As this year draws to a close, it’s a good time for reflection and gratitude. I want to express my sincere thanks to the exceptional individuals within the Nuclear Science Division and throughout Berkeley Lab that make it all happen. Your dedication and support are the driving force behind the exciting scientific advancements and innovations taking place across the division. Much has happened since the last NSD Newsletter in the summer, including a number of exciting scientific highlights. In this issue of the newsletter we feature how CUORE set new limits on the neutrinoless double beta decay of 130Te. Other highlights include (i) the new results from the STAR collaboration that are providing insights in the search for a potential critical point in the QCD phase diagram; (ii) a new theory development that utilizes an artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) method, revealing that the proton mass distribution is dominated by gluonic matter; (iii) a promising demonstration at CERN of a laser based technique to measure electron affinities in heavy elements that will enable the study of chemical properties of superheavy elements at the LBNL 88-Inch Cyclotron, (iv) and the newest results from the KATRIN neutrino experiment that tighten constraints for the existence of sterile neutrinos.
Advancing science through the application of AI/ML is becoming a major focus across DOE with the GENESIS mission and the NSD has secured additional funding for exciting projects in partnership with other divisions across Berkeley Lab and our partner labs. While several exciting data provider projects are starting up in the context of the American Science Cloud, this issue of the Newsletter features examples of several ongoing efforts. In one example, AI/ML has been leveraged to optimize the operation of the VENUS Ion Source at the 88-Inch Cyclotron. Another featured example of AI/ML applications is the investigation of deep learning algorithms to enhance the sensitivity for the detection of tritium in the field. Also several new LDRD projects led or co-led by NSD scientists are starting up including work on developing an ASIC for compact readout of multi-channel Germanum detectors (in collaboration with the Engineering Division), the development of cryogenic photodetectors for fundamental physics and quantum sensing, a framework to systematically study nuclear reactions using quantum computers (led by collaborators at NERSC), and the development of a fast-timing perovskite detector for biomedical gamma-ray imaging. I am looking forward to seeing all these exciting projects coming to fruition.
During the last few months, we were also able to celebrate several awards, including the LBNL Director’s Award for the GRETA Project Team and the election of NSD scientists Gabriel Orebi-Gann and Mathis Wiedeking to Fellows of the American Physical Society. Congratulations to all the awardees.
A number of NSD team members also took the opportunity to share their excitement for nuclear science with the next generation during the annual Nuclear Science Day for Scouts. I would like to thank all participants and in particular Alan Poon for his continued leadership in the organization of this very popular and successful event. You will find a recap of this year’s event in this Newsletter issue.
