A Summer in CERN – Tee Chin Zhe, UM

My Summer at CERN
By Tee Chin Zhe

Tell us about your work during CSSP.

My assigned project is “Automatic measurement of track reconstruction efficiency for data quality monitoring in the CMS experiment” under the supervision of Jeremy Andrea, Marco Musich, Tatjana Susa and Stefano Mersi from CMS Tracker Detector Performance Group. In this project, I was given a nTuples of Monte Carlo Simulation to make simple analysis. I have learnt how to use ROOT and was able to write simple analysis codes in C++. The aim of my project is to study the track reconstruction efficiency using the Z→µ⁺µ^– process, which gives a very clean signal. Next, I have understood the technique of “Tag-and-Probe” which is used to study the efficiency without relying too much on simulation, which can also be applied to data directly.

A screenshot of what I did, and my expected progress is shown below:

I am expected to generate the plots below:

How did you spend your free time outside of work?

I have joined several workshops and visited several experiments in CERN. For example, I joined the Advanced Cloud Chamber Workshop and introductory ROOT workshop. I have visited to the CMS, COMPASS, AD, CCC and Computing Centre. The upcoming visit will be to the ALICE and ATLAS experiments, and also attending the ROOT for education workshop.

On the fourth weekend, I visited Vienna, also known as the “capital of music”. I was able to visit some of the iconic attractions of Vienna, such as the Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, Vienna Zoo, Prater Park and the Giant Ferris Wheel, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Natural History Museum, Danube Tower, and Papyrus Museum Vienna. Furthermore, I managed to enjoy an orchestral performance and take a short cruise around the Danube River. I have spent a few weekends to explore around the Geneva city too.

When I am not travelling, I will spend my time cooking and interacting with other summer students here. Also, I have used the CERN library quite often as they have really complete physics resources for me to prepare for GRE examination.

Upon completion of CSSP, have you found your “niche” in particle physics that you would like to pursue?

After attending the lectures and doing my projects, I am interested in the field of Particle Phenomenology, which is a hybrid of experimental and theoretical aspects of Particle Physics. I also wish to specialise in the Beyond Standard Model (BSM) part of the Particle Phenomenology.

How will the stint at CERN impact your current studies, and subsequent academic pursuits (Masters/PhD)?

After coming to CERN, I realised that I was not well equipped with the essential knowledge and skills to further my studies in the field of Particle Physics immediately. Thus, I decided to make use of my last semester in UM to attend the lectures and classes which are essential in this field. For example, I have decided to take classes such as Modern Algebra, Introductory Real Analysis and also C++ courses from other departments such as ISM. I will also wish to strengthen my Physics knowledge while I am still in UM. Next, I would apply to master’s degree programmes in countries such as China, Japan, Taiwan or European countries, and then pursue a PhD in the field of Particle Physics.

I hope that I would qualify to be a researcher in Phenomenology after receiving all the necessary training and return to do my research in Malaysia. I realised that this field is generally ignored in Malaysia and we really need more researchers to develop this area.