An innovative software infrastructure for laser-driven ion acceleration

With their successful applications at Software Campus, Dr. Sonja Gerlach and
Michael Bachhammer are among the youngest research group leaders at LMU.
Both work at the Centre for Advanced Laser Applications on the efficiency of the
IT infrastructure of the ATLAS-3000 laser and its associated ion acceleration
experiments. Here, they talk about their projects.

Dr. Sonja Gerlach and Michael Bachhammer are sitting relaxed in the control
room of the Laser Center at the Centre for Advanced Laser Applications (CALA)
of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU). They have made
themselves comfortable on a couch. Right next to them, large screens hang on
the walls, and computers hum quietly. They monitor the functions of the lasers
and experiments located one floor below. This IT infrastructure plays an
important role in the work of the two young researchers. Not least, it controls the
functions of one of the most powerful lasers in Europe, the ATLAS 3000, and the
experiments connected to it. The particle acceleration technologies developed
here could change the future of medicine.

“During my doctoral studies, I couldn’t let go of the problem of how to better
automate our measurements,” says Sonja Gerlach. In the team of Prof. Jörg
Schreiber at the Chair of Laser Physics-Medical Physics at LMU, the physicist is
working on how to most efficiently accelerate ions with laser light to generate
radiation that could one day be used in medicine, such as for tumor treatment.
The insights gained from these experiments are a treasure for the future of laser
ion acceleration. But there is room for improvement in the collection and
processing of raw data. That is where Sonja Gerlach's idea came in: Her
solution was the development of special software that independently monitors
the complex systems and automates many processes. This also allows the use
of intelligent methods like machine learning to optimize results.
But how do you approach such a project? There were not enough staff or funds
available. Sonja found a solution. She applied for the Software Campus funding
program and was accepted. The program is aimed at doctoral students who
want to be trained as IT leaders. The good thing is that once accepted, you can
apply for your own research grant of up to 115,000 euros from the Federal
Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Sonja did just that and was
successful. She became the first doctoral student at LMU to secure her own
third-party funding.

This is how her idea took off, and over the past two years, she has been able to
implement her project “Data-Driven Optimization of a Laser Ion Source” with
four team members. “We mainly divided the complex system into individual,
motorized units and configured each so that we can control them separately,”
explains the young researcher. “This allowed us to stabilize the system by
making adjustments via specially developed software,” she continues.
“Additionally, we are now able to generate more data through automation,
resulting in more reliable outcomes.”

Michael Bachhammer (26) was also part of Sonja’s team. The doctoral student
was also intrigued by the idea of further improving the IT structure of the
experiment. So he applied to the Software Campus as well. Successfully. With
his project “Modular, Automated Beam Stabilization on the ATLAS 3000 Laser,”
Michael Bachhammer can now continue Sonja's software initiative.
“I’m curious about what’s ahead,” says Michael Bachhammer. Now, Michael first
has to assemble his own team. Taking on leadership responsibilities in research
at such an early stage as a doctoral student is unusual. It was also new territory
for Sonja, who was 27 when she applied to the Software Campus. “We weren't
left alone with the challenge,” Sonja says. The program includes training courses
for junior group leaders, preparing them for team leadership tasks. Michael has
already completed his first seminar. “A very valuable experience,” he
emphasizes.

Thus, the funding program also opens up various perspectives on how one
might shape their career. While Michael Bachhammer can well imagine working
in the industry later, Sonja Gerlach is still undecided. But for now, both are
focused on the data treasure at CALA. They aim to nurture and care for it as
best as possible.

Thorsten Naeser
www.softwarecampus.de