gsoc26: JuliaHEP geometry proposal

_gsocorgs/2026/ifae.md

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+---
+title: "Institut de Física d’Altes Energies"
+author: "Pere Mato"
+layout: default
+organization: IFAE
+logo: IFAE-logo.png
+description: |
+  [IFAE](https://www.ifae.es) is a consortium of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona ([UAB](https://www.uab.cat)) created in 1991. It performs research in high-energy physics, astroparticle physics and cosmology, and develops technologies for the benefit of the whole society. IFAE’s mission is to address fundamental physics questions by acting as a major partner and a leader in the scientific collaborations at the forefront of our field, while preparing for future technological breakthroughs.
+---
+
+{% include gsoc_proposal.ext %}

_gsocorgs/2026/mpp.md

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+---
+title: "Max Planck Institute for Physics"
+author: "Oliver Schulz"
+layout: default
+organization: MPP
+logo: MPP-logo.png
+description: |
+  The [Max Planck Institute for Physics](https://www.mpp.mpg.de/en/) in Munich is one of the world’s leading research institutions for particle physics. Here, scientists study the smallest building blocks of matter and how they interact. Theory and experiment work hand in hand. The physicists at the Institute develop and test theoretical models as the basis for experiments with the aim of solving the mysteries of the universe: for example, what dark matter consists of and why antimatter no longer exists.
+---
+
+{% include gsoc_proposal.ext %}

_gsocorgs/2026/tum.md

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+---
+title: "Technical University of Munich"
+author: "Mario Lassnig"
+layout: default
+organization: TUM
+logo: TUM-logo.gif
+description: |
+  The Technical University of Munich ([TUM](https://www.tum.de/)) is one of Europe's top universities. It is committed to excellence in research and teaching, interdisciplinary education and the active promotion of promising young scientists. The university also forges strong links with companies and scientific institutions across the world. TUM was one of the first universities in Germany to be named a University of Excellence. Moreover, TUM regularly ranks among the best European universities in international rankings.
+---
+
+{% include gsoc_proposal.ext %}

_gsocprojects/2026/project_JuliaHEP.md

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+---
+project: JuliaHEP
+title: JuliaHEP
+layout: default
+logo: juliahep/juliaheplogo.png
+description: |
+  The [JuliaHEP](https://hepsoftwarefoundation.org/activities/juliahep.html) working group brings together a community of developers and users of Julia in Particle Physics, with the aim of improving the sharing of knowledge and expertise, as well as unify effort in developing Julia packages useful for the community.
+---
+
+{% include gsoc_project.ext %}

_gsocproposals/2026/proposal_JuliaHEP_Geometry.md

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+---
+title: Native Julia HEP Geometry package
+layout: gsoc_proposal
+project: JuliaHEP
+year: 2026
+organization:
+  - TUM
+  - IFAE
+  - MPP
+difficulty: high
+duration: 350
+mentor_avail: June-October
+project_mentors:
+  - email: florian.henkes@tum.de
+    organization: TUM
+    first_name: Florian
+    last_name: Henkes
+    is_preferred_contact: yes
+  - email: pere.mato@cern.ch
+    organization: IFAE
+    first_name: Pere
+    last_name: Mato
+  - email: oschulz@mpp.mpg.de
+    organization: MPP
+    first_name: Oliver
+    last_name: Schulz
+---
+
+## Description
+The Julia programming language offers a unique combination of speed, interoperability, ease of use, and flexibility, making it an attractive option for High Energy Physics (HEP) research. Within the HSF context, the [JuliaHEP](https://github.com/JuliaHEP) initiative aims to develop a set of foundational packages in the Julia ecosystem that provide the essential functionality required by HEP researchers.
+In simulation and reconstruction codes, it is necessary to describe the detailed geometry of the detector, including both its spatial structure and the associated materials, surfaces, and other properties. This is typically achieved using a hierarchical Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) representation, as implemented in frameworks like [Geant4](https://geant4.web.cern.ch). Reconstruction codes may, however, require a simplified version of this geometry.
+
+The [Geant4.jl](https://github.com/JuliaHEP/Geant4.jl) wrapper package currently leverages the geometry modeling capabilities of the C++ Geant4 library. However, if we wish to develop physics process simulations natively in Julia and independent of Geant4, a geometry package implemented directly in Julia will be required. Such a package should aim to be user-friendly, high-performance, and compatible with hardware accelerators such as GPUs. An early effort in this direction is the [Geom4hep](https://github.com/peremato/Geom4hep) package, which could serve as a potential foundation for further development. In addition, the CSG-system that is currently part of [SolidStateDetectors.jl](https://github.com/JuliaPhysics/SolidStateDetectors.jl) could also be used as a baseline.
+
+In an initial application, the geometry can be used to export a high-quality mesh with adaptive level of details to allow raytracing-based optical physics simulation leveraging modern RTX GPU functionality. This would allow hybrid Monte-Carlo simulation infrastructures where Geant4.jl handles the ballistic particle-tracking while the optical simulations are handled by a custom julia code.
+
+
+## Task ideas
+
+- Design a standalone physics-compatible Julia CSG package with faithful import from and export to Geant4 via a package extension. The Geom4hep.jl package and the CSG-system that is currently part of SolidStateDetectors.jl can be used as a baseline.
+- Implement a high-quality mesh-export with adaptive level of detail, both for visualization (e.g. via [Makie.jl](https://docs.makie.org/stable/)) and for raytracing-based optical physics simulations.
+- Benchmark the developed implementation using raytracing simulations to evaluate performance and accuracy against existing solutions.
+- Investigate a Geant4-like ballistic particle tracking that allows massive CPU/GPU parallelization by using an entity component system (ECS) like approach that groups particles by current volume type and by active physics. This would leverage Julia’s ability to generate GPU kernels at runtime, allowing kernel fusion of boolean geometry (sub-trees).
+
+
+## Expected results and milestones
+
+- Familiarization with existing HEP geometry packages in Julia and C++
+- Successful development of a new julia package with the basic geometry shapes
+- Implementation of geometry import/export functionality with Geant4
+- Implementation of mesh export with adaptive level of detail for visualization and raytracing
+- Development of a set of benchmarks for comparing the performance with respect other packages (e.g. Geant4.j)
+
+## Requirements
+
+- Programming experience with C++ (in order to be able to understand existing HEP codes)
+- Prior experience in Julia (very advantageous)
+- A background understanding of high-energy physics (advantageous)
+- Knowledge of geometry representations (CSG, meshes, etc.) in modern computer science and physics simulations (advantageous)
+- Experience with GPU programming (advantageous)
+
+## How to apply
+
+Once CERN/HSF is accepted as a GSoC org, please write an email with a short introduction to your interests and background to the mentors with the string "gsoc26" in the subject.
+There will be a small evaluation task that we will mail to you then.
+
+## AI Policy
+
+AI assistance is allowed for this contribution. The applicant takes full responsibility for all code and results, disclosing AI use for non-routine tasks (algorithm design, architecture, complex problem-solving). Routine tasks (grammar, formatting, style) do not require disclosure.
+
+## Links
+
+- [Julia Programming Language](https://julialang.org/)
+- [JuliaHEP HSF Group](https://hepsoftwarefoundation.org/workinggroups/juliahep.html)
+- [JuliaHEP GitHub Organization](https://github.com/JuliaHEP/)
+- [SolidStateDetectors.jl](https://github.com/JuliaPhysics/SolidStateDetectors.jl)
+- [Makie.jl](https://docs.makie.org/stable/)
+- [ECS for Unity](https://unity.com/ecs)
+- [Geant4](https://geant4.web.cern.ch)
+- [Geant4.jl](https://github.com/JuliaHEP/Geant4.jl)