Speaker: Michael Reh (Boulder) - Title: Improving the Super-Kamiokande Analysis in the T2K Experiment
2025-07-10 16:00 - 17:00 UTC | ca
Research Progress Meeting
Date: July 10, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: This is a virtual event. Please see zoom link below.
Speaker: Michael Reh (Boulder)
Title: Improving the Super-Kamiokande Analysis in the T2K Experiment
Abstract: The Tokai-to-Kamioka (T2K) Experiment is a long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment located in Japan. T2K searches for muon neutrino disappearance and electron neutrino appearance oscillations at its far detector, Super-Kamiokande (SK). When performing the T2K neutrino oscillation analysis, the SK detector performance and reconstruction must be well understood in order to be certain of the number of muon and electron neutrino events observed. The T2K event reconstruction algorithm fiTQun does well to classify simulated electron and muon events in the detector, however differences in reconstruction performance between simulated and real data events can bias the T2K analysis results. In this seminar, the methods for estimating the T2K-SK detector reconstruction uncertainty will be discussed, including significant upgrades that include events with multiple visible particle final states in the T2K-SK analysis for the first time.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Regina Demina (U of Rochester) - Title: How Quantum Are Elementary Particles? Exploring Entanglement and the Quest for Toponium
2025-07-15 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: July 15, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Regina Demina (University of Rochester)
Title: How Quantum Are Elementary Particles? Exploring Entanglement and the Quest for Toponium

Abstract: While quantum mechanics underpins particle physics, truly quantum effects are surprisingly difficult to establish in high-energy interactions. A rare exception comes from recent observations of quantum entanglement in top–antitop quark pairs by the ATLAS and CMS experiments. In certain regions of phase space, these particles appear to lie outside the causality cone, making the result even more intriguing. In this talk, I will review the details of these groundbreaking measurements, their implications, and potential criticisms. Some deviation in the observed level of correlation between top and antitop quarks resulted in an exciting discovery of toponium, a bound state of top and antitop quarks observed by CMS. Recently confirmed by Atlas, toponium is the heaviest known composite particle, with a mass of 343 GeV—surpassing even the heaviest nucleus, Oganesson, at 279 GeV.
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https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/95679892182?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 956 7989 2182
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Speaker: Alex Wang (UCSC) - Title: Searching for di-Higgs production with the bbγγ final state: early Run 3 and beyond
2025-07-24 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: July 24, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Alex Wang (UCSC)
Title: Searching for di-Higgs production with the bbγγ final state: early Run 3 and beyond
Abstract: Since the discovery of the Higgs boson by the ATLAS and CMS experiments in 2012, many of its properties have been constrained by precision measurements using LHC Run 2 data. One notable exception is the Higgs self coupling lambda, which modifies the shape of the Higgs potential and, in the Standard Model, is completely determined by the Higgs mass and vacuum expectation value. A value of lambda different from the Standard Model prediction could have profound implications for particle physics and cosmology. The simultaneous production of two Higgs bosons (di-Higgs), is the most accessible way to study this coupling at the LHC but presents experimental challenges due to its low production cross-section, about three orders of magnitude smaller than that of single Higgs.
In this talk, I will present the latest ATLAS search for di-Higgs production with the bbγγ final state, in which one Higgs decays into a pair of b-quarks and the other decays into a pair of photons. This is one of the most experimentally powerful channels due to the high H->bb branching ratio and the excellent ATLAS photon resolution. With the inclusion of the Run 2 (2015 – 2018) and early Run 3 (2022 – 2024) LHC datasets, these new results constitute both the first ATLAS result using over 300ifb of data and also the world’s best single-channel di-Higgs constraints to-date. Finally, I will discuss the latest prospects for the High Luminosity LHC, which is expected to increase the dataset by over a factor of 10 and bring us within observation of di-Higgs production.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Nicola Neri (INFN) - Title: Probing Charm Baryon Dipole Moments at the LHC with ALADDIN
2025-08-14 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: August 14, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Nicola Neri (INFN)
Title: Probing Charm Baryon Dipole Moments at the LHC with ALADDIN
Abstract: The magnetic and electric dipole moments (MDM and EDM) of charm baryons have yet to be measured. These fundamental properties are sensitive probes of non-perturbative QCD dynamics and potential signatures of physics beyond the Standard Model. The proposed ALADDIN experiment at the LHC aims to perform the first direct measurement of charm baryon dipole moments by exploiting spin precession in bent crystals, within a dedicated fixed-target setup.
In this novel scheme, protons from the LHC beam halo are steered by a bent crystal (“crystal kicker”) onto a tungsten target, producing charm baryons with energies up to the TeV scale. These baryons are then captured and channeled by a second bent crystal, where their spins undergo precession under strong electromagnetic fields — allowing the extraction of their dipole moments.
A recent proof-of-principle test, TWOCRYST, has successfully demonstrated the viability of this two-crystal configuration in the LHC environment. These results are a key step in validating the experimental concept and guiding the optimization of the ALADDIN setup.
In this talk, I will present the physics case for ALADDIN, detail the experimental technique and detector concept, and provide an update on ongoing detector R&D efforts. I will also report on recent results from the TWOCRYST test, which mark a significant milestone toward realizing this ambitious measurement program.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Darcy Newmark (MIT) - Title: Scintillation and Cherenkov Light Separation in a Liquid Argon Detector
2025-08-21 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: August 21, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Darcy Newmark (MIT)
Title: Scintillation and Cherenkov Light Separation in a Liquid Argon Detector
Abstract: This talk will present the first event-by-event observation of Cherenkov radiation from sub-MeV electrons in a high-yield scintillator (liquid argon) detector, representing a milestone in low-energy particle detector development and one of the major goals of 2021 Snowmass Process. This work utilizes the Coherent CAPTAIN-Mills (CCM) experiment, a 10-ton liquid argon light collection detector located at the Los Alamos National Lab pion decays at rest source. The detector is instrumented with 200 8-inch PMTs, 80% of which are coated in a wavelength shifter and 20% are uncoated. Using gamma-rays from a sodium-22 radioactive source, we have isolated prompt Chernekov light with >5 sigma confidence, possible through the unique combination of coated and uncoated PMTs. Cherenkov light identification allows for a highly pure selection of electromagnetic events, enabling exciting beyond Standard Model physics searches that I will review.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Ben Allanach (Cambridge) - Title: Z' bosons in light of B-anomalies
2025-08-28 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: August 28, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Ben Allanach (Cambridge)
Title: Z’ bosons in light of B-anomalies
Abstract: Many measurements of b->s transitions (when accompanied by a di-muon pair) disagree with state-of-the-art Standard Model (SM) predictions. On the other hand, many other measurements, including those measuring lepton flavour universality, are in rough agreement with the SM.
We shall review such measurements and give a broad overview of the SM predictions. Z’ bosons with family-dependent couplings can significantly improve global fits. We give an example of a successful model, re-cast LHC searches for it and provide HL-LHC sensitivity estimates.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Heather Gray (LBNL) and Simone Pagan Griso (LBNL) - Title: What's next for CERN? Summary of the 2025 European Strategy for Particle Physics Open Symposium
2025-09-04 15:30 - 16:30
Research Progress Meeting
Date: September 4, 2025
Time: 3:30pm-4:30pm [Note special time]
Location: 50-4-Auditorium [Note special location]
Speaker: Heather Gray (LBNL) and Simone Pagan Griso (LBNL)
Title: What’s next for CERN? Summary of the 2025 European Strategy for Particle Physics Open Symposium
Abstract: CERN is undergoing a planning exercise to determine its long-term strategy in particle physics; this exercise has some similarity to the Snowmass/P5 process, but with some differences.
Center to this strategy is what large-scale projects CERN will be undertaking after the LHC and its upgraded High-Luminosity LHC operations stop at around 2041.
This symposium represented the only general open meeting to showcase the current ideas and the received community inputs that were due in March 2025. It represented a middle-point before the appointed group starts drafting a report that is expected to be preliminarily available around the end of the year.
In this seminar, we will summarize what has been shown and give our main take-aways from this symposium and the strategy process.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Alan Poon (LBNL) - Title: Recent Results and Status of the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay Experiment LEGEND
2025-09-11 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: September 11, 2025
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Location: 70A-3-3377 [Note special location]
Speaker: Alan Poon (LBNL)
Title: Recent Results and Status of the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay Experiment LEGEND
Abstract: The Large Enriched Germanium Experiment for Neutrinoless ββ Decay (LEGEND) is a phased international program designed to answer one of the highest-priority questions in fundamental physics — whether neutrinos are their own anti-particles. Its first phase, LEGEND-200, reuses the cryostat of a previous-generation experiment, GERDA, in Hall A of the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) underground laboratory in Italy to house up to 200 kg of 76Ge-enriched high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors. In this talk, I will present the latest results from LEGEND-200’s search for the lepton-number-violating neutrinoless double-beta decay. I will also provide a synopsis of the planning of the second phase of the experiment, LEGEND-1000.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Daniel Baxter (Fermilab) - Title: A QUIET place: Fermilab’s Underground Facilities for Quantum Sensing
2025-09-16 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
This is a joint seminar with the Interdisciplinary Instrumentation Colloquium (IIC).
Date: September 16, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: 50-4-Auditorium [Note location] [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Daniel Baxter (Fermilab)
Title: A QUIET place: Fermilab’s Underground Facilities for Quantum Sensing

Abstract: The infrastructure associated with building a large accelerator complex created some very unique spaces at Fermilab. In particular, the MINOS tunnel, excavated as part of the NuMI neutrino beam delivering neutrinos to the MINOS, MINERVA, and NOVA experiments, is an easily-accessible 100m underground experimental space. The rock overburden at this depth blocks 99.5% of all cosmic ray muons, and nearly all hadronic showers, creating a unique, low-background environment for novel detector development and calibration.
The NEXUS and QUIET laboratories, each equipped with dilution refrigerators for 10mK detector operation, are harnessing this opportunity. I will highlight the unique capabilities of these testbeds, as well as some of the interesting results that have come out of them. I will briefly touch on some of our ongoing studies and proposed experiments for the near future.
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https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/97314813383?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 973 1481 3383
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Jim Strait (LBNL) - Title: CMB-S4: birth, life and death of a major science project
2025-09-25 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: September 25, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Jim Strait (LBNL)
Slides: Download slides
Title: CMB-S4: birth, life and death of a major science project
Abstract: CMB-S4 was envisioned to be a comprehensive ground-based CMB experiment to make transformative discoveries and new insights in fundamental physics, cosmology, astrophysics, and astronomy. It was conceived as a way to unite the entire CMB community to enable a ground-based experiment with capabilities beyond that of any of the smaller individual experiment to realize the enormous potential of CMB measurements for understanding the origin and evolution of the Universe, from the highest energies at the dawn of time through the growth of structure to the present day. CMB-S4 was launched with great promise and enthusiasm at the 2013 Snowmass Summer Study, grew into a large collaboration, built a capable project organization, developed an advanced technical design and scientific strategies, was endorsed by multiple high-level advisory committees, but ultimately was cancelled by the funding agencies in 2025. In this talk I will summarize the history and accomplishments of CMB-S4, and provide an analysis of why it did not succeed.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Xinran Li (LBNL) - Title: Athermal phonon detectors for light dark matter search, go small and go large
2025-10-02 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: October 2, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Xinran Li (LBNL)
Title: Athermal phonon detectors for light dark matter search, go small and go large
Abstract: Light dark matter below 100MeV could only deposit sub-eV energies in detectors, which is invisible to traditional solid state ionizing detectors. Athermal phonon detectors that use superconducting sensors to read out the phonon signals from the target crystals have the potential to achieve sub-eV energy threshold.
As a member of the TESSERACT collaboration, I work on the development of transition edge sensors (TESs). Our recent DM search achieved 1.5eV threshold and extended the constraint on DM mass down to 44MeV with a 0.23g silicon detector. Our latest understanding of the stress-induced low energy excess events suggests that an even smaller target could help us achieve sub-eV threshold.
On the other hand, to go large, envisioning the next generation 10~100g scale large light dark matter detector, kinetic inductance devices (KIDs) have the advantages of being easily scalable through multiplexing. I lead the effort to develop Hafnium (Hf) low critical temperature (Tc) KIDs for phonon sensing. The internal energy resolution of Hf KID is compatible to TESs, while improving phonon collection efficiency is challenging. Several paths forward are defined and being actively pursued, including quasiparticle trapping, phonon blocking, and parametric amplification.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Tim Nelson (SLAC) - Title: Light Dark Matter eXperiment: A Discovery Experiment for Sub-GeV Dark Matter at SLAC
2025-10-14 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: October 14, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Tim Nelson (SLAC)
Title: Light Dark Matter eXperiment: A Discovery Experiment for Sub-GeV Dark Matter at SLAC
Abstract: As searches for WIMPs approach fundamental sensitivity limits, interest in the more general class of thermal relics has emerged, where these dark matter candidates give rise to clear and testable predictions in small, accelerator-based experiments. The Light Dark Matter eXperiment (LDMX) — proposed to operate in End Station A at SLAC using LCLS-II drive beam — is uniquely capable of searching for sub-GeV thermal relics that can explain the observed dark matter abundance. In this talk, I will review the motivations for these searches, describe how LDMX works, and discuss the status of efforts to realize the experiment.
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https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/95679892182?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 956 7989 2182
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Chuan-Hong Liu (LBNL) - Title: Nonequilibrium Quasiparticles in Superconducting Quantum Bits
2025-10-16 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: October 16, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Chuan-Hong Liu (LBNL)
Title: Nonequilibrium Quasiparticles in Superconducting Quantum Bits
Abstract: The ideal superconductor offers a pristine host for the fragile quantum states of a superconducting quantum computer. With an energy gap protecting against low-energy excitations, qubits should, in principle, be isolated from unwanted modes that cause irreversible decay of quantum information. In practice, however, a significant density of excitations persists above the superconducting ground state, even at ultralow temperatures. These excitations, known as quasiparticles, can drain energy from the qubit mode and induce dephasing, thereby degrading quantum computer’s performance. In this talk, we will discuss two dominant mechanisms of quasiparticle generation: resonant millimeter-wave absorption and impacts from high-energy particles. We further show that careful device design, combined with a well-shielded operating environment, provides effective strategies to mitigate quasiparticle poisoning. A deeper understanding of these processes will be essential for realizing the next generation of superconducting quantum computers that are resilient against quasiparticle-induced errors.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Daniel Carney (LBNL) - Title: Experimental quantum gravity
2025-10-23 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: October 23, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Daniel Carney (LBNL)
Title: Experimental quantum gravity
Abstract: This will be an informal talk on some ideas related to testing aspects of quantum gravity in experiments. There are two basic directions I will cover. One is experiments aimed at determining whether the gravitational field is a quantized degree of freedom in the real world. In particular, I will discuss an experiment in this direction that we developed joint with Holger Muller on campus and which is about to come online. The other direction is a bit newer and something that I think our quantum groups at LBL could contribute to: quantum simulation of holographic physics (e.g., AdS/CFT).
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Dan Dwyer (LBNL) - Title: Development of the DUNE Near Detector
2025-10-28 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: October 28, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Dan Dwyer (LBNL)
Title: Development of the DUNE Near Detector
Abstract: The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is an ambitious effort to measure neutrino properties via long-distance (1300 km) flavor oscillation of accelerator-generated neutrinos and antineutrinos. I will review the scientific challenges of this measurement, the details of neutrino detection using immense liquid argon time-projection chambers, and the crucial role of the DUNE Near Detector. I will highlight the role Berkeley Lab has played in development of the key technology and design of the Near Detector, as well as experiences from operation of a large-scale prototype in a beam of antineutrinos.
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Meeting ID: 956 7989 2182
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Special RPM: Academic Career Panel
2025-10-30 15:00 - 17:00
Special Research Progress Meeting – note special time and location.
Date: October 30, 2025
Time: 3:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Building 50 Auditorium [In-Person and HYBRID]
Panelists:
Benjamin Safdi (UC Berkeley & LBNL)
Gabriel Orebi Gann (UC Berkeley & LBNL)
Simone Pagan Griso (LBNL)
Michael Levi (LBNL)
Kathryn Grimm (CalState East Bay)
Title: Academic Career Panel
Summary: The Academic Career Panel will focus on the faculty job application and interview process. The event is especially geared toward postdocs preparing to apply for national lab or university faculty positions, but everyone is welcome to attend. Panelists will include LBNL senior scientists and faculty members from UC Berkeley and neighboring universities, who will share their experiences and answer questions about pursuing academic careers. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions about any aspect of the academic job process.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Gianpaolo Carosi (LLNL) - Title: Tuning into Dark Matter with the ADMX experiment
2025-11-06 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: November 6, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Gianpaolo Carosi (LLNL)
Title: Tuning into Dark Matter with the ADMX experiment
Abstract: The primordial axion remains one of the best solutions to both dark matter and the strong-CP problem (or why the neutron doesn’t have a measurable electric-dipole moment). The Axion Dark Matter Experiment (ADMX), which started at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the mid-1990s, is the DOE Flagship search for these particles in the micro-eV mass range. The experiment uses tunable resonant cavities in a large static magnetic field to enhance the conversion of dark matter axions to detectable microwaves in the GHz range. Quantum-limited amplifiers based on superconducting Josephson Junction circuits are critical to allow the search to be sensitive enough to rapidly scan the frequencies where the axion may exist. Here I will describe the detection strategy of ADMX, the progress made so far and outline the potential next phase of the experiment dubbed ADMX-Extended Frequency Range (ADMX-EFR). I will also discuss LLNL’s involvement in the nascent BREAD broadband axion search.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Xiaochen Ni (University of Washington) - Title: Development of TopmetalSe: CMOS/aSe Hybrid Detectors for Neutrino Physics
2025-11-20 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: November 20, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Xiaochen Ni (University of Washington)
Title: Development of TopmetalSe: CMOS/aSe Hybrid Detectors for Neutrino Physics
Abstract: The Selena experiment couples an amorphous selenium (aSe) ionization target to a complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) pixel array as an imaging detector for next-generation neutrino physics. Hybrid a-Se/CMOS detectors provide a unique combination of high-Z stopping power, direct charge conversion, and fine-pitch pixel imaging. These properties enable precise reconstruction of ionization tracks with excellent spatial resolution, allowing for low-background measurements with advanced event classification. In this talk, I will present Selena’s capabilities for a neutrinoless double-beta decay search and share the ongoing detector R&D, including the design, fabrication, and characterization of its first prototype pixel array, TopmetalSe, produced in the SkyWater 130 nm open-source CMOS process.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Mun Jung Jung (University of Chicago) - Title: Quasielastic–like Interactions of Muon Neutrinos in SBND
2025-11-25 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: November 25, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Mun Jung Jung (University of Chicago)
Title: Quasielastic–like Interactions of Muon Neutrinos in SBND
Abstract: The Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND), the near detector of the Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program at Fermilab, has completed a successful Run 1, delivering an unprecedented dataset of neutrino-argon interactions. One of the first targets for SBND is the muon neutrino charged-current quasielastic–like channel, the dominant exclusive topology in SBN and a sensitive probe of nuclear effects. In this talk, I’ll present progress toward the first SBND physics results and discuss how the quasielastic-like channel can be studied to test interaction models and lay the foundation for the broader neutrino-nucleus interaction and oscillation physics program at SBND and SBN.
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Meeting ID: 956 7989 2182
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Josef Sorenson (University of New Mexico) - Title: Rare B Meson Decays and Precision Timing for Future Colliders
2025-12-02 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: December 2, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Josef Sorenson (University of New Mexico)
Title: Rare B Meson Decays and Precision Timing for Future Colliders
Abstract: Flavor Changing Neutral Currents (FCNCs) are suppressed in the Standard Model (SM). Approximately one in ten billion neutral B mesons decays into pairs of oppositely charged muons. This suppression, combined with the precise theoretical SM predictions, makes this decay a promising channel to search for New Physics. I will present progress towards the latest measurement of the decay of B mesons to muon pairs using the ATLAS Run 2 dataset. The High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) provides an excellent opportunity for measuring this channel, with an expected 3000 fb-1 of p-p collision data. I will present R&D towards precision timing sensors and electronics to deal with the adverse radiation and pileup environments in the HL-LHC and future colliders.
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Meeting ID: 956 7989 2182
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Brinden Carlson (University of Florida) - Title: Machine Learning Reconstruction Enhancing SBND's Neutrino Physics Program
2025-12-04 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: December 4, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Brinden Carlson (University of Florida)
Title: Machine Learning Reconstruction Enhancing SBND’s Neutrino Physics Program
Abstract: The Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND) is a 100-ton Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detector in the Booster Neutrino Beam at Fermilab, part of the Short-Baseline Neutrino program. I will present my work developing and deploying SPINE, an end-to-end machine learning reconstruction algorithm for neutrino events in LArTPCs. SPINE provides high-quality particle identification and interaction clustering, enabling precision neutrino-argon cross-section measurements and high-quality neutrino selections for oscillation analyses. I will demonstrate SPINE’s impact through a muon neutrino charged current inclusive selection, comparing traditional reconstruction methods to the SPINE-based approach, and discuss how this reconstruction capability supports the SBN program’s physics goals for both cross-section measurements and oscillation analyses.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Kehang Bai (University of Oregon) - Title: Exploring the Dark Sector with Low-Mass, Long-Lived Dark Photons and the ATLAS Silicon Tracker
2025-12-09 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: December 9, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Kehang Bai (University of Oregon)
Title: Exploring the Dark Sector with Low-Mass, Long-Lived Dark Photons and the ATLAS Silicon Tracker
Abstract: The rich phenomenology of dark sector models offers exciting opportunities for discovering new physics at the Large Hadron Collider. In this talk, I will present the first ATLAS search for low-mass, long-lived dark photons with displaced vertices in the silicon tracker. This novel signature expands sensitivity to regions of parameter space beyond conventional resonance searches. I will highlight the experimental challenges of searching for long-lived particles in the low-mass regime and emphasize the importance of detailed detector understanding. Finally, I will discuss key aspects of the ATLAS Inner Tracker upgrade for the upcoming high-luminosity era of the Large Hadron Collider.
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https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/95679892182?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 956 7989 2182
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Alexis Mulski (Harvard) - Title: Looking for Unusual Ionization in High-Momentum Particles with the ATLAS Detector at the LHC
2025-12-11 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: December 11, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Alexis Mulski, Harvard University
Title: Looking for Unusual Ionization in High-Momentum Particles with the ATLAS Detector at the LHC
Abstract: What if we could measure the mass of every high momentum charged particle in the ATLAS detector? This talk details the tools in development to make that a reality for tracks associated with a large ionization energy loss (dE/dx). I will place particular emphasis on a new dE/dx measurement from gaseous drift tubes in the ATLAS Muon Spectrometer, born from a detailed understanding of detector hardware and readout electronics. I will present this measurement alongside other Muon-Spectrometer-based tools that aid us in the hunt for long-lived massive and/or di-charged particles, including dedicated reconstruction techniques. I will also discuss the progress of the New Small Wheel upgrade of the ATLAS Muon Spectrometer, and outline the commissioning of the MicroMegas detector trigger in view of the upcoming High-Luminosity LHC era.
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/98854322464?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 988 5432 2464

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speaker: Elise Hinkle (University of Chicago) - Title: More than Just a Prototype: How the 2x2 Demonstrator is Essential to DUNE’s Success
2025-12-16 16:00 - 17:00
Research Progress Meeting
Date: December 16, 2025
Time: 4:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room- 50A-5132 [In-Person and HYBRID]
Speaker: Elise Hinkle (University of Chicago)
Title: More than Just a Prototype: How the 2×2 Demonstrator is Essential to DUNE’s Success
Abstract: The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is an upcoming long-baseline neutrino experiment with a multitude of physics goals including determining the neutrino mass ordering and searching for CP violation in the lepton sector. In 2024, the DUNE collaboration collected its first neutrino beam data using the 2×2 Demonstrator, a prototype for DUNE’s liquid argon near detector (ND-LAr) located in the Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) beamline at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab). This talk will explore how these 2×2 data are critical in validating key ND-LAr design choices, such as the use of liquid argon time-projection chamber (LArTPC) technology, optically isolated modules, and pixelated charge readout. Furthermore, this talk will explain how these 2×2 data are essential in fulfilling ND-LAr’s purpose of reducing beam, detector, and cross section systematic uncertainties in DUNE oscillation measurements.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/95679892182?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 956 7989 2182
Passcode: [REDACTED]
