Searching for and Discovering New Physics at the Large Hadron Collider, the Tevatron, and in Cosmic Rays

University Of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln NE

Investigators

Abstract

This award provides continued support for the frontier collider-physics program of the experimental high-energy physics (HEP) group at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) for a three-year period. The intellectual merit follows from the new era of discovery and understanding which has and will continue to progress in the fields of particle physics and astrophysics. The research effort is focused on operations and data analysis for the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where the UNL group has leadership roles in Tier-2 computing, operation of the forward pixel detector, and tracker and trigger upgrades. In addition, the group will complete ongoing analyses and continue its service commitments to the D0 experiment, principally the luminosity measurement. The group will also maintain complementary efforts in ultra-high energy cosmic-ray physics through contributions to the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Radio Ice Cherenkov Experiment (RICE) and the Neutrino Array Radio Calibration (NARC) experiment. Broader impacts result from the extensive education and outreach efforts of the group. These include the NSF-funded Cosmic Ray Observatory Project (CROP), a Bilingual English Speaking Tutor program (BEST) for elementary school children, networking with rural schools to bring the excitement of particle physics to the classroom and integration of high-school teachers and students with cosmic-ray research.