DOE-INFN Summer Students Exchange Program 2026 Edition at INFN Padova

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Available positions at Padova

LUNA
MUON COLLIDER
VIRGO

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LUNA

Title: Study of the ²⁷Al(p,a)²⁴Mg for Nuclear Astrophysics at LUNA

 Description:

LUNA (Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics) is an experiment dedicated to studying nuclear reactions of astrophysical interest. Its deep underground location at the Gran Sasso National Laboratories (LNGS) ensures an environmental background level orders of magnitude lower than above ground, enabling reaction measurements to be performed at astrophysically relevant energies.

At LUNA, we have the unique capability to directly measure nuclear reactions at the lowest possible energies, covering an important region of the Gamow peak. This achievement will provide unprecedented insight into stellar processes and help refine our understanding of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis.

The study of the ²⁷Al(p,a)²⁴Mg reaction will be conducted by the LUNA collaboration, whose efforts will cover all aspects of the experimental design and measurement fulfillment: from target preparation, detector installation and characterization to data taking and analysis.

The candidate will focus on the experimental design, working on the characterization of the setup with the LUNA simulation code and on the outline of the experimental campaign. Moreover, the candidate will participate in target preparation and characterization at two different INFN National Laboratories: LNL (close to Padua) and LNGS. This candidate will have the opportunity to participate in all phases of the experimental campaign.

 Tutor: Antonio Caciolli – antonio.caciolli@pd.infn.it and Dr. Denise Piatti –denise.piatti@pd.infn.it

 Activity period: June – July or September – October 2026

Local Secretariat: segreterieinfn@lists.pd.infn.it

  Other information: https://www.pd.infn.it/eng/luna/

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MUON COLLIDER

 Title: Study of muon ionizing cooling to produce low emittance muon beams

 Description:
One of the main challenges in preparing muon beams arises from their production mechanism. Muons are generated through the decay of pions, which themselves are produced when high-energy protons strike a target. As a consequence, the resulting muon beam exhibits a large spread in both momentum and spatial distribution. Conventional beam-cooling techniques cannot be applied effectively because of the muon’s short lifetime. For this reason, ionization cooling is proposed as a viable method to reduce the beam emittance. In this technique, muons pass through an energy-absorbing material, where they lose momentum through ionization energy loss. The longitudinal momentum is subsequently restored using radio-frequency cavities, while the entire system is immersed in a strong magnetic field that focuses the beam and maintains transverse confinement. This process results in an overall reduction of the transverse beam size.
During this internship, the trainee will be introduced to beam cooling techniques, in particular on muon ionization cooling. The trainee will then learn to use simulation software to study the performance of a system consisting of a ionizing cooling module. The optimal placement of detectors for measuring beam properties will be determined, and the final beam emittance will be evaluated.
During this period, the trainee will acquire the fundamental knowledge required to work in the study of new particle accelerators for High Energy Physics. He/she will develop the skills necessary to propose new technologies and detector concepts, as well as to test ideas and evaluate their performance. In addition, the trainee will gain experience with basic data analysis software, such as ROOT and/or Python.

Activities: Study of beam cooling techniques and muon ionizing cooling. Development and application of simulation software to position detectors to determine muon beam emittance.

 Tutor: Donatella Lucchesi – donatella.lucchesi@pd.infn.it, Davide Zuliani – davide.zuliani@pd.infn.it and Alessio Gianelle – alessio.gianelle@pd.infn.it

 Activity period: June-July or September-October  2026

Local Secretariat: segreterieinfn@lists.pd.infn.it

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VIRGO

Title:Scattered light noise in Gravitational Wave detectors

 Description:

Stray light represents a significant challenge for the LIGO–Virgo Gravitational Wave (GW) interferometers, affecting the sensitivity in the low-frequency region, and stray light noise is also relevant in future gravitational wave detectors, such as the Einstein Telescope (ET). Effective monitoring and mitigation of stray light sources are therefore essential.

Stray light noise is due to scattered light that leaves the laser beam for a variety of reasons (imperfect anti-reflection coatings; surface roughness; presence of dust contamination…), and later recombines with the main optical path, carrying with it extra phase noise acquired because of reflection off of vibrating surfaces.

At INFN Padova, the ET and Virgo group is active on the experimental study of stray light in GW detectors and in particular on the effects of surface contamination by dust particles. The group carries out a dust monitoring campaing for the Virgo detector at EGO and operates an experimental facility for angle-resolved light scattering measurements to characterize coatings and materials. The group studies also the impact of dust-related scattered light noise in GW interferometers, including the Einstein Telescope, setting requirements on the cleanliness.

Activities: The student will join the experimental activities of the ET/Virgo Padova Stray Light group. They may participate in measurements of the Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Function  and Total Integrated Scattering on new samples of interest for gravitational-wave detectors, and contribute to the characterization and/or upgrade of the scattering measurement facility.

In parallel, the student may take part in the Virgo dust-monitoring campaign. By imaging exposed witness samples with an optical microscope and processing the resulting images, the student will help characterize dust particle fallout in different environments at EGO, providing experimental input for studies of dust-induced stray-light noise in current and future gravitational-wave detectors.

 Tutor: Conti Livia – livia.conti@pd.infn.it and Flocco Francesco – francesco.flocco@studenti.unipd.it

 Activity period: June-July 2026

Local Secretariat: segreterieinfn@lists.pd.infn.it

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