Beyond the Standard Model.. and how to get there

超越标准模型......以及如何到达那里

• 批准号: ST/W003945/1
• 负责人: Elena Gramellini
• 金额: $ 73.63万
• 依托单位: University of Manchester
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FW003945%2F1
• 关键词: Beyond; Standard; Model..; how; get

In the 60s, theoretical physicists had written the rule-book for the game of particle interactions: the "Standard Model of Particle Physics". This model has been very solid for more than 50 years now, providing precise theoretical predictions which have stood experimental test countless times. Yet, a particle called the "neutrino" breaks the rules, and its criminal behavior could help explain why the Universe didn't simply disappear in a flash of light just after the Big Bang. Additionally, astronomers have observed a new type of matter, dark matter, tying galaxies together. Since we think that everything in the Universe is made of particles, dark matter particles should exist, but have eluded experimental physicists for at least 30 years. These "criminals" tell us that what we once thought was the rule-book of the Universe is actually just a chapter in a much bigger tome, unfortunately much harder to read.For this fellowship, I propose a 3-fold program that will open pathways to explore physics Beyond the Standard Model via the creative use of Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPCs) the cutting-edge technology that I spent the last seven years of my research developing and performing world-leading measurements with.LArTPCs have been chosen by the international neutrino community to construct the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), the next flagship experiment in the field. DUNE, will go live in the late 2020s, is set to identify the neutrino's role at the beginning of the Universe via the measurement of neutrino oscillations: the appearance of neutrinos of the electron type in a beam of neutrinos of the muon type. This Beyond Standard Model measurement will reach the required sensitivity and be successful only if we characterize how electron neutrinos interact with the argon beforehand. My first objective is measuring for the first time the comprehensive set of quantities needed for this characterization: electron neutrino cross sections in argon. I will perform this search using the biggest sample of electron neutrino interactions ever recorded on argon -- a dataset from the MicroBooNE experiment, a smaller LArTPC on the surface. MicroBooNE's constant exposure to a heavy rain of cosmic muons produced in the atmosphere represents a key background which I will have to study and remove to identify electron neutrinos; but it has the potential to become an unexpected treasure. Indeed, the second objective of my fellowship is to pivot my first analyses and scan the muon data for a signature of the long-sought-after dark matter particle. I will perform this search with a method developed for my PhD thesis; and its application to dark matter searches has never been attempted before. If evidence of the elusive dark matter particle is found in the muon data, the impact would be transformational. The third objective of my strategy tackles Beyond Standard Model physics from an technological perspective, pushing the boundaries of the LArTPC. Multi-kiloton underground neutrino detectors like DUNE provide a unique opportunities to register extremely rare events predicted only by theories more fundamental than the Standard Model rule-book. Combining innovative pixel technology with state of the art research on amorphous selenium and graphene, this fellowship will allow me to develop a sensor that optimizes the LArTPC performances for these extremely rare events.My proposed research program incorporates high-impact and novel analyses with an ambitious but potentially transformative technology development. This work outlines a clear path to ensure DUNE's success in its Beyond Standard Model program, while describing innovative dark matter searches to be performed on already available datasets. Since definitive experimental proof of what lies beyond has been extremely elusive, the impact of any Beyond Standard Model discovery would transform our understanding of Nature.

在60年代，理论物理学家为粒子相互作用的游戏编写了规则手册：“粒子物理学标准模型”。50多年来，这个模型一直非常可靠，提供了精确的理论预测，并经受了无数次的实验测试。然而，一种被称为“中微子”的粒子打破了规则，它的犯罪行为可以帮助解释为什么宇宙在大爆炸后没有简单地消失在闪光中。此外，天文学家还观察到一种新的物质，暗物质，将星系联系在一起。既然我们认为宇宙中的一切都是由粒子组成的，暗物质粒子应该存在，但至少30年来一直困扰着实验物理学家。这些“罪犯”告诉我们，我们曾经认为的宇宙规则书实际上只是一本更大的托姆中的一章，不幸的是更难阅读。我提出了一个3重计划，将打开途径，探索物理超越标准模型通过创造性地使用液体氩时间投影室（LArTPC）的切割-LArTPC是我在过去七年的研究中用于开发和执行世界领先测量的前沿技术。LArTPC已被国际中微子社区选择用于建造深地下中微子实验（DUNE），这是该领域的下一个旗舰实验。DUNE将于21世纪20年代末投入使用，它将通过测量中微子振荡来确定中微子在宇宙开始时的作用：电子类型的中微子出现在μ子类型的中微子束中。只有我们事先描述了电子中微子如何与氩相互作用，这种超越标准模型的测量才能达到所需的灵敏度并取得成功。我的第一个目标是第一次测量这一特性所需的一组全面的量：氩中的电子中微子截面。我将使用有史以来在氩上记录的最大的电子中微子相互作用样本来执行这个搜索--一个来自MicroBooNE实验的数据集，一个表面上较小的LArTPC。MicroBooNE不断暴露在大气中产生的宇宙μ子大雨中，这是一个关键的背景，我必须研究并消除它以识别电子中微子;但它有可能成为一个意想不到的宝藏。事实上，我的研究的第二个目标是围绕我的第一次分析，扫描μ子数据，寻找长期以来一直在寻找的暗物质粒子的特征。我将使用为我的博士论文开发的方法进行这项搜索;以前从未尝试过将其应用于暗物质搜索。如果在μ子数据中发现了难以捉摸的暗物质粒子的证据，那么这种影响将是变革性的。我的战略的第三个目标是从技术的角度解决超越标准模型的物理问题，推动LArTPC的边界。像DUNE这样的数千吨级地下中微子探测器提供了一个独特的机会，可以记录只有比标准模型规则手册更基本的理论才能预测的极其罕见的事件。结合创新的像素技术与对非晶硒和石墨烯的最先进的研究，这个奖学金将使我能够开发一种传感器，优化LArTPC性能为这些极其罕见的事件。我提出的研究计划结合了高影响力和新颖的分析与雄心勃勃的，但潜在的变革性技术开发。这项工作概述了一条明确的道路，以确保DUNE在其超越标准模型计划中取得成功，同时描述了在现有数据集上进行的创新暗物质搜索。由于超越标准模型的实验证据非常难以捉摸，任何超越标准模型的发现都会改变我们对自然的理解。

项目成果

First Double-Differential Measurement of Kinematic Imbalance in Neutrino Interactions with the MicroBooNE Detector

首次使用 MicroBooNE 探测器对中微子相互作用中的运动不平衡进行双差分测量

• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.101802
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: Physical Review Letters
• 影响因子: 8.6
• 作者: Abratenko, P.;Alterkait, O.;Andrade Aldana, D.;Anthony, J.;Arellano, L.;Asaadi, J.;Ashkenazi, A.;Balasubramanian, S.;Baller, B.;Barr, G.
• 通讯作者: Barr, G.

Measurement of neutral current single π0 production on argon with the MicroBooNE detector

使用 MicroBooNE 检测器测量氩气的中性电流单一 Ï0 产量

• DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.107.012004
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: Physical Review D
• 影响因子: 5
• 作者: Abratenko, P.;Anthony, J.;Arellano, L.;Asaadi, J.;Ashkenazi, A.;Balasubramanian, S.;Baller, B.;Barnes, C.;Barr, G.;Barrow, J.
• 通讯作者: Barrow, J.