Hi, I’m Lutz Althüser
a physicist and researcher working at the intersection of fundamental physics and applied computer science – and many more topics ..
I currently work as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Nuclear Physics, University of Münster, where my research focuses on the search for dark matter and other rare events with the XENON experiment – one of the world’s leading detectors of its kind. I’m also helping to build the experiments of tomorrow. Through the XLZD, DRD2 and DARWIN collaborations, I take part in shaping the next generation of liquid xenon observatories.
Selected highlights from my work and around
Particle tracking simulations for xenon-based detectors: XeSim
XeSim is a Geant4-based simulation toolkit for xenon-based detectors that pairs a performant C++ physics core with modular detector designs. It makes it easy to exchange the geometrical detector description for new ideas and reduces the development time. It is ideal for detector R&D, prototyping, and teaching. Check out the XeSim repository to explore runnable notebooks, extend the C++ simulation, or contribute new detector models and analyses: https://github.com/l-althueser/XeSim
Compact toolkit for waveform interpretation and signal processing: wisp
Wisp (waveform interpretation and signal processing) provides practical Python routines to turn raw detector waveforms into reconstructed signals and features. It is built on top of the strax (streaming analysis for xenon experiments) framework and mostly used for processing of photomultiplier tube (PMT) waveforms digitized by flash ADCs to enable easy low and high access. You can customize it to your need and detetor specifications. Try it and ask me for access if needed: https://gitlab.git.nrw/uni-ms/ag-weinheimer/lab19-and-lab20-xelab/wisp
Publications
List of selected publications, see all at: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5468-4298
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Proof-of-concept of a xenon-based cryogenic heat pump demonstrator for future liquid xenon observatories
P. Schulte, D. Wenz, L. Althueser, R. Braun, V. Hannen, C. Huhmann, D. Koke, Y.-T. Lin, P. Unkhoff, C. Weinheimer, Eur. Phys. J. C 86, 488 (2025) -
Radon Removal in XENONnT down to the Solar Neutrino Level
XENON collaboration, E. Aprile et al., 2502.04209, Phys. Rev. X 15, 031079 (2025) -
First Dark Matter Search with Nuclear Recoils from the XENONnT Experiment
XENON collaboration, E. Aprile et al., 2303.14729, Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 041003 (2023) -
Annual modulation of event rate and electron recoil energy in inelastic scattering direct detection exp.
A. Aboubrahim, L. Althueser, M. Klasen, P. Nath, C. Weinheimer, 2207.08621 (2022) -
GPU-based optical simulation of the DARWIN detector
L. Althueser et al., 2203.14354, JINST 17 P07018 (2022) -
Reflectivity of VUV-sensitive Silicon Photomultipliers in Liquid Xenon
nEXO collaboration, M. Wagenpfeil et al., 2104.07997, JINST 16 P08002 (2021) -
Projected WIMP Sensitivity of the XENONnT Dark Matter Experiment
XENON collaboration, E. Aprile et al., 2007.08796, JCAP 11 031 (2020) -
VUV Transmission of PTFE for Xenon-based Particle Detectors
L. Althueser et al., 2006.05827, JINST 15 P12021 (2020)