Dr. Chamkaur Ghag

Biography

Chamkaur Ghag graduated from Queen Mary University of London with an MSci in Physics in 2003, and later moved to the University of Edinburgh to begin a PhD. His research focuses on direct Dark Matter searches, developing low background instruments capable of recording extremely rare faint signals from particle interactions. He worked on directional Time Projection Chambers (TPC) with gaseous targets and contributed to the DRIFT-II Dark Matter experiment. After completing his PhD in 2006, he remained at Edinburgh and moved to the ZEPLIN programme, constructing TPCs with dual-phase xenon targets. The ZEPLIN programme pioneered technology in Dark Matter searches, notably ZEPLIN-II and ZEPLIN-III, which he led analysis areas and Monte Carlo simulations on. In 2011, he joined the XENON100 experiment at Gran Sasso, Italy, where he worked on calibrations, analyses, and simulations. XENON100 became the world’s most sensitive experiment, setting stringent constraints on Dark Matter interactions. He continued to develop low radioactivity techniques and technologies while exploring novel ultra-low background photosensors. Ghag joined the High Energy Physics group at UCL in 2012 to initiate direct Dark Matter research with noble gas TPC R&D. He also became a Principal Investigator for the LUX Dark Matter experiment, contributing to its world-leading results and is a founding member and current international Spokesperson for the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) Experiment, which aims to search for galactic dark matter. He has held various advisory roles, including Chair of the Dark Matter UK Consortium.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards