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.

The Group is also central to the multi-disciplinary Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics projects, AION and MAGIS, which use novel atom interferometry to detect and identify sources of dark matter and gravitational waves in the Universe.

This grant will enable the group to fully exploit the physics of the LHC, to deliver our commitments to the current upgrades of the ATLAS and LHCb experiments, to prepare for the future upgrades of ATLAS and LHCb, to consolidate our strong participation in our neutrino programme, to deliver our commitments and exploit the first physics from the AION project and MAGIS experiment, 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.

Publications

10 25 50
 
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 AION talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A talk on the AION project as part of the Cambridge Festival, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/articles/programme-announced-cambridge-festival-2023
 
Description Cambridge Physics Talks 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Regular short films are made discussing our work for the general public.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3TasqeKZfA&ab_channel=CavendishLaboratory%2CUniversityofCambridge
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HG-TJjh9uQg
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Giant Experiments Cosmic Questions 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A live panel debate where the Future Circular Collider was discussed. The event triggered alot of discussion and interest afterwards.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ain50wcB2-8&ab_channel=FutureCircularColliderStudy
 
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
 
Description News articles 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Online magazine articles to discuss the results from our physics publications
https://theconversation.com/evidence-of-brand-new-physics-at-cern-why-were-cautiously-optimistic-about-our-new-findings-157464
https://theconversation.com/new-technique-uses-near-miss-particle-physics-to-peer-into-quantum-world-two-physicists-explain-how-they-are-measuring-wobbling-tau-particles-205628
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
 
Description Press Releases 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Regular press releases discussing the results of our physics publications, aimed at the general public.
https://www.lhcb.ac.uk/LHCb-UK/Welcome.html
https://atlas.cern/Updates/Briefing/SUSY-Needles
https://atlas.cern/Updates/Physics-Briefing/SUSY-Dark-Matter
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023