Stephanie Morris

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Undergraduate Institution: Fisk University

Current Stage and Institution: First year PhD student at Vanderbilt University

Discipline/Track: Physics

Research: In modern-day heavy-ion experiments, GEMs are being used as tracking detectors due to their faster rate, ability to amplify an otherwise undetectable signal and ability to withstand a larger electric field. Gain uniformity, energy resolution and efficiency are some of the important characteristics of these detectors. The avalanche stage of a GEM itself produces positive ions moving in the opposite direction to the avalanche electrons, which is also known as ion back flow (IBF). It is quite important to reduce the IBF in order to achieve optimum performance from GEM-based tracking detectors — to maintain a uniform electric field. However, reducing the IBF causes deterioration in energy resolution. Several research and development endeavors with GEMs have been performed along with simulations for reducing the IBF without compromising energy resolution. The results of these research and development investigations with GEMs as well as simulation results will be presented at a conference in October of this year.