Fundamental Physics from Astronomy and Cosmology

该奖项资助哈佛大学的丽莎兰德尔教授的研究活动。兰德尔教授将进行暗物质物理学的研究，更广泛地说，在所谓的标准模型之外的物理学研究，标准模型解释了对撞机实验中探测到的最小长度尺度的基本粒子的行为。 兰德尔教授的研究将包括部分相互作用的暗物质的研究，这是一个理论框架，假定暗物质的某些成分的存在，这些成分在标准模型之外的暗力量的影响下相互作用。 这种暗物质成分，如果存在的话，可能会产生星系的形状和结构，通过详细的动力学测量可以检测到。 兰德尔教授还将寻求解决粒子物理学长期存在的层次问题的替代思想。 这就是解释为什么最近发现的希格斯粒子比我们目前对基础物理学的理解要轻得多的问题。 这些问题具有广泛的科学影响，因为它们试图解决有关物质性质和空间与时间的对称性和结构的基本问题。 这一科学在美国传统上非常强大，该项目将通过加强这些方向的研究进一步促进国家利益。 兰德尔教授还将与博士后研究人员和研究生合作开展这项研究，从而帮助培养一支受过科学教育和技术先进的劳动力队伍。兰德尔教授还将就这项工作进行公开讲座，公众将看到。更技术性的是，兰德尔教授将与一名学生和一名博士后研究员合作，以确定上述想法如何与现有和未来的统计数据相结合。在矮星系的情况下，这些问题既适用于数据，也适用于将可用的模拟。在部分相互作用的暗物质的情况下，我们的银河系（如GAIA）和银河系之外的探测器（例如仙女座的巨大卫星平面）可以解决这些问题。对于层次问题，Randall教授将研究涉及额外维度和动力学理论的思想和方法的扩展，看看是否可以找到改进的解决方案，特别是那些可以在未来对撞机上测试的解决方案。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award funds the research activities of Professor Lisa Randall at Harvard University.Professor Randall will conduct research on dark-matter physics and more generally on physics beyond the so-called Standard Model which explains the behavior of the elementary particles down to the smallest length scales ever probed in collider experiments. Professor Randall's research will include studies of partially interacting dark matter, a theoretical framework which posits the existence of certain components of dark matter which interact under the influence of dark forces beyond those in the Standard Model. Such dark-matter components, if they exist, could potentially give rise to galactic shapes and structures which might be detectable through detailed dynamical measurements. Professor Randall will also pursue alternative ideas for addressing the long-standing hierarchy problem of particle physics. This is the problem of explaining why the recently discovered Higgs particle is so much lighter than our current understanding of fundamental physics would suggest. Such questions have broad scientific impact in that they attempt to address basic questions about the nature of matter and the symmetries and structure of space and time. This science has traditionally been very strong within the United States, and this project will further advance the national interest by reinforcing research in these directions. Professor Randall will also conduct this research in collaboration with postdoctoral researchers and graduate students, thereby helping to produce a scientifically educated and technically advanced workforce. Professor Randall will also give public lectures about this work which will be seen by the general public.More technically, Professor Randall will work with a student and a postdoctoral fellow to determine how well the ideas described above can be advanced with available and future statistics. In the case of dwarf galaxies, the questions apply both to the data and to the simulations that will be available. In the case of partially interacting dark matter there are probes within our galaxy (such as GAIA) and outside our galaxy (such as the vast plane of satellites in Andromeda, for example) that can address these questions. For the hierarchy problem, Professor Randall will investigate extensions of the ideas and methods involving extra dimensions and dynamical theories to see if improved solutions can be found, particularly those that can be tested at future colliders.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.