Heavy Ion Physics in ALICE at the LHC

对于追求科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）学科职业的本科生来说，一个主要的好处是有机会亲身体验技术和科学技术在现实世界中的应用。这个项目是在欧洲核子研究组织（CERN）的大型离子对撞机实验（ALICE）中研究重离子碰撞的研究计划的一部分。主要目标是为学生提供研究经验，激发他们对科学和技术的兴趣，使他们接触实验高能物理中使用的技术，使他们能够发展全球关系，并为他们在科学和技术领域的职业生涯做好准备。学生们将要从事的项目的重点是理解极密物质的行为，类似于宇宙大爆炸后瞬间存在的物质。这是通过以非常高的能量碰撞原子核，并使用高度复杂的探测器研究这些碰撞的残余物来实现的。参与这个项目的学生将分析这些碰撞产生的亚原子粒子，并将为设计新的探测器做出贡献，这些探测器将在未来实现更灵敏的实验。如前所述，欧洲核子研究中心的ALICE的重点是了解高密度物质的行为，类似于大爆炸后几分之一秒存在的物质。这种由夸克和胶子组成的非常热且密集的介质的物质状态通常被称为夸克胶子等离子体（QGP）。通过在非常高的能量下碰撞原子核，有可能在一个受控的环境中创建一个QGP，这有利于研究它的性质。芝加哥州立大学（CSU）的学生将研究高能质子-质子和铅-铅碰撞产生的喷流的风味特征，特别是奇异性，并将其用作QGP形成研究中的探针。此外，科罗拉多州立大学的学生将参与一项致力于ALICE子探测器升级的研发计划，从而参与ALICE实验中重要组件的硬件开发。与大型国际实验室的合作，如欧洲核子研究中心的大型强子对撞机，使学生能够与世界级的科学家和“最先进”的技术一起工作，从而为他们的STEM职业生涯做好准备。此外，像这样的项目有可能培养出一批成为STEM大使的学生骨干；向同龄人展示从事科学、工程、数学和技术职业的好处的学生。此外，参加该计划的学生可以作为高中年龄及以下学生的导师和榜样，从而为创造积极为STEM职业做准备的学生管道做出贡献。

A major benefit to undergraduate students pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines, is the opportunity to experience first-hand the application of technology and scientific techniques in real world settings. This project is part of a research program that studies heavy ion collisions within A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE) at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The primary goal is to provide students with research experiences that stimulate an interest in science and technology, exposes them to techniques used in experimental high energy physics, allows the development of global relationships and prepares them for careers in science and technology. The project on which the students will work has a focus centered on understanding the behavior of extremely dense matter, similar to that existing a fraction of a second after the Big Bang. This is achieved by colliding atomic nuclei at very high energies and studying the remnants of these collisions using highly sophisticated detectors. The students involved in this project will analyze the resulting sub-atomic particles generated by these collisions, and will contribute to the design of new detectors that will enable even more sensitive experiments in the future.As stated earlier, the focus of ALICE at CERN is to understand the behavior of matter at very high density, similar to the matter that existed a fraction a second after the Big Bang. This state of matter, consisting of a very hot and dense medium of quarks and gluons, is often referred to as a Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP). By colliding nuclei at very high energies it is possible to create a QGP in a controlled environment that facilitates the study of its properties. Chicago State University (CSU) students will investigate the flavor characteristics, specifically strangeness, of jets resulting from high-energy proton-proton and lead-lead collisions and their use as probes in the study of QGP formation. In addition, CSU students will be involved in a research and development program devoted to the upgrade of ALICE sub-detectors, thereby participating in the hardware development of important components in the ALICE experiment.Collaboration with a large international laboratory such as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN allows students to work with world-class scientists and "state of the art" technology, thus preparing them for STEM careers. Additionally, a program such as this has the potential of creating a cadre of students who become ambassadors for STEM; students who demonstrate to their peers the benefits of pursuing careers in science, engineering, math and technology. Also, students who participate in this program may serve as mentors and role models for students of high school age and younger, thereby, contributing to the creation of a pipeline of students actively preparing for careers in STEM.