Kamaha Lab

Principal Investigator


Alvine Kamaha Assistant Professor, Keith and Cecilia Terasaki Endowed Chair in Physical Sciences EEP Office: Knudsen 4-107b Phone: 310-206-4548 akamaha@physics.ucla.edu

Alvine Kamaha

Assistant Professor, Keith and Cecilia Terasaki Endowed Chair in Physical Sciences
EEP
Office: Knudsen 4-107b
Phone: 310-206-4548
akamaha@physics.ucla.edu

Postdoctoral Researchers


Dongqing Huang dqhuang@physics.ucla.edu LZ, EXCALIBUR In my research, I focus primarily on background modeling and calibration analysis for the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment, aiming to develop rigorous background models, explore the microphysics of particle interactions in xenon, and ultimately enhance our ability to distinguish backgrounds from genuine signals in the search for dark matter. Beyond dark matter, I am also interested in other physics phenomena, such as 8B solar neutrinos, millicharged particles, etc. My work also involves the commissioning of our local laboratory’s R&D efforts for future xenon TPC development, where I contribute to the design and implementation of novel calibration techniques and sources for liquid xenon detectors.

Dongqing Huang

dqhuang@physics.ucla.edu
LZ, EXCALIBUR

In my research, I focus primarily on background modeling and calibration analysis for the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment, aiming to develop rigorous background models, explore the microphysics of particle interactions in xenon, and ultimately enhance our ability to distinguish backgrounds from genuine signals in the search for dark matter. Beyond dark matter, I am also interested in other physics phenomena, such as 8B solar neutrinos, millicharged particles, etc. My work also involves the commissioning of our local laboratory’s R&D efforts for future xenon TPC development, where I contribute to the design and implementation of novel calibration techniques and sources for liquid xenon detectors.

Visiting Assistant Researchers


Yongheng Xu, PhD xuyongheng@physics.ucla.edu LZ,EXCALIBUR Serving as the low energy electronic recoil analysis coordinator, Dr. Yongheng Xu's research primarily focuses on expanding the science of the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment beyond the standard WIMP dark matter searches. He has so far led two novel analyses for LZ, with more underdevelopment. His research interest includes but is not limited to the phenomenology of new physics in dark matter experiments, neutrino physics, and the application of machine learning techniques in high energy physics experiments.

Yongheng Xu, PhD

xuyongheng@physics.ucla.edu
LZ,EXCALIBUR

Serving as the low energy electronic recoil analysis coordinator, Dr. Yongheng Xu's research primarily focuses on expanding the science of the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment beyond the standard WIMP dark matter searches. He has so far led two novel analyses for LZ, with more underdevelopment. His research interest includes but is not limited to the phenomenology of new physics in dark matter experiments, neutrino physics, and the application of machine learning techniques in high energy physics experiments.

Graduate Students


Samantha Contreras LZ,EXCALIBUR In my research, I primarily focus on low-energy electron recoil studies for the LZ (LUX-ZEPLIN) experiment, investigating a range of theoretical models that could explain dark matter interactions beyond the Standard WIMP Model. I also work on simulations using GEANT4, RAT-PAC2, while contributing to R&D work in our local lab for the design and optimization of low-energy neutron and electron-recoil sources to calibrate xenon detectors (e.g. LZ, XLZD).

Samantha Contreras

LZ,EXCALIBUR

In my research, I primarily focus on low-energy electron recoil studies for the LZ (LUX-ZEPLIN) experiment, investigating a range of theoretical models that could explain dark matter interactions beyond the Standard WIMP Model. I also work on simulations using GEANT4, RAT-PAC2, while contributing to R&D work in our local lab for the design and optimization of low-energy neutron and electron-recoil sources to calibrate xenon detectors (e.g. LZ, XLZD).

Undergraduates Students


Karen Clark EXCALIBUR R&D
Joseph Lau EXCALIBUR R&D, NEST
Daniel Ohana EXCALIBUR R&D
Trishul Patel EXCALIBUR R&D
Edward Serafimescu EXCALIBUR R&D
Clarissa Zuo EXCALIBUR R&D