The Wisconsin High Energy Physics group conducts research on the experimental and theoretical frontiers of particle physics.

Profs. Carlsmith, Herndon and Pondrom search for the Higgs boson using the CDF detector at the Fermilab Tevatron where some possible masses for a Standard Model (SM) are being ruled out. They study Bs oscillations, rare B-decays, and high-mass jets. They have leading responsibilities in the B-Physics and Higgs physics analysis as well as responsibility for the CDF intermediate angle muon system.

After their BaBar experiment at the SLAC B-factory discovered CP violation phenomena in the B meson sector, Profs. Dasu and Prepost work to firmly establish the CKM quark mixing formalism in the Standard Model (SM) and to determine very tight constraints on physics beyond the SM. They also have a significant involvement in detector and accelerator R&D for the ILC.

Prof. Heeger is working on construction of the Daya Bay Reactor Antineutrino Experiment and starting in 2010 will measure the electron neutrino coupling to the third mass eigenstate and the corresponding unknown neutrino mixing angle θ₁₃.

Profs. Mellado, Pan and Wu are working on the ATLAS experiment and Profs. Carlsmith, Dasu, Herndon and Smith are working on the CMS experiment, both at the CERN LHC. These groups completed 15 years of studies, design, construction, installation, commissioning and are now operating major components of their detectors, as well as simulation and computing facilities for physics analysis. The ATLAS group has leading roles in the silicon and pixel readout driver, high level trigger (HLT), Higgs physics studies and software and computing. The CMS group has leading responsibilities in the Trigger (Level-1 and HLT) and Endcap Muon systems, physics coordination, software and computing. Both groups are looking forward to discoveries such as the Higgs boson, supersymmetry, exotic particles, extra dimensions or whatever else emerges in this new regime. They are also working on the simulation and detector upgrade program for the Super LHC.

Profs. Barger, Chung, Everett, Halzen, Han, Ramsey-Musolf and Petriello are applying their internationally recognized expertise on calculations of new physics models and SM backgrounds to interpret the new data from the experimental frontier. With the imminent turn-on of the LHC, collider physics phenomenology is a central focus and this group is performing these important calculations and the training of students and postdocs to perform these calculations in the future. Prof. Petriello is developing novel methods for ultra-precise calculations in quantum field theory and applying them to Tevatron and LHC phenomenology. Prof. Ramsey-Musolf is developing theoretical methods to compute the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe and is investigating the implications of ultra-precise tests of fundamental symmetries for physics beyond the Standard Model. Prof. Chung is studying the implications of dark matter and dark energy theories for observations at colliders and particle astrophysics. He is also studying the consequences of his new field theories for general relativity, cosmology and particle physics and exploring electroweak baryogenesis.

Profs. Hashimoto and Shiu are investigating the extensive range of topics in string theory ranging from its mathematical formulations to phenomenological applications. Their research aims to provide new insights and a foundation for studying quantum gravity, strong interaction physics, physics beyond the Standard Model, and the early universe.