Fermi National Acceleratory Laboratory rolled out the red carpet on July 17 to welcome U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright for his first visit to America’s, and the world’s, neutrino research capital.
Secretary Wright had the opportunity to discover first-hand how Fermilab is driving American leadership in fundamental sciences and advancing cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence and quantum science. He not only saw how Fermilab is pursuing groundbreaking research today, but also how the lab is preparing to maintain American momentum in the future by advancing critical flagship projects like the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, or LBNF-DUNE. Most importantly, he was able to see Fermilab’s leadership in encouraging collaboration among researchers from around the world to better tackle complex scientific challenges.
“It was an honor to host Secretary Wright during his visit to Fermilab and show him how we are helping America lead in science and innovation,” Fermilab interim director Young-Kee Kim said. “Secretary Wright made clear how much he appreciates the value of basic science and the role Fermilab and all the national laboratories play in America’s future.”
During his visit, Secretary Wright stopped at the Main Injector — one of Fermilab’s five particle accelerators, which is notable for producing the world’s most powerful high-energy neutrino beam. He traveled down more than 300 feet to Fermilab’s underground laboratory to see one of the prototype detectors for the LBNF-DUNE project, which will use neutrinos to help answer the fundamental question of why our universe is dominated by matter. He also observed work underway on the Proton Improvement Plan-II project, critical to powering LBNF-DUNE and other experiments, and even had the chance to sign one of the PIP-II cryomodules.
With the U.S. Department of Energy focused on advancing America’s preeminence in the field of artificial intelligence, Secretary Wright got to learn more about how Fermilab is leveraging its expertise in both AI and quantum computing. He toured the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center, one of DOE’s five National Quantum Information Science Research Centers and learned more about how Fermilab is supporting the development of new quantum computers that will enable unprecedented positive impacts for science and society.
The leader of the pack is right here at Fermi, where a huge amount of the effort is just trying to understand the basic structure of the cosmos.
Chris Wright, U.S. Secretary of Energy
At the iconic Wilson Hall, Secretary Wright visited the Remote Operations Center for the CMS experiment at CERN. CMS is one of two particle detectors at the Large Hadron Collider that confirmed the existence of the Higgs boson, and Fermilab is the host institution for the U.S. collaboration that contributed to the landmark discovery.
Secretary Wright capped his visit by addressing more than 1,000 Fermilab staff, interns and members of the broader laboratory community, saying he was “educated and inspired” by what he saw during the tour. Secretary Wright also reconfirmed his commitment, and that of DOE, to the types of basic scientific research at the heart of Fermilab’s mission.
“The leader of the pack is right here at Fermi, where a huge amount of the effort is just trying to understand the basic structure of the cosmos,” Secretary Wright said. “Fermilab is engaged in a noble and valued pursuit. We must pursue that path.”
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is America’s premier national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research. Fermi Forward Discovery Group manages Fermilab for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. Visit Fermilab’s website at www.fnal.gov and follow us on social media.
What do you do at Fermilab?
I’m a mechanical technician with SQMS, which is part of the National Quantum Initiative. My job is to assist researchers by doing the physical work necessary for their research and experiments. I clean, prepare, assemble and install experiments into the dilution refrigerators here at Fermilab, as well as help maintain the fridges and supporting equipment. Recently, we just built out the eighth dilution refrigerator for SQMS.
A big part of my work is done inside a clean room or working on a fridge, so maintaining a clean environment, paying close attention to details and being cautious while handling components is very important.
Another important aspect of my job is keeping safety in mind and carefully following all the necessary processes and procedures. Twice a week, we top off the external cold traps with liquid nitrogen to keep the fridges running smoothly, and often, we’re working with power tools or modifying parts in the tech shop, so a crucial part of my work is being aware of the proper way to do what needs to be done and doing it safely.
How long have you worked at Fermilab?
I started in May of 2023, so I just celebrated two years here at Fermilab. I’ve been learning a lot about how the dilution refrigerators work and all the different components that go into them, as well as how important working with other departments within the lab is. I’m very excited to continue learning and being a part of something as important and interesting as SQMS.
Before working at Fermilab, I worked at a very small pet store and animal rescue for a little over three years. Working there, I learned a lot about patience and paying close attention to details, because it could be the difference of life and death for a lot of the animals. This job taught me about safety, proper personal protective equipment, hazard awareness and problem-solving skills. I also learned most of my mechanical skills and people skills there.
What is the most challenging part of your work?
The most challenging part of my work is troubleshooting and trying to come to a middle ground between the ideals of the researchers and the reality of what is possible on our side with time and materials.
There are many projects within and outside of our department that may have competing schedules and needs. or we may not have the materials to build up one experiment because they are being used elsewhere. It can be challenging with seven operational fridges if we have several open at the same time with multiple experiments, changes to be made, parts to be washed, and assemblies to be done.
When plans don’t go as we hoped, or equipment fails or plans change, then we must troubleshoot and find a solution and oftentimes find the root of the problem as well. I’ve been learning a lot through watching how everyone works towards a solution to these challenges.
What is the most rewarding part of the work you do at Fermilab?
I really enjoy being part of the process that brings concepts to life. I get to see a project go from a drawing, the parts come in and I get to do my work cleaning and assembling them. Next is installing and thermalizing them, and finally, closing the fridge and waiting. At the end of the test, I help open the fridge and prepare to start working on their next test!
I love working with my hands, and I am really happy with the amount of hands-on work I can do here at Fermilab. Puzzles and problem-solving are a big part of who I am, and I feel like I am presented with a lot of good opportunities to think and try to figure out the best way to accomplish a task or work through an obstacle, although I still have a lot to learn.
What do you do for fun outside of work?
I’m really interested in all different types of music, so I’m often going to concerts, EDM shows and festivals. Recently, I traveled to Montreal and even did a road trip to Philadelphia for some riddim shows, and I just got back from Detroit for another one. I love to travel around to enjoy music and make new friends.
I also really love cooking and baking in my free time. Over the past few months, I’ve spent time perfecting my own extra-chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe. I often bake for my friends and like to learn how to make new things. I try to make as much from scratch as possible because I like learning the process and figuring out how each ingredient plays its part in the end result.
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is America’s premier national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research. Fermi Forward Discovery Group manages Fermilab for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. Visit Fermilab’s website at www.fnal.gov and follow us on social media.
The Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center at Fermilab is supported by the DOE Office of Science.
The Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center is one of the five U.S. Department of Energy National Quantum Information Science Research Centers. Led by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, SQMS is a collaboration of more than 30 partner institutions — national labs, academia and industry — working together to bring transformational advances in the field of quantum information science. The center leverages Fermilab’s expertise in building complex particle accelerators to engineer multiqubit quantum processor platforms based on state-of-the-art qubits and superconducting technologies. Working hand in hand with embedded industry partners, SQMS will build a quantum computer and new quantum sensors at Fermilab, which will open unprecedented computational opportunities. For more information, please visit sqmscenter.fnal.gov.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright had the opportunity to see first-hand how Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory drives American leadership in particle physics and leverages the lab’s unique capabilities to unleash American innovation and discovery, during his recent visit.
Secretary Wright viewed Fermilab’s Main Injector, one of the laboratory’s five particle accelerators and a contributor to some of Fermilab’s groundbreaking discoveries. The Main Injector is notable for producing the world’s most powerful high-energy neutrino beam.
He also had the opportunity to view Fermilab’s key flagship projects intended to define the future of particle physics and sustain U.S. scientific preeminence for decades to come. This included a visit to Fermilab’s underground laboratory to see a prototype detector for the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility-Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF-DUNE) project, which will use neutrinos to probe the Standard Model of particle physics and increase our understanding of why our universe is dominated by matter. LBNF-DUNE’s near detectors in Illinois will use artificial intelligence tools to analyze neutrino events in liquid argon detectors and classify different particle types.
In addition, Secretary Wright saw work underway on the Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II), which will generate an unprecedented stream of neutrinos for LBNF-DUNE and provide powerful proton beams to other experiments. To mark his visit, Wright signed one of the PIP-II cryomodules, a crucial component of the accelerator that will send a beam of neutrinos 800 miles though the Earth to the LBNF-DUNE far detectors in Lead, South Dakota.
Secretary Wright’s visit also included a tour of Fermilab’s Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS), a collaboration of 36 partner institutions composed of national labs, academia and industry. At SQMS, one of DOE’s five National Quantum Information Science Research Centers, Secretary Wright learned more about Fermilab’s support for developing and deploying quantum computers, and the unprecedented computational opportunities and impacts they will have in science and society.
Secretary Wright then saw the important work being done by the Applied Physics and Superconducting Technology Division (APST-D) at the lab, where researchers are pursuing a highly innovative development program in cryogenics, superconducting magnets and superconducting radio frequency cavities, all crucial for next-generation particle accelerators and quantum research. Among its many projects, APST-D is constructing superconducting magnets for the high-luminosity upgrade to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN.
Inside Fermilab’s iconic Wilson Hall, the Secretary viewed the Remote Operations Center for the CMS experiment at CERN. CMS is one of two particle detectors at the Large Hadron Collider that confirmed the existence of the Higgs boson, and Fermilab is the host institution for the U.S. collaboration that contributed to the historic discovery.
At the conclusion of his visit, Secretary Wright addressed a packed auditorium.
“We have to drive energy technology forward.” Wright said. “Nuclear is incredibly promising. Fusion — I believe with the help of AI, with the help of brilliant scientists like in this room — I believe we’re going to have multiple pathways to harness fusion energy.”
“We have national labs that work in applied science, engineering … Just as important, and maybe even more inspiring to me is the basic science that is done in our labs,” Wright added. “The leader of the pack is right here at Fermi, where a huge amount of the effort is just trying to understand the basic structure of the cosmos.”
Secretary Wright’s visit marked his 10th stop in his goal to visit all 17 of the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories this year. His visit coincided with this year’s annual Fermilab Users and Affiliates meeting, which brings together hundreds of researchers in the broad Fermilab community and illustrates how Fermilab leads collaborative efforts across U.S. national labs and international research institutions to better solve today’s most complex scientific challenges.
“It was an honor to have Secretary Wright visit Fermilab to see how we serve today as the neutrino capital of the world to advance scientific innovation, and our work underway to ensure Fermilab contributes to groundbreaking discoveries into the future,” Fermilab Interim Director Young-Kee Kim said. “Secretary Wright deeply appreciates the benefits of basic scientific research, and the role of laboratories like Fermilab in America’s future. Most importantly, his visit provided him the opportunity to meet and engage with the men and women of the Fermilab community — the key to our scientific success.”
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is America’s premier national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research. Fermi Forward Discovery Group manages Fermilab for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. Visit Fermilab’s website at www.fnal.gov and follow us on social media.