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Boosting the discovery using τs in the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider

Project description

Big things might come in small packages at the Large Hadron Collider

The Standard Model of particle physics, developed in the 1970s and refined over the years with new discoveries, is our most complete description of the matter particles of which our universe is made and the forces that govern their interactions. However, while it does an incredibly good job at that – far more than 'standard' – it does have some acknowledged gaps that have yet eluded either explanation or demonstration or both. There is a tremendous scientific movement that is working very hard in the realm of so-called 'new physics' that takes us beyond the Standard Model. The EU-funded BoostDiscovery project is furthering that effort, developing new techniques to detect light states of matter so far predicted but not observed, which may be hiding in plain sight in particle production experiments.

Objective

Almost ten years into the highly successful program both in ATLAS and CMS, our understanding of the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics has deepened. Nonetheless, what lies beyond the SM remains one of the most urgent questions of physics in the 21st century. To move forward, one must think outside of the box and leap into uncharted waters. Searches today are aiming at the high-energy frontier, while low-mass resonances are mostly overlooked by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Consequently, far-reaching hints of new physics may silentlyhide in the data. Motivated by numerous New Physics (NP) scenarios that often predict light states, such as extended Higgs sectors, axion physics, or dark sector models, among others, the PI will develop new techniques to search for low-mass resonances decaying into two collimated low-pT hadronic τ leptons. τs, being the heaviest, third-generation leptons, provide a unique experimental opportunity to search for low-lying states that would otherwise go undetected. In particular, novel methods to identify boosted hadronic τ+τ− pairs will be established. These techniques will then be used to pave a new path towards discovery of low-mass resonances produced through various production modes. As part of this proposal, the PI will also develop new trigger-level capabilities to further extend the reach of this program at Run-3. As a former leader of the ATLAS Beyond the Standard Model physics group, and current leader of low-mass resonance searches, the PI is ideally positioned to establish a strong research team and take this project to completion, laying the groundwork for the discovery of new physics beyond the SM.

Host institution

TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
Net EU contribution
€ 1 420 000,00
Total cost
€ 1 420 000,00

Beneficiaries (1)