URAP

GAPS Antarctic Balloon Payload to Probe Dark Matter Using Galactic Particle Signatures

Andreas Zoglauer, Staff Researcher  
Space Sciences Laboratory  

Closed. This professor is continuing with Spring 2024 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Fall 2024.

The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is a NASA high-altitude balloon mission designed to detect messengers of dark matter interactions in the galaxy. Apprentices are needed to participate in development and testing of both hardware and online software as GAPS prepares for a December 2024 launch from Antarctica.

GAPS is specifically designed to detect antinuclei (antiprotons, antideuterons, and antihelium-3) in cosmic rays. For a wide range of dark matter models, antinuclei are produced from dark matter interactions in the Galaxy. However, these particles are only rarely produced though other astrophysical processes. Astrophysical antideuterons in particular are so rare that detection of Galactic antideuterons by GAPS would be evidence of new physics such as dark matter.

The GAPS team at UC Berkeley consists of scientists, engineers, and URAPs at Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL) and is responsible for GAPS components including the backend data acquisition system, power system (batteries, solar panels, power distribution), flight computer (computer hardware, computer software, gondola network, data transmission), and ground support equipment. We highly value the contributions and insights of our undergraduate group members. Field Rogers (physics postdoc) and SSL engineers will provide day-to-day supervision and mentoring and will work with you to develop a research plan aligning with your interests. Previous URAPs have made valuable contributions to both hardware and software deliverables from our group, and additionally traveled for on-site work on past GAPS campaigns.

Role: Depending on your interests and qualifications, you will participate in a subset of the following:
(1) Preparation of flight electronics for operation in space: All electronics dissipate heat during operation. On the ground, heat can be efficiently moderated by convection - this is why your laptop’s fan might come when you perform a particularly computation-intensive task. Due to the lack of convection at low pressures, electronics could overheat and fail at high altitudes, so we must provide radiative or conductive pathways and perform environmental testing of all flight electronics. Students will validate the thermal-mechanical design of electronics by designing and executing thermal-vacuum environmental tests in the laboratory at SSL. Note that thermal vacuum testing requires several hours of monitoring, so it is a plus if students’ weekly schedules are compatible with committing 5+ contiguous hours to in-person test operations.
(2) Payload electronics and cabling: Small analog, digital, and microcontroller circuits need to be designed, fabricated and tested to control and monitor the payload. Interested students would work directly with engineers to develop these electronics.
(3) Development of Online Monitoring Software: Real-time display and monitoring of instrument health and performance is critical to a well-functioning mission. Displays are used during both ground calibrations and the Antarctic flight, allowing us to visualize the status of the instrument and course-correct as necessary. Currently, the display and monitoring package is under development using python modules including pyQT. Students interested in UI design will work closely with group members to contribute to the suite of online monitoring software.
(4) Online analysis software: GAPS collects far more scientific data than we have bandwidth to transmit to the ground during the flight. Therefore, the on-board computer must identify the most interesting events and prioritize them for telemetry. Students will work closely with our group members to develop robust and flexible algorithms to prioritize events for transmission to the ground.

The concrete learning goals depend on your interests. In general, you will:
(1) Develop or deepen fluency with the landscape of interdisciplinary research related to dark matter.
(2) Gain hands-on experience working with hardware and software for NASA balloon payloads. You may work with vacuum systems, cryogenic systems, custom analog and digital electronics, operations software and/or analysis software.
(3) Gain instrument calibration and analysis experience.
(4) Improve data visualization and technical communication skills through presentation of your work at local group meetings, GAPS team calls, and/or conferences.

Qualifications: Requirements for GAPS URAPs:
interest in particle physics, astrophysics, electronics, and/or software programming;
interest in high-altitude/space instrumentation;
regular weekly time blocks dedicated to in-person work at SSL;
availability of at least 3 units for URAP (9 hours per week);
enthusiasm for learning new skills;
reliability;
organization;

The following are helpful, but not required. We anticipate that a successful applicant will have some but not all of:
Prior programming experience, especially in python and/or c++;
Experience with command-line tools;
Prior electronics and/or other hands-on laboratory experience;
Class schedule compatible with fitting your weekly URAP hours into a contiguous block;

In your application, please describe your prior research experience and indicate why you are interested in joining our group. We look forward to hearing from you!

Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Field Rogers, Post-Doc

Hours: 9-11 hrs

Off-Campus Research Site: All hands-on work will happen at UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL). Please take the free hill shuttle from the Hearst mining circle to the top of the hill. SSL is the last stop (~10 min bus ride).

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