Experiments with Kaons at CERN

世纪的主要学术成就之一是粒子物理学标准模型（SM）的发展。该模型成功地将当时已知的所有基本粒子分类为具有相似量子特性的组的层次结构。到目前为止，这个模型的有效性被欧洲核子研究中心大型强子对撞机上发现的希格斯玻色子所证实。然而，目前存在的标准模型留下了许多关于宇宙的问题，包括为什么希格斯质量具有它的价值以及为什么宇宙中没有反物质等基本问题。为了寻找这些和其他关于宇宙的开放性问题的答案，它是如何形成的，为什么它是这样的，一个重要的领域是研究K介子的罕见衰变，作为超越标准模型（BSM）的科学探索。 K介子是含有奇异夸克的最轻粒子。位于瑞士日内瓦的欧洲核子研究中心实验室的K介子物理学计划包括测量K介子的超稀有衰变，包括对弱相互作用的精确研究，以及寻找标准模型之外的违反和物理学特征。 乔治梅森大学的研究小组是CERN NA 62实验的主要参与者，也是唯一的美国研究小组。该实验的主要目标是通过改变中性电流的味道来测量带电介子和一对中微子的超稀有衰变率。 标准模型预测了这种转变的速度，而其他模型预测的速度则大不相同。 因此，这种具有挑战性的测量有可能为标准模型之外的新物理学提供重要证据。 乔治梅森一直完全从事实验设计，施工，操作和数据分析，从这个实验。乔治梅森计划的更广泛的影响是广泛的，通过欧洲核子研究中心夏季研究计划为本科生提供广泛的夏季研究经验，并为弗吉尼亚州QuarkNet中心提供领导和指导，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

One of the major intellectual achievements of the 20th century was the development of the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics. This model succeeded in classifying all of the elementary particles known at the time into a hierarchy of groups having similar quantum properties. The validity of this model to date was confirmed by the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. However, the Standard Model as it currently exists leaves open many questions about the universe, including such fundamental questions as to why the Higgs mass has the value it has and why there is no antimatter in the universe. An important area to search for answers to these and other open questions about the universe, how it came to be, and why it is the way it is, is to study rare decays of kaons, as a probe of science Beyond the Standard Model (BSM). Kaons are the lightest particles containing a strange quark. The kaon physics program at the CERN Laboratory, Geneva, Switzerland includes measurements of the ultra-rare decays of kaons, including precision investigations of the weak interaction, and searches for violations of and for signatures of physics beyond the Standard Model. This project will focus on the study of ultra-rare decays.The George Mason University group is a key participant and the sole U.S. group in the CERN NA62 experiment, whose primary objective is to measure the rate of an ultra-rare decay of charged kaons, through the flavor-changing neutral current to a charged pion and a pair of neutrinos. The rate of this transition is predicted in the Standard Model, while alternative models predict very different rates. Hence this challenging measurement has the potential to provide important evidence for new physics beyond the Standard Model. George Mason has been fully engaged in the experimental design, construction, operations and analysis of data from this experiment. The broader impacts of the George Mason program are extensive, providing extensive summer research experiences for undergraduate students through the CERN Summer Research Programme, and in providing leadership and mentoring for the Virginia QuarkNet Center, which attracts high school teachers and students to the excitement of particle physics.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.