About

Myron Campbell is a Professor of Physics and serves as the Interim Associate Dean for the Natural Sciences at the University of Michigan. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Yale University (1982) and a B.S. from Otterbein College (1977). His research focuses on the properties of elementary particles. Currently, he is working on the Mu2e experiment at Fermilab, which aims to observe the conversion of a muon to an electron. Previously, he contributed to the KOTO experiment at the JPARC accelerator facility in Japan, which measures the decay properties of the neutral kaon. Prior to that, he worked at Fermilab on the CDF experiment, a large general-purpose detector used to study proton-antiproton collisions at an energy of 1.8 TeV. His work at CDF contributed to the discovery of the top quark and involved measurements related to top quarks and intermediate vector bosons. Professor Campbell is recognized as a Fellow of The American Physical Society (APS).

Research topics

• Physics
• Computer science
• Computer hardware
• Electrical engineering
• Particle physics

Selected publications

• Search for Rare Processes: Mu2e and KOTO

  2023-06-07

  reportOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  The Standard Model (SM) of particle physics has been very successful in describing the fundamental forces, the properties of elementary particles, and predicting particles prior to their discovery, for example the top quark and the Higgs boson. Yet the SM does not explain all phenomena, and discoveries of physics processes beyond the SM will allow progress in our understanding of the fundamental nature of matter and forces. The search for rare processes is one of the paths to look for new physics. Two of these searches are for muon to electron conversion and the decay $\text{K}_\text{L}\rightarrow \pi^0 \nu \bar{\nu}$. Our main effort was in the Mu2e experiment under construction at Fermilab, which has the goal of searching for the neutrinoless conversion of a muon into an electron at a single event sensitivity of 2.87 x 10-17 and, in the process, provide evidence of physics processes beyond the Standard Model. We developed the firmware to be used in the Mu2e tracker readout, assisted in the construction and operation of the Mu2e Vertical Slice Test, and provided input to studies of cosmic event reconstructions in Mu2e using simulated data. Under this reward we also concluded our effort in two KOTO experiment in J-PARC, Japan and set a limit on the rate of the rare decay, $\text{K}_\text{L}\rightarrow \pi^0 \nu \bar{\nu}$ using the data collected in the 2016-2018 period. We also maintained and operated the DAQ system used for data collection thru 2021.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Data Acquisition System of the KOTO Experiment and the RCE Platform Technology Upgrade

  IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science · 2017-04-13 · 6 citations

  article

  The KOTO experiment at J-PARC, Japan, aims to observe the rare neutral kaon decay mode K <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">L</sub> → π <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sup> νν̅. After the first experimental run in May 2013 at a 24-kW beam power, the KOTO data acquisition (DAQ) system was upgraded in 2015 to provide efficient and reliable data collection at higher beam intensities. Lossless data compression in the analog-to-digital converter modules was implemented to reduce the size of data packets, resulting in a threefold increase in data collection rate. A new software trigger on a 47-node cluster was designed to use Infiniband hardware with message passing interface protocol to establish a mesh network inside the computer clusters for parallel data processing. The upgrade to the KOTO DAQ system was commissioned in 2015 and successfully collected data with a beam intensity of up to 42 kW. In preparation for increasing beam intensities in future runs, the hardware trigger upgrades using the reconfigurable clustering element platform technology are under development.

  PublisherDOI

• The data acquisition system of the KOTO experiment and RPT upgrade

  2016-06-01 · 1 citations

  article

  The KOTO experiment at J-PARC in Tokai, Ibaraki, Japan, aims to observe rare neutral kaon decay mode K <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">L</sub> → π <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sup> νν. Followed by the first KOTO physics run in May 2013 with 24 kW beam power, we upgraded the KOTO data acquisition system in 2015 to accommodate efficient and reliable data collection with higher beam intensities. Lossless data compression inside the ADC modules was implemented to reduced the size of data packets. The lossless data compression enhanced the data collection rate by a factor of three. We designed a new software trigger, which consists of 47 computer nodes. It uses Infiniband hardware with MPI protocol to establish mesh network within the computer cluster and parallel data processing. The upgrades of the KOTO data acquisition system were commissioned in 2015 and used to successfully collect data with beam intensity up to 42 kW. In preparation for increasing beam intensities in 2016 runs, we are developing the hardware trigger upgrades using the RCE Platform Technology (RPT).

  PublisherDOI

• The Data Acquisition System for the KOTO Experiment

  IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science · 2015-05-14 · 10 citations

  articleOpen access

  We developed and built a new readout and trigger electronics system, based on a waveform digitization and pipeline readout, for the KOTO experiment at J-PARC, Japan. KOTO aims at observing the rare kaon decay <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">${K_L} \rightarrow {\pi ^0}\nu \bar \nu $</tex></formula> . A total of 4000 readout channels from various detector subsystems are digitized by 14 bit 125 MHz ADC modules equipped with 10 pole Bessel filters to reduce the pile-up effects. The trigger decision is made every 8 ns using the digitized waveform information. To avoid dead time, the ADC and trigger modules have pipelines in their FPGA chips to store data while waiting for a trigger decision. The KOTO experiment performed the first physics run in May 2013. The data acquisition system worked stably during the run.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The data acquisition system for the KOTO experiment

  2014-05-01 · 2 citations

  preprint

  We developed and built a new system of readout and trigger electronics, based on the waveform digitization and pipeline readout, for the KOTO experiment at J-PARC, Japan. KOTO aims at observing the rare kaon decay K <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">L</sub> → π <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sup> νν̅. A total of 4000 readout channels from various detector subsystems are digitized by 14-bit 125-MHz ADC modules equipped with a 10-pole Bessel filter in order to reduce the pile-up effects. The trigger decision is made every 8-ns using the digitized waveform information. To avoid dead time, the ADC and trigger modules have pipelines in their FPGA chips to store data while waiting for the trigger decision. The KOTO experiment performed the first physics run in May 2013. The data acquisition system worked stably during the run.

  PublisherDOI

• A Request for Planning Funds for a Research and Study Abroad Facility in Geneva, Switzerland in Affiliation with the European Laboratory for Particle Physics

  2013-03-31

  reportOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  To create a research and study abroad program that would allow U.S. undergraduate students access to the world-leading research facilities at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the World Health Organization, various operations of the United Nations and other international organizations based in Geneva.The proposal is based on the unique opportunities currently existing in Geneva. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is now operational at CERN, data are being collected, and research results are already beginning to emerge. At the same time, a related reduction of activity at U.S. facilities devoted to particle physics is expected. In addition, the U.S. higher-education community has an ever-increasing focus on international organizations dealing with world health pandemics, arms control and human rights, a nexus also centered in Geneva.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Proposal to Participate in J-Parc KL Experiment

  2013-02-03

  reportOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  During the previous grant period we have been working on the J-PARC KL E14 (KOTO) experiment with the goal to discover and measure the rate of the rare decay neutral kaons to a pion and two neutrinos. This CP-violating flavor changing neutral current decay proceeds through second-order weak interactions. Other, as yet undiscovered particles, which can mediate the decay could provide an enhancement to the branching ratio, which in the Standard Model predicted to be about 2.80 x 10-11. The experiment is expected to observe 100 events at the Standard Model branching ratio for a 10% measurement. The experiment is a follow-up to E391a at KEK and has been approved as experiment E14 at J-PARC. The main barrel vacuum vessel, the charged veto detectors, and the main barrel photon veto system will be reused from E391a. The main calorimeter has been replaced with Cesium Iodide crystals that are both smaller to provide improved shower reconstruction and longer to prevent energy leakage out of the back of the calorimeter. New trigger and data acquisitions electronics will be used.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Properties and Interactions of Elementary Particles

  2012-08-25

  reportOpen access

  We summarize the accomplishments over the last renewal period in a broad program of research in experimental and theoretical High Energy Physics, conducted at the University of Michigan, and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Data Acquisition System for the KOTO Detector

  Physics Procedia · 2012-01-01 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  The Data Acquisition (DAQ) for the KOTO detector is designed around a 14-bit 125 MHz ADC module, which measures the energy and the time of photomultiplier pulses from about 4000 readout channels. The Trigger has a two-tiered design, with a first level decision based on the time-aligned energy sum over the entire calorimeter and a second level decision based on clustering and in-time veto signal rejection. Data accepted by the second level trigger are read out via Gigabit Ethernet and passed to a computer farm for event building and data storage.

  PublisherDOI

• SNAP telescope: an update

  Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2004-01-30 · 10 citations

  article

  We present the baseline telescope design for the telescope for the SuperNova/Acceleration Probe (SNAP) space mission. SNAP’s purpose is to determine expansion history of the Universe by measuring the redshifts, magnitudes, and spectral classifications of thousands of supernovae with unprecedented accuracy. Discovering and measuring these supernovae demand both a wide optical field and a high sensitivity throughout the visible and near IR wavebands. We have adopted the annular-field three-mirror anastigmat (TMA) telescope configuration, whose classical aberrations (including chromatic) are zero. We show a preliminary optmechanical design that includes important features for stray light control and on-orbit adjustment and alignment of the optics. We briefly discuss stray light and tolerance issues, and present a preliminary wavefront error budget for the SNAP Telescope. We conclude by describing some of the design tasks being carried out during the current SNAP research and development phase.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Mircea Bogdan

  University of Chicago

  8 shared

• Y.W. Wah

  National Taiwan University

  8 shared

• M. Tecchio

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  7 shared

• Jiasen Ma

  Shaoxing People's Hospital

  5 shared

• Jon Ameel

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  5 shared

• H. Sanders

  University of Chicago

  4 shared

• Dan Amidei

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  4 shared

• J. J. Xu

  4 shared

Education

• PhD, Physics

  Yale University

  1982

Awards & honors

• Fellow of The American Physical Society (APS)