The Experimental Study of Particle Interactions at High Energy
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The Cambridge High Energy Physics Group focuses its research activities on experiments at high-energy accelerators, currently the Large Hadron Collider and the ATLAS and LHCb experiments at CERN, the neutrino experiment MicroBooNE, and the long-baseline neutrino experiment DUNE at Fermilab, and future collider facilities. The goal is to understand the fundamental particles of nature and their interactions, in particular, to discover physics beyond our current understanding, to understand why the Universe is made only of matter and not antimatter and to reveal the identity of dark matter. This grant will enable the group to fully exploit the physics of the LHC, deliver our commitments to the upgrades of the ATLAS and LHCb experiments, prepare for the future upgrades of ATLAS and LHCb, to consolidate our strong participation in our neutrino programme, and to undertake generic hardware research and development. The opportunities offered by this exciting physics programme will not only drive the forefront of discovery, but also provide substantial impact to local enterprises and on public engagement.
Planned Impact
Please see attached Pathways to Impact document.
Publications
Badurina L
(2020)
AION: An Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network
Aaij R
(2021)
Search for the rare decay B
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| Description | During the grant period, we have seen a series of successes, most notably the excellent performance of the LHC, enabling a series of key publications with major contributions from the Group. These have provided beautiful new measurements that challenge theoretical ideas for physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). Our teams have led the operation of the ATLAS Inner Detector and the LHCb RICH detectors. For the ATLAS Phase I upgrade, we have completed the production of the L1Calo Read-Out Driver (ROD) boards and, for the ATLAS Phase II ITk, we continue to make major contributions to silicon sensor and chip testing, and lead the sensor Quality Control (QC) for the entire UK ITk strip module production. For LHCb Upgrade I, we have completed the mass production and testing of the RICH system on-detector digital readout electronics, and lead the R&D for integrating timing information in the RICH detectors for Upgrade II. In our neutrino programme, we have produced world-leading publications in MicroBooNE, and expanded our leading contributions to the DUNE experiment. |
| Exploitation Route | Long-term strategy is needed to capitalize on our large investment in the LHC and DUNE. We will continue to lead analyses on topics of major interest, using innovative methods to advance the state-of-the-art, and to devote our technical expertise to the ATLAS and LHCb upgrades. Our expertise in instrumentation and software also gives our staff the ability to collaborate with experts in other fields. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Electronics |
| Description | Our experience with distributed computing, and extensive contacts with industry. A major area of activity is in computational radiotherapy, including the Voxtox project (CRUK), which studies the collateral damage caused to normal tissue by radiotherapy and the side-effects that often impact on survival or quality of life. This sustained work has led to the RadNet project, which aims to improve cancer survival by optimising and personalising radiotherapy and exploring new techniques including proton therapy. We also have contributed to muon tomography, using spare ATLAS SCT modules to build a prototype device for non-destructive inspection for security purposes. The device has been successfully tested in beams and with cosmic rays. We are now exploring, with Geoptic, the possibility of adapting and updating our device for non-invasive inspection of wind-turbine blades. A similar muon tomography project, Cosmic-Concrete, aims to develop devices for remote inspection of reinforced concrete structures and has attracted interest in the construction industry. Finally, our public engagement programme is wide-ranging programme that achieves significant local, national and international impact. |
| Sector | Education,Healthcare,Security and Diplomacy |
| Description | AION/MAGIS |
| Organisation | Fermilab - Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We design and build parts of the interferometer, and do physics analyses |
| Collaborator Contribution | They build other parts of the detector |
| Impact | A few physics publications |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | ATLAS |
| Organisation | European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) |
| Department | ATLAS Collaboration |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We build parts of the SCT detector, electronics, software etc, and we do physics analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They built the other parts of the detector. |
| Impact | Several hundred physics publications. |
| Description | DUNE UK Production Project |
| Organisation | Fermilab - Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory |
| Department | DUNE |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We test parts of the DUNE/protoDUNE detectors, provide hardware and software etc, and we do physics analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They built the other parts of the detector |
| Impact | A few publications |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | LHCb |
| Organisation | European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) |
| Department | Large Hadron Collider Beauty Experiment (LHCb) |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We build parts of the RICH detector, electronics, software etc, and we do physics analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They built other parts of the detector |
| Impact | Several hundred physics publications |
| Description | HEP Masterclass |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 120 A-level students per year attend our HEP Masterclass to hear seminars and have hands on experience with coding, detectors, and statistics. The schools report the enthusiasm the students have for learning something related to, but beyond their courses. Splitting into smaller groups for the practical labs allows lots of opportunity for discussion and questions. The effort increases interest in HEP and physics in general. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| URL | https://www.hep.phy.cam.ac.uk/Masterclass |