NSF REU at K-State: Interactions of Matter, Light and Learning

The K-State REU program offers summer fellowships to do world-class research in our friendly physics department in the scenic Flinthills. We are funded by the National Science Foundation.

Elementary Particle Physics and Cosmology

Dr. Bharat Ratra: Cosmology

Email: ratra@phys.ksu.edu

Bharat Ratra

A project will be available in cosmology based on data analysis. The specifics of the project will depend on the interests and preparation of the student. Please contact Dr. Ratra for more information. Last year the projected involved comparing (and testing for consistency between) the abundances of a variety of chemical elements measured in stars by different observers. Participants are now working on a final draft of the paper. This year the project might involve studying the variation of these measured abundances, as function of star type and star position in the Milky Way galaxy.

Dr. Tim Bolton and Dr. Glenn Horton-Smith: High Intensity Elementary Particle Physics

Email: bolton@phys.ksu.edu or gahs@phys.ksu.edu

Tim Bolton	Glenn Horton-Smith

Physics at its heart is the study of the properties and interactions of matter, energy, space, and time. A primary focus of the K-State high energy physics group's research is on using high intensity particle beams and specialized particle detectors at Fermilab to search for "new physics". By "new physics", we mean fundamental interactions and properties that have not yet been discovered. We have a strong and active effort in the MicroBooNE neutrino experiment and in developing the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) and the muon-to-electron search Mu2e. K-State will be working on software and hardware for monitoring and controlling the Mu2e and DUNE experiments, on testing parts of the Mu2e cosmic ray veto system, and in simulating and testing high voltage systems for ProtoDUNE and DUNE. This is an excellent opportunity for an REU student to gain experience in multiple aspects of high energy physics.