Ph.D XLI

Supervisor: Simone Monzani, co-supervisor: Claudia Merlassino

Room: Rizzi A1 3

Mail: ventura.matteo001@spes.uniud.it

Research Project

Development of a testing system for pixel modules of the new ATLAS Inner Tracker (ITk) and search for Long-Lived particles using current tracking data

Particle tracking is a fundamental aspect of high-energy physics, as it enables the reconstruction of particle kinematics, necessary for studying their properties and interactions. Tracking systems exploit the ionization of a medium crossed by a charged particle. This produces electron–hole pairs that generate measurable electrical signals. Semiconductor silicon detectors are widely used due to their efficient charge collection and high spatial resolution in a harsh environment.

The new Inner Tracker (ITk) of the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN is being developed in view of the High Luminosity phase of the LHC, expected to start in 2029, in order to increase statistics and study rare processes, enhancing the discovery potential. To cope with the extreme radiation levels and high track densities expected in the innermost regions, the ITk pixel detector will employ both planar and 3D silicon sensors. My PhD research will focus on the optimization of a testing system for the quality control of planar pixel modules. Within this framework, I will develop and perform a suite of tests to ensure the functionality of the active sensor and all their electronic components in the harsh high luminosity environment. The detector-related activities will be carried out both at the ATLAS laboratory in Udine and at CERN. In addition, I will contribute to the organization of the several research groups involved in the pixel module production. This will include the development and maintenance of a web-based production dashboard to track workflow, inventory and yield for both planar quad and 3D triplet modules, as well as improvements to the robustness and flexibility of the software handling qualification test data. 

Beyond the ITk-related activities, my PhD research will also focus on the analysis of the data which are currently being collected by the ATLAS detector, during the Run3 of the LHC. I will perform a search for charged long-lived particles producing disappearing-track signatures, originating from decays occurring inside the tracker. This study will exploit advanced tracking techniques, as well as a deep knowledge of the performances of tracking detectors, to enhance sensitivity to physics beyond the Standard Model.