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Project Announcements

We are constantly looking for new students at any stage in their studies to join our team! These are the currently open projects. If you have questions concerning any of these, don't hesitate to reach out to the contact person.

Bachelor Studies Master Studies

Further development of the readout and characterization of a tracking detector made of scintillating fibers

Advanced Module / Master's Thesis (Also possible as a bachelor's module after consultation)

The tracking detector consists of 96 scintillating plastic fibers, which are arranged closely together on two axes and read out individually by silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs).
Signal processing is to be performed using an FPGA.
This is to be programmed and tested as part of this work.
Furthermore, tests in the laboratory and during beam times at the Marburg Ion Beam Therapy Center are to be used to determine the rate dependence and efficiency of the tracking system.
At the end of the work, the detector system should be fully characterized.

Requirements:
  • Interest in detector physics and measurement technology
  • Previous experience in FPGA programming is desirable but not essential.
  • Previous experience with data analysis using Python or Cern Root is desirable but not essential.
Contact Person:
  • Lara Dippel
  • Room 107
  • Email

 

Testing and optimization of particle detectors for radon detection

Study Project / Bachelor's Thesis / Advanced Module / Master's Thesis

Radon is a radioactive noble gas that is part of natural radiation exposure. After smoking, inhaling radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. To measure indoor radon exposure, a radon detector based on thin scintillator layers is being developed as part of an R&D project.The aim of the project is to develop a cost-effective and efficient radon detector that is capable of measuring small concentrations of radon.To further develop the existing prototype, the efficiency of various light guides must be measured. Tasks include preparing the prototypes, measuring their response behavior, optimizing their geometry, and evaluating the data from the radiation tests.Depending on progress, measurements can also be carried out at the Hessian Radon Center using various radon chambers.

Requirements:
  • Interest in Detector Physics and the interaction of particles
  • Motivation to work independently
  • Experience with programming languages such as C++ and Python is desirable but not essential.
Contact Person:
  • Kim Tabea Giebenhain
  • Room 128
  • Email

Red Pitaya FPGA programming for data processing

Study Project / Bachelor's Thesis / Advanced Module / Master's Thesis

Red Pitayas are open-source FPGA based multifunctional instruments. They can be used as multiple software-defined instruments such as oscilloscope, signal generator, spectrum analyzer and many more and are used in many applications to replace expensive and bulky devices.
For the project, the AG's own Red Pitaya will first be put into operation and basic functions such as the oscilloscope mode, the histogramming of data and the readout of a germanium detector will be developed. After the first steps, the aim is to program a multi-channel ditigalizer based on several linked Red Pitayas.
The FPGA is programmed via Vivado. Since the Red Pitaya is an open-source project, there are many learning materials to familiarize yourself with the device and an active and helpful community.

Requirements:
  • Interest in Detector Physics and Programming
  • Motivation to work independently
  • Sufficient knowledge of English to be able to communicate confidently
  • Experience in FPGA programming is desirable
Contact Person:
  • Kim Tabea Giebenhain
  • Room 128
  • Email

Calibration and functional test of a dosimeter concept as payload of a femtosatellite

Study Project / Bachelor's Thesis / Advanced Module / Master's Thesis

μDose @ FemtoSat dosimeter concept based on a silicon diode as a payload for a femto satellite is to be calibrated with the help of laboratory radiation sources or as part of an irradiation period at the Marburg Ion Therapy Center. In addition, individual functions or ICs (e.g. magnetometer and LoRa) are to be tested on the prototype concept and adjustments made within the readout routine of the ICs with the microntroller. Individual aspects can be dealt with as part of a study project or comprehensively as part of a thesis.

In addition, the project can be considered in a larger framework and the completion of the concept for a launch with the satellite concept of AmbaSat Ltd. can be advanced, whereby the focus is more on the further development of the circuit board layout, the optimization of the electronics used (mainly the power supply by the DC/DC converter) and the stress test by temperature and vacuum.

Requirements:
  • Interest in Detector Physics and Dosimetry
  • Interest in Micro Controllers
  • Interest in Measurement Technology
  • Interest in Programming
Contact Person:
  • Dr. Roman Bergert
  • Room 208
  • Email

 

Theoretical Investigation of Light Transmittance in PWO Crystals under Radiation Damage

Bachelor's Thesis / Advanced Module

Lead tungstate (PbWO4 or PWO) is a scintillation material used in various experiments, e.g. CMS at LHC in CERN. A new material (PWO-II) with improved properties was developed for the PANDA experiment at FAIR in Darmstadt. PWO-II is subject of various projects in our working group, e.g. measurements of light transmittance in PWO-II after irradiation with a Co-60 source were done. To to obtain a better understanding of radiation induced damage, we want to do theoretical calculations in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) to calculate the light transmittance in PWO-II with different defects implemented.

Prerequisites:
  • Interest in Condensed matter theory (especially DFT)
  • Interest in simulation software
  • Basic knowledge of solid-state physics
Contact Person
  • Ather Ahmad
  • Room 131
  • Email

FPGA Programming for RUBIK @ ROMEO

Advanced Module / Specialization Module / Master's Thesis

As part of the particle detector concept RUBIK @ ROMEO (satellite mission of the IRS Stuttgart), consisting of 125 segmented scintillation cubes and specially developed readout electronics, the measurement routine is to be extended and new functionalities developed using a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The aim is to expand the existing basic signal processing and communication via UART and to query and process additional functionalities such as the recording of status messages, statistics of individual measurement channels (count rates etc.) and parameters of individual electronic components (e.g. voltage thresholds of DACs).

Prerequisites:
  • Interest in programming
  • Experience with FPGA programming desired
  • Motivation to work independently
Contact Person
  • Dr. Roman Bergert
  • Room 208
  • Email

Radiation Tests for RUBIK @ ROMEO

Study Project / Bachelor's Thesis

As part of the particle detector concept RUBIK @ ROMEO (satellite mission of the IRS Stuttgart), consisting of 125 segmented scintillation cubes and specially developed readout electronics, it is planned to carry out radiation tests. The aim is to evaluate the radiation compatibility of the overall concept and selected components. This could also involve a simulative comparison based on the ESA's SPENVIS software (based on Geant4).

Prerequisites:
  • Interest in particle detectors and radiation tests
  • Basic comprehension of the interaction of radiation with matter
  • Motivation to work independently
Contact Person
  • Dr. Roman Bergert
  • Room 208
  • Email