Programmme of Research in Experimental Particle Physics at the University of Warwick: 2019-2022

Lead Research Organisation: University of Warwick
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

The scope of the proposed research lies in five distinct areas: Higgs and new phenomena searches at the ATLAS Experiment; the physics of particles containing the beauty quark at LHCb; the physics of neutrinos with T2K and SuperNEMO; accelerator research and development for new high intensity proton, muon and neutrino beams; detector R&D. It also includes Outreach and Knowledge Exchange programmes. In more detail:

o The ATLAS experiment at CERN, a large, general purpose detector operating at the LHC was designed to search for and study the Higgs boson, as well as new exotic forms of matter. Our work involves contributing to the experiment's ability to identify interesting events as well as helping to construct an upgraded detector able to work in the new environment of an upgraded LHC. We will also contribute to the detailed study of the Higgs boson by helping to optimise the collection of events in which it decays to pairs of tau leptons, heavy relatives of the electron. We will also look for other, heavier exotic new bosons.

o We aim to further our research into matter/anti-matter asymmetry (CP Violation) in the decays of Beauty
mesons at the LHCb experiment. This is important, because we have shown in past experiments that
the leading source of CP violation at the weak scale is consistent with the Standard Model mechanism
of CP violation. However, cosmological considerations indicate that there should be other sources
of CP violation in Nature, so we aim to make further sensitive tests with beauty mesons, in order
to see if any evidence for additional sources of CP violation appear in such decays. We also plan to study
rare decays of B mesons, which may be able to indicate the presence of new types of interactions outside the Standard Model of particle physics.

o The elucidation of the properties of neutrinos. We have built part of the T2K experiment which is now operating in Japan. Analyses of T2K data has helped to show conclusively that neutrinos transmute or `oscillate' from one type to the other. We aim to continue running this experiment, to better measure these oscillations, and to establish whether the rate of oscillation is the same for anti-neutrinos. In parallel, we are deeply involved with preparations for the next generation of oscillation experiment. These projects, DUNE and Hyper-K, are coming to the end of the preparatory phase and we are making various contributions in both hardware and software to help enable the experiments to be ready for data taking around 2026. We further plan to contribute to the SuperNEMO experiment, which aims to determine the nature of the neutrino as a so-called Dirac or Majorana particle. The former has distinct anti-particles, while the latter is its own antiparticle. This question may be resolved by searching for double beta decay accompanied by no neutrinos. We will contribute to the analysis of data obtained by a "demonstrator module" attempting to observe such decays.

o We propose to continue our research and development of high power accelerators for the generation of proton, muon and neutrino beams. We have in mind future neutrino factories, although other machines could benefit from our research. Such neutrino factories, if built, would continue to develop the theme of research into neutrino oscillations and matter-antimatter asymmetry of neutrinos as outlined above. Such machines could also bring many benefits to medicine and industry.

o We propose to continue our research and development of position- and energy-sensitive detectors
for applications in neutrino experiments and with potential spin-off applications in industry.

o We will continue to develop our outreach programme which includes activities for local schools
and articles in popular science publications.

o Supported by a strong University strategy and ethos in knowledge exchange, we will continue to pursue all avenues
for possible knowledge exchange

Planned Impact

Beneficiaries of the proposed research will include:

o UK industry and academic partners from outside particle physics may benefit from the possibility of technological spin-off from hardware and/or software which we propose to develop as part of the research programme. A derivative of our research on future neutrino detectors has been the issue of two IP licenses contracted to a new spin-off company, UVDyne Ltd., since 2014 with the University as main shareholder. Support for all commercial and IP activities on campus is provided by Warwick Ventures - the university's professional subsidiary for commercial advancement and support. This work has been supported by the STFC IAA scheme (2016) the ICURe scheme (2017) and an STFC followon grant (2018). Clear market opportunities in the water quality and automotive sectors have been identified and UVdyne is part of a EU Horizon2020 RISE award for water quality research.
Societal beneficiaries are being addressed in an nterdisciplinary spin-off launched together with the Warwick Manufacturing Group which researches novel uses of potential future photovoltaic technologies. Generic particle physics software tools are our unique contribution to that effort and our designs were exhibited in 2015 at the Warwick Festival of Innovation and at the summer school of the Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community.
Initial results and software have been made publically available and the scope of the initial study has now widened to involve more Departments on campus such as the Warwick Business School and Engineering. The recent apointment of an STFC IPS Fellow, to work jointly with the EPP Group and Warwick Ventures, will greatly enhance our potential to identify and pursue areas of promising economic and/or societal impact in the future.

o Local school children and the general public through our outreach programme will learn about cutting-edge research carried out on the building blocks of matter and their fundamental interactions, using state-of the art instrumentation. One of the most effective means of engagement in terms of audience size comes through media coverage. For aspects of our research activity that we feel the public could particularly engage with, we work with the University's Communication Office to issue press releases. This has in the past been successful in generating some rather high profile news coverage e.g. BBC Midlands Today coverage, BBC website items, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire radio exposure as well as university video content organised by the Communications Office. Members of our group will continue to regularly publicise our science through engagements such as public lectures and talks to local clubs and societies. We will also continue to foster and develop close ties with local schools through: our annual Masterclass and International Masterclass initiative, hosting local schools visits, supervising students for summer holiday placements (e.g. as part of the Gold Crest scheme), activities associated with the STEMNET Science and Engineering Ambassadors (e.g. contributions to science fairs such as the annual Big Bang science fair).

We will continue to develop our links with schools (both students and teachers) through our close collaboration with the Warwick Physics Department's Ogden Teaching Fellow. Example annual events in which we participate include Faculty Taster Days, Future Scholars events, Teacher and Advisors Conference and the Warwick Christmas Science lectures. We also have part ownership of a mobile dome and cloud chamber which we use as a resource to publicise our research into primary schools.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Across our three main research areas:
-Energy Frontier Physics via the ATLAS experiment: Major contributions to the ATLAS trigger system and the construction of a new tracker detector (ITk) for the high luminosity phase of the LHC. Published important new results on the properties of the Higgs boson, weak interaction physics and top quark decay.
-Quark Flavour Physics with the LHCb experiment: we are playing a lead role in the analysis of quark mixing parameters (key inputs to the Standard Model of particle physics), rare b-quark decays and searches for beyond the Standard Model plus first measurements from LHCb of the W boson mass.
-Neutrino Physics: We have completed the design and prototyping phase of a new light-injection calibration system for the Hyper-K project and leading the development of the data acquistion system for Hyper-K (in addition to a host of other detector projects employing water Cherenkov technology). With the T2K project, Warwick have delivered important neutrino-nucleus cross section measurements. In addition this grant has enabled Warwick staff to assume key leadership roles in the construction phase of the DUNE liquid argon neutrino oscillation project (due to come on-line around the same times as Hyper-K).
Exploitation Route Much of our hardware and software development, implemented in the projects summarised above, is an integral part of the detector functionality that the international collaboration use and, in some cases develop further, to produce physics measurements to be published and signed by the whole collaboration.
Some of our work in the area of optical sensors has attracted industrial/commercial collaborators: our development of UV sensors has found application in underwater optical communication (moving towards commercialisation with Sonardyne Ltd.) and our work in developing fast light sensors for LHC high luminosity running, is happening in collaboration with Photek Ltd.
Sectors Aerospace

Defence and Marine

Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Education

Energy

Environment

 
Description Some of our work in the area of optical sensors has attracted industrial/commercial collaborators: - Our development of UV sensors has been supported by a STFC IAA, STFC Follow-On and, from 2021, has held a CLASP award to develop application in underwater optical communication hled jointly with UK industry partner, Sonardyne Ltd. - We are working in collaboration with the UK company Photek Ltd. to develop the next generation of ultra-fast light sensors. This will find immediate application in the upgrade of LHCb for high luminosity running of the LHC but has potential applications outside of particle physics and is being supported by a CASE studentship since 2022. The academic output from the Warwick group, directly enabled by this Consolidated Grant award, has enabled our group to play a major role in world-leading particle physics projects and we take every opportunity to publicise this work through outreach activities and to use our position to facilitate local schools making a connection with this work through e.g. Masterclass events, school liaison activities, exhibition and conference participation etc.
First Year Of Impact 2021
Sector Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Education
Impact Types Economic

 
Description Hyper-Kamiokande 
Organisation Imperial College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Research into design and construction of a series of light injection devices for the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment. Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment.
Collaborator Contribution Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment (Lancaster) Research into design of the outer detector photosensors (Glasgow, KCL) Software and analysis (Oxford, ICL) Development of calibration systems ( Liverpool, Sheffield)
Impact None yet.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Hyper-Kamiokande 
Organisation King's College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Research into design and construction of a series of light injection devices for the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment. Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment.
Collaborator Contribution Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment (Lancaster) Research into design of the outer detector photosensors (Glasgow, KCL) Software and analysis (Oxford, ICL) Development of calibration systems ( Liverpool, Sheffield)
Impact None yet.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Hyper-Kamiokande 
Organisation Lancaster University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Research into design and construction of a series of light injection devices for the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment. Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment.
Collaborator Contribution Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment (Lancaster) Research into design of the outer detector photosensors (Glasgow, KCL) Software and analysis (Oxford, ICL) Development of calibration systems ( Liverpool, Sheffield)
Impact None yet.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Hyper-Kamiokande 
Organisation Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Research into design and construction of a series of light injection devices for the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment. Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment.
Collaborator Contribution Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment (Lancaster) Research into design of the outer detector photosensors (Glasgow, KCL) Software and analysis (Oxford, ICL) Development of calibration systems ( Liverpool, Sheffield)
Impact None yet.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Hyper-Kamiokande 
Organisation University of Glasgow
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Research into design and construction of a series of light injection devices for the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment. Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment.
Collaborator Contribution Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment (Lancaster) Research into design of the outer detector photosensors (Glasgow, KCL) Software and analysis (Oxford, ICL) Development of calibration systems ( Liverpool, Sheffield)
Impact None yet.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Hyper-Kamiokande 
Organisation University of Liverpool
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Research into design and construction of a series of light injection devices for the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment. Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment.
Collaborator Contribution Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment (Lancaster) Research into design of the outer detector photosensors (Glasgow, KCL) Software and analysis (Oxford, ICL) Development of calibration systems ( Liverpool, Sheffield)
Impact None yet.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Hyper-Kamiokande 
Organisation University of Oxford
Department Oxford Hub
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Research into design and construction of a series of light injection devices for the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment. Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment.
Collaborator Contribution Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment (Lancaster) Research into design of the outer detector photosensors (Glasgow, KCL) Software and analysis (Oxford, ICL) Development of calibration systems ( Liverpool, Sheffield)
Impact None yet.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Hyper-Kamiokande 
Organisation University of Sheffield
Department Sheffield Biorepository
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Research into design and construction of a series of light injection devices for the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment. Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment.
Collaborator Contribution Research into design and writing the data acquisition system of the Hyper-Kamiokande experiment (Lancaster) Research into design of the outer detector photosensors (Glasgow, KCL) Software and analysis (Oxford, ICL) Development of calibration systems ( Liverpool, Sheffield)
Impact None yet.
Start Year 2022
 
Description The ATLAS experiment 
Organisation ATLAS Experiment
Country Switzerland 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Warwick supports the operation of ATLAS through trigger operation, maintenance and development. We play leading roles here, currently providing the trigger monitoring coordinator and deputy overall coordinator, but with the precise role held varying with time. We are also contributing to the phase-II upgrade, developing and building the quality checking system for the detector modules the UK and China are making for the tracker. We are active in a range of physics analyses: studies of the Higgs boson and QCD and searches for new physics.
Collaborator Contribution The collaboration of 3000 people has too many activities to usefully describe here.
Impact The discipline is Physics. 1000 papers have been produced by the collaboration, with Warwick playing a leading role in dozens,
Start Year 2012
 
Description Moderators for international particle physics masterclass 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Two group members act as moderators for this masterclass, helping school students to analyse data from the LHC as a form of engagement
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022
URL https://physicsmasterclasses.org/index.php?cat=schedule&page=schedule_2022
 
Description Summer student lectures 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact There was a talk on the discovery and study of the Higgs boson for undergraduates taking summer work at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://cernbox.cern.ch/index.php/s/5Biomyx2R8imFtt
 
Description Talk at British Science Festival 2019 held at the University of Warwick 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A talk for a general audience on the physics of neutrinos with a strong link to the activities at Warwick. Generated a large amount of interest across a wide range of age groups. Led to new schools applying to join our annual Particle Physics Masterclass event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://britishsciencefestival.org/