We describe below the anticipated projects for summer 2025. Watch this space as project descriptions are subject to change and additional projects will be added prior to the opening of applications.

Astronomy

Mentor: Saurabh Jha
Project: Classification of Astronomical Transients with SALT
Description: A major focus of contemporary astronomy is the time-domain: studying the chang- ing sky. Large surveys aim to discover astronomical transients, including especially exploding stars, i.e. supernovae, in nearby and distant galaxies. Of particular interest are "type Ia" supernovae caused by the thermonuclear explosions of white dwarfs; these are important cosmological distance indicators used to measure the expansion rate and expansion history of the Universe. Spectroscopic observation and classification of newly discovered supernovae is a key step and enables understanding the physics of these explosions. Rutgers has preferred access to the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), which excels at supernova spectroscopy. The REU student will work with real-time astronomical data, planning SALT observations for supernovae that have not been discovered yet, quickly obtaining and analyzing the data, and publicly announcing the results. The most interesting targets will be spectroscopically monitored to study supernova astrophysics.

Nuclear and high energy physics

Mentor: Ron Gilman
Project: Proton Radius Puzzle
Description: The inconsistency of measurements of the proton radius measured with electrons and muons is referred to as the proton radius puzzle. To gain insight into the inconsistency, we are studying electron and muon scattering from protons. The probabilities for these processes differ in a trivial way due to the different masses of the particles, in a more interesting way that gives insight into the structure of the proton through higher-order quantum mechanical corrections to the scattering process, and most interestingly, if there is a breakdown in lepton universality. Scattering data are being obtained through mid 2025. A student working on this project can get involved in various analysis projects commensurate with their interests.

Mentor: Amit Lath
Project: Research with the Compact Muon Solenoid Experiment at the Large Hadron Collider
Description: High energy particle physics is an exciting field, filled with many yet-to-be-answered questions about the world around us. The world’s highest energy collider, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), collides protons at a high energy and provides us with the tools to answer some of these questions. State-of-the-art technology used by the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector at the LHC plays a key role in this effort. The REU student working on this project will have the opportunity to work on a range of possible searches for new particles and new phenomena such as those predicted by supersymmetry in current CMS data, and help design innovative new search techniques for the challenging environment of the upcoming High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC).

Mentor: Andrew Mastbaum
Project: Accelerator-based neutrino physics
Description: Neutrinos are the most abundant massive fundamental particles in our universe, but among the least understood. Measuring neutrino properties expands our knowledge of matter’s most fundamental constituents and may help explain the very existence of our matter-filled universe. Our group is involved with an array of experiments using particle accelerator-produced neutrino beams to study the properties of neutrinos and their interactions with other matter, including the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program hosted at Fermilab and DUNE. Students working on this project will work with data from these detectors to study neutrinos' interactions with matter and the implications for measuring neutrino oscillations. Students will gain experience with neutrino physics and particle detectors as well as data analysis techniques and software tools.

Mentor: Emanuel Diaconescu
Project: Fourfold toric singularities and mirror symmetry
Description: The overall goal of this project is to study the local infrared physics associated to Calabi-Yau fourfold singularities via mirror symmetry for toric varieties. The project will provide a practical introduction to toric geometry and mirror symmetry through two-dimensional gauged linear sigma models. This will be followed by more specific applications in the context of string and M-theory compactifications. Expected outcomes: the students will gain valuable working knowledge of low dimensional quantum field theories, toric geometry and string compactifications in a research environment. Recommended background: an introductory course in quantum field theory, including gauge theories, as well as an introductory course in algebraic geometry at advanced undergraduate level.

Nanophysics

Mentor: Weida Wu
Project: Exploring topological edge states in quantum materials
Description: The focus of this research project is to explore the fascinating topological edge states on single crystal surfaces of quantum materials with topological electronic structures using low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The REU participant will participate the research activities including sample preparation, data acquisition, data analysis, and modeling.

Last edited December 17, 2024.