A Brief Introduction to Quarknet A Brief Introduction to Quarknet and Particle Physicsand Particle Physics

Mike StraussMike Strauss

OutlineOutline An introduction to QuarknetAn introduction to Quarknet Some Themes for the WeekSome Themes for the Week

The Particles and Forces of NatureThe Particles and Forces of NatureThe Nature of ScienceThe Nature of ScienceParticle Physics ExperimentsParticle Physics Experiments

Other Good StuffOther Good StuffConnection to CosmologyConnection to CosmologyOU/OSU InvolvementOU/OSU Involvement

QuarkNetQuarkNet

Centered at FermilabCentered at Fermilabhttp://quarknet.fnal.gov/http://quarknet.fnal.gov/

Begun in 1999Begun in 1999 About 50 participating About 50 participating

universitiesuniversities

A program to connect high school teachers A program to connect high school teachers with people doing research in Elementary with people doing research in Elementary Particle Physics (or High Energy Physics)Particle Physics (or High Energy Physics)Provide resources to teachersProvide resources to teachersAssist in bringing HEP into the classroomAssist in bringing HEP into the classroomAssist in improving science educationAssist in improving science education

Sponsored by NSF and DOESponsored by NSF and DOE

Quarknet at OU and OSUQuarknet at OU and OSU OU was one of the first 12 universities to be OU was one of the first 12 universities to be

chosen to participate in Quarknet in 1999.chosen to participate in Quarknet in 1999. Approximately 40 teachers have participatedApproximately 40 teachers have participated An ongoing program offering teachers the An ongoing program offering teachers the

opportunity to participate annuallyopportunity to participate annuallyWe usually offer an annual one week programWe usually offer an annual one week programResearch opportunities availableResearch opportunities availableOpportunities at Fermilab and CERNOpportunities at Fermilab and CERN

OSU joined Quarknet in 2006OSU joined Quarknet in 2006Ongoing collaboration between OU and OSU in Ongoing collaboration between OU and OSU in

physics research and Quarknetphysics research and Quarknet

This WeekThis Week Talks/Discussion on Particle PhysicsTalks/Discussion on Particle Physics Activities that teach particle physics and can be Activities that teach particle physics and can be

used in your classroomused in your classroom

The Structure of MatterThe Structure of Matter

Evidence for quarks was seen in the late 1960’s Evidence for quarks was seen in the late 1960’s and fully confirmed by 1974and fully confirmed by 1974

What should every high school student (or What should every high school student (or science teacher) know about the structure of science teacher) know about the structure of matter?matter?

The Standard Model of Particles and FieldsThe Standard Model of Particles and FieldsForceForce

EMEM

StrongStrong

WeakWeak

The standard model also includes one undiscovered The standard model also includes one undiscovered particle, the Higgs Bosonparticle, the Higgs Boson

The standard model does not include the force of gravityThe standard model does not include the force of gravity Every particle also has an associated anti-particleEvery particle also has an associated anti-particle

HadronsHadrons Any particle made of Any particle made of

quarks, like a neutron or quarks, like a neutron or proton, is called a proton, is called a “Hadron”“Hadron”

We will present a lot of We will present a lot of new nomenclature in new nomenclature in the next week. the next week.

““All science is either physics or stamp All science is either physics or stamp collecting” collecting” – Ernest Rutherford– Ernest Rutherford

The Nature of ScienceThe Nature of Science What is science?What is science? How would the average student answer this How would the average student answer this

question?question? Is there a problem with how they would answer Is there a problem with how they would answer

the question? If so, what?the question? If so, what?How can we address any of these problems?How can we address any of these problems?

Observations about the presentation of the Observations about the presentation of the standard model in this talk?standard model in this talk? Is the standard model correct?Is the standard model correct?How do we know? How do we know?

Smash stuff together!!Smash stuff together!!

This field of research is called “Elementary Particle Physics” This field of research is called “Elementary Particle Physics” or “High Energy Physics”or “High Energy Physics”

How do we know about these small particles?How do we know about these small particles?

λ 1/E

Current HEP LaboratoriesCurrent HEP Laboratories

CERN (Geneva, Switzerland)CERN (Geneva, Switzerland)

DESY (Hamburg, Germany)DESY (Hamburg, Germany)Fermilab (Chicago, Illinois)Fermilab (Chicago, Illinois)

KEK (Tsukuba, Japan)KEK (Tsukuba, Japan)

The Large Hadron ColliderThe Large Hadron Collider

Housed in a tunnel 17 miles Housed in a tunnel 17 miles in circumference 300 feet in circumference 300 feet underground on the French underground on the French Swiss borderSwiss border

The ATLAS detector: The ATLAS detector: A large camera to “see” subatomic particles.A large camera to “see” subatomic particles.

Most particles created in the proton-proton collisions Most particles created in the proton-proton collisions decay very quickly, and the detector sees the debris decay very quickly, and the detector sees the debris (primary and secondary particles) from the collision.(primary and secondary particles) from the collision.

Width: 44 mWidth: 44 mDiameter: 22 mDiameter: 22 mWeight: 7000 tonsWeight: 7000 tons

A Torodial LHC ApparatuSA Torodial LHC ApparatuS

Also when particles collideAlso when particles collide

Energy of motion (kinetic energy) can be changed Energy of motion (kinetic energy) can be changed into new particles with mass. The more kinetic into new particles with mass. The more kinetic energy, the more massive the new particles can be.energy, the more massive the new particles can be.

E=mcE=mc22

Since…Since…

Now (14 billion years)

Stars form (1 billion years)Stars form (1 billion years)

Atoms form (400,000 years)Atoms form (400,000 years)

Nuclei form (3 minutes)Nuclei form (3 minutes)

Protons and neutrons form Protons and neutrons form (10(10-10-10 seconds) seconds)

Quarks differentiate Quarks differentiate

(10(10-34-34 seconds?) seconds?)

??? (Before that)??? (Before that) LHC10-13 Seconds

Tim

eT

ime

Ene

rgy

Ene

rgy

Connection to CosmologyConnection to Cosmology

OU and OSUOU and OSU

HEP is primarily done within large international HEP is primarily done within large international collaborationscollaborations

DDØ at Fermilab: 500 physicists from 19 countries Ø at Fermilab: 500 physicists from 19 countries and 83 institutionsand 83 institutions

ATLAS at CERN: 3000 physicists from 37 countries ATLAS at CERN: 3000 physicists from 37 countries and 137 institutionsand 137 institutions

Day to day experimental HEP detailsDay to day experimental HEP details What we do:What we do:

Build and test hardwareBuild and test hardwareDevelop and test softwareDevelop and test softwareAnalyze dataAnalyze data

Where we do it:Where we do it:Much work can be done in Much work can be done in

Oklahoma via internet and Oklahoma via internet and videoconferencingvideoconferencing

Travel to the lab and Travel to the lab and conferences is requiredconferences is required

Graduate students and Graduate students and postdocs at labpostdocs at lab

Questions?Questions?

This talk has been a very brief introduction to this week’s content. We will visit all these subjects in more detail as the week progresses.