Investigations in Proton-Proton Collisions at the Large Hadron Collider

20世纪的主要智力成就之一是粒子物理标准模型(SM)的发展。这个模型成功地将当时已知的所有基本粒子归入具有相似量子性质的群组的层次中。在大型强子对撞机(LHC)上发现的希格斯玻色子证实了这个模型到目前为止的有效性。然而，目前存在的标准模型留下了许多关于宇宙的问题，包括为什么希格斯质量具有它的价值这样的基本问题。在大型强子对撞机上进行的ATLAS实验的目标之一是发现超越标准模型(BSM)的新物理。大型强子对撞机仍然是主要的能源前沿粒子加速器，在瑞士日内瓦附近的CERN实验室运行。该奖项将有助于BSM在三个主要类别中的潜在发现：1)维持ATLAS探测器正在进行的操作，包括触发和量热系统；2)对标准模型物理(这样我们可以识别BSM物理)和寻找直接揭示BSM物理的新粒子进行物理分析；3)为教育和推广工作做出贡献，向包括小学生在内的非科学家解释BSM物理。该奖项授予密歇根州立大学小组，目标是四个大类的物理学研究：寻找新的矢量玻色子；研究希格斯玻色子的产生和衰变；顶夸克的物理，单夸克和成对夸克；以及对强相互作用的研究，特别是与矢量玻色子和重夸克有关的喷注产生。该小组将完成瓦片热量计第一阶段的升级工作，该阶段目前在欧洲核子研究中心已接近完成。同样，为第一阶段升级设想的一级热量计触发器的工作将在本合同的第一年完成。长期的硬件工作将是在未来五年内为瓷砖热量计升级HL-LHC。密歇根州立大学高能物理小组的成员传统上一直积极参与教育和外联活动，该小组在非正式教育方面尤其创新。这些活动中一个值得注意的因素是在大型强子对撞机(LHC)的ATLAS实验上发展了一个天文展览。在ATLAS实验上与其他美国小组合作，该小组还刚刚开发了一项关于暗物质的主要天文馆制作。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

One of the major intellectual achievements of the 20th century was the development of the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics. This model succeeded in classifying all the elementary particles known at the time into a hierarchy of groups having similar quantum properties. The validity of this model to date was confirmed by the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). However, the Standard Model as it currently exists leaves open many questions about the universe, including such fundamental questions as to why the Higgs mass has the value it has. One of the goals of the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider which remains the premier Energy Frontier particle accelerator, operating at the CERN laboratory near Geneva Switzerland, is to discover new physics Beyond the Standard Model (BSM). This award will contribute to the potential discoveries of BSM in three main categories: 1) maintain the on-going operations of the ATLAS detector including trigger and calorimeter systems, 2) contribute physics analysis to both Standard Model physics (so we can recognize BSM physics) and searches for new particles which directly reveal BSM physics, 3) contribute to education and outreach efforts to explain BSM physics to non-scientists including elementary students.This award to the Michigan State University group targets physics studies under four general categories: the search for new vector bosons; the study of Higgs boson production and decay; the physics of top quarks, singly and in pairs; and the study of the strong interactions, especially jet production in association with vector bosons and heavy quarks. The group will complete work on the Tile Calorimeter Phase I upgrade which is nearing completion at CERN now. Similarly work on the Trigger for the level 1 Calorimeter envisioned for the Phase I upgrade will be completed in the first year of this award. The longer-term hardware work will be on the HL-LHC upgrade for the Tile Calorimeter, taking place over the next five years. Members of the MSU high energy physics group have traditionally had a strong involvement in education and outreach, and the group has been especially innovative in informal education. A notable element of these activities has been the development of a planetarium show on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In collaboration with other US groups on the ATLAS experiment, the group has also just developed a major planetarium production on dark matter.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.