements of antineutrinos, search for sterile neutrinos, & develop technology for monitoring nuclear reactors for safeguard and non-proliferation.

Yale involvement: PROSPECT was designed and built at Wright Lab in collaboration with national labs and other universities.

Science goal: Study interactions involving neutrinos; to test gravity; & to search for dark matter, quantum phenomenon, sterile neutrinos, and new forces.

Yale involvement: The Moore group has developed the world’s most sensitive micron-sized force sensors. Both the SIMPLE and QuIPS experiments are located at Wright Lab.

Science goal: Understand high energy density quantum chromodynamics (QCD) created in relativistic collisions of heavy nuclei.

Yale involvement: Havener is a co-convener for the Jets and Hard Photons Physics Working Group; Harris serves on the ALICE Management Board. Yale has contributed to various aspects of preparations and data-taking, including the construction of GEM readout chambers.

Science goal: Understand high energy density quantum chromodynamics (QCD) created in relativistic collisions of heavy nuclei.

Yale involvement: Yale has multiple R&D projects, including particle identification detectors. Testing & characterizing photosensors for the pfRICH detector will be done at Wright Lab. Yale is also involved in software development for PID reconstruction.

Science goal: Understand the behavior of nuclear matter under extremes of temperature and density.

Yale involvement: Yale plays a critical role in preparations and data-taking, including trigger coordination, shift leadership, on-call detector expertise, and a diverse range of analyses. Caines was co-spokesperson of STAR from 2017-2023