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DOE/INFN Summer Exchange Program for 2025
2025 Edition
INFN Gran Sasso National Laboratory site
The US Department of Energy (DoE) and the National Institute for Nuclear Physics - Italy (INFN) announce the 2025 Summer Exchange Program edition, addressed to US and Italian students in science and engineering.
Students are given a chance to join projects that will deepen their experience in the fields of science and technology which are relevant for their academic training.
The Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS ) is one of the four INFN National laboratories. It is the largest underground laboratory in the world for experiments in particle physics and nuclear astrophysics.
In particular, the LUNA Experiment at LNGS has expressed an interest in the INFN-DoE Program.
For this edition, in fact, TWO positions for the LUNA Experiment are available as reported below:
- Position 1:
Title: Direct measurement of the 12C+12C fusion cross section inside the LNGS underground laboratory.
Description: Fusion reactions are essential for understanding energy production, nucleosynthesis, and the evolution of massive stars. 12C+12C fusion is the primary process driving carbon burning in the late stages of stellar evolution, influencing the formation of heavier elements and the fate of these stars. The LUNA (Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics) collaboration aims to study the 12C+12C fusion via photon detection at the new “Bellotti” Ion Beam Facility, located inside the LNGS (Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso) underground laboratory in Italy.
Activities: This internship is intended to introduce the successful applicant to Nuclear Astrophysics, including both the theoretical background and the experimental techniques needed to perform cutting-edge research in this field, with particular attention to High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors. The student will be involved in the real experiment and will contribute to the implementation and the use of advanced analysis techniques to determine the reaction cross section.
Tutor: Federico Ferraro (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Activity period: June-July OR September-October 2025
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- Position 2:
Title: Installation and commissioning of the setup for the study of the 22Ne( α , γ )26Mg reaction at the LNGS underground laboratory
Description: The LUNA (Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics) collaboration aims to study the 22Ne( α , γ )26Mg reaction via gamma-ray detection at the new “Belotti” Ion Beam Facility, located inside the LNGS (Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso) underground laboratory in Italy. An essential component of this experiment is the installation and operation of six sodium-iodide (NaI) detectors in a new array designed to surround an existing recirculating gas target where the reaction will take place. The detectors will be shielded in 5 cm thick lead shielding to suppress environmental background and improve the detection sensitivity.
Activities: The goal of this internship is to actively participate in the construction and commissioning of the setup that will be used in the study of the 22Ne( α , γ )26Mg reaction. This will include the study of environmental background, analysis of calibration data, development of online monitoring tools, and participation in functionality tests with alpha beams.
Tutor: Thomas Chillery (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Activity period: June-July OR September-October 2025
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Local contacts:
LNGS UserOffice: Vincenzo Fantozzi and Serena Cavalcante (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Local LNGS site: https://www.lngs.infn.it/en
LNGS Summer Students Program site: https://www.lngs.infn.it/it/summer-student-lngs
To apply and for further info please refer to INFN site: https://web.infn.it/DOE-INFN-SSEP/
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Additional info about LNGS: