Emma Yao (‘27), a Physics and English double major, conducted research at TRIUMF, Canada’s national particle accelerator center, to improve the efficiency of polarization transfers. Emma was mentored by Dr. Syd Kreitzman (Centre for Molecular and Materials Sciences group, TRIUMF) and Dr. Bill Ashmanskas (Department of Physics). Her research was supported by the University Scholars program.
Being proven wrong is the whole purpose of research. We aren’t supposed to know the right answers when we have yet to begin.
I spent eight weeks this summer with the Centre for Molecular and Material Sciences (CMMS) group at TRIUMF, Canada’s national particle accelerator center. Inside TRIUMF’s Isotope Separator and Accelerator (ISAC-I) beam hall lies the experimental facility for beta-detected nuclear magnetic resonance (b-NMR), a fascinating technique that allows physicists to uncover the makeup of materials noninvasively by shooting target materials with radioactive nuclei. From determining the purity of Ancient Roman coins to investigating the role of metal ions in the human body, b-NMR has numerous innovative applications across a variety of disciplines. Our objective was to improve the efficiency of polarization transfer from the radioactive nuclei to the target material, thus advancing the b-NMR technique.
Experimental physics comes with limitations including the cost of materials, labor, and maintenance. At TRIUMF, the b-NMR project is one of many that uses the same facility, which limits our time for experiments. This is where simulation work comes in. My mentor and the head of CMMS, Dr. Syd Kreitzman, collaborated with the creator of an NMR simulation program called pNMRsims to add a b-NMR-compatible package into TRIUMF’s computers.
With pNMRsims, we tested several variables that could influence polarization transfer, including crystal orientation, dipolar coupling strength, and, most notably, the proton radio-frequency (RF) field. You can think of the proton RF field as a magnetic nudge that helps spins exchange information. Initially, we kept this field constant at an optimal value based on theory, but we soon noticed a loss of polarization around halfway through the sweep. We then planned to shut the field off at that halfway point to “freeze” the system, but when we ran the simulation, polarization levels plummeted. Finally, we increased the field midway through the sweep and obtained our desired outcome.
In the following year and a half, TRIUMF will go through a 17-month shutdown to repair and upgrade its beam facilities. If all goes according to plan, by mid-2027, the b-NMR project will receive around 25 weeks of beam time a year, enough for full-term projects to run. In the interim, Dr. Kreitzman will continue our simulation work in hopes of integrating our findings into the hardware.
This experience has been incredibly fulfilling. From data analysis techniques to quantum mechanics topics, I feel well equipped for my future studies in physics and potential future projects at particle physics research facilities around the world. I am excited to witness the progress in the b-NMR field, both at and beyond TRIUMF, and will continue to look for ways to implement the programming skills and variable-based testing methods I have learned.
Above: Emma with her mentor, Dr. Syd Kreitzman.
I used to believe that a rejected hypothesis meant failure, but I now think differently. When Dr. Kreitzman walked into my office the day we ran the proton RF field plots, our results opposed our expectations. Instead of expressing disappointment, he was the most animated I’d seen that summer. Being proven wrong is the whole purpose of research. We aren’t supposed to know the right answers when we have yet to begin.
It helps tremendously when you have the support of a steadfast group of knowledgeable groupmates. In addition to Dr. Kreitzman, CMMS is composed of around a dozen scientists and technicians, including two other undergrad summer interns. During biweekly Monday group meetings, we exchanged progress reports for constructive feedback. There was no pressure to produce the “proper” results because any and all discussion prompted learning.
I was also fortunate to share my summer with over forty other undergraduate students from institutions around the world. From playing volleyball at lunch to watching the Perseids meteor shower at the beach to sharing our projects at student poster sessions, these colleagues quickly became close friends. There was not a day when I wasn’t excited about going to the Center. This summer and these friendships showed me that, in addition to being passionate about your work, the environment in which you work makes all the difference. I will be looking for the collaborative, community-based culture at TRIUMF in all of my future academic and career endeavors.
Read Emma’s previous post for CURF News: Decoding Dark Energy: Exploring the Expanding Universe.
Interested in learning more about University Scholars? View other UScholars research experiences on our Student News page!
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