Heavy Ion Physics in ALICE at the LHC

LHC 的 ALICE 中的重离子物理学

• 批准号: 1407051
• 负责人: Austin Harton
• 金额: $ 9万
• 依托单位: Chicago State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-07-15 至 2017-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1407051&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Heavy; Ion; Physics; ALICE; LHC

A major benefit to undergraduate students pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines, is the opportunity to experience first-hand the application of technology and scientific techniques in real world settings. This project is part of a research program that studies heavy ion collisions within A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE) at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The primary goal is to provide students with research experiences that stimulate an interest in science and technology, exposes them to techniques used in experimental high energy physics, allows the development of global relationships and prepares them for careers in science and technology. The project on which the students will work has a focus centered on understanding the behavior of extremely dense matter, similar to that existing a fraction of a second after the Big Bang. This is achieved by colliding atomic nuclei at very high energies and studying the remnants of these collisions using highly sophisticated detectors. The students involved in this project will analyze the resulting sub-atomic particles generated by these collisions, and will contribute to the design of new detectors that will enable even more sensitive experiments in the future.As stated earlier, the focus of ALICE at CERN is to understand the behavior of matter at very high density, similar to the matter that existed a fraction a second after the Big Bang. This state of matter, consisting of a very hot and dense medium of quarks and gluons, is often referred to as a Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP). By colliding nuclei at very high energies it is possible to create a QGP in a controlled environment that facilitates the study of its properties. Chicago State University (CSU) students will investigate the flavor characteristics, specifically strangeness, of jets resulting from high-energy proton-proton and lead-lead collisions and their use as probes in the study of QGP formation. In addition, CSU students will be involved in a research and development program devoted to the upgrade of ALICE sub-detectors, thereby participating in the hardware development of important components in the ALICE experiment.Collaboration with a large international laboratory such as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN allows students to work with world-class scientists and "state of the art" technology, thus preparing them for STEM careers. Additionally, a program such as this has the potential of creating a cadre of students who become ambassadors for STEM; students who demonstrate to their peers the benefits of pursuing careers in science, engineering, math and technology. Also, students who participate in this program may serve as mentors and role models for students of high school age and younger, thereby, contributing to the creation of a pipeline of students actively preparing for careers in STEM.

对于追求科学、技术、工程和数学 (STEM) 学科职业的本科生来说，一个主要好处是有机会亲身体验技术和科学技术在现实世界中的应用。 该项目是欧洲核研究组织 (CERN) 大型离子对撞机实验 (ALICE) 内重离子碰撞研究项目的一部分。 主要目标是为学生提供研究经验，激发他们对科学和技术的兴趣，让他们接触实验高能物理中使用的技术，发展全球关系，并为他们从事科学和技术职业做好准备。 学生们将从事的项目的重点是了解极其致密物质的行为，类似于大爆炸后几分之一秒内存在的物质。 这是通过以非常高的能量碰撞原子核并使用高度复杂的探测器研究这些碰撞的残余物来实现的。 参与该项目的学生将分析这些碰撞产生的亚原子粒子，并将为新探测器的设计做出贡献，这些探测器将在未来实现更灵敏的实验。如前所述，CERN 的 ALICE 的重点是了解极高密度物质的行为，类似于大爆炸后几分之一秒内存在的物质。这种物质状态由非常热且致密的夸克和胶子介质组成，通常被称为夸克胶子等离子体（QGP）。通过以极高能量碰撞原子核，可以在受控环境中创建 QGP，从而有利于对其特性的研究。芝加哥州立大学 (CSU) 的学生将研究高能质子-质子和铅-铅碰撞产生的射流的味道特征，特别是奇异性，以及它们在 QGP 形成研究中作为探针的用途。 此外，科罗拉多州立大学的学生将参与一项致力于升级ALICE子探测器的研发计划，从而参与ALICE实验中重要部件的硬件开发。与大型强子对撞机等大型国际实验室的合作CERN 允许学生与世界一流的科学家和“最先进”的技术一起工作，从而为他们的 STEM 职业做好准备。 此外，此类计划有可能培养一批学生成为 STEM 大使；向同龄人展示从事科学、工程、数学和技术职业的好处的学生。此外，参与该计划的学生可以作为高中及以下学生的导师和榜样，从而有助于建立积极为 STEM 职业做好准备的学生渠道。