Exploring the High Energy Frontier with the CMS Electromagnetic Calorimeter

粒子物理学的标准模型是一个非常成功的理论，它与几十年来涉及弱、电磁和强相互作用的实验观察相一致。2012年大型强子对撞机发现希格斯玻色子进一步证实了这一成功。然而，标准模型仍然是一个不完整的理论。这项研究将解决粒子物理学中一些最有趣和最紧迫的问题——电弱对称性破缺的本质是什么？什么是暗物质？是否存在额外的空间维度？特别是，希格斯玻色子将被用来约束标准模型和探索新的物理学。通过该奖项开展的研究将利用瑞士欧洲核子研究中心大型强子对撞机设施的CMS实验电磁量热计的优异性能，追求具有共同最终状态和分析方法的战略性选择物理通道。本项目结合了对CMS电磁量热计的重要贡献和对电子和光子最终态的引人注目的物理研究，除了对CMS量热计的操作、维护和校准做出贡献外，还参与了电磁量热计电子设备的第二阶段升级，以充分利用高亮度LHC的机会。通过对H-WW， H-gamma， H-Zgamma通道中的希格斯玻色子的直接研究，将阐明电弱对称性破缺的问题。此外，这些通道将通过间接手段帮助限制新的物理。该小组也在直接寻找可能由于超对称或额外维度而存在的新粒子（通过HH-bbgammagamma， h-aa-4光子）。此外，对双希格斯粒子产生的研究将探索真空的稳定性。这项工作还包括指导东北大学物理学专业的女性，并通过东北大学合作教育项目与本科生进行研究。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Standard Model of particle physics has been a remarkably successful theory, agreeing with several decades of experimental observations involving weak, electromagnetic, and strong interactions. The LHC discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012 was further confirmation of this success. However, the Standard Model remains an incomplete theory. This research will address some of the most intriguing and pressing questions in particle physics--what is the nature of electroweak symmetry breaking? What is dark matter? Are there extra spatial dimensions? In particular, the Higgs boson will be used to constrain the Standard Model and to probe for new physics. The research carried out through this award will exploit the excellent performance of the electromagnetic calorimeter of the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider facility at CERN in Switzerland to pursue strategically selected physics channels with common final states and analysis methods. This project combines important contributions to the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter with compelling physics studies in electron and photon final states, in addition to contributions to the operation, maintenance, and calibration of the CMS calorimeter, and involvement in the Phase-2 upgrade of the electromagnetic calorimeter electronics to fully exploit the opportunities at the High-Luminosity LHC. Through direct studies of the Higgs boson in the H-WW, H-gamma gamma, H-Zgamma channels, the question of electroweak symmetry breaking will be elucidated. Additionally, these channels will help constrain new physics through indirect means. The group is also searching directly for new particles (via HH-bbgammagamma, h-aa-4photons) that may exist due to supersymmetry or extra dimensions. In addition, the study of di-Higgs production will probe the stability of the vacuum. This work also includes mentoring of women in physics at Northeastern University and engagement with undergraduates in research through the Northeastern cooperative education program.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.