Bristol Particle Physics Consolidated Grant 2012-17

Lead Research Organisation: University of Bristol
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

The University of Bristol proposes to carry out research into the fundamental laws of space, time, matter and force. The current theoretical description of physics at the smallest scales, the Standard Model, is known not to hold at energies greater than around 1TeV. By carrying out experiments at particle colliders, we will observe how and when the Standard Model breaks down; discover new models which accurate describe physics at these scales; measure the parameters of these models; and investigate their significance for cosmology and the study of the large-scale universe. This work will be carried out using a wide range of different experiments and studies.

The experimental data supporting this programme will be obtained using the CMS and LHCb experiments at the CERN LHC, and the NA62 experiment at the CERN SPS. We will use these detectors to work both at the energy frontier, with sensitivity to new heavy particles, and the precision frontier, comparing the largest ever experimental data sets with the predictions of the Standard Model. Having built important components of these experiments, we will continue to operate and maintain the apparatus, and design and install upgraded equipment to further enhance their capabilities.

We will design and construct new particle detectors and instruments, optimised for sensitivity, performance and cost. Along with new techniques we will develop in computing and data analysis, this technology will be used in the future to build new experiments at future colliders, and to solve practical problems in the security, medical and environmental sectors.

The results of our research will be publicised via talks, media involvement and events, in order to enhance public understanding and appreciation of science. We will engage with schools wherever possible, in order to ensure the continued take-up of science subjects at school and university level.

Planned Impact

The key beneficiaries of the proposed research programme, and the benefits they are likely to obtain, can be classified as follows:

- The results obtained and techniques developed in this programme will be of direct benefit in the international fields of experimental and theoretical particle physics and astronomy. The research outputs will directly address outstanding questions in these fields.

- Other academic disciplines will benefit directly and indirectly through access to instruments and techniques developed in this research programme. There is also potential impact upon private-sector companies for commercialisation of detector and computing technology. Examples of areas where impact has already been demonstrated include the security and medical instrumentation sectors. UK industry will also benefit through contracts for specialized detectors and electronic / mechanical assemblies.

- The results from high-profile particle physics experiments provide both a significant cultural impact for the general public, and an impact on the science agenda of national and regional government. Engagement of both the general public and policy makers is an explicit aim of this programme, with routes detailed in the pathways to impact document.

- There is a particular impact upon schools and universities, due to the postitive effect of experimental particle physics upon take up of science courses at GCSE, A-Level and degree levels. The results obtained as part of this research programme will help to continue the 'LHC effect', with physics becoming an increasingly popular subject.

- The technological and organisational demands of experimental particle physics have a demonstrated impact upon culture and best practice in universities and academia in general, and will continue to do so. For instance, through the move to open electronic repositories and open publishing; through the use of networking and distributed research in many disciplines; and through well planned and high profile public engagement exercises.

Publications

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Stephans G (2014) Jet results from PbPb and pPb collisions with CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Lange D (2015) Upgrades for the CMS simulation in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Brook N (2014) Studies of Onia and Strangeness Production in Proton-proton Collisions at LHCb in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Salur S (2016) Jets In Heavy Ion Collisions with CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Branca A (2013) Search for the neutral Supersymmetric Higgs boson with the CMS experiment at LHC in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Trauger H (2015) Jet quenching studies in CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Dordevic M (2016) Recent Standard Model measurements at CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Kim Y (2016) CMS Heavy Ion Results on Heavy Flavour and Quarkonia in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Dias F (2013) Search for exotic resonances in diboson final states with the CMS detector at the LHC in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Cossutti F (2012) PREP: Production and Reprocessing management tool for CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Andrea J (2013) Precise top quark cross-section results at LHC in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Malek F (2015) Non-SUSY Beyond Standard Model Searches: Recent Results from ATLAS and CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Krätschmer I (2014) Quarkonium production measurements and searches for exotic quarkonia at CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Görner M (2013) Measurement of Differential tt¯ Cross Sections at 7 TeV in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Kim H (2013) Heavy flavor and Quarkonia in heavy-ion collisions with the CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Fanfani A (2013) Studies of exotic quarkonium states at CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Cornelis T (2013) Vector boson plus jet physics at CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Schlieckau E (2013) Measurement of the top-quark mass with all-jets final states in pp collisions at 7 TeV in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Anderson J (2012) Upgrade of the CMS hadron calorimeter for an upgraded LHC in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Kreuzer P (2014) Opportunistic Resource Usage in CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Rammensee M (2015) SUSY searches: Recent results from ATLAS and CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Yzquierdo A (2014) CMS multicore scheduling strategy in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Blyweert S (2013) Measurement of the mass difference between top and antitop quarks in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Pagano D (2013) Measurements of new physics in top quark decay at LHC in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Brooke J (2015) SWATCH: common control SW for the uTCA-based upgraded CMS L1 Trigger in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Lobanov A (2015) The CMS Outer HCAL SiPM Upgrade in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Piedra J (2012) Higgs searches in CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Da Silva P (2013) Precision measurements in the top quark sector with the CMS experiment at the LHC in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Yetkin E (2014) Observation of Structures in the J / ?? Mass Spectrum at CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Apresyan A (2015) Performance of MET reconstruction in CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Daci N (2015) Dark matter searches in CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Florent A (2013) Electroweak bosons in heavy-ion collisions with the CMS detector at =2.76 TeV in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Eysermans J (2016) Charged Higgs Analysis in CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Pedraza-Morales M (2016) The diphoton resonance and Higgs results from the CMS Detector of the LHC in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Künsken A (2015) MPPC photon sensor operational experience in CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Sauvan J (2015) Performance and upgrade of the CMS electron and photon trigger for Run 2 in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Calderón De La Barca Sánc M (2013) Quarkonium Results in PbPb Collisions at CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Blumenfeld B (2012) Operational Experience with the Frontier System in CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Ciulli V (2013) Electroweak results from CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Adelman J (2014) CMS computing operations during run 1 in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Bernardino S (2015) Quality Certification 4 (QC4) for RE4 in the Upgrade in CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Chapon É (2015) W boson studies in pPb and PbPb collisions with CMS in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

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Petyt D (2012) Mitigation of Anomalous APD signals in the CMS Electromagnetic Calorimeter in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

 
Description This award supported several key developments in particle physics. Most notably, early in the funding period the Higgs boson was discovered and considerable effort was then spent to precisely determine its properties to see if it is really exactly as predicted. There were a host of other measurements at various experiments, pinning down details of the standard model and trying to spot deviations. Finally, good progress was made in "spinning out" particle physics technology into other areas, including the development of systems for scanning for dense materials (with security and other applications) as well as for radiotherapy beam monitoring.
Exploitation Route The group is continuing to pursue these lines of research with subsequent grants. Other particle physics groups have also noted our results. And companies are working with us to develop commercial products based on our knowledge exchange.
Sectors Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Healthcare

 
Description Research conducted in muon tomography is being investigated by homeland security agencies, the nuclear industry and others as a means of remote, non-invasive imaging. Research in radiotherapy beam monitoring has led to commercial products.
First Year Of Impact 2017
Sector Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare,Security and Diplomacy
Impact Types Societal,Economic