Particle Physics Consolidated Grant 2021

粒子物理学试图从基本粒子（夸克、轻子）、基本力（强、电磁力、弱力、引力）和介导它们的粒子（光子、W/Z、胶子、引力子）和赋予基本粒子质量的希格斯粒子的角度来理解宇宙，它的诞生、演化和命运。标准模型是近50年来发展起来的一个理论框架，它解释了几乎所有的粒子物理数据。但是这个模型是不完整的。它解释了我们在地球上遇到的东西，但对宇宙的研究表明，神秘的暗物质的存在将星系聚集在一起，而更神秘的暗能量正以越来越快的速度驱使星系分离。牛津大学的研究将通过提供数据来指导发展标准模型的理论工作，极大地促进我们对“新物理学”理论的理解，该理论将取代标准模型。大型强子对撞机（LHC）再现了宇宙大爆炸后十亿分之一秒内的情况。牛津大学在ATLAS和LHCb中起着重要作用。这些实验有可能彻底改变我们对宇宙的理解。在ATLAS中，牛津大学的物理学家参与了“希格斯粒子”的令人兴奋的发现，希格斯粒子赋予基本粒子质量。希格斯粒子就像一个窗帘；既然我们已经找到了，我们就可以拉开帷幕，看到一个新的世界。因此，我们正在非常详细地研究它。我们也在寻找新的粒子，为“暗物质”提供解决方案，暗物质占宇宙物质的80%。牛津大学LHCb的物理学家们通过研究夸克和反夸克行为的细微差异——“cp违逆”，努力更好地理解宇宙中物质-反物质不对称的起源。这种不对称使我们得以存在。在接下来的十年里，大型强子对撞机将达到更高的能量和强度，需要对ATLAS和LHCb的探测器进行改进。升级后的探测器将把粒子物理学的灵敏度提升到前所未有的水平，以进行几乎不可避免的新物理观测。我们使用强大的计算资源并开发必要的尖端分析工具，从大量数据中提取重要发现。我们参与与大型强子对撞机的大型实验相辅相成的高精度实验。Mu3e寻找由非常重的粒子介导的新物理，这些粒子在大型强子对撞机上是看不到的，但在包括超对称性在内的许多理论模型中都有望出现。LZ通过寻找暗物质解决了粒子物理学和宇宙学中最关键的问题之一。LSST将测量宇宙膨胀的速度有多快，因为神秘的暗能量代表了宇宙中75%的能量，并像反重力一样推动星系分开。牛津大学通过T2K、SK、HK、DUNE和未来的项目，旨在了解难以捉摸的中微子，它从一种类型到另一种类型的“振荡”，以及中微子和反中微子性质是否存在差异——“cp -违逆”。SNO+将测量中微子的其他性质，例如，它是否是自己的反粒子。量子传感器技术有可能从根本上改变我们理解宇宙的方法。我们正在英国建造第一个大型原子干涉仪，用于寻找光暗物质粒子和引力波（AION）。我们也是美国费米实验室正在建造的100米高的装置MAGIS-100的一部分。我们将继续提高我们的仪器能力，以保持为我们的实验建造最复杂的仪器的能力。我们将在未来的粒子物理领域保持世界领先的科学卓越地位和主要的最先进的探测器建设。对于粒子物理学来说，这是激动人心的时刻，牛津大学在其中发挥着重要作用。

Particle physics seeks to understand the Universe, its birth, evolution, and fate in terms of elementary particles (quarks, leptons), the fundamental forces (strong, electromagnetic, weak forces, gravity) and the particles that mediate them (photons, W/Z, gluons, gravitons) and the Higgs particle that gives elementary particles mass. The Standard Model, a theoretical framework developed in the last fifty years, elucidates almost all particle-physics data. But the model is incomplete. It explains what we encounter on Earth, but studies of the cosmos suggest the presence of mysterious dark matter that holds galaxies together and more mysterious dark energy that is driving galaxies apart at an ever-increasing rate. Oxford's research will significantly advance our understanding of the "new-physics" theory that will emerge to replace the Standard Model by providing the data to guide the theoretical work to develop it.The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) reproduces the conditions within a million millionth of a second of the Big Bang. Oxford plays a major role in ATLAS and LHCb. These experiments have the potential to revolutionise our understanding of the Universe completely. In ATLAS, Oxford physicists participated in the exciting discovery of the "Higgs particle", which gives mass to elementary particles. The Higgs particle is like a curtain; now that we have found it, we can draw back the curtain to see a new world. Accordingly, we are studying it in great detail. We are also searching for new particles that would provide a solution to "dark-matter" that makes up about 80% of matter in the Universe. Oxford physicists on LHCb strive for a better understanding of the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe by studying subtle differences in the behaviour of quarks & antiquarks - "CP-violation". This asymmetry permits us to exist. Over the next decade, the LHC will reach higher energies and intensities requiring detector improvements for ATLAS & LHCb. The upgraded detectors will take particle physics to an unprecedented level of sensitivity for the nearly inevitable new-physics observations. We use powerful computing resources and develop cutting-edge analysis tools necessary to extract essential discoveries from vast data volumes. We participate in high-precision experiments complementary to the large experiments at the LHC. Mu3e searches for new physics mediated by very heavy particles that would not be visible at the LHC but are expected in many theoretical models, including SUSY. LZ addresses one of the most critical questions in particle physics & cosmology by searching for dark matter. LSST will measure how quickly the expansion of the Universe is speeding up due to the mysterious dark energy that represents 75% of all energy in the Universe and acts like anti-gravity pushing galaxies apart. Through T2K, SK, HK, DUNE, & future projects, Oxford aims to understand the elusive neutrino, its "oscillation" from one type to another, and whether there is a difference between neutrino and anti-neutrino properties - "CP-violation". SNO+ will measure other properties of the neutrino, e.g. whether or not it is its own antiparticle.Quantum sensor technologies have the potential to change our approach to understanding the Universe radically. We are building the first large-scale atom interferometer in the UK to search for light dark matter particles and gravitational waves (AION). We are also part of MAGIS-100, a 100 m tall device under construction at Fermilab in the US. We will continue to improve our instrumentation capabilities to retain the ability to construct the most sophisticated apparatus for our experiments. We will maintain our world-leading role for scientific excellence & major state-of-the-art detector construction in particle physics for the future. These are exciting times for particle physics, and Oxford is playing a major role.