Theoretical Physics: LHC, Gravity, Cosmology

该奖项资助约翰霍普金斯大学的马克·卡米恩科夫斯基教授和大卫·e·卡普兰教授的研究活动。粒子物理学的目的是了解物理学的基本定律和支配宇宙中所有物理系统行为的规则。在过去的一个世纪里，在这方面取得进展的传统途径是在粒子对撞机上进行实验，最近的实验是大型强子对撞机（LHC），这是一个重要的国际合作项目，美国也参与其中。另一种途径是利用对天体物理系统以及整个宇宙的观察，作为基础物理学的实验室，因为这些宇宙系统也必须遵守物理定律。在他们的研究中，卡米奥科夫斯基教授和卡普兰教授的目标是提出关于物理基本定律的新假设，并开发分析工具，以便在我们努力发现新的物理定律的过程中，充分利用国家在对撞机和宇宙实验方面的投资。对这一课题的研究通过推动科学在最基本的方向上的进步来促进国家利益。它还通过吸引年轻人才进入STEM领域，并为他们提供强大的分析工具，以推动推动经济进步的创新，从而促进国家利益。该项目还将通过培养研究生来产生更广泛的影响，这些研究生将作为研究的学徒。卡米恩科夫斯基教授和卡普兰教授还打算通过公开讲座、电影和视频、在线工具和流行文章积极参与公共教育。从技术上讲，卡米奥科夫斯基教授将探索受弦宇宙启发的暗能量模型。这些暗能量模型通常不仅涉及类轴子的精萃场，还涉及其他可能在早期宇宙中具有微小但微妙的动力学效应的场。Kamionkowski教授将探索一套基于宇宙微波背景（CMB）测量和星系调查的技术，以及对轴子样场的各种搜索，以寻找这些暗能量模型的证据。卡米恩科夫斯基还计划研究暗物质的新想法。将探讨这些限制对直接和间接探测的影响，以及对CMB波动、CMB光谱扭曲和黑暗时代的21厘米波动的影响。卡普兰教授计划探索层次问题的新方法，其中标量场在真空之间隧穿，从而探索希格斯质量的大范围值。扫描到希格斯质量的收敛是由于扫描负质量和正质量的平方而产生的反反应的结果。卡普兰教授还将开发一种Froggatt-Nielsen品种的树级风味模型，该模型可以重现标准模型费米子光谱，并可以预测未来b夸克工厂中改变风味的中性电流或轻子风味违反的测试。除了培养学生之外，这个项目还将产生许多更广泛的影响。卡普兰将用他最近的电影《粒子热》（particle Fever）中的残余镜头讲述更多关于粒子物理学的故事；担任其他几部科学电影和电视节目的顾问；准备一套简短的在线物理教程。Kamionkowski将继续作为CMB科学的公共发言人，为著名的科学期刊做编辑工作，并在几个咨询委员会任职。卡米奥科夫斯基和卡普兰都参加了约翰霍普金斯大学的夸克网项目，该项目让巴尔的摩地区的高中教师和学生参与最前沿的研究。

This award funds the research activities of Professors Marc Kamionkowski and David E. Kaplan at Johns Hopkins University. The aim of particle physics is to understand the fundamental laws of physics and the rules that govern the behavior of all physical systems in the Universe. The traditional avenues for progress in this endeavor have over the past century been experiments at particle colliders, the most recent such experiment being the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a major international collaboration with significant US participation. Another avenue has been to use observations of astrophysical systems, as well as the Universe as a whole, as a laboratory for fundamental physics, as these cosmic systems must also obey the laws of physics. In their research, Professors Kamionkowski and Kaplan aim to develop new hypotheses about the fundamental laws of physics and to develop analytic tools to capitalize fully, in our effort to uncover new physical laws, upon the nation's investment in collider and cosmic experiments. Research on this subject advances the national interest by promoting the advancement of science in its most fundamental direction. It also advances the national interest by attracting young talent to STEM fields and providing them with powerful analytic tools in order to drive the type of innovation that drives economic progress. This project will also have broader impacts through the training of graduate students who will serve as apprentices in the research. Professors Kamionkowski and Kaplan also intend to be engaged energetically in public education through public lectures, films and videos, online tools, and popular articles.More technically, Prof. Kamionkowski will explore models for dark energy inspired by the string axiverse. These dark-energy models often involve not only axion-like quintessence fields but also other fields that may have small but subtle dynamical effects in the early Universe. Prof. Kamionkowski will explore a suite of techniques based on measurements from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and galaxy surveys, as well as assorted searches for axion-like fields, to search for evidence of these dark-energy models. Kamionkowski also plans to study new ideas for dark matter. The implications of these limits for direct and indirect detection and the implications for CMB fluctuations, CMB spectral distortions, and 21-cm fluctuations from the dark ages will be explored. Prof. Kaplan plans to explore new approaches to the hierarchy problem in which a scalar field tunnels between vacua, thereby exploring a vast range of values for the Higgs mass. The convergence of the scanning to our Higgs mass is a consequence of a back reaction due to the scanning of negative as well as positive mass-squared. Prof. Kaplan will also develop a tree-level model of flavor of the Froggatt-Nielsen variety which could reproduce the Standard-Model fermion spectrum and would make predictions for flavor-changing neutral currents at future b-quark factories or tests of lepton-flavor violation. In addition to the training of students, numerous Broader Impacts of this project are envisioned. Kaplan will tell additional stories of particle physics with remnant footage from his recent film, "Particle Fever"; serve as advisor to several other science films and TV shows; and prepare a set of brief online physics tutorials. Kamionkowski will remain active as a public spokesperson for CMB science, do editorial work for prominent science journals, and serve on several advisory committees. Both Kamionkowski and Kaplan participate in the Johns Hopkins Quarknet program which engages Baltimore-area high-school teachers and students in cutting edge research.