Group for photovoltaic systems and technologies

PVST

group leader

assist. prof. Damir Lelas, PhD

associates

prof. Ivica Puljak, PhD

other researchers

assist. prof. Ana Šćulac, PhD
Luka Palada, PhD
Mijo Matković, MSc Phys.
Toni Šarić, MSc Phys.

Group description

The research group operates in the fields of experimental and theoretical particle physics and astrophysics, participating in the international CMS collaboration at CERN, as well as the MAGIC and CTA-LST collaborations. Research activities include measurements of the properties of the Higgs boson, searches for new physics and leptoquarks, the development and maintenance of advanced detector systems, and the study of sources of very-high-energy cosmic rays. In theoretical physics, the group develops models of physics beyond the Standard Model, including Grand Unified Theories, proton decay, and the flavor dynamics of quarks and leptons.

Expertise and know-how

  • Particle Physics – CMS group
  • Astrophysics – MAGIC and CTA-LST groups
  • Theoretical Particle and Field Physics

Research in experimental particle physics and very-high-energy gamma-ray physics is conducted within the CMS collaboration at CERN, the MAGIC collaboration, and the CTA collaboration within the working group building the Large Size Telescope (LST).

 

Members of the CMS collaboration are actively involved in measuring the properties of the Higgs boson, studying aspects of left-right (LR) symmetric theories of electroweak interactions, and searching for leptoquarks at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In addition to direct research activities, the group is involved in the operation and development of the electromagnetic calorimeter of the CMS detector, as well as the HGCAL project, which is aimed at developing the future forward calorimeter of CMS.

 

The group’s activities within the MAGIC collaboration are related to data quality assessment for the MAGIC telescopes and the search for Galactic sources of the highest-energy cosmic rays (PeV). This is enabled by the detection of gamma rays with energies above 100 TeV through the development of observation techniques at large zenith angles.

 

Within the CTA consortium, we participate in the working group responsible for building the largest telescope, the Large Size Telescope (LST). Our group is responsible for the design, construction, commissioning, and maintenance of systems for precise measurement, calibration, and correction of the telescope’s pointing.

 

Theoretical research in particle and field physics focuses on aspects of leptoquark production and measurement at the LHC, proton decay phenomenology, Grand Unified Theories, and the flavor dynamics of quarks and leptons.

Research infrastructure

Laboratories

  • Laboratory for Photodetector Characterization

Equipment

  • Computer-controlled temperature chamber
  • Keithley 6485 picoammeter
  • Keithley 6487 voltage source/picoammeter
  • Keithley 2000 multimeter
  • CAEN N478 programmable power supply
  • CAEN silicon photomultiplier package
  • Equipment for testing and precision calibration
  • Two CCD cameras with partially overlapping fields of view (for the needs of the CTA consortium, specifically the LST working group)

Key projects and references

  • ZCI ACROSS-DataScience – Centre of Excellence for Data Science and Cooperative Systems, 2015-2023; project leaders S. Lončarić and I. Petrović; researchers N. Godinović, D. Lelas, T. Šarić, A. Šćulac.
  • Very High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy with MAGIC and CTA Telescopes, 2017-2021; Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) project; project leader N. Godinović; collaborator D. Lelas.
  • Measurement of the Properties of the Higgs Boson and Search for New Physics with the CMS Detector, 2014-2018; Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) project; project leader I. Puljak; collaborators I. Doršner, N. Godinović, D. Lelas.
  • Very High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy with the MAGIC Telescopes, 2012-2016; Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) project; project leader N. Godinović; collaborator D. Lelas.
  • Search for the Higgs Boson and New Physics with the CMS Detector, 2007-2013; Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (MZOŠ) project No. 023-0982887-3064; project leader I. Puljak; collaborators N. Godinović and D. Lelas.

Collaboration opportunities

The ASTROHEP research group offers broad opportunities for collaboration through joint scientific research projects, technology transfer, and expert consulting in the following key areas:

  • Experimental Physics and Data Analysis: Collaboration on the processing of large datasets (Data Science), analysis of physical processes within the CERN-CMS collaboration, and astrophysical measurements of the highest-energy gamma rays (MAGIC/CTA)
  • Detector Systems Development: Joint work on the design, construction, integration, and maintenance of advanced calorimetric and optical systems for precision measurements
  • Theoretical Modeling: Development and phenomenological testing of theoretical models beyond the Standard Model, including flavor physics, Grand Unified Theories (GUT), and simulations of particle production and decay at the LHC
  • Photodetector Characterization: Use of specialized laboratory infrastructure for precise current-voltage characterization of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) and optical calibration in a computer-controlled temperature chamber
  • Interdisciplinary Projects: Combining expertise in particle physics with advanced computing (HPC/AI) and with industrial partners interested in high-tech equipment development