Searching for Magnetic Monopoles and Other Exotics with MoEDAL

MoEDAL，或单极和其他外来探测器在大型强子对撞机，是一个实验，寻找粒子与孤立的磁荷和其他指标的新物理。磁单极子的探测将是一个重大发现，对我们理解基础物理学有深远的影响。它们的存在将有助于解释目前描述强粒子和电弱粒子相互作用的单一统一场模型。 磁单极子预计将在强磁场中产生，MoEDAL将在已知宇宙中寻找最强的磁场，这些磁场是在LHC重离子碰撞的短暂时刻产生的。最近加入实验的MoEDAL穿透粒子装置（MAPP）将通过寻找弱相互作用粒子来扩大对新物理学的探索。一些暗物质理论预言了这样的粒子。该奖项将支持亚拉巴马大学集团在磁单极子和其他外来粒子搜索方面的领先贡献，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）牵头分析能源部Run-3数据，以寻找铅-铅和质子-质子碰撞中磁单极子和其他外来物的产生;（B）参与MAPP数据的模拟和分析;（c）开发基于机器学习的新方法，以分析和模拟NTD数据;以及d）通过组织NTD校准和为计划中的MAPP升级做出贡献，支持经济和发展部的运作。推广的目标是在当地学校开发和部署与研究领域有关的物理实验。根据结果，部分由教师和学生的反馈判断，实验可能包括在亚拉巴马运动科学实验室的标准烘烤器。该项目由PHY/EPP和刺激竞争研究的既定计划（EPSCoR）共同资助。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.