İstinye University Faculty and Students Make Significant Contributions to CERN ATLAS Experiment

Işınye University continues to actively serve in the ATLAS Experiment at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the world's largest particle physics research laboratory and scientific discovery center, through its High Energy and Particle Physics (YEPAF) research group. In the experiment, Işınye University students and academics take on significant responsibility for the maintenance and repair of ATLAS Muon Spectrometer detectors.

Işınye University continues to actively serve in the ATLAS Experiment at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the world's largest particle physics research laboratory and scientific discovery center, through the University's High Energy and Particle Physics (YEPAF) research group. The significant responsibility for maintenance and repair of ATLAS Muon Spectrometer detectors is carried out with the contributions of physics doctoral and engineering master's students, as well as technical specialists included in the Işınye University YEPAF Research Group.

Maintenance and repair techniques determined through R&D conducted in Işınye University laboratories are approved by CERN ATLAS management and implemented in the ATLAS experiment cavern during periods when the experiment is not operating. The Işınye University Research Group will conduct maintenance and repair work approved by the ATLAS Muon Spectrometer management at CERN during the November-December 2024 and January-March 2025 period when the CERN Large Hadron Collider will be closed. Prof. Dr. Serkant Ali Çetin, Head of the Department of Basic Sciences leading the work of the Işınye University ATLAS Group within the experiment scope, and researchers involved in the work shared their views on how their experience at the CERN ATLAS experiment contributes to their future outlook and vision.

"We are engaged in a long-term experimental study"

Prof. Dr. Serkant Ali Çetin, Head of the Department of Basic Sciences at Işınye University and National Coordinator of the ATLAS Experiment, provided information on Işınye University's role in the CERN ATLAS Experiment:
"Işınye University has had the honor of being Turkey's third official member of the ATLAS Experiment as of 2023. This work conducted together with our academics, technical staff and students demonstrates significant institutional commitment.

The CERN ATLAS experiment is an international partnership initiative of critical importance to the scientific world in the international arena for the next 15-20 years and a source of excitement. For Işınye University, contributing to this experiment in this scientific collaboration, which is a responsibility for continuity, was a serious step toward becoming a universal research institution. We are engaged in a long-term experimental study with contributions from experts from dozens of countries and hundreds of institutions worldwide."

"We are taking an important step in our mission to become a universal research university"

Prof. Dr. Çetin spoke as follows regarding the contributions of experiencing the CERN Atlas Experiment to students:
"We take deep satisfaction not only as high-energy particle physics researchers and academics at Işınye University, but also in representing Işınye University in this field with the students we have trained. In this context, it is very valuable for us to be present together with our students and technical personnel in the various maintenance, repair and renovation work that will be carried out in the coming periods.

Very qualified and valuable students are trained in the doctoral program we conduct in the field of high-energy particle physics at Işınye University, and it has been a great advantage for us that they gain this experience by living it at CERN during their studies. This vision we are contributing to is also part of our mission as a research university, which brings with it great responsibility for Işınye University. In this context, we work together to be able to provide sustainable contributions to universal science and particle detector technologies on a universal scale."

"The research group became a stakeholder in a critical process for the scientific world."

Providing information on Işınye University's future contributions to the CERN ATLAS experiment, Prof. Dr. Çetin stated: "The Işınye University research group, technical staff, students and academics, involved in a major maintenance and repair work at the Muon Spectrometer in the ATLAS experiment, became a stakeholder in a critical process for the scientific world. In the coming period, we plan to conduct the installation of certain detectors that will be renewed in the experiment for the first time at Işınye University in our country, then send them to CERN and put them into operation in the ATLAS experiment. Our work in this experiment requires great competence. We work with all our accumulated knowledge toward Işınye University's vision aiming for international development and pioneering in science," he said.

"As young scientist candidates, this brings us a very important vision"

Ahmet Renklioğlu, a researcher at Işınye University and coordinator responsible for the relevant maintenance and repair process, technical specialist at Işınye University YEPAF and Physics Doctoral Program student, Mechanical Engineer, said the following:

"I work as gas systems responsible in the RPC group at the CERN ATLAS experiment. During my undergraduate studies I completed mechanical engineering as my major and electrical-electronics engineering as my minor. My interest in physics began during my undergraduate studies, and I became acquainted with CERN while doing my master's in physics. Working at CERN is an excellent feeling. For two years I have held and continue to hold responsibility for RPC gas systems at CERN Atlas.

At the same time, I am pursuing a physics doctorate at Işınye University. Together with our colleagues in doctoral and master's programs, we work together in maintenance and repair work. Being part of such a large collaboration brings us as young scientist candidates a very important vision. It allows us to understand how we should take responsibility in collaborations at a young age. We are very happy about this."

"With the robot arm I produced, we will be able to improve CERN ATLAS repair work"

Amine İclal Akın, Physics Doctoral Program student and Mechatronics Engineer, spoke as follows:
"I was a mechatronics engineering student; I completed my undergraduate education in this field and while doing projects in this area, I realized I had a great interest in the High Energy Particle Physics field. Because one of the most renowned laboratories in this field, after completing my undergraduate education, I started a physics doctorate at Işınye University.

Işınye University's inclusion in CERN ATLAS is very valuable to me. Because I want to work as an engineer in this field and gaining experience in High Energy Particle Physics in a practical way is very valuable. My involvement in this work actually began with designing a robot arm as my capstone project during my undergraduate years. Thanks to this robot arm I produced, we will be able to improve the CERN ATLAS repair work somewhat. We will put the robot arm I designed into operation in February during CERN ATLAS maintenance and repair work."

The young researcher staff of Işınye University YEPAF Research Group in the ATLAS Experiment consists of the following names:

Maintenance-Repair Coordinator Ahmet Renklioğlu, Işınye University Department of Basic Sciences YEPAF Technical Specialist & Işınye University Physics Doctoral Student, Işınye University Department of Basic Sciences YEPAF Assistant Technical Specialist Orhan Seyrek, Işınye University Physics Doctoral Student Mehmet Tosun, Işınye University Physics Doctoral Student Taha Batuhan İlhan, Işınye University Physics Doctoral Student Amine İclal Akın, Işınye University Computer Engineering Master's Student Hilal Koç, Işınye University Computer Engineering Master's Student Tuğrul Göl, Işınye University YEPAF Group Project Researcher Elif Tuğ.