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Web location: http://www.fom.nl/live/english/research/institutes/fom_nikhef.pag
FOM Institute for Subatomic Physics Nikhef
The FOM Institute for Subatomic Physics (FOM-Nikhef) is part of the National Institute for Subatomic Physics (Nikhef), a partnership between FOM, University of Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Utrecht University and Radboud University Nijmegen.
Research in subatomic physics is concentrated within the Nikhef partnership, which coordinates Dutch research in this area. The FOM Institute for Subatomic Physics is participating in three of the four big experiments (ATLAS, LHCb and ALICE) at the new LHC particle accelerator at CERN. The institute is making important scientific and technological contributions to these experiments. Via the institute, Dutch companies can also contribute to the construction of the LHC. With the measurements from the LHC, researchers hope, for example, to be able to demonstrate the existence of the Higgs particle. They also hope to make other discoveries that could signify a breakthrough for our understanding of the mysterious asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the universe.
In addition to this the institute is an important partner in a neutrino telescope that was recently constructed on the floor of the Mediterranean Sea. This detector, ANTARES, is capable of observing light traces that are caused by neutrinos, which have first of all passed through the earth. Now that this detection principle used by ANTARES has been proven to work, Nikhef is doing everything possible to construct a new, much bigger detector, KM3NET, with a large number of European partners. This would enable 'neutrino astronomy' to get off the ground. The institute is also involved in two other projects in the field of astroparticle physics: in the west of Argentina, the Pierre Auger Observatory registers extremely energetic particles from the universe. With the experiment VIRGO in Italy the institute is exploring research into gravity waves. All of the research lines are supported within the institute by high-quality theoretical research, groundbreaking detector R&D and the development of powerful calculation and processing techniques, which are being developed with the help of GRID technology.
The scientific staff numbers some 120 physicists. Half of these are PhDs or postdocs. The departments of Mechanics, Electronics, and Information Technology provide the necessary technical support. These departments employ about 100 staff.
Nikhef board
The partners in the Nikhef partnership realise a coordinated, joint research programme. This programme and its associated budget together with participation in international collaborations, is established under the responsibility of the overarching Nikhef board.
The board has the following members:
- Prof.dr. N.J. Lopes Cardozo (TU/e), chair
- Prof.dr. A. Bliek (UU)
- Prof.dr. J.M.E. Kuijpers (RU)
- Prof.dr. J. van Mill (VU)
- Prof.dr. L.D. Noordam (UvA)
- Dr. W. van Saarloos (FOM)
secretary: Dr.ir. C.L.A. Hooijer
A Scientific Advisory Committee has been appointed for the partnership. This has the following members:
- Prof.dr. S. Bethke (MPI München)
- Prof.dr .R.J. Cashmore (University of Oxford)
- Prof.dr. C. de Clerq (VU, Brussel)
- Prof.dr. Th. Hebbeker (RWTH Aachen)
- Prof.dr. Y. Karyotakis (LAPP, Annecy le Vieux)
- Prof.dr. B. Webber (University of Cambridge)
Director FOM-Nikhef
Prof.dr. F.L. Linde
Communications adviser FOM-Nikhef
Vanessa Mexner
Research in subatomic physics is concentrated within the Nikhef partnership, which coordinates Dutch research in this area. The FOM Institute for Subatomic Physics is participating in three of the four big experiments (ATLAS, LHCb and ALICE) at the new LHC particle accelerator at CERN. The institute is making important scientific and technological contributions to these experiments. Via the institute, Dutch companies can also contribute to the construction of the LHC. With the measurements from the LHC, researchers hope, for example, to be able to demonstrate the existence of the Higgs particle. They also hope to make other discoveries that could signify a breakthrough for our understanding of the mysterious asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the universe.
In addition to this the institute is an important partner in a neutrino telescope that was recently constructed on the floor of the Mediterranean Sea. This detector, ANTARES, is capable of observing light traces that are caused by neutrinos, which have first of all passed through the earth. Now that this detection principle used by ANTARES has been proven to work, Nikhef is doing everything possible to construct a new, much bigger detector, KM3NET, with a large number of European partners. This would enable 'neutrino astronomy' to get off the ground. The institute is also involved in two other projects in the field of astroparticle physics: in the west of Argentina, the Pierre Auger Observatory registers extremely energetic particles from the universe. With the experiment VIRGO in Italy the institute is exploring research into gravity waves. All of the research lines are supported within the institute by high-quality theoretical research, groundbreaking detector R&D and the development of powerful calculation and processing techniques, which are being developed with the help of GRID technology.
The scientific staff numbers some 120 physicists. Half of these are PhDs or postdocs. The departments of Mechanics, Electronics, and Information Technology provide the necessary technical support. These departments employ about 100 staff.
Nikhef board
The partners in the Nikhef partnership realise a coordinated, joint research programme. This programme and its associated budget together with participation in international collaborations, is established under the responsibility of the overarching Nikhef board.
The board has the following members:
- Prof.dr. N.J. Lopes Cardozo (TU/e), chair
- Prof.dr. A. Bliek (UU)
- Prof.dr. J.M.E. Kuijpers (RU)
- Prof.dr. J. van Mill (VU)
- Prof.dr. L.D. Noordam (UvA)
- Dr. W. van Saarloos (FOM)
secretary: Dr.ir. C.L.A. Hooijer
A Scientific Advisory Committee has been appointed for the partnership. This has the following members:
- Prof.dr. S. Bethke (MPI München)
- Prof.dr .R.J. Cashmore (University of Oxford)
- Prof.dr. C. de Clerq (VU, Brussel)
- Prof.dr. Th. Hebbeker (RWTH Aachen)
- Prof.dr. Y. Karyotakis (LAPP, Annecy le Vieux)
- Prof.dr. B. Webber (University of Cambridge)
Director FOM-Nikhef
Prof.dr. F.L. Linde
Communications adviser FOM-Nikhef
Vanessa Mexner
