Theoretical Physics: LHC, Gravity, Cosmology

理论物理：大型强子对撞机、引力、宇宙学

• 批准号: 1519353
• 负责人: Marc Kamionkowski
• 金额: $ 60万
• 依托单位: Johns Hopkins University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-09-01 至 2018-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1519353&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Theoretical; Physics; LHC; Gravity; Cosmology

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.

该奖项资助约翰霍普金斯大学的马克·卡米扬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，最近的此类实验是大型强子对撞机(LHC)，这是一项有美国重要参与的重大国际合作。另一种方法是使用对天体物理系统以及整个宇宙的观测，作为基础物理的实验室，因为这些宇宙系统也必须遵守物理定律。在他们的研究中，卡米扬科夫斯基和卡普兰教授的目标是开发关于物理学基本定律的新假设，并开发分析工具，以充分利用我们在努力发现新的物理定律的过程中，对国家在对撞机和宇宙实验上的投资。对这一主题的研究促进了科学在其最根本方向上的进步，从而促进了国家利益。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来推动推动经济进步的创新，从而促进国家利益。该项目还将通过培训将在研究中充当学徒的研究生产生更广泛的影响。卡米扬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、在线工具和受欢迎的手工艺品，积极参与公共教育。更严格地说，卡米扬科夫斯基教授将探索受到弦轴线启发的暗能量模型。这些暗能量模型通常不仅包括轴子状的精英场，还包括在早期宇宙中可能具有微小但微妙的动力学效应的其他场。Kamionkowski教授将探索一套基于宇宙微波背景(CMB)和星系测量的测量技术，以及对轴子类场的分类搜索，以寻找这些暗能量模型的证据。卡米扬科夫斯基还计划研究暗物质的新概念。将探讨这些极限对直接和间接探测的影响，以及对CMB波动、CMB光谱扭曲和来自暗年龄的21厘米波动的影响。卡普兰教授计划探索解决等级问题的新方法，即标量场在真空之间穿行，从而探索希格斯质量值的广泛范围。扫描到我们的希格斯质量的会聚是由于扫描负质量和正质量平方而产生的反向反应的结果。卡普兰教授还将开发一个树级的Froggatt-Nielsen风味模型，它可以再现标准模型费米子光谱，并预测未来b夸克工厂的风味变化中性流或轻子风味破坏测试。除了对学生的培训外，该项目还将产生许多更广泛的影响。卡普兰将用他最近电影《粒子热》中的剩余镜头讲述更多关于粒子物理的故事；担任其他几部科学电影和电视节目的顾问；并准备一套简短的在线物理教程。Kamionkowski将继续积极担任CMB Science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。Kamionkowski和Kaplan都参与了约翰霍普金斯大学Quarknet项目，该项目让巴尔的摩地区的高中教师和学生参与尖端研究。