Investigations in Proton-Proton Collisions at the Large Hadron Collider

ATLAS实验是在世界上能量最高的对撞机上进行的，大型强子对撞机(LHC)位于瑞士日内瓦附近的CERN实验室。高能碰撞使探测器能够以最小的距离尺度进行探测，并重现早期宇宙的环境。大型强子对撞机既是一项发现，也是一台探测标准模型的精密机器。到目前为止，大型强子对撞机上最伟大的发现是发现了希格斯玻色子并对其性质进行了详细的测量。密歇根州立大学高能物理小组自1994年以来一直是ATLAS合作的成员，并参与了探测器的许多部件和电子系统的建造。他们参与了许多物理分析，包括对希格斯玻色子和其他标准模型终态的测量，以及对标准模型以外的物理学的探索，这可能会导致对我们对宇宙理解中的许多悬而未决的问题有一个基本的理解。这些问题包括为什么物质比反物质多，为什么引力比其他力弱。除了物理目标外，还计划开展多项教育和推广活动，面向不同年龄段的学童和普通公众。该奖项建议的工作将提高标准模型测量的精度，特别是与希格斯玻色子、Z玻色子和顶夸克产生有关的测量，此外还将充分探索可能的新物理学的参数空间。科学分析大致可分为五大类：寻找新的重共振；研究希格斯玻色子的产生和衰变；高质量Drell-yan的精密微分截面测量；顶夸克物理；以及强相互作用的研究，特别是与玻色子和重夸克有关的喷注产生。有了这一奖项，RUN-2分析将使用来自RUN-3的数据完成和扩展，并将根据需要进行重要的探测器升级，以便ATLAS收集高光度波段的数据。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The ATLAS experiment operates at the highest energy collider in the world, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the CERN laboratory near Geneva, Switzerland. The high energy collisions allow probes of the smallest distance scales and the recreation of the environment of the early universe. The LHC is both a discovery and a precision machine probing the standard model. The greatest discovery (so far) at the LHC has been the detection of the Higgs boson and the detailed measurement of its properties. The Michigan State University high energy physics group has been a member of the ATLAS collaboration since 1994 and has participated in the construction of many of the detector’s components and electronic systems. They have been involved in many physics analyses, including measurements of the Higgs boson, and other standard model final states, as well as searches for physics beyond the standard model that may result in a fundamental understanding of many of the open questions remaining in our understanding of the universe. These include why there is more matter than anti-matter and why gravity is so weak compared to the other forces. In addition to the physics goals, multiple education and outreach activities that target schoolchildren of various ages as well as the general public are planned.The work proposed in this award will improve the precision of standard model measurements, particularly those relating to the Higgs boson, the Z boson, and top quark production, in addition to fully exploring the parameter space of possible new physics. The scientific analyses can be broadly grouped into five general categories: the search for new, heavy resonances; the study of Higgs boson production and decay; the precision differential cross-section measurements of high mass Drell-Yan; the physics of top quarks; and the study of strong interactions, especially jet production in association with bosons and heavy quarks. With this award, the Run-2 analyses will be completed and extended using the data from Run-3, and important detector upgrades will be carried out as needed for ATLAS to collect data in the high luminosity era.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.