Physicist
Physicist

Biography

Dr. VanDevender is an experimental nuclear physicist with research interests divided between basic science and applications that benefit from his nuclear physics and radiation detection background.  His primary basic science interest is in the mass of the neutrino and its implications for the fundamental symmetries of “new” physics that could supersede our current Standard Model of Particle Physics.  His applied physics interests are focused on the intersections of nuclear physics and quantum information science, especially where nuclear physics techniques can improve quantum devices, or where such devices can lead to dramatic improvements in sensitivity to detect new physics. In addition to his research, Dr. VanDevender is an experienced research portfolio manager with a multiple-principal-investigator program of nuclear physics and quantum information science.

Education

  • PhD in Physics, University of Virginia
  • MA in Physics, University of Virginia
  • BS in Physics, University of Virginia

Awards and Recognitions

  • Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2016)
  • Early Career Award, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science (2015)
  • Author of the Year, National Security Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (2015)

Publications

(Select)

2024

J. W. Fowler et al., Spectroscopic Measurements and Models of Energy Deposition in the Substrate of Quantum Circuits by Natural Ionizing Radiation, PRX Quantum 5:040323, 2024.

N. S. Oblath and B. A. VanDevender, Cyclotron Radiation Emission Spectroscopy, Annu. Rev. Nucl. Part. Sci. 74:447, 2024.

B. Loer et al., Abatement of Ionizing Radiation for Superconducting Quantum Devices, JINST 19:P09001, 2024.

A. Ashtari Esfahani et al. (Project 8 Collaboration), Cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy of electrons from tritium β decay and 83mKr internal conversion, Phys. Rev. C, 109:035503, 2024.

2023

A. Ashtari Esfahani et al. (Project 8 Collaboration), Tritium Beta Spectrum and Neutrino Mass Limit from Cyclotron Radiation Emission Spectroscopy, Phys. Rev. Lett. 131:102502, 2023.

W. Byron et al. (He6-CRES Collaboration), First Observation of Cyclotron Radiation from MeV-Scale e± following Nuclear β Decay, Phys. Rev. Lett. 131:082502, 2023.

2020

Vepsalainen et al., 2020. “Impact of Ionizing Radiation on Superconducting Qubits.” Nature 584.

M. Foxe, T. Bowyer, R. Carr, J. Orrell and B. A. VanDevender. 2020. “Antineutrino Detectors Remain Impractical for Nuclear Explosion Monitoring.” Pure Appl. Geophys. 177. 

2019

Aker et al. (KATRIN Collaboration). 2019. “Improved Upper Limit on the Neutrino Mass from a Direct Kinematic Method by KATRIN, M.” Phys. Rev. Lett. 123:221802. 

A. Ashtari Esfahani et al. (Project 8 Collaboration). 2019. “Electron radiated power in cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy experiments.” Phys. Rev. C, 99:055501. 

2015

D. M. Asner et al. (Project 8 Collaboration). 2015. “Single-Electron Detection and Spectroscopy via Relativistic Cyclotron Radiation.” Phys. Rev. Lett. 114:162501.

J. F. Amsbaugh et al. 2015. “Focal-plane detector system for the KATRIN experiment.” Nucl. Inst. Meth. A778:40–60.

2014

B. A. VanDevender et al. 2014. “High-Purity Germanium Spectroscopy at Rates in Excess of 106 Events/s.” IEEE Trans. on Nucl. Sci. 61:2619–2627. 

B. L. Wall et al. 2014. “Dead layer on silicon p–i–n diode charged-particle detectors.” Nucl. Inst. Meth. A744:73–79.     

2009

M. Bychkov, D. Počanić c, B. A. VanDevender et al. (PIBETA Collaboration). 2009. “New Precise Measurement of the Pion Axial Form-Factor in the π+ → e+νγ Decay.” Phys. Rev. Lett. 103:051802. 

2008

B. Aharmim et al. (SNO Collaboration). 2008. “An Independent Measurement of the Total 8B Solar Neutrino Flux Using an Array of 3He Proportional Counters at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory.” Phys. Rev. Lett. 101:111301.

2007

J. F. Amsbaugh et al. 2007. “An Array of Low-background 3He Proportional Counters for the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory.” Nucl. Inst. Meth. A579:1054-1080.

2004

D. Počanić et al. (PIBETA Collaboration). 2004. “Precise Measurement of the π+ → π0e+ν Branching Ratio.” Phys. Rev. Lett. 93:181803.