Kim Siang Khaw

On November 28, 2025, the First Workshop on SHINE Muon Source and Its Applications (SMS 2025) was successfully convened at Tsung-Dao Lee Institute (TDLI) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The event was co-hosted by TDLI, the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (SARI) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and ShanghaiTech University.

The workshop brought together over thirty distinguished experts and scholars from renowned domestic universities and research institutes, including Fudan University, ShanghaiTech University, the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP-CAS), the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP-CAS), and SARI-CAS. Kim Siang served as the meeting convener and delivered the opening remarks. Yusuke and Jun Kai from our group also presented the overview of the SHINE Muon Source project and the beam test preparation at SHINE in 2026.

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During the thematic report sessions, experts engaged in in-depth exchanges on various frontier directions. The comprehensive agenda covered the latest progress of the SHINE facility, R&D on the SHINE muon source and related physics, muon spin spectroscopy and its technical applications, muon imaging technology, and dark matter research based on muon beams. The attendees not only shared their latest research findings and frontier trends but also systematically outlined the development roadmap of domestic muon sources—from planning and construction to practical application. The experts unanimously recognized the immense potential latent in this field.

The successful organization of this workshop has significantly promoted academic exchange and resource sharing in the field of SHINE muon source and its applications, laying a solid foundation for future scientific collaboration and key technical breakthroughs. Furthermore, this meeting has accumulated valuable experience for the continued hosting of this workshop series. Taking this event as an opportunity, we look forward to fostering more substantive collaborations and jointly advancing innovation and development in China’s muon physics and advanced light source technologies.

More information about the workshop can be found at https://indico-tdli.sjtu.edu.cn/event/4498/.

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Our team recently participated in the PSI test beam in December 2025 to evaluate the performance of the upgraded muon trigger detector developed for the muEDM experiment. This represents our third beam test at PSI for the muEDM project, where we demonstrated an enhanced design specifically crafted for operation in high magnetic fields and vacuum environments.

A sincere recognition is extended to Guan Ming, Xingyun, Tianqi, and Yonghao for their diligent efforts and commitment in developing this state-of-the-art, highly dependable muon trigger detector and the associated Data Acquisition (DAQ) readout chain. Their contributions have played a crucial role in enhancing the detector’s capabilities and securing its success under demanding experimental conditions. A comprehensive analysis of all collected data will be conducted in the forthcoming months to assess the detector’s performance.

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Our group recently participated in the National Muography Workshop 2025 (第三届全国缪子成像技术与应用研讨会), held at the University of South China (USC) in Hengyang (衡阳) from November 22 to 23, 2025. Representing our team, Yinghe Wang presented the latest advancements in the SJTU Muography Project, highlighting our contributions to this emerging field. Siew Yan Hoh, Min Yang Tan, and Jiangtao Wang also presented posters on the progress of the Shanghai Outer Ring Tunnel Muography project and the SHINE Muon Tomograph project. The workshop gathered prominent researchers from leading institutes and universities across China to exchange insights on the latest developments in muography technologies and their broad applications. The event provided a vibrant platform for experts in muon detection, electronics, and imaging algorithms to foster collaborations, explore innovative ideas, and establish new research directions. During the Chinese Muography Collaboration Committee Meeting, the bidding process for hosting the 5th edition (in 2027) was conducted. I am delighted to announce that our institute has been awarded the bid to host the 5th National Muography Workshop in 2027 Autumn! Recordings of the talks can be found here: https://www.koushare.com/live/details/48437.

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This summer, the Muon Physics Group at the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute (TDLI) had the pleasure of hosting six talented students from around the world for their internship projects under the supervision of Prof. Kim Siang Khaw.

Our interns came from diverse backgrounds, Phuriphat Intanit (Nice) from Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand; Martina Pratesi and Yuting Gademski from University College London (UCL), UK; Pedro Salvatico from Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Brazil; Jing Tian Yong and Junyi Gu from Xiamen University Malaysia, Malaysia, and Qi Jie Tin from University Technology Malaysia, Malaysia.

Throughout the summer, they actively contributed to a range of projects spanning muon physics, detector development, and data analysis: Phuriphat (Nice) completed a study on g-factor measurement using an in-house built solenoid and conducted a radiation study for the SHINE facility; Martina worked on the muography project, characterizing detector performance based on scintillating materials coupled with SiPMs and a CAEN-based data acquisition system; Pedro explored the use of machine learning techniques to enhance density inference in muon tomography, a promising approach using naturally occurring cosmic-ray muons. Jing Tian, Junyi, and Qi Jie focused on particle detection studies, characterizing SiPM operation and gaining hands-on experience with electronics for particle detection.

The interns joined at different times throughout the summer, creating a lively and collaborative environment filled with learning and discovery. They leave the group with valuable research experience, new technical skills, and great memories.

We thank all seven interns for their dedication and enthusiasm, and we wish them every success in their future academic journeys!

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From September 18 to 22, 2025, the 7th Tianwen Forum on Particle Physics (第七届粒子物理天问论坛) was successfully held at China University of Geosciences in Wuhan. The forum, co-hosted by several leading universities including Hunan University and Central South University, aimed to strengthen academic collaboration and discuss future directions for particle physics and the planning of major national scientific projects in China. The conference agenda focused on a wide range of experimental platforms and the latest interdisciplinary progress in the field.

During the conference, Mr. Yonghao Zeng, A PhD student from our group, delivered an invited presentation titled “Muon g-2 Status” to the forum attendees. His report provided a comprehensive overview of the latest progress, current challenges, and future roadmap of the international Muon g-2 experiment, a high-precision effort to search for physics beyond the Standard Model. The presentation sparked productive discussions among experts, offering valuable insights to the forum’s dialogue on cutting-edge experimental physics.

We are thrilled to announce that our latest research paper, “Towards Non-Invasive Sediment Monitoring Using Muography: A Pilot Run at the Shanghai Outer Ring Tunnel,” has been published in the Journal of Applied Physics (Vol. 138, 114902, 2025). 📄 Read the paper here

This study marks an important milestone in applying cosmic-ray muography to civil and environmental engineering. Using a portable dual-layer plastic scintillator detector, our team conducted muon flux scans inside the Shanghai Outer Ring Tunnel—an immersed tunnel beneath the Huangpu River—to study sediment accumulation and tidal effects without disrupting tunnel operations.

Through careful Geant4 simulations and field measurements, we demonstrated a clear anti-correlation between muon flux and tidal water level, confirming muography’s sensitivity to subtle overburden changes caused by sediment and water variations. These results validate muography as a non-invasive, real-time monitoring technique for submerged infrastructure, offering a safer and more sustainable alternative to traditional geotechnical methods like borehole drilling or sonar scanning.

This collaborative work between Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Geological Engineering Exploration, and several municipal partners highlights how particle physics technologies can play a transformative role in urban infrastructure resilience and environmental monitoring.

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Beining Rao from our group recently participated in the Physics of Fundamental Symmetries and Interactions – PSI2025 workshop. This workshop highlights current and upcoming high-precision low-energy physics initiatives, utilizing PSI’s unique facilities, including the world’s most powerful proton cyclotron, high-intensity low-momentum muon beams, and an ultracold neutron source, while supporting complementary experimental approaches. Beining presented a poster on her work titled “Testing QED and Beyond with ortho-Positronium.” Details of the workshop can be found here.

Members of our group recently participated in the PPTT 2025 workshop hosted at Dujiangyan, Chengdu from 1-6 Sep, 2025. The workshop focuses on Particle Physics for Tabletop, bringing experts from diverse fields to explore the potential of probing fundamental particle physics via tabletop experiments. Besides, the workshop promotes cross-disciplinary and international collaborations in this emerging area.

Beining Rao and Guan Ming Wong contributed poster presentation in this workshop. Beining presented on “Testing QED and Beyond with ortho-Positronium”, while Guan Ming shared the latest update on the “Development of the Muon Trigger Detector Prototype for the muEDM experiment at PSI”.

Details of the workshop can be found here.

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The TDLI Muon Physics group developed the Cosmic-ray Muography System (CMS), which has successfully gone online and started data collection in radiography mode. The system features three tracking layers, each constructed using 1.5 cm-wide triangular scintillator bars read out by SiPMs across an active detection area of approximately 50 cm × 50 cm. Integrated with CAEN’s A5202 front-end electronics, the CMS offers a compact, modular, and high-resolution platform for muon imaging.
A series of commissioning measurements were conducted at three locations within TLDI—two inside the Tianwen Hall and one at the B1 underground level. The preliminary results are promising: the cosmic-ray muon flux in the 90° < φ < 180° range at Location #3 (B1) is significantly lower than at the two surface-level sites. This reduction indicates muons passing through denser structural material above the underground site, demonstrating the detector’s sensitivity and confirming its proper operation.
These initial measurements represent a significant milestone in establishing the CMS as the first functional muography instrument in Shanghai, paving the way for future structural, geological, and subsurface imaging studies around the city.

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