QCD, Electroweak Symmetry Breaking, and Physics Beyond the Standard Model

PI计划研究QCD，电弱对称性破缺和超越标准模型的物理学。资助期与欧洲核子研究中心大型强子对撞机（LHC）的第一次实验相吻合，该实验将以前所未有的精度探测QCD过程，并区分所提出的电弱对称性破缺模型。 PI在理论粒子物理学方面的研究之一涉及质量的起源。他们研究电弱对称性破缺的原因（负责传输弱核力的W和Z粒子的质量）以及负责夸克和轻子（物质的基本成分）的不同质量的机制。 虽然粒子物理学的标准模型可以容纳大质量粒子，但它是通过调用一个尚未被观察到的粒子（希格斯粒子）来实现的，而且它没有解释质量产生的动力学。因此，物理学家试图通过使用场论，模型构建和计算机模拟来探索标准模型之外的物理学，从而促进对质量起源的理解。特别令人感兴趣的是“无希格斯”模型，其唯一的新粒子是大质量矢量玻色子，W和Z的更重的类似物。他们计划构建这类新模型，以深入了解夸克和轻子的质量，分析这些模型的实验结果，并基于LHC数据提出精辟的新测试。PI的另一个研究重点是量子色动力学和希格斯玻色子的性质，这些都是标准模型内在的有趣之处，也是许多超越标准模型的物理学研究的必要前提。物理学家进行详细的量子色动力学计算，以计算标准模型希格斯玻色子的产生率和检测背景;他们为实验学家提供软件，以便对实验结果进行适当的评估。 该项目包括在将研究与教育联系起来、使参与多样化和广泛传播研究成果等领域作出的多方面努力。PI将继续在国际暑期学校为博士生提供教学讲座，并与硕士学位和本科荣誉学生合作开展研究和外展项目。这些努力向学生介绍新的知识领域，并为他们提供教师指导。PI将继续为K-12学生和教师创建，使用，评估和传播粒子物理学和宇宙学外展材料。它们的一些年度外联活动侧重于女学生或社会经济背景不利的学生。西蒙斯还将继续努力改善女物理学家在学院，大学和国家一级的气候。

The PIs plan to investigate QCD, electroweak symmetry breaking, and physics beyond the Standard Model. The grant period coincides with the first experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, which will probe QCD processes to unprecedented precision and discriminate among proposed models of electroweak symmetry breaking. One strand of the PIs' research in theoretical particle physics addresses the origins of mass. They study the causes of electroweak symmetry breaking (responsible for the masses of the W and Z particles that transmit the weak nuclear force) and the mechanisms responsible for the diverse masses of the quarks and leptons, the elementary constituents of matter. While the Standard Model of particle physics can accommodate massive particles, it does so by invoking a particle (the Higgs particle) that has not yet been observed and it does not explain the dynamics through which mass arises. Hence, the PIs seek to advance the understanding of the origins of mass by using field theory, model building, and computer simulation to explore physics that lies outside the Standard Model. Of particular interest are "Higgs-less" models whose only new particles are massive vector bosons, heavier analogs of the W and Z . They plan to construct new models of this kind that can provide insight into the masses of the quarks and leptons, analyze the experimental consequences of such models, and propose incisive new tests based on LHC data. Another strand of the PIs' research stresses topics, such as QCD and the properties of the Higgs boson, that are both intrinsically interesting within the Standard Model and also necessary precursors for many studies of physics beyond the Standard Model. The PIs engage in detailed QCD calculations necessary to compute the production rate and detection backgrounds for a standard model Higgs boson; they provide software to experimentalists to allow for the proper evaluation of experimental results. This project includes multiple efforts in the areas of linking research to education, diversifying participation, and broad dissemination of research results. The PIs will keep presenting pedagogical lectures at international summer schools for doctoral students and collaborating with Master's Degree and undergraduate Honors students on research and outreach projects. These efforts introduce students to new areas of knowledge and provide them with faculty mentoring. The PIs will continue to create, employ, assess, and disseminate particle physics and cosmology outreach materials for K-12 students and teachers. Several of their annual outreach events focus on female students or those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Simmons will also sustain her efforts to improve the climate for women physicists at the college, university, and national levels.