Connecting Dark Matter to Particle Physics

“这项奖励是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。”宇宙学数据已经证实，宇宙的大部分能量密度是由两种神秘的成分构成的：暗能量和暗物质。最有希望的暗物质候选者是一种新的弱相互作用粒子，其质量接近电弱尺度，这表明它与电弱对称性破缺有着诱人的联系。PI打算通过开发和探索标准模型之外的不寻常的暗物质候选粒子模型，并计算天体物理探测前景以及它们的新型对撞机信号，来研究这种联系。非凡的暗物质探测实验正在进行中，它已经为暗物质的特性提供了前所未有的线索。最近的结果，包括DAMA年度调制的再次确认，PAMELA正电子比过剩等，都强烈地暗示了具有不寻常性质的电弱尺度候选者。同时，今年大型强子对撞机的启动将彻底改变我们对电弱尺度的认识。PI打算利用这些机会积极参与揭示暗物质的性质和身份。至于更广泛的影响，由于宇宙物理学的强大公众吸引力，PI计划开展一系列综合推广计划，以扩大这一提议的影响。PI已经开始与南尤金高中建立工作关系，计划通过建议他们的高级研究项目来扩大学生的研究机会。PI正在提议一个新的公共系列讲座，将前沿研究人员带到俄勒冈州。利用俄勒冈大学最近扩建的波特兰设施，公众宣传工作将针对俄勒冈州最大的人口中心，并结合新的机会，让顶尖的研究人员访问传统文理学院（如里德学院）的本科生。该项目为具有广泛背景的本科生提供了好奇和对研究感到兴奋的机会，并为高级论文研究项目提供了发展思路。

"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."Cosmological data have established that most of the energy density of the Universe is made of two mysterious components, dark energy and dark matter. The most promising candidate for dark matter is a new weakly interacting particle with a mass near the electroweak scale, suggesting a tantalizing connection with electroweak symmetry breaking. The PI intends to investigate this connection by developing and exploring models beyond the Standard Model with unusual particle dark matter candidates, and calculating the astrophysical detection prospects as well as their novel collider signals. Remarkable dark matter detection experiments are now underway which have already provided unprecedented clues to the properties of dark matter. Very recent results, including the reconfirmation of the DAMA annual modulation, the PAMELA positron ratio excess, and others, are strongly suggestive of electroweak scale candidates with unusual properties. Simultaneously, the start of the large hadron collider this year will revolutionize our knowledge of the electroweak scale. The PI intends to exploit these opportunities to actively participate in uncovering the nature and identity of dark matter. As to broader implacts, the PI plans a series of integrated outreach programs afforded by the strong public appeal of the physics of the Universe to broaden the impact of this proposal. The PI has begun a working relationship with South Eugene High School with plans to expand students' opportunities for research through advising their Senior Research Project. The PI is proposing a new public lecture series that will bring forefront researchers to Oregon. Using the University of Oregon's recently enlarged Portland facility, the public outreach effort would be directed at Oregon's largest population center and combined with new opportunities to have leading researchers visit with undergraduates at traditional liberal arts colleges such as Reed College.This program allows opportunities for undergraduates of wide backgrounds to be inquisitive and become excited by research as well as developing ideas for senior thesis research projects.