Copy of Low-energy searches for symmetry violations and for particle physics beyond the Standard Model using neutrons, neutrinos and slow light

Lead Research Organisation: University of Sussex
Department Name: Sch of Mathematical & Physical Sciences

Abstract

This programme uses mostly small, low-energy experiments to look for and to study features originating beyond the traditional Standard Model (SM) of particle physics. These include an electric dipole moment of the neutron (for which the unsatisfactory SM parameterisation of CP violation predicts a value many orders of magnitude smaller than most other models such as Supersymmetry), Lorentz invariance violation (a feature of some Grand Unified Theories), precision measurements of neutrino oscillations (which require a finite neutrino mass), and neutrinoless double-beta decay (which would require neutrinos to be so-called Majorana particles, i.e. their own antiparticles). All of the projects in this proposal are, or can expect to be, world leading in their respective areas, despite being very low-cost in comparison with more 'traditional' collider-based particle physics projects. Much of this work also provides a vital link to cosmology, thus bringing us closer to an understanding of our origins -- for example, CP violation underlies the dominance of matter over antimatter in the Universe.The work is to be carried out in a variety of locations: neutron EDM development work at Sussex is to be followed by exploitation at the ILL in Grenoble; MINOS is situated primarily at Fermilab (Chicago), and SNO in Ontario; SLAM will stay at Sussex; COBRA is based at Gran Sasso, Italy.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Amount £390,494 (GBP)
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2007 
End 11/2010
 
Description SEPnet RDI 
Organisation Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Department Particle Physics Department
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Founder member. Supervision of student working on detector development. Some hardware provision. Teaching (inc. via video link) of graduate-level course on detectors. Our group has chaired the SEPnet RDI board.
Collaborator Contribution Radiation Detection Instrumentation (RDI) SEPnet research theme - RAL provides expertise in detector development (for SiPMTs)
Impact Award of SEPnet studentship.
Start Year 2009
 
Description SEPnet RDI 
Organisation University of Surrey
Department Department of Physics
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Founder member. Supervision of student working on detector development. Some hardware provision. Teaching (inc. via video link) of graduate-level course on detectors. Our group has chaired the SEPnet RDI board.
Collaborator Contribution Radiation Detection Instrumentation (RDI) SEPnet research theme - RAL provides expertise in detector development (for SiPMTs)
Impact Award of SEPnet studentship.
Start Year 2009
 
Description Adur Arts Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 140 people attended this event that combined art, science and music, centred around our STFC research. Half an hour of questions and discussion followed.

This inspired the inclusion of a similar activity in the Brighton Science Festival in 2011, as well as the continuation of the art-meets-science idea as a part of the annual Adur Arts Festival.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
 
Description Research-based Outreach 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Keynote/Invited Speaker
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact At the University of Sussex, we run a major outreach programme within the department of physics and astronomy, originally set up as part of the SEPnet initiative. The program involves members of the department at all levels, from taught undergraduate and postgraduate students, research students, post doctorial researchers and faculty. We have a wide range of practical activities available to take out to local schools, which are boxed up with a detailed lesson plan for department members to take to take out or use on site. The majority of our outreach activities are linked to our research.

Our annual reach is to 5,000 students per year, working with approximately 800 primary school students, 3500 secondary student, and 700 A-level students, in addition to the 2,000 members of the general public that experience our events. We currently run 130 events per year, reaching school and college students at 60 different schools. We have both schools visiting the University of Sussex campus in Brighton, and we also go out to schools.

Around half of our events involve communicating the research carried out at the University direct to schools, colleges and the public.
25% of our events involve describing our particle physics research, usually consisting of a research talk (about the Large Hadron Collider, SNO+, etc) which is reinforced by practical activities (such as building cloud chambers, or visiting our research labs). 20% of our events directly describe the astronomy research carried out at the University, usually as a research talk (about the Herschel Space Telescope, for instance) alongside practical activities, such as day-time or night-time astronomical observing.

Every week during the school terms, we run a School's Lab day, where a group of students visit the University for as full day of experiments specifically designed for the GCSE, AS and A2 level syllabus. During those days, the students visit a research lab, and get the opportunity to talk with our research students about their work. In addition, visiting A-level students also have a research lecture, and get to here the latest research being done here at Sussex.

Every year, we offer masterclasses in both astronomy and particle physics, with one day aimed at GCSE students, and another at A-level. These days involve research-level talks, visits to labs, as well as hands on experimental experience.


We have developed links with local schools and colleges. Teachers frequently approach us to request research related outreach activities (talks, lab tours, practical activities), ask for advice or to borrow equipment for teaching. In 2013, we ran the Institute of Physics sponsored Physic Update weekend conference for teachers.
Since we began our outreach program, undergraduate numbers has risen significantly within the department, from an intake of 40 students in 2009, up to the current (and sustained) 140 students per year.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014
URL http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/outreach
 
Description Schools Lab 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Groups of 10-15 pupils attended short talks about our research, which always spark discussion and debate.

Has become established part of SEPnet outreach programme. Capability is expanding, to reach more pupils.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010