WORK EXPERIENCE

....the undiscovered route to Public Understanding of Science

Image of Dominic's tie acting as UV source for Brian's demonstration (477kB)

Over the last few years, the High Energy Particle Physics Group at UCL has provided work experience to a dozen or so school students. Typically, these students have been just pre-or post-GCSE, and have spent two weeks in the group. Generally, the students come with an interest in Physics, and the approach that the group adopts involves getting the students to consider the experimental and engineering approaches needed to develop successful particle detection instruments. The students need to use their GCSE level knowledge to do studies involving optics, electronics, mechanical engineering and design. We develop and enhance their knowledge, charge them with the task of building and/or testing components, sub-assemblies or prototypes for equipment which has direct relevance to the work of the group. The importance of good record keeping is stressed. The students are also given a talk by a graduate student or research assistant in order to give them a quick guided tour of the current state of particle physics.

We feel this approach has considerable value, as (for admittedly small numbers) young people are given real "hands-on" experience of the development of actual instruments for particle physics experiments.

Shannon and Alice who spent two weeks here during 1997 have written something about their time with us:

"We worked in the Physics department at UCL for two weeks in which we performed many tasks to do with the OPAL project. We tested the operation of photo-multiplier tubes which had been unused for longer than we, ourselves, have lived, and we also helped to make both a model and a working setup of a light detector to which the PMT's were to be attached which in turn might ultimately be part of the OPAL detector! We also made suggestions towards the design of the jig which everything would be assembled upon, one of which may, or may not, have been followed up by this point."

Note: A jig based on Alice and Shannon's design has been manufactured and will be used in the system tests of the Far-Forward Monitor, part of the OPAL detector at CERN.

More recently Vanessa de Souza and Rachel Drew worked with the group. Here's what they experienced:

"During the summer, we spent two weeks working at University College London. We were based in the particle physics

section of the Physics and Astronomy Department. As well as learning more about particle physics and a scientist's daily routine, we gained a new appreciation for the difficulties in commuting daily to London. Overall, it was a highly enjoyable and valuable experience. We conducted experiments on optical fibres to test their efficiency and the efficiency of certain devices used to connect the fibres. Each test had to be set up with great accuracy and precision to make the results as reliable as possible.

Our work was centred on two main international projects. One of these was the ATLAS project involving the design of a multi-use particle detector for experiments at CERN, which is an international particle accelerator in Switzerland. The other project was MINOS, an experiment to determine if neutrinos (very tiny particles) have mass. This is very important because from the results it may be possible to conclude the fate of the universe; it may end in a 'Big Crunch' or it may continue to expand forever."

For more information about work placements in HEPP at UCL, please contact:

Brian E Anderson

0171 380 7803

ba@hep.ucl.ac.uk

To find out more about Particle Physics take a look at Learn About Particle Physics.
The UCL HEPP homepage.

Brian E Anderson
Dominic A Hayes
2nd November 1998