The MoEDAL Experiment at the Large hadron Collider

大型强子对撞机的 MoEDAL 实验

• 批准号: SAPPJ-2016-00028
• 负责人: Pinfold, James
• 金额: $ 2.29万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Subatomic Physics Envelope - Project
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=662226
• 关键词: MoEDAL; Experiment; Large; hadron; Collider

In 2010 the MoEDAL experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) started data taking in June 2015. MoEDAL is a pioneering experiment designed to search for highly ionizing avatars of new physics such as magnetic monopoles or massive (pseudo-)stable charged particles. Its groundbreaking physics program defines over 34 scenarios that yield potentially revolutionary insights into such foundational questions as: are there extra dimensions or new symmetries; what is the mechanism for the generation of mass; does magnetic charge exist; what is the nature of dark matter; and, how did the big-bang develop. MoEDAL's purpose is to meet these challenges at the frontier of the field. The MoEDAL detector deployed at Point 8 (IP8) on the LHC ring late in 2014 utilizes an innovative and cost-effective combination of passive and active detection techniques. The MoEDAL experiment is led by the University of Alberta and now consists of 65 physicists from 25 institutes in 13 countries. MoEDAL physics program is designed to expand the physics horizons of the LHC in a complementary way.***The innovative and largely passive MoEDAL detector has a dual nature. First, it acts like a giant camera, comprised of Nuclear Track Detectors (NTDs) - analyzed offline by "smart" ultra fast Optical Scanning Microscopes (OSMs)- sensitive only to new physics. Second, it is uniquely able to trap the particle messengers of new physics for further study. The third and only active sub-detector system is the TimePix pixel device array (TMPX), consisting of ~8 devices distributed around the MoEDAL cavern at IP8. TMPX will be used to monitor highly ionizing beam related backgrounds. The MoEDAL experiment is completely different from other LHC experiments. The MoEDAL NTD and MMT arrays are passive requiring no readout electronics, HV, gas supply or trigger. The TMPX system is readout over the web. Thus, there is no requirement to constantly man the detector. However, the sensitive elements of the MoEDAL need to be replaced at least one a year, depending on beam backgrounds. The NTD detectors are etched and then analysed by a farm of “smart” ultrafast OSMs. The exposed MMT volumes are scanned at a SQUID facility for the presence of trapped magnetic charge and then moved to an underground facility to be monitored for the decay of very long lived electrically charged particles. MoEDAL NTDs are calibrated using a heavy-ion beam provided by the Brookhaven National Laboratory.***The first installation of the MoEDAL detector volumes was achieved in the winter of 2014-15. The exposed test NTD tracking and trapping volumes have been analysed with the first physics publications expected by December 2015. MoEDAL started to take data for the first time in June 2015 after the long LHC shutdown. The sensitive detector volumes will be replaced once or perhaps twice a year - depending on beam backgrounds at IP8 - for each of roughly 5 years of running required to obtain 10 fb-1. **

2010年，大型强子对撞机（LHC）的MoEDAL实验于2015年6月开始采集数据。MoEDAL是一项开创性实验，旨在寻找新物理学的高度电离化身，例如磁单极子或大质量（伪）稳定带电粒子。其开创性的物理学计划定义了超过34种可能产生革命性见解的场景，这些场景可能会对这些基础问题产生革命性的见解，例如：是否存在额外的维度或新的对称性;质量产生的机制是什么;磁荷是否存在;暗物质的性质是什么;以及，大爆炸是如何发展的。教育和发展部的宗旨是在该领域的前沿迎接这些挑战。MoEDAL探测器于2014年底部署在LHC环上的Point 8（IP 8），采用了创新且具有成本效益的被动和主动探测技术组合。MoEDAL实验由阿尔伯塔大学领导，现在由来自13个国家25个研究所的65名物理学家组成。MoEDAL物理计划旨在以互补的方式扩展LHC的物理视野。创新的、大部分是被动的MoEDAL探测器具有双重性质。首先，它就像一个巨大的相机，由核径迹探测器（NTD）组成-由“智能”超快速光学扫描显微镜（OSM）离线分析-只对新物理敏感。第二，它能够捕获新物理学的粒子信使，以供进一步研究。第三个也是唯一一个有源子探测器系统是TimePix像素器件阵列（TMPX），由分布在IP 8 MoEDAL洞穴周围的约8个器件组成。TMPX将用于监测高度电离束相关背景。MoEDAL实验与其他LHC实验完全不同。MoEDAL NTD和MMT阵列是无源的，不需要读出电子器件、HV、气体供应或触发器。TMPX系统通过网络读取。因此，不需要不断地为检测器配备人员。然而，根据光束背景，能源和发展部的敏感元件每年至少需要更换一次。NTD探测器被蚀刻，然后由一群“智能”超快OSM进行分析。在SQUID设施处扫描暴露的MMT体积以确定是否存在捕获的磁荷，然后将其移动到地下设施以监测非常长寿命的带电粒子的衰变。MoEDAL NTD使用布鲁克海文国家实验室提供的重离子束进行校准。MoEDAL探测器卷的首次安装于2014-15年冬季完成。已对暴露的测试NTD跟踪和捕获量进行了分析，预计将于2015年12月发表第一批物理学出版物。MoEDAL于2015年6月在LHC长期关闭后首次开始收集数据。灵敏的探测器体积将每年更换一次或两次-取决于IP 8的光束背景-大约5年的运行时间，以获得10 fb-1。**