Nikolai Smirnov

Science goal: Understand high energy density quantum chromodynamics (QCD) created in relativistic collisions of heavy nuclei.

WL involvement: Yale has multiple R&D projects, including particle identification detectors. Testing & characterizing photosensors for the pfRICH detector will be done at Wright Lab. Yale is also involved in software development for PID reconstruction.

Science goal: Understand the behavior of nuclear matter under extremes of temperature and density.

WL involvement: Yale plays a critical role in preparations and data-taking, including trigger coordination, shift leadership, on-call detector expertise, and a diverse range of analyses. Caines was co-spokesperson of STAR from 2017-2023