Oxford particle physicists will hunt for dark matter, measure whether neutrinos are their own antiparticles, and extract data from the LHC experiments as they come online after the 2008 failure. The Standard Model of particle physics, though hugely successful, is incomplete. It cannot explain dark matter, neutrino masses, or why the universe contains more matter than antimatter. This programme attacks those gaps directly—by searching for the material that makes up most of the universe, by probing the fundamental nature of the neutrino, and by analysing collisions from the LHC that could reveal entirely new particles or forces. If successful, this research will reshape the textbook understanding of how the universe works at its most basic level. That is its primary value. There is no immediate practical application—this is fundamental science. But past fundamental discoveries in particle physics have led to technologies such as medical imaging (PET scanners), the World Wide Web, and accelerator-based cancer therapy. A deeper understanding of dark matter or neutrino properties could, in time, open equally unexpected doors.
View original technical description
Particle physics attempts to understand the Universe and its evolution in terms of the interplay of a small number of fundamental forces and particles. The last thirty years has seen the development of a robust and extremely successful theoretical framework, known as the Standard Model, in which all available data can be explained. However, this model is demonstrably incomplete and has many parameters that must be inserted by hand. Our proposed progamme will significantly advance our understanding of whatever theory must be constructed to replace the Standard Model. Our collaboration in the SNO experiment has been a major contributor to our understanding of the phenomenon of neutrino mass, originally outside the Standard Model. As SNO draws to an end, we will continue our neutrino investigations with a leading role in the MINOS experiment and the next generation experiment based in Japan, T2K. We plan to measure other fundamental properties of the neutrino, such as whether or not it is its own antiparticle - a Majorana or a Dirac neutrino - by utilising our unique experience with the SNO experiment and its underground laboratory. The CDF experiment is coming to the end of its life as LHC takes over the energy frontier, but we intend to continue our important contributions to the remaining running and in the exploitation of the full data sample to produce papers. The ZEUS experiment has now completed data taking; we are determined to play a major part in bringing these classic results on the structure of the proton, and the strong interaction, to publication. These results are likely to remain in the text-books for many years. After the disappointment of the failure of the LHC in 2008, repairs are well under way and the LHC experiments will come on line during the period of this Rolling Grant. We will ensure that Oxford plays a major role in the extraction of physics results from ATLAS and LHCb, which have the potential to completely revolutionise our understanding of particle physics. We are committed to providing the computing resources and analysis tools necessary for the extraction of these results, and our work in ensuring that Grid concepts and technology are available to the wider academic and business community will continue. The CRESST-II and cryo-EDM experiments will use technologies in which Oxford has a world lead to explore some of the most important questions in particle physics and cosmology; in particular the nature off the material that appears to make up most of the Universe. The spokesman of a major new initiative in this area, EURECA, is from Oxford, so that we will continue our leading role in the search for Dark Matter. The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science has major programmes in the accelerators of the future, including Linear Colliders and the Neutrino Factory. The JAI has established itself as a world-class institute in accelerator physics under the leadership of Professor Peach; we are starting the search for a world-class accelerator scientist to be his successor. We are also providing leaders in international bodies charged with the development of new accelerators. We will continue to develop and enhance our capabilities in mechanical and electronics design so that Oxford will retain the ability to construct the most sophisticated apparatus of whatever size is required for the physics objectives. We are determined to play a leading role in world particle physics in the future, as we have in the past.
Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.
Is something wrong? Let us know