Kael Hanson

    Kael Hanson is the director of WIPAC and the director of operations for IceCube as well as a professor of physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Kael has played a major role in the development and construction of IceCube, first managing the development of the IceCube optical modules and later the IceCube data acquisition system. He returned to WIPAC after spending six years as a faculty member in the Department of Physics at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Brussels, Belgium, where he led the particle astrophysics group. His principal research interests include high-energy neutrino astrophysics and related instrumentation, design of digital logic systems, in particular, precision time applications, and firmware development. In addition to IceCube, he is also a member of the ARA Collaboration.  Hanson’s complete CV is available to download.

     

    Select Publications

    The IceCube Data Acquisition System: Signal Capture, Digitization, and Timestamping
    IceCube Collaboration: R. Abbasi et al
    (Journal Article) Nuclear Instruments and Methods A601 (2009) 294-316, 1 April 2009
    arxiv.org

    PMm2: R&D on triggerless acquisition for next generation neutrino experiments
    J E Campagne, S Conforti Di Lorenzo, S Drouet, D Duchesneau, F Dulucq, N Dumont-Dayot, A El Berni, J Favier, A Gallas, B Genolini, K Hanson, N Hauchecorne, R Hermel, M Imre, B Ky, C de La Taille, J Maltese, A Maroni, G Martin-Chassard, T Nguyen Trung, J Peyré, J Pouthas, E Rindel, P Rosier, L Séminor, J Tassan, C Théneau, E Wanlin and A Zghiche
    (Journal Article) Journal of Instrumentation 6 (2011) C01081
    iopscience.iop.org

    Performance of two Askaryan Radio Array stations and first results in the search for ultra-high energy neutrinos
    ARA Collaboration: P. Allison et al
    (Journal Article) Phys. Rev. D93 (2016) 8, 082003; e-print archive arXiv: 1507.08991[astro-ph.HE]
    journals.aps.org | arxiv.org

    On the feasibility of RADAR detection of high-energy neutrino-induced showers in ice
    Krijn D. de Vriesa, Kael Hanson, Thomas Meures
    (Journal Article) Astroparticle Physics 60 (2015) 25-31
    sciencedirect.com

    A bi-directional fixed-latency clock distribution system
    Y. Yang, A. Ó Murchadha, T. Meures, M. Korntheuer, K. Hanson
    (Journal Article) Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A732 (2013) 497-500
    sciencedirect.com

    Honors and Awards

      • Bureau Facultaire au Doyen de la Faculté de Sciences ULB (2012–2014) (advisor to the Dean of the Faculty of Science at ULB)
      • Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment photomultiplier system review (2007)
      • Graduate School Committee on Academic Staff Issues, University of Wisconsin–Madison (2007–2008)
      • IceCube project management board member (2005–2008)
      • Early career scientist representative to IceCube Collaboration Board (2002)

    CONTACT INFORMATION

    (608) 890-0540
    University of Wisconsin–Madison
    Department of Physics
    4207 Chamberlin Hall
    Madison, Wisconsin 53706
     
    WIPAC
    222 W Washington Ave
    5th floor, Room 5413
    Madison, WI 53703

    Faculty Profiles

    WIPAC faculty and students are involved in IceCube, the Askaryan Radio Array (ARA), the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) experiment, Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), Big Data, and DM-Ice.

    Visitors

    In keeping with our vision, we encourage and support visits from researchers who have interests, or who wish to develop interests, in several of our research areas.

    Fellows

    The postdoctoral fellowship program was created to honor the late John Bahcall, a prominent physicist and a founding member of the IceCube experiment.  In 2015 the Balzan Fellowship was created after Francis Halzen was awarded the Balzan Prize.