The MoEDAL Experiment at the Large hadron Collider

2010年，大型强子对撞机(LHC)的MoEDAL实验于2015年6月开始采集数据。MoEDAL是一项开创性的实验，旨在寻找新物理的高度电离化身，如磁单极或大质量(伪)稳定带电粒子。它的开创性物理计划定义了超过34个场景，这些场景可能会对以下基本问题产生革命性的见解：是否存在额外的维度或新的对称性；质量产生的机制是什么；磁荷是否存在；暗物质的性质是什么；大爆炸是如何发展的。MoEDAL的目的是在该领域的前沿迎接这些挑战。2014年底部署在大型强子对撞机环上第8点(IP8)的MoEDAL探测器利用了无源和有源探测技术的创新和具有成本效益的组合。MoEDAL实验由艾伯塔大学领导，目前由来自13个国家25个研究所的65名物理学家组成。MoEDAL物理计划旨在以互补的方式扩展大型强子对撞机的物理视野。*创新且基本上无源的MoEDAL探测器具有双重性质。首先，它就像一个巨大的照相机，由核径迹探测器(NTD)组成--由“智能”超快光学扫描显微镜(OSM)离线分析--只对新物理敏感。其次，它独一无二地能够捕获新物理的粒子信使，以供进一步研究。第三个也是唯一有效的子探测器系统是TimePix像素器件阵列(TMPX)，由分布在IP8处MoEDAL洞穴周围的~8个器件组成。TMPX将用于监测与高电离束流相关的背景。MoEDAL实验与其他大型强子对撞机实验完全不同。MoEDAL NTD和MMT阵列是无源的，不需要读出电子设备、高压、气体供应或触发。TMPX系统通过网络读出。因此，不需要不断地操作探测器。然而，根据光束背景，MoEDAL的敏感元件每年至少需要更换一次。NTD探测器被刻蚀，然后由一批“智能”的超高速OSM进行分析。暴露的MMT体积在鱿鱼设施中被扫描以确定是否存在捕获的磁电荷，然后被转移到地下设施以监测非常长寿命的带电粒子的衰变。MoEDAL NTD使用布鲁克海文国家实验室提供的重离子束进行校准。*首次安装MoEDAL探测器体积是在2014-2015年冬季完成的。已对曝光的测试NTD跟踪和诱捕体积进行了分析，预计将于2015年12月发布第一批物理学出版物。在大型强子对撞机长期关闭后，MoEDAL于2015年6月首次开始采集数据。灵敏的探测器体积将每年更换一到两次--取决于IP8的束流背景--获得10FB-1所需的大约5年的运行年限。**

In 2010 the MoEDAL experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) started data taking in June 2015. MoEDAL is a pioneering experiment designed to search for highly ionizing avatars of new physics such as magnetic monopoles or massive (pseudo-)stable charged particles. Its groundbreaking physics program defines over 34 scenarios that yield potentially revolutionary insights into such foundational questions as: are there extra dimensions or new symmetries; what is the mechanism for the generation of mass; does magnetic charge exist; what is the nature of dark matter; and, how did the big-bang develop. MoEDAL's purpose is to meet these challenges at the frontier of the field. The MoEDAL detector deployed at Point 8 (IP8) on the LHC ring late in 2014 utilizes an innovative and cost-effective combination of passive and active detection techniques. The MoEDAL experiment is led by the University of Alberta and now consists of 65 physicists from 25 institutes in 13 countries. MoEDAL physics program is designed to expand the physics horizons of the LHC in a complementary way.***The innovative and largely passive MoEDAL detector has a dual nature. First, it acts like a giant camera, comprised of Nuclear Track Detectors (NTDs) - analyzed offline by "smart" ultra fast Optical Scanning Microscopes (OSMs)- sensitive only to new physics. Second, it is uniquely able to trap the particle messengers of new physics for further study. The third and only active sub-detector system is the TimePix pixel device array (TMPX), consisting of ~8 devices distributed around the MoEDAL cavern at IP8. TMPX will be used to monitor highly ionizing beam related backgrounds. The MoEDAL experiment is completely different from other LHC experiments. The MoEDAL NTD and MMT arrays are passive requiring no readout electronics, HV, gas supply or trigger. The TMPX system is readout over the web. Thus, there is no requirement to constantly man the detector. However, the sensitive elements of the MoEDAL need to be replaced at least one a year, depending on beam backgrounds. The NTD detectors are etched and then analysed by a farm of “smart” ultrafast OSMs. The exposed MMT volumes are scanned at a SQUID facility for the presence of trapped magnetic charge and then moved to an underground facility to be monitored for the decay of very long lived electrically charged particles. MoEDAL NTDs are calibrated using a heavy-ion beam provided by the Brookhaven National Laboratory.***The first installation of the MoEDAL detector volumes was achieved in the winter of 2014-15. The exposed test NTD tracking and trapping volumes have been analysed with the first physics publications expected by December 2015. MoEDAL started to take data for the first time in June 2015 after the long LHC shutdown. The sensitive detector volumes will be replaced once or perhaps twice a year - depending on beam backgrounds at IP8 - for each of roughly 5 years of running required to obtain 10 fb-1. **