Astrocent

Great news from Astrocent and Centrum Astronomiczne im. M. Kopernika PAN!

Dr. Miroslav Macko has been awarded a SONATA‑21 grant from the National Science Centre (Narodowe Centrum Nauki) for his project "STAR: Scalable Tracking for Advanced Rare‑event detection", which will develop cutting‑edge detector technology for the search for neutrinoless double beta decay - one of the most important open questions in particle physics.

The project will explore a powerful combination of dual‑phase liquid‑argon TPCs and Timepix4 readout to push the limits of rare‑event detection. Dr. Macko brings over a decade of experience in 0νββ research, detector instrumentation, and including work with pixellated detectors at the Czech Technical University in Prague and within the SuperNEMO collaboration.

Warm congratulations to Dr. Macko!

More info: https://archive.astrocent.edu.pl/?p=8874

Dr. Miroslav Macko awarded a SONATA‑21 grant from the National Science Centre | Astrocent 17 June 2026 Dr. Miroslav Macko awarded a SONATA‑21 grant from the National Science Centre We are pleased to announce that our postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Miroslav Macko from Astrocent and the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences (CAMK PAN) has been awarded a ...

Our PhD Students at the DRD1 Gaseous Detectors Simulation School 2026

Last month, our PhD students Aheesh and Diego travelled to Bari for the DRD1 Gaseous Detectors Simulation School 2026 - a week that turned out to be as intense as it was inspiring.

The programme combined expert lectures with hands‑on sessions on modern detector simulation: electric‑field modelling, finite‑element methods, and the software ecosystems that power today’s experiments. Afternoons brought real setups, real challenges, and even a full detector‑simulation marathon.

For Diego, the experience connected directly to his research. Working with tools like ANSYS and ELMER wasn’t just an exercise - it was a meaningful step forward in the skills he uses every day.

For Aheesh, the highlight was presenting his Geant4 simulation poster and seeing how his work fits into the broader landscape of detector development. Meeting researchers exploring a wide range of approaches gave him a glimpse of where the field is heading. Both returned with new skills, new ideas, and a network of peers who share the same curiosity and drive.

We’re proud to see them grow, represent Astrocent, and bring this energy back into their research.

We are always excited to support the next generation of researchers!

Recently, Meera Patel, a Master's student from Nikhef and the University of Amsterdam, visited Astrocent to take data for her research project using our ArGSet cryostat equipped with a new nanosecond-pulsed UV light source.

Detailed characterisation of the fluorescence time profile of the material samples that she brought will enable better background mitigation and, in consequence, more sensitive dark matter detectors.

Meera's visit to Astrocent was made possible by the Olga Igonkina Scholarship 2025, which supports her work on the XENONnT dark matter detector and enabled her to carry out dedicated tests with our nanosecond‑pulsed UV laser as part of her research stay in Warsaw.

Astrocent and Nikhef are partners in the DRD2 collaboration, and Meera’s project contributes directly to the goals of WP2.
🔗 https://drd2.web.cern.ch