Introduction to QuarkNet for the Vanderbilt University Center

1. Introduction to QuarkNetfor the Vanderbilt University Center Ken Cecire University of Notre Dame kcecire@nd.edu

2. Introduction A word from our sponsors… • Particle physics • Education reform • Large Hadron Collider • Highest energy • Coldest too • On the edge of new discoveries • More cool experiments

3. Introduction First LEP, and now LHC, are buried ~100 m below the surface near the Swiss-French border.

4. Introduction We are seeing collision events!

5. Introduction Check out the US /LHC Event of the Week: http://www.uslhc.us/Teachers_and_Students

6. What is QuarkNet? Introduction • Physicists, teachers and students • Research • Cosmic ray e-Lab • Masterclass • Special workshops • more

7. Introduction Our QuarkNet centers Universities/labs doing particle physics research 2 physicist mentors 10 teachers 5 workshop days each year Special opportunities

8. Introduction Notre Dame: Randy Ruchti Mitch Wayne Dan Karmgard Ken Cecire Fermilab: Marge Bardeen Bob Peterson U. Florida: Tom Jordan (Program Coor.) U. Washington: Anna Goussiou Kris Whelan Our PI’s and Staff

9. QuarkNet funding flow Introduction NSF via Notre Dame: • Teacher stipends • Center support • Summer research • QuarkNet Admin (Anne Zakas) DOE via Fermilab: • Cosmic Ray project • Masterclass • Special programs • Fermilab services This is not as clear-cut as it looks: there are overlapping wave functions.

10. Introduction

11. Introduction • Cosmic Rays • Sources • Composition, energy spectrum • Detection • Current experiments • The QuarkNet Classroom Detector • Hardware overview • Classroom use • Experiments, measurements • Data Analysis • Upload, analyze data & save data products • Share results • Enter logbook notes

12. Introduction

13. Introduction

14. CERN/EPPOG Masterclass Introduction • Students analyze real data from CERN • Work with particle physicists • Web conference • Full day of particle physics for students and teachers

15. Introduction

16. Introduction Particle Physics is International • The cosmic ray e-Lab in U.S. plus Asia and Europe • Masterclass spans Europe, South and North America (esp. U.S.); also reaches Japan and South Africa

19. Introduction, done. Who Ya Gonna Call?Operators are standing by… Vanderbilt Mentors: Med Webster Will Johns Paul Sheldon QuarkNet Staff: Tom Jordan Bob Peterson Kris Whelan Ken Cecire • Tel: 574-631-3343 (O) • Tel: 757-897-5296 (M) • E-Mail: kcecire@nd.edu Also see: http://quarknet.fnal.gov/staff.shtml

20. A look at the Masterclass From LEP to LHC

21. Masterclass What is the Masterclass? • As in a masterclass in the arts, students work with an expert. • Expert = particle physicist. • Instead of, say, a violin, the subject is particle physics data analysis. 21

22. Masterclass Masterclass Day – sample agenda 22

23. Masterclass Standard Model • Quarks combine to make hadrons (protons, neutrons,…) • Leptons – electron and its heavier cousins – and the small, unseen neutrinos • Force carriers (the bosons) • Heavier particles can “decay” into lighter particles.

24. Masterclass • What’s that, up in the sky? • What’s it doing? • What time is it? • How do you know? • Are you sure? • What does this have to do with particle physics?

25. Masterclass Generic Detector Design • Cylinders wrapped around the beam pipe • From inner to outer . . . • Tracking • Magnet • Electromagnetic calorimeter • Hadronic calorimeter • Muon chamber

27. Masterclass DELPHI at LEP: Our Z Lab The beam particles each had a total energy of 45.5 GeV: 2 x 45.5 GeV = 91.1 GeV 91.1 GeV is the Z mass. LEP built Z bosons—they promptly decayed. The detectors measured the stuff that came out of the decay.

28. Masterclass Z  2 muons Z  2 electrons

29. Masterclass What’s what? Z  2 electrons Z  2 muons Z  other stuff

30. Masterclass What’s what? Z  2 electrons Z  2 muons Z  other stuff

31. Masterclass What’s what? Z  2 electrons Z  2 muons Z  other stuff What’s the count?

32. Masterclass Next steps for students: Practice. Talk with your fellow physicists. Make teams of two. Analyze up to 1000 events (as a group). Report! Rapport! Rejoice! Relax!

33. Masterclass What’s new? • LHC Masterclass • Students look at Z- and W-decays • Test the new accelerator and detectors • This is what physicists are doing right now…

34. Masterclass, forward The Plan • Express interest/preferences • Orientation • Video/audio test • Prepare students • Masterclass here in March • Participate with • Around 20 QN centers • Hundreds of MC institutes worldwide • 2 to 4 Institutes on your day