LHCb Upgrade: Beyond the Energy Frontier- cost to completion
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
LHCb is a particle physics experiment operating at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. It is the world's leading physics experiment in its field and has a unique capability to explore physics beyond the Standard Model. LHCb's main aim is to search for new physics beyond the Standard Model through precision tests of matter anti-matter asymmetries (CP violation), rare decays of particles containing beauty and charm quarks and more generally by detecting any deviation from the expected behaviour of any particle. The experiment also has world-class programmes in other areas due to its unique design and coverage of an angular region closer to the beams that at the other main LHC experiments.
The opportunity now exists to dramatically increase the reach of LHCb's programme and to widen its physics profile. The UK groups lead the upgrade of the VELO (Vertex Locator), the most precise vertex detector at the LHC. Liverpool is responsible for the upgraded VELO assembly. This award will allow the upgraded VELO detector to be delivered to CERN for installation and operation in the next period of data taking.
The opportunity now exists to dramatically increase the reach of LHCb's programme and to widen its physics profile. The UK groups lead the upgrade of the VELO (Vertex Locator), the most precise vertex detector at the LHC. Liverpool is responsible for the upgraded VELO assembly. This award will allow the upgraded VELO detector to be delivered to CERN for installation and operation in the next period of data taking.
Organisations
Publications
Bassi G
(2023)
A FPGA-Based Architecture for Real-Time Cluster Finding in the LHCb Silicon Pixel Detector
in IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
Gianelle A
(2022)
Quantum Machine Learning for b-jet charge identification
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Hennessy K
(2021)
Readout Firmware of the Vertex Locator for LHCb Run 3 and Beyond
in IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
Khoo T
(2022)
Constraints on Future Analysis Metadata Systems in High Energy Physics
in Computing and Software for Big Science
| Description | Audio voiceover recording for the new CERN Science Gateway |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I recorded the audio transcript for the CERN Science Gateway. This was for an audio tour for visually impaired visitors. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | BBC World interview |
| 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 | Interview for the Context, BBC World, around LHC Run 3 startup |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | BBC breakfast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview on BBC breakfast around the Run 3 start |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Book review for Nature: Grace in all simplicity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I wrote a book review, reviewing "Grace in all simplicity". I received emails afterwards from members of the public thanking me for my review. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03424-5 |
| Description | Discussion with Pallab Ghosh re LHCb/Run 3 preparations |
| 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 | discussion/interview with Pallab Ghosh as fact finding and quotes for longer Run3 startup article planned for 2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | FT interview |
| 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 | Interview for Clive Cookson piece around Run 3 startup |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ft.com/content/cbe55858-86c4-441f-a4db-ebfe0ae60969 |
| Description | Filming for BBC/China documentary on antimatter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Preparatory meetings/explanations with researchers about antimatter and its discovery, and the cutting edge of research today. One day filming as a contributor to hour long documentary, an episode in "The Universe's greatest mysteries" (BBC), destined for China/Asia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | I wrote a piece for Womanthology for International Women in Science day |
| 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 | I wrote a piece for Womanthology for International day of women in science. This was then promoted by the IOP on social media. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.womanthology.co.uk/expanding-possibilities-for-women-in-science/ |
| Description | ITV news at 10 interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview for ITV news at 10 around LHC startup. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Interview for radio scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Radio Scotland around Run 3 startup. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Interview for the Guardian about FCC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed for a piece about FCC, following BBC's coverage. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Interview on the Gordon Smart show, Radio 5, about FCC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Following the BBC coverage, I was interviewed on the Gordon Smart show about FCC. As this was a late night show the interview was a bit longer (15 minutes) although it covered the same material. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Interview on the Today programme, radio 4, about FCC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed on the Today programme (with Jon Butterworth), following CERN Council's sign-off of the FCC mid term review. This generated additional coverage (see further entries), and positive email feedback from the FCC community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Interview with Nature news ahead of Run3 startup |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview ahead of Run3 start |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Interviewed for New Scientist on ALPHA_g antimatter result |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed by the New Scientist after ALPHA-g released their equivalence test of antimatter under gravity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394304-antimatter-definitely-doesnt-fall-up-physicists-confirm... |
| Description | Interviewed on ABC (Australia) news about FCC |
| 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 | Following the BBC coverage I was interviewed by ABC news (television) in Australia about FCC. This was a mid-morning interview in Australia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Nature news interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Interview for piece around Run 3 startup |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01388-6 |
| Description | Nicky Campbell's 5 live phone-in |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Participant on Nicky Campbell's 5 live phone in, answering questions on CERN and particle physics for an hour. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Participation in discussion on arts/science for CERN's 70th anniversary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was the first event in a series celebrating CERN's 70th anniversary. I was asked to participate in a panel debate between artists and scientists that had participated in the Arts At CERN programme. I also participated in the second half of the event which I will give a separate entry to. The debate was booked out and broadcast online. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://indico.cern.ch/event/1360288/page/32116-programme |
| Description | Posting of IATV antimatter debate with Sabine Hossenfeld and Lee Smolin |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | reocrded debate about antimatter, released on tuotube |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2ngmVwXteE |
| Description | Promotional film for Liverpool physics: "Powerhouse of global discovery driven science" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed and filmed as part of this promotional film. The film has raised the profile of particle physics institutionally and helped us become a strategic priority. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXyOE8ZaIQU |
| Description | Prospect interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interviewee for Philip Ball article on LHC and the future of particle physics |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/science-and-technology/is-particle-physics-at-a-dead-end-large-ha... |
| Description | Radio 2 interview/midnight mastermind quiz with OJ Borg (on antimatter) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | participation in midnight mastermind asking questions about antimatter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Radio 4 programme with poet |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Programme with poet Fiona Sampson, exploring antimatter (with LHCb), our process and language |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001dwnt |
| Description | Radio 5 live interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview on the Naga Munchetty show on 5 live, around the LHC reaching record breaking energies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Razor (antimatter documentary/LHCb) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This is a science documentary series, Razor, filmed by CCGN with global reach. One episode concerns antimatter. I am one of the interviewees and have helped with parts of the script. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | STFC/uni press release on VELO |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I helped STFC prepare a press release around the delivery of the VELO to CERN in time for Run 3. This involved drafting and iterating text and coming up with quotes for Themis. The text was used for a university news story too. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/physical-sciences/news/articles/the-device-hoping-to-answer-the-ultimate... |
| Description | Talk on Antimatter for "Unveiling the Universe" - CERN's 70th anniversary celebrations |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was one of four speakers (with Gian Guidice, David Gross and Djuna Croon) talking about various aspects of CERN's history for this anniversary event. I talked about antimatter. The event was booked out in the auditorium at CERN and webcast. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://indico.cern.ch/event/1360288/page/32116-programme |
| Description | Talk to IOP East Midlands branch: Antimatter Matters |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk on antimatter to the East Midlands IOP branch. This was as part of a VP of Science and Innovation visit to the area. It was the best attended talk in the IOP calendar (I think students were under orders to attend). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk to Institute of Physics South-East branch: Antimatter Matters |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk on antimatter to the local IOP branch as part of an IOP Vice President visit. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Today programme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview on radio 4's Today programme around LHC Run 3 startup. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | University news story |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Helped draft and supplied quote for university news story on Run 3 startup |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2022/07/05/large-hadron-collider-takes-first-data-in-record-breaking-ru... |
| Description | University news story about poet |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | University news story to accompany radio 4 programme with Fiona Sampson - I fact checked. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2022/11/16/scientists-inspire-new-poetry-for-radio-4s-language-exchange... |
| Description | Wrote article for the New European: CERN's 21st century dream machine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was asked to write an opinion piece on FCC, following the BBC news coverage. This was a repeat invitation as I'd written a piece for the New European on LHC a year previously. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/cerns-21st-century-dream-machine/ |
| Description | Wrote article for the New European: Is the Large Hadron Collider Stuck? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I wrote a 2000 word piece for the New European. This was after I'd been recommended by Philip Ball (the science writer), who had written on a similar theme before. I had an invitation to write an opinion piece on FCC after (ie repeat invitation) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/is-the-large-hadron-collider-stuck/ |
| Description | assistance in drafting STFC press release for VELO completion |
| 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 | drafting / revising STFC press release on VELO delivery, ahead of delivery. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | la scienze piece |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This is actually the nature news article, translated |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.lescienze.it/news/2022/07/07/news/lhc_aggiornato_run3_aumento_energia_esperimenti_atlas_... |
| Description | quoted in Spanish piece on Galois |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I'm not really sure how to classify this. I contributed to a radio 4 documentary on Galois 10 (?) years ago and am quoted from it here. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.levante-emv.com/tendencias21/2022/09/19/mayor-testamento-matematico-historia-surgio-7562... |