Particle Physics Consolidated Grant 2019

粒子物理学旨在了解宇宙，它的诞生，演变和命运的基本粒子（夸克和轻子），基本力（强，电磁力和弱力，引力）和调解它们的力粒子（光子，W/Z，胶子和引力子）的相互作用以及最近发现的希格斯粒子赋予基本粒子质量。在过去的30年里，我们看到了一个理论框架的发展，即标准模型，几乎所有的粒子物理学数据都可以用它来解释。但模型是不完整的。它解释了我们在地球上遇到的情况，但对宇宙的研究表明，神秘的暗物质的存在将星系聚集在一起，而更多神秘的暗能量正在以不断增加的速度将星系分开。有这么多的奥秘！从来没有一个更好的时间是一个粒子物理学家。牛津大学的研究将大大推进我们对任何“新物理学”理论的理解，通过提供数据来指导理论工作来发展它，以取代标准模型。大型强子对撞机（LHC）在百万分之一秒内再现了大爆炸的条件。牛津大学在ATLAS和LHCb中发挥着重要作用。这些实验有可能彻底改变我们对宇宙的理解。在ATLAS中，牛津大学的物理学家参与了令人兴奋的“希格斯粒子”的发现，该粒子通过赋予物质质量而使物质成为物质。希格斯粒子就像一个窗帘;既然我们已经发现了希格斯粒子，我们就可以拉开窗帘，看到一个新的世界。因此，我们正在非常详细地研究它。我们还在寻找具有“超对称性”（SUSY）的粒子，这一理论将为占宇宙物质80%的“暗物质”提供解决方案; ATLAS正在寻找隐藏的额外空间维度。LHCb上的牛津物理学家通过研究夸克和反夸克行为的细微差异-“CP违反”，努力更好地理解宇宙中物质-反物质不对称性的起源。这种不对称性允许我们存在。在未来十年，LHC将升级到更高的能量和强度，因此ATLAS和LHCb的探测器将在此期间进行改进。升级后的探测器将把粒子物理学的灵敏度提高到前所未有的水平，以进行几乎不可避免的新物理观测。在我们的工作中，我们使用强大的计算资源，并开发尖端的分析工具，这些工具是从大量数据中提取重要发现所必需的。我们参与高精度实验，以补充大型强子对撞机的大型实验。LZ解决了粒子物理学和宇宙学中最重要的问题之一：寻找暗物质;候选者是最轻的超对称粒子。Mu 3e寻找由非常重的粒子介导的新物理学，这些粒子在LHC中不可见，但在许多理论模型中，包括超对称性。LSST将测量由于神秘的暗能量而导致的宇宙膨胀速度有多快，暗能量占宇宙中所有能量的75%，其作用就像反引力将星系推开。通过T2 K，SK，HK，DUNE和未来的项目，牛津大学旨在了解难以捉摸的中微子，它从一种类型到另一种类型的“振荡”以及中微子和反中微子属性之间是否存在差异-“CP破坏”。SNO+将测量中微子的其他性质，例如它是否是它自己的反粒子。在整个过程中，牛津大学将继续发展和提高机械和电子设计的能力，使我们保持为我们的实验构建最复杂的设备的能力。我们将在未来保持我们在科学卓越和粒子物理学最先进探测器建设方面的世界领先地位。这是粒子物理学的激动人心的时刻，牛津大学正在发挥重要作用。

Particle physics seeks to understand the Universe, its birth, evolution & fate in terms of the interplay of elementary particles (quarks & leptons), the fundamental forces (strong, electromagnetic & weak forces, & gravity) and force-particles that mediate them (photons, W/Z, gluons & gravitons) and the recently discovered Higgs particle that gives elementary particles mass. The last thirty years have seen the development of a theoretical framework, the Standard Model, in which almost all particle-physics data can be explained. But the model is incomplete. It explains what we encounter on Earth but studies of the cosmos suggest the presence of mysterious dark matter that holds galaxies together and more mysterious dark energy that is driving galaxies apart at an ever increasing rate. There are so many mysteries! There has never been a better time to be a particle physicist. Oxford's research will advance significantly our understanding of whatever "new-physics" theory will emerge to replace the Standard Model by providing the data to guide the theoretical work to develop it.The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) reproduces the conditions within a million millionth of a second of the Big Bang. Oxford plays a major role in ATLAS and LHCb. These experiments have the potential to completely revolutionise our understanding of the universe. In ATLAS, Oxford physicists participated in the exciting discovery of the "Higgs particle", which makes matter matter by giving it mass. The Higgs particle is like a curtain; now that we have found the Higgs we can draw back the curtain to see a new world. Accordingly, we are studying it in great detail. We are also searching for particles with "supersymmetry" (SUSY), a theory that would provide a solution to "dark-matter" that makes up about 80% of matter in the Universe; and ATLAS is searching for hidden extra spatial dimensions. Oxford physicists on LHCb strive for a better understanding of the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe by studying subtle differences in the behaviour of quarks & antiquarks - "CP-violation". This asymmetry permits us to exist.Over the next decade, the LHC will upgrade to higher energy & intensity so detector improvements will be made for ATLAS & LHCb during this grant. The upgraded detectors will take particle physics to an unprecedented level of sensitivity for the nearly inevitable new-physics observations. Throughout our work we use powerful computing resources and develop cutting-edge analysis tools that are necessary for the extraction of important discoveries from vast volumes of data.We participate in high-precision experiments complementary to the large experiments at the LHC. LZ addresses one of the most important questions in particle physics & cosmology: a search for dark matter; a candidate is the lightest SUSY particle. Mu3e searches for new physics mediated by very heavy particles that would not be visible at the LHC but are expected in many theoretical models including SUSY. LSST will measure how quickly the expansion of the universe is speeding up due to the mysterious dark energy that represents 75% of all energy in the universe and acts like anti-gravity pushing galaxies apart. Through T2K, SK, HK, DUNE, & future projects, Oxford aims to understand the elusive neutrino, its "oscillation" from one type to another and whether there is a difference between neutrino and anti-neutrino properties - "CP-violation". SNO+ will measure other properties of the neutrino, e.g. whether or not it is its own antiparticle.Throughout, Oxford will continue to develop & enhance capabilities in mechanical & electronic design so that we retain the ability to construct the most sophisticated apparatus for our experiments. We will retain our world-leading role for scientific excellence & major state-of-the-art detector construction in particle physics for the future. These are exciting times for particle physics, and Oxford is playing a major role.