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Prof Ryan Nichol
Professor of Physics
Dept of Physics & Astronomy
Faculty of Maths & Physical Sciences
- Joined UCL
- 1st Oct 2006
Research summary
My research interests have been focussed on experimental neutrino physics. During my PhD I was involved with the MINOS long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. The experiment sends a beam of neutrinos, created at the Fermi National Laboratory near Chicago, 735 kilometres through the Earth to a large underground detector, located in the Soudan mine in Minnesota, in order to make precision measurements of the neutrino oscillation hypothesis and confirm that neutrinos do indeed have mass. Since returning to UCL I have resumed an active role in the collaboration and I'm currently one of the analysis convenors of the main oscillation measurement.
In 2003, I broadened my research experience by becoming involved in the exciting new field of ultra-high energy neutrino astronomy, with the ANITA project. The balloon-based ANITA experiment aims to turn the entire continent of Antarctica into a gigantic telescope in the search for neutrinos of cosmic origin. Through the detection of the characteristic radio signals produced by neutrinos interacting in the Antarctic ice, it is hoped we can spread new light on some of the most energetic objects on the Universe and probe fundamental physics interactions at energy scales far beyond the reach of terrestrial particle accelerators.
Education
- University College London
- Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy | 2003
- University College London
- Other higher degree, Master of Natural Science | 2000
