Physicists are smashing protons together at the Large Hadron Collider to confirm the Higgs boson exists and measure its properties. This research addresses a fundamental gap in our understanding of the universe: whether the Standard Model of particle physics holds true at the highest energies, or whether new particles and forces—such as supersymmetry or extra dimensions—await discovery. The team is also measuring neutrino oscillations at Japan’s J-PARC facility to pin down the last unknown mixing angle, theta_13, and studying rare kaon decays to test for subtle deviations from the model. This is curiosity-driven fundamental science with no immediate practical application. However, similar fundamental research into particle physics has historically led to technologies such as the World Wide Web, medical imaging (PET scanners), and particle accelerators used for cancer therapy. If the team finds new particles or confirms the Higgs mechanism, it will reshape the theoretical framework of physics. If they find nothing unexpected, the Standard Model stands validated at the terascale—a result that is equally important for guiding future experiments. The work also includes R&D for next-generation detectors, such as liquid argon tracking, which could enable future giant neutrino observatories.
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The main objective of this consolidated grant is to continue and extend our core science programme through the exploitation of our data-taking experiments at the LHC and at J-PARC. In ATLAS we will seek to confirm the existence of the Higgs boson and to measure its properties. We will search for evidence of new physics including SUSY and Extra Dimensions. In addition we shall perform stringent tests through precision measurements of the Standard Model, including W,Z and diboson production, to confirm its validity at the Terascale. At LHCb we will extend these measurements to the forward region and perform measurements of CP violation and the properties of the B_s. At T2K we will make the definitive measurements of theta_13, study neutrino interactions in the Near Detector, and prepare for the antineutrino programme. Looking towards the future we are leading the ATLAS upgrade and we will continue our R&D for the LHCb upgrade. Our R&D programme underwrites the ATLAS and LHCb upgrades. Through ERC funding we are extending our quark flavour programme to rare kaon decays in NA62. For the future of our neutrino programme we are carrying out R&D in Liquid Argon tracking detectors and we are preparing for a future giant detector facility. We lead the LHeC proposal for a new electron accelerator and an experiment at CERN to study ep/eA scattering at the Terascale.
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