New Approaches to Modeling and Searching for Physics Beyond the Standard Model: Boosted Dark Matter, Macroscopic Dark Matter, Dark Sectors, and Exotic Phases

超越标准模型的物理建模和搜索新方法：增强暗物质、宏观暗物质、暗区和奇异相

• 批准号: 2112789
• 负责人: Joshua Berger
• 金额: $ 22.5万
• 依托单位: Colorado State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-09-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2112789&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: New; Approaches; Modeling; Searching; Physics

This award supports the research activities of Professor Joshua Berger at Colorado State University.The bulk of matter we have observed in the Universe is dark and has so far only been seen by its gravitational pull on visible particles. Detecting and determining the nature of dark matter are among the highest priority goals of particle physics in the coming years. While dedicated experiments have been built to look for some dark matter candidates, recent efforts have demonstrated that even experiments not expressly built to look for dark matter can make important contributions to the hunt for these elusive particles. The bulk of Professor Berger’s research aims to develop models and predictions of dark matter that can be seen at experiments designed to study other phenomena such as neutrinos and atoms, creating valuable synergy with other areas of physics. Research into the nature of dark matter thus contributes to the national interest by promoting progress in answering fundamental scientific questions as to the nature of the universe and its basic building blocks. This project will also have significant broader impacts. Professor Berger plans to train students and post-doctoral scientists in advanced physics research methods, as well as in state-of-the-art computing techniques. He will also present the results of his research in both public and scientific presentations, and incorporate aspects of his research in the curricula for courses he teaches.In technical terms, this research encompasses searches for dark sector particles at current and future neutrino and atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics experiments. This research also involves studying alternate cosmological histories to develop new mechanisms for baryogenesis. Ongoing and upcoming neutrino experiments such as the accelerator-based Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) experiments and Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) will be able to detect dark matter and long-lived dark states produced in collisions of their very intense proton beams with a target. Large volume experiments such as the DUNE far detector can also be sensitive to astrophysical dark matter interacting in the detector. Professor Berger will explore hidden sector models such as Higgs Portal models leading to dark sector particles produced in the beams at these experiments. He will further explore dark matter models such as boosted dark matter and macroscopic dark matter which lead to dark matter from astrophysical sources interacting in neutrino detectors. He will develop new simulation tools needed to investigate these models and propose new search strategies to ensure that interesting signals are not missed. His work will also encompass a collaboration with an AMO experimentalist, Professor Samuel Brewer at Colorado State University, to develop searches for dark matter in high-precision atomic measurements performed in Professor Brewer’s lab. Finally, he will study the properties of a possible phase of the early universe in which the weak force becomes strongly coupled, leading to the possibility of a new mechanism for baryogenesis.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.

该奖项支持科罗拉多州立大学约书亚·贝格（Joshua Berger）教授的研究活动。我们在宇宙中观察到的大部分物质是黑暗的，到目前为止，只有在其对可见粒子上的引力才能看到​​。检测和确定暗物质的性质是未来几年粒子物理的最高优先级目标之一。尽管已经建立了专门的实验来寻找一些候选暗物质，但最近的努力表明，即使没有明确构建以寻找暗物质的实验也可以为寻找这些弹性颗粒做出重要贡献。 Berger教授的大部分研究旨在开发对暗物质的模型和预测，这些模型和预测是在旨在研究其他现象（例如神经元和原子）的实验中，从而与其他物理学领域造成了宝贵的协同作用。因此，对暗物质本质的研究通过促进了关于宇宙性质及其基本构建基础的基本科学问题的进步，从而有助于国家利益。该项目还将产生更广泛的影响。 Berger教授计划在高级物理研究方法以及最先进的计算技术中培训学生和博士后科学家。他还将在公共和科学演示中介绍他的研究结果，并将其研究的各个方面纳入他所教的课程课程中。从技术上讲，这项研究包括在当前和未来的神经元，原子，分子和光学（AMO）物理学实验中对黑暗扇区颗粒进行搜索。这项研究还涉及研究替代性宇宙学历史，以开发新的男性生成机制。正在进行的和即将进行的神经元实验，例如基于加速器的短基线中微子（SBN）实验和深层中微子实验（Dune）将能够检测到其非常强烈的质子束与靶标的非常强烈的质子束相撞中产生的暗物质和长寿的暗状态。诸如Dune FAR检测器之类的大量实验也可能对检测器中的天体物理暗物质相互作用敏感。 Berger教授将探索隐藏的扇形模型，例如Higgs门户模型，导致这些实验中梁中产生的黑暗扇区颗粒。他将进一步探索暗物质模型，例如增强的暗物质和宏观暗物质，从而导致神经元探测器相互作用的天体物理源的暗物质。他将开发新的仿真工具，以调查这些模型和提案新的搜索策略，以确保不会错过有趣的信号。他的工作还将涵盖与科罗拉多州立大学的AMO实验家Samuel Brewer教授的合作，以在Brewer's Lab教授进行的高精度原子测量中开发对暗物质的搜索。最后，他将研究早期宇宙的可能阶段的特性，在该宇宙中，弱力变得强烈耦合，从而导致可能建立了一种新机制的男生成机制。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛影响的审查标准来评估来通过评估来获得的支持。

项目成果

IceCube at the frontier of macroscopic dark matter direct detection

IceCube处于宏观暗物质直接探测的前沿

• DOI: 10.1007/jhep11(2022)079
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Journal of High Energy Physics
• 影响因子: 5.4
• 作者: Bai, Yang;Berger, Joshua;Korwar, Mrunal
• 通讯作者: Korwar, Mrunal

Catalyzed baryogenesis

催化重子发生

• DOI: 10.1007/jhep10(2021)147
• 发表时间: 2021
• 期刊: Journal of High Energy Physics
• 影响因子: 5.4
• 作者: Bai, Yang;Berger, Joshua;Korwar, Mrunal;Orlofsky, Nicholas
• 通讯作者: Orlofsky, Nicholas

Inelastic dark matter at the Fermilab Short Baseline Neutrino Program

• DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.104.075026
• 发表时间: 2021-10-19
• 期刊: PHYSICAL REVIEW D
• 影响因子: 5
• 作者: Batell, Brian;Berger, Joshua;Frugiuele, Claudia
• 通讯作者: Frugiuele, Claudia