Searching for New Physics in the High Luminosity Era at the LHC

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。大型强子对撞机上的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在三个主要类别的潜在发现：1)维持ATLAS探测器的持续运行，包括触发系统，以及在未来三年内拟议的探测器升级工作；2)为标准模型物理(以便能够识别BSM物理)和搜索直接揭示BSM物理的新粒子做出物理分析；以及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。这一奖项授予密歇根州立大学，目标是寻找新的矢量玻色子这一一般类别下的物理学研究。这项研究将寻找在许多BSM物理模型中预测的新的重玻色子。这些玻色子中的任何一个的发现都将是真正的变革。此外，工作将包括改进对标准模型的研究，通过精确测量LHC能量下轻子衰变通道的截面来减少理论上的不确定性。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。这一奖项将有助于创造一种“虚拟现实”体验，让公众直观地看到大型强子对撞机物理事件。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 the trigger system, as well as work on the proposed upgrade to the detector over the next three years, 2) contribute physics analysis to both Standard Model physics (in order to be able to recognize BSM physics) and searches for new particles which directly reveal BSM physics, and 3) contribute to education and outreach efforts to explain BSM physics to non-scientists including elementary students. This award to the Michigan State University targets physics studies under the general category of searches for new vector bosons. The study will search for new heavy bosons predicted in many BSM physics models. A discovery of any of these bosons would be truly transformative. In addition, work will include improved studies on the Standard Model, reducing theoretical uncertainties by making precision measurements of cross sections in lepton decay channels at the LHC energies. 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. This award will contribute to the creation of a “virtual reality” experience that will allow the general public to visualize LHC physics events.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.