Searching for Magnetic Monopoles and Other Exotics with MoEDAL

MoEDAL，即大型强子对撞机的单极子和其他外来物探测器，是一个寻找具有孤立磁荷的粒子和其他新物理指标的实验。对磁单极子的探测将是一项重大发现，并对我们对基础物理学的理解产生深远影响。它们的存在将有助于解释描述强粒子和电弱粒子相互作用的单一统一场的当前模型。磁单极子预计会在强磁场中产生，MoEDAL将搜索已知宇宙中最强的磁场，这些磁场是在大型强子对撞机的重离子碰撞的短暂时刻产生的。最近增加的实验，MoEDAL穿透粒子装置（MAPP），将通过寻找弱相互作用的粒子来扩展对新物理学的探索。一些暗物质理论预测到了这种粒子。该奖项将支持阿拉巴马大学小组在寻找磁单极子和其他奇异粒子方面的主要贡献，从数据分析和模拟到探测器调试和操作。此外，它还将支持该组织的外展工作，旨在帮助改善该县和全州高中生的STEM教育。该项目的主要目标是：a)对MoEDAL Run-3数据进行分析，以寻找铅-铅和质子-质子碰撞中产生的磁单极子和其他奇异物；b)参与MAPP数据的模拟和分析；c)开发新的基于机器学习的方法来分析和模拟NTD数据；d)通过组织NTD校准和参与MAPP的计划升级来支持MoEDAL的运行。拓展的目标是开发和部署到当地学校的物理实验相关的研究领域。根据结果（部分由老师和学生的反馈判断），这个实验可能会被纳入阿拉巴马州动态科学实验室的标准烘焙机中。该项目由PHY/EPP和既定计划刺激竞争研究（EPSCoR）共同资助。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

MoEDAL, or Monopole and other Exotics Detector at the LHC, is an experiment that searches for particles with isolated magnetic charge and other indicators of new physics. Detection of magnetic monopoles would constitute a major discovery and have a profound effect on our understanding of fundamental physics. Their existence would help explain the current model of a single unified field that describes strong and electroweak particle interactions. Magnetic monopoles are expected to be produced in strong magnetic fields, and MoEDAL will search the strongest magnetic fields in the known universe, which are generated during the brief moments of heavy-ion collisions at the LHC. A recent addition to the experiment, the MoEDAL Apparatus for Penetrating Particles (MAPP), will expand the quest for new physics by searching for feebly interacting particles. Such particles are predicted by some dark matter theories. This award will support the University of Alabama group's leading contributions to the searches for magnetic monopoles and other exotic particles, from data analysis and simulations to detector commissioning and operations. Additionally, it will support the group's outreach effort aimed to help improve STEM education of high school kids in the county and statewide. The main goals of the project are to a) lead analysis of the MoEDAL Run-3 data to search for production of magnetic monopoles and other exotics in lead-lead and proton-proton collisions; b) participate in the simulation and analysis of the MAPP data; c) develop novel machine learning based approaches to analysis and simulation of the NTD data; and d) support operation of MoEDAL by organizing NTD calibrations and contributing to the planned upgrade of MAPP. The outreach goal is to develop and deploy to local schools a physics experiment related to the field of study. Depending on the outcome, judged in part by the feedback from teachers and students, the experiment may be included in the standard roaster of Alabama Science in Motion labs. This project is jointly funded by PHY/EPP and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).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.