RSVP Advanced Planning

回复高级计划

• 批准号: 0428662
• 负责人: Peter Nemethy
• 金额: $ 571万
• 依托单位: New York University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-07-01 至 2007-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0428662&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RSVP; Advanced; Planning

The scientific purpose of the Rare Symmetry Violating Processes (RSVP) project is to observe extremely rare processes that would signal a breakdown of fundamental symmetry laws of the Standard Model (SM) of Elementary Particle Physics. In doing so, RSVP will seek answers to three of the most compelling questions in particle physics: What new particles and fundamental interactions exist beyond the highest energies achievable with the highest energy colliders; what is the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe; and is the degree of CP (charge-parity) symmetry breaking in the K meson and B meson systems the same, as predicted by the SM.The RSVP project will deploy two types of measurement toward these ends, both of which utilize intense proton beams (provided by the Brookhaven National Laboratory Alternating Gradient Synchrotron) that enable the search for extremely rare processes at a "sensitivity frontier", thus complementing the traditional approach of searching for new particles at the "energy frontier." One approach will search for the direct conversion of a muon into an electron, a process that becomes possible in theories of physics beyond the SM. This subproject is called MECO for "Muon to Electron Conversion." This transition violates lepton flavor conservation and is strictly forbidden in the SM. MECO will observe this process even if only one in 1016 of the muons undergoes the transition, a sensitivity that is more than one thousand times better than previous measurements. If no muon-to-electron conversion is observed at this sensitivity, some of the leading supersymmetric models for physics beyond the SM would be ruled out. Thus, even a negative result would be of great importance.The second approach employed in RSVP is to observe CP (charge-parity) symmetry breaking in the decay of the long-lived neutral kaon (K0) to a neutral pion (p0), a neutrino, and an anti-neutrino (KOPIO). Only one in 40 billion kaons are expected to decay in this manner. KOPIO is one hundred thousand times more sensitive than previous measurements. A measurement of CP violation in this system will complement and greatly strengthen the many analyses of CP violation in B mesons being conducted in other major experiments around the world. Any difference between CP violation in the K and B mesons would also signal physics beyond the SM. In another important context, the violation of CP symmetry is required to understand the evolution of the early universe into the present matter-dominated universe. Education and Outreach:KOPIO and MECO are state-of-the-art experiments that address important questions at the frontiers of physics. The potential to leverage RSVP to enhance education at the K-16 levels, to stimulate public interest in science, and to involve underrepresented groups is high. Planning for education and outreach activities is part of the scope of this award.

罕见对称破坏过程（RSVP）项目的科学目的是观察极其罕见的过程，这些过程将标志着基本粒子物理标准模型（SM）基本对称定律的崩溃。 在这样做的过程中，RSVP将寻求粒子物理学中三个最引人注目的问题的答案：在最高能量对撞机所能达到的最高能量之外，存在什么新的粒子和基本相互作用;宇宙中物质-反物质不对称的起源是什么;是CP的程度（电荷宇称）对称性破缺在K介子和B介子系统相同，正如SM所预测的那样。RSVP项目将为这些目的部署两种类型的测量，两者都利用了强质子束（由布鲁克海文国家实验室交替梯度同步加速器提供），能够在“灵敏度前沿”搜索极其罕见的过程，从而补充了在“能量前沿”寻找新粒子的传统方法。“一种方法将寻找μ子到电子的直接转换，这一过程在SM之外的物理学理论中成为可能。 这个子项目被称为MECO，意思是“μ子到电子的转换”。“这种转变违反了轻子味道守恒，在SM中是严格禁止的。 即使只有1016分之一的μ子经历跃迁，MECO也会观察到这一过程，灵敏度比以前的测量高出一千倍以上。 如果在这种灵敏度下没有观察到μ子到电子的转换，那么SM之外的一些领先的超对称物理模型将被排除。 RSVP的第二种方法是观察长寿命中性K介子（K 0）衰变为中性π介子（p0）、中微子和反中微子（KOPIO）的CP（电荷宇称）对称性破缺。 预计400亿k介子中只有一个会以这种方式衰变。 KOPIO的灵敏度是以前测量的十万倍。 在这个系统中对CP破坏的测量将补充和大大加强世界上其他主要实验中对B介子CP破坏的许多分析。 K介子和B介子中CP破坏之间的任何差异也将标志着SM之外的物理学。 在另一个重要的背景下，CP对称性的破坏是理解早期宇宙到现在物质主导的宇宙的演化所必需的。 教育和推广：KOPIO和MECO是解决物理学前沿重要问题的最先进的实验。 利用RSVP加强K-16级教育，激发公众对科学的兴趣，并使代表性不足的群体参与进来的潜力很大。 教育和推广活动的规划是该奖项范围的一部分。