CAREER: Top-Quark Physics, Computing and Software at the Large Hadron Collider

本方案拟用于在欧洲核子研究中心的大型强子对撞机（LHC）上使用CMS探测器研究顶夸克物理。根据费米实验室的Tevatron的数据，这个夸克的行为方式与粒子物理学的标准模型一致。然而，由于Tevatron的能量和亮度适中，可以研究的顶夸克数量很少，迄今为止的测试也不是很严格。在运行初期，大型强子对撞机将以100倍于Tevatron的速度产生顶夸克，最终达到1000倍于Tevatron的速度。这些数据速率带来的精确测量可以揭示新的物理学，或者对这个异常重的物体的标准模型进行精确验证。PI已经制定了一项策略，用于开发在CMS中研究顶夸克所需的工具，用于理解和校准CMS探测器的初始工作，并用于执行一个物理程序，其中包括测量顶夸克质量，CKM耦合（单顶），顶夸克的自旋，以及搜索t-tbar-希格斯和罕见的衰变。该提案的一个技术要点是领导为美国CMS建立一个二级计算中心的努力。CMS Tier-2中心将执行整个计算任务的重要部分，并且对物理分析至关重要。PI为美国CMS计算项目执行团队成员，负责Tier-2中心实施。第三部分是一项教育和推广计划，旨在鼓励内布拉斯加州农村社区的年轻人从事科学事业。在创建这个提议的活动时进行了深思熟虑的分析，并且应该有基准来评估该计划的有效性的想法是重要的。

This proposal is for the study of top quark physics at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN using the CMS detector. This quark, based on data from the Tevatron at Fermilab, behaves in a manner consistent with the Standard Modelof Particle Physics. Due to the modest energy and luminosity of the Tevatron, however, the number of top quarks that can be studied is small and the tests to date are not very stringent. Early in its operation, the LHC will produce top quarks at 100 times the Tevatron's rate and eventually at one thousand times the Tevatron's rate. The precise measurements enabled by these data rates could reveal new physics or result in a precise validation of the Standard Model for this unusually heavy object. The PI has mapped out a strategy for developing tools that are required to study the top quark at CMS, for using them in the initial effort to understand and calibrate the CMS detector, and for executing a program of physics which includes measurement of the top quark mass, CKM couplings (single top), spin of the top quark, and search for t-tbar-Higgs and rare decays. A technical thrust of the proposal is to lead an effort to establish a Tier-2 computing center for US CMS. The CMS Tier-2 centers will carry out a significant part of the overall computing task and will be crucial to the physics analysis. The PI is the member of the project execution team for US CMS computing and is in charge of the Tier-2 center implementation. The third component is an education and outreach program directed at encouraging young people in rural communities in Nebraska to embark on careers in science. A thoughtful analysis went into the creation of this proposed activity and the idea that there should be benchmarks to evaluate the effectiveness of the program is significant.