NOvA Experiment
|
|
NOvA is a second generation, accelerator based, long-baseline neutrino oscillation
experiment, and the flag ship experiment for Fermilab's Intensity Frontier program.
NOvA is specifically designed to resolve the outstanding questions in neutrino mixing and
the structure of the neutrino sector, and features a unique "totally active" range stack
design that singles it out as one of the most sensitivity and versatile neutrinos experiments
in the world.
Over the last decade, since the discovery of finite, non-zero neutrino mass through their
oscillations over the solar and atmospheric distance and energy scales— the first
evidence of physics beyond the standard model — much has been learned
about elusive world of neutrinos. Yet much remains to be learned. NOvA is poised to make
seminal measurements of neutrino properties that will answer questions of whether
neutrinos are a source for the Matter/Anti-matter asymmetry of the universe. NOvA will
lead the US domestic particle physics program and poise Fermilab as the premier
laboratory for neutrino investigation and precision physics.
The NOvA experiments consists of two independent detectors separated by 810km. The far detector
is sited in northern Minnesota near the US/Canadian border, at Ash River, and sited 14mrad
away from the primary beam axis, in what is referred to as the "off-axis" configuration. This
choice of site location and baseline is what allows NOvA to perform precisions measurements of
&theta13 and &theta23. The far detector, at a massive 15,000 tons, will
be the largest liquid scintillator calorimeter/range stack ever build.
Construction of the NOvA experiment started in May of 2009 and the first set of physics data is
expected from the Near Detector in late 2010. The construction of the far detector will continue
in parallel to the Near Detector operation and will become fully operational in 2013 at it's a full
mass of 15,000 tons (15ktons).
Virginia's role on NOvA
The University of Virginia has taken on a leading in the design and implementation of the NOvA experiment.
The Virginia group working on NOvA is Headed by Professor Craig Dukes, and is the primary focus of
a dedicated team of full time physicists, graduate students, undergraduate physics majors and
undergraduate work study study student in science and engineering. The Virginia group also
has talented electrical engineering and technical resources which work closely with the researchers
to solve many of the engineering challenges that the experiment presents.
As the NOvA experiment enters into its full construction phase, the Virginia group finds itself
responsible for all aspects of three critical components of the NOvA detector and readout systems.
Prof. Dukes and Dr. Norman have been long time members of the NOvA collaboration and their efforts
and insights have been instrumental in the design and evolution of many of the critical detector
subsystems. It is through this deep and committed involvement that both Prof. Dukes and Dr. Norman
now serve as the Level-3 managers for these vital projects, as well as holding key leadership roles
in the NOvA collaboration.
Virginia's lead role in PDS
The NOvA Power Distribution System (PDS) and Readout Infrastructure projects are lead by Professor
Craig Dukes. These systems provide all of the mechanical support, cooling and power to the
357,000 channels of electronics. The physical size and unique topology of the NOvA detector,
when combined with the power demands and cooling requirements of the front end electronics,
make the PDS and electronics infrastructure design a formidable challenge which requires
significant electrical and mechanical design and engineering.
Virginia's lead role in DAQ & DCS
Dr. Andrew Norman serves as one of the lead members of the NOvA Data Acquisition development group,
and is designated as the L-3 project managers for the Data Acquisition (DAQ) System Integration
project. In addition, Dr. Norman also serves as the L-3 project manager for the the Detector Controls
and Monitoring (DCS) systems. The Virginia group's expertise with data acquisition system, combined with
their experience in modern computing have allowed them to develop a robust platform capable of handing
the continuous readout, buffering, and real time data processing that is required by the NOvA physics program.
Together the DAQ and DCS systems that Virginia is responsible for provide the full hardware/software
interfaces and data readout for the experiment and are the fundamental window to for the physicist
to control and gather the next generation of neutrino data.
|
|
|
| A few NOvA Talks |
Accelerator Based Neutrino Physics at Fermilab:
.ppt
Dukes, University of Illinois Seminar, December 2009
|
Accessing Particle/Astrophysics Measurements with the NOvA Detector
.pptx
.pdf
Norman, Seminar Argonne National Lab, Aug. 2009
|
NOvA: The NuMI Offaxis &nue Appearance Experiment
.ppt
.pdf
Norman, DPF2009, July 2009
|
Power Distribution and Readout Infrastructure
.ppt
.pdf
Dukes, Dept. of Energy CD-3 Review, July 2009
|
NOvA Detector Controls and DAQ Integration
.pptx
.pdf
Norman, Dept. of Energy CD-3 Review, July 2009
|
DCM Embedded Software Systems
.pptx
Norman, NOvA Collaboration Meeting, July 2009
|
Accelerator Based Neutrino Physics at Fermilab:
.ppt
Dukes, SESAPS Meeting, October 2008
|
NOvA: the NuMI Offaxis νe Appearance Experiment:
.ppt
.pptx
Norman, Nufact07, August 2007
|
The NOvA Far Detector Site at Ash River MN
|
|