Beyond the Minimal Dark Sector: Finding New Physics in Cosmology and Colliders

超越最小暗区：在宇宙学和对撞机中寻找新物理学

• 批准号: 0947827
• 负责人: Neal Weiner
• 金额: $ 24万
• 依托单位: New York University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-10-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0947827&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Beyond; Minimal; Dark; Sector; Finding

The latter half of the twentieth century led to a remarkable scientific achievement: the establishment of the so-called Standard Model of particle physics. As a theory, it incorporates all known particles and forces of nature, excluding gravity. It has been extremely successful in describing known phenomena, but we are prompted to ask whether there is physics beyond the Standard Model. Are there new forces of nature, or new states of matter, which are important to the universe? In this project, the PI intends to explore new theories of physics beyond the Standard Model, focusing on interesting phenomenological signals absent in most conventional models. He will study many topics including unexpected signals of the dark sector in terrestrial and cosmological experiments, models which allow wider ranges of flavor violation, connections between neutrino masses and dark matter, and models of dark matter motivated by cosmic ray signals. By exploring what connections could exist between these apparently disparate fields --- dark matter, cosmic rays, neutrino physics, and collider physics --- the PI hopes to gain insights into the possible nature of these diverse unexplored phenomena, and find ways in which terrestrial and cosmological studies can complement one another.This project is also envisioned to have two key broader impacts. First, the PI will maintain a continued effort to participate in summer schools and will compile a regularly updated set of lecture notes on dark matter. This will provide an important resource for graduate students or interested faculty in a rapidly evolving field. Second, the PI will continue his very successful outreach effort with the Governor's School West in Salem, North Carolina. This public summer school draws students from across the state, from varied socioeconomic backgrounds, providing an opportunity to promote physics research and careers to interested and talented students, and counsel them on pursuing such a path. This program has been highly successful over the last several years, and offers year- on-year interactions with new groups of students through an established educational setup.

20世纪后半叶出现了一项了不起的科学成就：建立了所谓的粒子物理学标准模型。作为一个理论，它包含了所有已知的粒子和自然力，除了重力。它在描述已知现象方面非常成功，但我们不禁要问，在标准模型之外是否存在物理。有没有新的自然力量，或者新的物质状态，对宇宙很重要？在这个项目中，PI打算探索超越标准模型的新物理理论，专注于大多数传统模型中缺失的有趣的现象学信号。他将研究许多课题，包括在地球和宇宙实验中发现的意想不到的暗区信号，允许更大范围的风味破坏的模型，中微子质量和暗物质之间的联系，以及由宇宙射线信号驱动的暗物质模型。通过探索这些明显不同的领域——暗物质、宇宙射线、中微子物理和对撞机物理——之间可能存在的联系，PI希望深入了解这些不同的未被探索的现象的可能本质，并找到地球和宇宙研究可以相互补充的方法。预计该项目还将产生两个关键的更广泛的影响。首先，PI将继续努力参加暑期学校，并将编写一套定期更新的暗物质讲义。这将为研究生或感兴趣的教师在一个快速发展的领域提供一个重要的资源。第二，PI将继续他在北卡罗莱纳州塞勒姆的总督西学校非常成功的外展工作。这所公立暑期学校吸引了来自全州不同社会经济背景的学生，为感兴趣和有才华的学生提供了促进物理研究和职业发展的机会，并为他们提供了追求这条道路的建议。这个项目在过去几年中非常成功，并通过既定的教育设置提供了与新学生群体的年复一年的互动。