The MoEDAL Experiment at the Large Hadron Collider

大型强子对撞机的 MoEDAL 实验

• 批准号: SAPPJ-2019-00040
• 负责人: Pinfold, James
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 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: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=718197
• 关键词: MoEDAL; Experiment; Large; Hadron; Collider

The MoEDAL experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) started data taking in 2015, at the start of LHC's Run2. MoEDAL is a pioneering experiment designed to search for highly ionizing avatars of new physics such as magnetic monopoles, multiply electrically charged particles, or massive (pseudo) stable charged particles. MoEDAL's physics program defines over 34 scenarios that may yield potentially revolutionary insights into foundational questions, involving: extra dimensions or new symmetries; magnetic charge; and, the nature of dark matter. The MoEDAL Collaboration, led by the University of Alberta (UofA), consists of 70 physicists from 26 institutes around the world. The experiment's discovery potential expands the LHC's physics horizons, in a complementary way. To date, MoEDAL has established the world's best limits on the existence of multiply magnetically charged monopoles and highly electrically charged particles (in prep). Last year, MoEDAL presented a Notice of Intent (NoI) to the LHC Committee (LHCC), to request an additional 30 fb-1 of data during LHC's Run3, starting in 2020. MoEDAL's NoI was well received, leading the way for the full request this year. In addition, MAPP (MoEDAL Apparatus for Penetrating Particles), a new MoEDAL sub-detector, planned for deployment for Run3, will extend MoEDAL's physics reach allowing the search for milli-charged particles and new very long-lived neutral particles. The MoEDAL detector has a dual nature. First, it acts like a giant camera, comprised of Nuclear Track Detectors (NTDs) analyzed offline by ultra fast scanning optical microscope. The NTDs are calibrated using heavy-ion at various facilities. Second, it is uniquely able to trap the particle messengers of new physics for further study. The third sub-detector system is a TimePix pixel device array (TMPX), consisting of ~8 devices distributed throughout the MoEDAL cavern at IP8. TMPX is used to monitor beam related backgrounds. The MoEDAL NTD and MMT arrays are passive requiring no readout electronics or trigger. The real time TimePix system is readout over the web. Although there are no requirements for the experiment to be constantly manned the sensitive elements of the MoEDAL detector need to be replaced once a year. The NTD detectors are sent for analysis at INFN Bologna and the University of Helsinki. The exposed MMT trapping volumes are sent to the ETH Zurich SQUID Facility to be scanned for the presence of trapped monopoles.

欧洲核子研究中心大型强子对撞机(LHC)的MoEDAL实验于2015年开始采集数据，当时LHC第二次运行。MoEDAL是一项开创性的实验，旨在寻找新物理的高度电离化身，如磁单极、多电荷粒子或质量(伪)稳定带电粒子。MoEDAL的物理计划定义了超过34个场景，这些场景可能会对基础问题产生潜在的革命性见解，涉及：额外的维度或新的对称性；磁荷；以及暗物质的性质。MoEDAL合作由阿尔伯塔大学(UofA)领导，由来自世界各地26个研究所的70名物理学家组成。该实验的发现潜力以一种互补的方式扩展了大型强子对撞机的物理视野。到目前为止，MoEDAL已经建立了世界上对多磁荷单极和高带电粒子存在的最佳限制(在PREP中)。去年，MoEDAL向大型强子对撞机委员会(LHC)提交了意向通知(NOI)，要求从2020年开始，在大型强子对撞机第三次运行期间额外提供30FB-1数据。MoEDAL的NOI很受欢迎，今年率先提出了完整的请求。此外，MAPP(MoEDAL穿透粒子装置)是一种新的MoEDAL子探测器，计划在Run3上部署，它将扩展MoEDAL的物理覆盖范围，允许搜索毫电荷粒子和新的超长寿命中性粒子。 MoEDAL探测器具有双重性质。首先，它的作用就像一个巨大的相机，由超快扫描光学显微镜离线分析的核径迹探测器(NTD)组成。NTDS是在各种设施中使用重离子进行校准的。其次，它独一无二地能够捕获新物理的粒子信使，以供进一步研究。第三个子探测器系统是TimePix像素器件阵列(TMPX)，由分布在IP8处整个MoEDAL洞穴的~8个器件组成。TMPX用于监测与光束相关的背景。MoEDAL NTD和MMT阵列是无源的，不需要读出电子设备或触发器。实时的TimePix系统通过网络读出。尽管没有要求实验人员不断配备人员，但MoEDAL探测器的敏感元件需要每年更换一次。NTD探测器被送往INFN博洛尼亚和赫尔辛基大学进行分析。暴露的MMT诱捕体积被送到苏黎世鱿鱼设施进行扫描，以确定是否存在诱捕的单极子。