Ultra-Rare Kaon Decays at CERN

CERN 的超罕见 Kaon 衰变

• 批准号: 1205940
• 负责人: Philip Rubin
• 金额: $ 37.5万
• 依托单位: George Mason University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-15 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1205940&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Ultra; Rare; Kaon; Decays; CERN

Searches for evidence for new physics beyond the Standard Model can be addressed through direct searches at the Energy Frontier at High Energy Colliding Beam Facilities such as the LHC and through a complementary technique of indirect searches at the Intensity Frontier, in experimental measurements of very-rare decay modes of known particles. This project focuses on continued research with the NA62 experiment at CERN, which is a measurement of the rare decay of the charge K meson through the process, K+ - pi+ nu nubar. This decay is well-predicted in the Standard Model of Particle Physics, and a precision experimental measurement of the actual rate could provide evidence for new physics, if the observed rate differs significantly from the theoretical prediction. The experimental challenge is occasioned by the very small branching fraction predicted by the Standard Model for this decay mode of 0.85 x 10-10. Despite its small size, the GMU group is engaged in all aspects of NA62, with responsibilities in event trigger logic, trigger hardware and front-end electronics communication, slow controls, CEDAR (a special differential Cherenkov counter for the detection of kaons in the beam line, for which GMU has made significant contributions) and Muon Veto hardware components.The George Mason group is making an impressive effort in broadening the participation in fundamental research at the intensity frontier, through its participation in QuarkNet and through a separate NSF IRES (International Research Experience for Students) grant that brings up to five undergraduates to CERN each summer, with applicants selected from a consortium of universities and colleges in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area.

可以通过在高能碰撞束设施（例如LHC）的能量前沿进行直接搜索来解决标准模型以外的新物理学的证据，并通过在强度边界进行间接搜索的补充技术，在实验性测量已知粒子的非常稀有的衰减模式中。 该项目着重于CERN的NA62实验的持续研究，这是对电荷K梅森在整个过程中的罕见衰减的测量，即K+ -Pi+ Nu Nubar。 如果观察到的速率与理论预测显着不同，则该衰减在粒子物理学的标准模型中得到了很好的预测，对实际速率的精确实验测量可以为新物理学提供证据。 实验挑战是由标准模型预测的0.85 x 10-10的标准模型预测的非常小的分支分数引起的。 尽管尺寸很小，但GMU组仍参与NA62的各个方面，事件中的责任触发了逻辑，触发硬件和前端电子通信，缓慢的控制，雪松（一种特殊的差分Cherenkov对抗（一种特殊的差异性Cherenkov对抗），以探测束线中的Kaons，以使GMU在这方面构成了巨大的贡献和Muon Vetware的组合。通过参加Quarknet的参与以及通过单独的NSF IRES（学生的国际研究经验）授予，参与强度边界的基础研究，每年夏天将多达五名本科生带给CERN，并从华盛顿DC Metropolitan地区的大学和学院选择了申请人。