Witsies contribute to Atlas project
Prof Bruce Mellado from the High Energy Physics group at Wits displays the processing unit the group is building for a new super computer. Photo: Mia Swart
A Witsie’s design of a high voltage board for the European Organisation of Nuclear Research (CERN) is just one part of a number of international projects that Wits scientists are currently part of.PhD candidate Robert Reed designed and built the prototype of the board for the mobile MobiDICK system that checks the integrity of the Atlas detector. The board was the first piece of hardware for CERN designed in South Africa.
The High Energy Physics Group (HEP)at Wits are working on a wide range of projects with different sciences to revamp the scientific ground, said Prof Bruce Mellado, a member of the HEP. And Wits is not only planning to contribute to science but to help South Africa manufacture technologies to boost the economy over the long term.
HEP was started in 2010 because Wits wanted to participate in CERN.
“Our contribution was thought of as something we had to do,” said Mellado.
Thirteen Wits students are currently working alongside staff members and associated staff on the HEP projects. The focus of the group though, is the Atlas project at CERN. The Atlas detector is a device at CERN that detects and processes data from proton collisions inside the large hadron collider. The collider is a facility built to test theories of particle physics and high-energy physics including the well-known Big Bang Theory.
“Students need to have passion for what we do”, said Prof Mellado. “We are able to attract people based on their hobbies”.
“A whole generation of students will be trained in electronics. We will bring the knowledge here and the knowledge will stay here”.
Another two HEP students are currently working on a new prototype of an LED board for the Atlas Project. Titus Masike, 3rd year Nuclear Sciences and Engineering is designing the new LED board and Reto Suter, BSc Physics will be responsible for the physical components.
“Think of it (the LED board) as a light bulb that emits a light and mimics an event in the Atlas detector.”
Masike joined HEP because he was interested in electronics and said the group allowed him to learn more about it. “It’s a very big step for Wits and for Africa especially. It brings new technology and skills to South Africa too.”
HEP is also in the process of developing a high-throughput supercomputer that can analyse a big flow of data.
The supercomputer will be the first of its kind in South Africa and the group aims to build the processing unit from chips found in smartphones.
