The Wisconsin High Energy Physics group conducts research on the experimental and theoretical frontiers of particle physics. The group works on the Energy Frontier at the Large Hadron Collider on the ATLAS and CMS experiments (CERN, Geneva), the Intensity Frontier on the NOvA and DUNE experiments (Fermilab), and the Cosmic Frontier experiments DES and LSST (Chile). The theoretical research encompasses HEP Phenomenology, String Theory and Cosmology.
The objectives for the Energy Frontier are to explore high energy and luminosity collisions at the LHC using the ATLAS and CMS detectors to lead physics analyses in characterization of the Higgs Boson, to search for its potential partners, to lead searches for Dark Matter and to make extensive studies of Electroweak phenomena.
The objectives of the Intensity Frontier are to explore rare processes by creating very intense beams of particles that allow the probing of those processes. The NOvA and DUNE experiments use the most intense beams of neutrinos in the world to understand neutrino oscillations, the changing of neutrinos from one type into another as they propagate from their point of production. Neutrino oscillations may be able to explain the origin of our matter-dominated Universe.
The objectives for the Cosmic Frontier with DES and LSST are to measure the accelerating expansion of the Universe using hundreds of thousands of supernovae and billions of galaxies. These experiments will help determine if the accelerated expansion is due to a form of dark energy or a modification to our current theory of gravity.
The objectives for the Theory Frontier are to analyze and interpret the new data (Phenomenology), to investigate new theories of high energy physics extending the standard models of particle physics and cosmology, fundamental issues in gravity, string and quantum field theories, and their phenomenological and cosmological implications (String Theory and Theoretical Cosmology.)
Current Experimental Program
The Wisconsin group in ATLAS, led by Prof. Sau Lan Wu, has experienced major excitement of making outstanding contributions leading to the Higgs boson discovery in 2012 and subsequently the measurement of its properties. Among other recognitions, Prof. Wu’s photo was one of the five physicists on the front page of New York Times. Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN started in the summer of 2015 at the energy frontier enabling discovery of new physics, in particular, that arising from Dark Matter or hidden sector. Wu’s group is adding its research focus at the LHC from the Higgs particle to another outstanding mystery of Nature: Dark Matter.
Prof. Kyle Cranmer also leads a group in ATLAS that has made major contributions to discovery of the Higgs boson and the subsequent measurement of its properties. The group has a strong focus in developing advanced data analysis techniques that leverage and advance statistics, machine learning, and data science. The group’s physics effort focus on two primarily topics. The first is to use simulation-based inference to enhance the sensitivity to new physics through Effective Field Theory (EFT) measurements. The second is to build a large catalogue of validated analysis pipelines preserved in the RECAST framework and leverage that catalogue to more systematically explore the large space of beyond-the-standard model theories.
The UW group of Profs Kevin Black, Tulika Bose, Sridhara Dasu and Matt Herndon continues its active leadership roles in the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the LHC, as we explore proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV and prepare for future higher luminosity running. The UW group is leading physics analyses in characterization of the Higgs Boson, searches for its potential partners, searches for particle dark matter, and extensive studies of Electroweak phenomena. The UW group built, commissioned, operates, and upgrades major parts of CMS: the trigger system, including the Level-1 (L1) calorimeter trigger and higher level triggers (HLT), the endcap muon system (EMU), including its infrastructure and cathode strip chambers (CSCs) and Gas Electron Multiplier (GEMs), software for simulation and event processing, and a leading Tier-2 computing facility.
The UW group of Prof Rebel is actively involved in analysis of the current flagship Intensity Frontier experiment in the US, NOvA, and the construction of the future flagship experiment, DUNE. Both experiments observe neutrinos created by accelerators at Fermilab. These experiments use two detectors, one near the point of neutrino production to measure the composition of the beam when it is created and a second located several hundred kilometers away to determine how the composition changes over the baseline. The difference in composition between the two detectors is used to measure the neutrino oscillations. The University of Wisconsin is responsible for building critical components for the readout of the DUNE liquid argon time projection chamber.
The observational cosmology group of Prof. Bechtol works on the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). Both projects use optical/near-infrared telescopes located in the Chilean Andes to study dark energy. LSST will catalog more stars, galaxies, and solar system objects in its first year of operation than all previous astronomical surveys combined. The Wisconsin group is responsible for curating and validating cosmology-ready datasets for DES, including calibration of photometric redshifts. The group also has a leadership role in the LSST Construction Project during commissioning to evaluate whether the camera, telescope, and data management system are functioning at a level to support the science goals of the 10-year survey.
Current Theoretical Program
Profs. Yang Bai, Vernon Barger and Lisa Everett 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 discoveries at the LHC having begun, collider physics phenomenology is a central focus. This group is performing these important calculations and the training of students and postdocs. They are also studying the implications of dark matter and dark energy theories for observations at colliders and particle astrophysics. They are also studying the consequences of his new field theories for general relativity, cosmology and particle physics and exploring electroweak baryogenesis.
This group is performing these important calculations and the training of students and postdocs. They are also studying the implications of dark matter and dark energy theories for observations at colliders and particle astrophysics. They are also studying the consequences of his new field theories for general relativity, cosmology and particle physics and exploring electroweak baryogenesis.Profs. Dan Chung, Moritz Muenchmeyer and Gary Shiu attempt to answer very big questions about our universe: What were the earliest moments of the universe like? How did the early universe evolve into the large-scale structure of matter we observe today and how will it continue to evolve in the future?
Profs. Aki Hashimoto and Gary 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.
Research Supported by:
