İstinye University’s High Energy and Particle Physics (YEPAF) research group is actively involved in the CERN ATLAS Experiment, one of the largest experiments the university is a member of. A significant responsibility for the maintenance and repair of the ATLAS Muon Spectrometer detectors is being carried out with the contributions of physics Ph.D. students, engineering master’s students, and technical experts who are part of the YEPAF Research Group.
With the R&D conducted in İstinye University’s laboratories, the maintenance and repair techniques determined for the process are approved by CERN ATLAS management and implemented during the periods when the experiment is not running. During the November-December 2024 and January-March 2025 periods, the İstinye University High Energy and Particle Physics Research Group will carry out the maintenance and repair work approved by the ATLAS Muon Spectrometer management at CERN, when the Large Hadron Collider is closed.
Prof. Dr. Serkant Ali ÇETİN, the Head of the Department of Basic Sciences at İstinye University and the lead researcher of the İSÜ ATLAS group, and the researchers involved in the project shared their thoughts on how their experiences in the CERN ATLAS Experiment contributed to their vision for the future.
Prof. Dr. Serkant Ali ÇETİN, Head of the Department of Basic Sciences and National Coordinator of the ATLAS Experiment, answered our questions about İstinye University’s role in the CERN ATLAS Experiment along with Ahmet Renklioğlu, the maintenance and repair coordinator, an İSÜ YEPAF technical expert, and Amine İclal Akın, an İSÜ Physics Ph.D. student and Mechatronics Engineer.
Prof. Dr. Serkant Ali ÇETİN, firstly, we congratulate you and the YEPAF research group for this valuable achievement. Could you tell us a little about İstinye University’s role in the CERN ATLAS Experiment?
“Since 2023, İstinye University has had the honor of being the third official member of the ATLAS Experiment from Turkey. This work, conducted by our academicians, technical staff, and students, demonstrates a significant institutional commitment.
The CERN ATLAS Experiment is a critical international initiative and a source of excitement for the scientific community for the next 15-20 years. For İstinye University, contributing to this scientific collaboration, which is of great responsibility, marks a serious step toward becoming a universal research institution. We are part of a long-term experimental project with experts from hundreds of institutions in dozens of countries.”
How does experiencing the CERN ATLAS Experiment contribute to İstinye University’s students and academicians? How does it affect their vision as scientists?
“We are deeply pleased to represent İstinye University in this field, not only as high-energy particle physics researchers and academicians at İstinye University but also with our students. In this context, it is very valuable for us to be involved with our students and technical staff in future maintenance, repair, and renewal works.
In the doctoral program we offer in high-energy particle physics, we have highly qualified students, and it is a great advantage for us that they experience CERN during their studies. This vision we contribute to is also part of İstinye University’s mission of becoming a research university, which carries significant responsibility for us. In this regard, we work together to provide sustainable contributions to universal science and particle detector technologies.”
What future contributions could İstinye University make to the CERN ATLAS Experiment?
“İstinye University’s research group, technical staff, students, and academicians are now partners in a critical phase of the large maintenance and repair work in the ATLAS Experiment’s Muon Spectrometer.
In the future, we plan to install some of the detectors to be renewed in this experiment for the first time at İstinye University in Turkey, then send them to CERN to be integrated into the ATLAS Experiment. Our work in this experiment requires high competency. We are working with all our knowledge and effort toward İstinye University’s vision of international development and leadership in science.”
Ahmet Renklioğlu, Maintenance-Repair Coordinator, İSÜ TBB YEPAF Technical Expert.
Ahmet, could you introduce yourself and tell us about your responsibilities at CERN?
“I work as the gas systems responsible for the RPC group in the CERN ATLAS Experiment. I completed my undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering with a minor in electrical-electronics engineering. During my undergraduate years, my interest in physics started, and I was introduced to CERN while doing my master’s in physics. Working at CERN is a fantastic feeling.
For two years, I have been responsible for the RPC gas systems at CERN Atlas and continue this responsibility. I am also doing my Ph.D. in physics at İstinye University. We are working together with our Ph.D. and master’s friends on maintenance and repair work.”
What has been the greatest contribution of being involved in the CERN ATLAS Experiment as a scientist?
“Being part of such a large collaboration adds a significant vision to us as young scientists. It allows us to understand how to take responsibility in collaborations at a young age. We are very happy about that.”
Amine İclal Akın, İSÜ Physics Ph.D. Student, Mechatronics Engineer.
Iclal, could you introduce yourself and tell us about your responsibilities at CERN?
“I was a Mechatronics Engineering student. After completing my undergraduate studies, I realized that I had a great interest in the field of High Energy Particle Physics.
Since CERN is one of the most famous laboratories in this field, after completing my undergraduate studies, I started my Ph.D. in physics at İstinye University. İstinye University’s involvement in CERN ATLAS is very valuable to me because I want to work as an engineer in this field, and gaining hands-on experience in High Energy Particle Physics is extremely precious.
What has been your greatest contribution to the CERN ATLAS Experiment?
“My involvement in this project actually started during my undergraduate years when I designed a robotic arm as my graduation project. With this robotic arm I created, we will be able to further improve the CERN ATLAS repair works. We will implement the robotic arm in the maintenance work at CERN ATLAS in February.”
İstinye University has become a partner in a critical international initiative for the scientific community. We congratulate the High Energy and Particle Physics group, led by Prof. Dr. Serkant Ali ÇETİN, for their pioneering work in the international scientific field with their contributions to the CERN ATLAS Experiment.
İSÜ YEPAF Research Group’s Young Researchers in the ATLAS Experiment:
- Ahmet Renklioğlu; Maintenance-Repair Coordinator, İSÜ TBB YEPAF Technical Expert & İSÜ Physics Ph.D. Student
- Orhan Seyrek; İSÜ TBB YEPAF Technical Expert Assistant
- Mehmet Tosun; İSÜ Physics Ph.D. Student
- Taha Batuhan İlhan; İSÜ Physics Ph.D. Student
- Amine İclal Akın; İSÜ Physics Ph.D. Student
- Hilal Koç; İSÜ Computer Engineering M.S. Student
- Tuğrul Göl; İSÜ Computer Engineering M.S. Student
- Elif Tuğ; Project Researcher in İSÜ YEPAF Group
