RUI: Search for the Electric Dipole Moment of the Neutron (nEDM)

对中子性质的精确测量为寻找基本对称性的破坏和对标准模型的有效性进行严格检验提供了机会。中子电偶极矩的测量为标准模型的扩展提供了一些最严格的限制。瓦尔帕莱索大学（VU）小组作为由20个美国和国际机构组成的更广泛的中子电偶极矩（nEDM）合作的一部分，将寻找中子的电偶极矩。nEDM实验将在橡树岭国家实验室（ORNL）进行。VU小组将与洛斯阿拉莫斯国家实验室（LANL）的科学家合作，研究和开发nEDM设备的中央探测器系统（CDS）。瓦尔帕莱索大学是一所本科教育机构。PI坚定地致力于让本科生积极参与这项研究计划。 每年夏天，在实验的研发阶段，2名本科研究生，由PI指导，将在LANL度过10周，参与正在进行的研究。当实验移动到施工和安装阶段，似曾相识的学生将花十个星期，每年夏天在ORNL，在探测器组件的安装工作。在这些研究环境中工作，并与来自其他几个机构和国家实验室的著名科学家进行互动，将提高和丰富他们的教育，并将激励和准备他们为以后的研究生学习做好准备。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

Precision measurement of the properties of the neutron presents an opportunity to search for violations of fundamental symmetries and to make critical tests of the validity of the Standard Model. Measurements of the neutron’s electric dipole moment provide some of the tightest constraints on extensions to the Standard Model. The Valparaiso University (VU) group, as a part of a wider neutron Electric Dipole Moment (nEDM) collaboration consisting of 20 US and international institutions, will search for the electric dipole moment of the neutron. The nEDM experiment will be carried out at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The VU group will be working with the scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) carrying out research and development of the Central Detector System (CDS) of the nEDM apparatus. Valparaiso University is an undergraduate educational institution. The PI is strongly committed to have undergraduate students actively participate in this research program. Each summer, during the R&D phase of the experiment, 2 undergraduate research students, mentored by the PI, will spend ten weeks at LANL, participating in the research being carried out. When the experiment moves to the construction and installation phase, VU students will spend ten weeks each summer at ORNL, working on the installation of the detector components. Working in these research environments and interacting with renowned scientists from several other institutions and national laboratories will enhance and enrich their education and will motivate and prepare them well for graduate studies later on.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.