Â鶹AV Nuclear Physics Group
Introduction
The Experimental Nuclear Physics in the Department of Physics at Â鶹AV provides technical training, financial support, and research experience for Physics majors to carry out nuclear physics research projects including the CLAS12 experiment at CEBAF, the EPIC experiment at the EIC, and machine learning and artificial intelligence.
The group is currently funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE). We conduct world class research that leads to journal publications, conference presentation, external grants, and prestigious awards.
We welcome students who are interested in getting research experience and potentially develop scientific research careers to join.
People
Group Leader (NSF and DOE CoPI): Prof. Zhaozhong Shi - Assistant Professor of Physics
Senior Professor (NSF and DOE PI): Prof. Philip Cole - Professor of Physics
Undergraduate Student Researchers: Alysa Patteson, Kenneth Bibb, Asher Tariq, Christopher Ezike, and Jashaun Richard
Zhaozhong Shi
Dr. Zhaozhong Shi
Assistant Professor of Physics
Jefferson Laboratory-Â鶹AV Bridge Program
Professor Philip Cole
Dr. Philip Cole
Professor of Physics
CMMS Executive Director
CLAS12: Exclusive ω(782) yield optimization and phase-space analysis using ML/AI
Scientific objective: Improve the efficiency and quality of the ω(782) electroproduction analysis by optimizing event selection and understanding the accepted kinematic phase space.
Potential work:
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ML-assisted event selection and background rejection.
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Yield optimization and selection-efficiency studies.
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Mapping acceptance across Q2, W and |t|.
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Quantifying systematic uncertainties and validating the results against conventional methods.
Why it matters: This can establish the analysis foundation for extracting differential cross sections and investigating nucleon-resonance contributions in the ω(782) channel.
ePIC: Pair Spectrometer simulation and efficiency studies
Scientific objective: Improve the efficiency and quality of the ω(782) electroproduction analysis by optimizing event selection and understanding the accepted kinematic phase space.
Potential work:
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Geometric acceptance and efficiency calculations.
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Electron–positron trajectory and magnetic-field studies.
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Material effects, pair-production kinematics, and detector response.
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Comparison of analytical calculations with Geant4-based simulations.
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Sensitivity to detector geometry and reconstruction requirements.
Why it matters: This builds detector-level expertise and a potential contribution to EIC luminosity measurements and detector performance.
CLAS12: Radiative-correction calculation and implementation for ω(782) electroproduction
Scientific objective: Quantify and correct for QED radiative effects so that measured yields and cross sections can be compared more reliably with the underlying physical observables.
Potential work:
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Identify relevant radiative processes and approximations.
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Implement or adapt a suitable radiative-correction calculation.
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Evaluate corrections across the measured phase space.
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Validate numerical behavior and assess model dependence.
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Propagate correction uncertainties into the final cross-section results.
Why it matters: This can strengthen the physical interpretation of the \(\omega\)-production measurement, particularly where precision and phase-space-dependent effects matter.
Group News
- 10/14/2026: CLAS12 Student Kenneth and NuSTEAM research student Alysa in our group were selected and presented their nuclear physics research posters at the Conference for Undergraduates (CEU) at the 2026 Fall Meeting of the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Nuclear Physics (DNP) held in Philadelphia, PA.
- 04/12/2026: NuSTEAM research students in our group Alysa, Asher, and Jashaun presented their EPIC pair‑spectrometer detector studies at the Spring Meeting of TSAAPT, TAOAPS, and SPS Zone 13 at Abilene Christian University (April 9-11). All three received travel awards for their work. A big cheers to them for shows the latest results for their students and connecting with physicists in Abilene.
- 04/07/2026: Alysa was accepted into the 2026 DOE-INFN Summer Students Exchange Program, one of the most prestigious international research program between United States and Italy. Alysa will spend two months conducting research on the EPIC experiment at the EIC in this summer at INFN in Genoa, Italy. Big congratulations to Alysa!