
I spent June and July in Genoa, Italy, participating in a particle
physics project under the direction of
Dr. Kenneth Hicks,
Professor of
Physics & Astronomy
at Ohio University and researchers at the
Istituto Nazionalle Fisica
Nucleare (INFN) based in Genoa, Italy.
Hicks is a member of a team of researchers conducting a nuclear
particle tracking detector experiment at the Thomas
Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) in Newport
News, VA, called the CLAS Collaboration. This collaboration also
includes INFN researchers, who work together to build new experimental
equipment called the Forward Tagger.
The Forward Tagger project involves designing hardware to detect
electron scattering inside the CLAS12 spectrometer, a detector under
construction for the JLab. Once the Forward Tagger is installed in the
CLAS12 detector at JLab, it will be possible to investigate the kinds of
particles that can be formed from quarks when high-energy electrons are
scattered from protons and neutrons. The team scientists estimate that
experiments using the Forward Tagger will begin in the fall of 2017.
I was part of a team working on the Forward Tagger calorimeter for
the upgrade of the CLAS12 detector. CLAS12 is a nearly spherical
particle detector where researchers send a beam of electrons through and
collect data on the particles that scatter close to that beam line. In
June and half of July my time was spent assembling components of the
Forward Tagger and testing it to make sure everything worked properly.
Once we assembled this detector, I began to work on programs that would
allow us to calibrate it for installation at JLab.

Max Camp at the Tower of Pisa
All of my previous research before this past summer was data
analysis. It was eye opening to have the opportunity to work on the
hardware of the detector. An incredible amount of detail goes into
building just one small piece of the CLAS12 detector.
In addition to broadening my experience in particle physics, I had
the chance to explore a bit of Italy. On the weekends I had available, I
traveled to numerous destinations: Venice, Pisa, Florence, or the small
towns of Cinque Terre. I also sampled the local cuisine like Genovese
basil pesto, which is the freshest in the world. I met Italians as well
as people from Austria, Belgium, and Britain. It was an experience I
will never forget.
Max Camp Early Years
Max is a graduate of Clermont Northeastern High School Class of 2012.
Maxwell also attended University of Cincinnati Clermont for credits in Math .
Max was the Captain of the
CNE Academic Quiz Team in his senior year. He was a member of the CNE
Rockets Marching Band as well as the school concert band. Max graduated in
2012 with
honors from Clermont Northeastern High School in Owensville Ohio.
