Menaka Kumar

Name: Menaka Kumar

Home Institution: North Carolina State University

Program: Research Experience for Undergraduates

Semester: Summer 2020

Mentor: Alice Galdi, Chris Pierce

Q&A

What is the research you are engaged in and what you have accomplished this summer?

Accelerator physics applications such as ultrafast electron diffraction (UEDs) and free-electron lasers (FELs) require the discovery of new low mean transverse energy (MTE) photocathodes. A cryogenically cooled electron gun designed to measure photocathode MTE using the solenoid scan method is under construction at Cornell University. The effect of space charge (the coulomb repulsion of electrons) is known to degrade solenoid scan measurements and, thus, accurate photocathode characterization requires this source of error to be quantified. Over the summer, I worked with Dr. Alice Galdi and Chris Pierce to investigate the effect of space charge on solenoid scan measurements in the Cornell MTE meter through particle tracking simulations in General Particle Tracer (GPT) and python. I was able to quantify the effect of space charge on MTE measurements at various pulse lengths and voltages.

What are the impacts of your research for the general public?

We want a small MTE which means our beam is bright and small. However, space charge degrades MTE measurements by inflating the beam. Therefore, the ability to quantify space charge’s impact on MTE measurements allows us to see a larger spatial period. This is useful in applications such as, ultrafast electron diffraction which enables access to diffraction patterns of complex biomolecules, and free electron lasers which allows the production of high intensity x-ray radiation.

What did you enjoy most about this research/summer experience?

What I enjoyed the most about this experience was the amount I was able to learn! I had little python experience before this REU; I was able to learn how to use python to run simulations. I was able to take that knowledge with me in my lab at my home university to accelerate data analysis via python. In addition, I know a lot more about accelerator physics than I would have ever learned in a classroom setting.

What did you find the most challenging about this research?

What I found the most challenging about this research was trying to do physics with other physicists remotely. I enjoy the social aspect of being a scientist just as much as the learning science part. Therefore, it was really disappointing to not being able to meet all the other interesting and kind REU students and mentors.

How has this experience changed your view about being a researcher?

This experience has confirmed my desire to go to graduate school and become a researcher in a national lab or university. I learned that, in conjunction with experimental work, I can create and run code/simulations that will help further my research.

REU Class of 2020

Menaka Kumar

Name: Menaka Kumar

The Center for Bright Beams

REU Class of 2020

Menaka Kumar

Name: Menaka Kumar

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