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Experimenting with Quarks

Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 28, 2008. Experimenting with Quarks. Prof. Richard Jones University of Connecticut, Storrs. Ordinary matter. cup of coffee atoms electrons + nuclei neutrons + protons quarks. Elementary particles: electrons quarks. neutron. proton.

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Experimenting with Quarks

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  1. Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 28, 2008 Experimenting with Quarks Prof. Richard Jones University of Connecticut, Storrs

  2. Ordinary matter • cup of coffee • atoms • electrons + nuclei • neutrons + protons • quarks Elementary particles: electrons quarks neutron proton Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  3. What makes things stick? • Opposite charges attract • What about these guys? electrons (-) nucleus (+) The electromagnetic force protons (+) neutrons (0) !! The strong nuclear force nuclear glue Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  4. Can we actually “see” elementary particles? • not exactly… Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  5. Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator • racetrack accelerator • accelerates electrons to 6 GeV • upgrading to 12 GeV • experiments Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  6. Why are quarks difficult to see? • How were electrons first seen? • make a glass vacuum tube • apply force using electric potential of several kV • electrons rip free from atoms • electric current flows The world’s first particle accelerator Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  7. What makes seeing quarks interesting? • J.J Thompson: "Could anything at first sight seem more impractical than a body which is so small that its mass is an insignificant fraction of the mass of an atom of hydrogen?" • Can we try it again with quarks? • people tried, no success Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  8. What makes seeing quarks interesting? • 99% of the mass of ordinary matter is locked up in particles composed of quarks • mass is energy – E = mc2 • all of this energy is stored safely in the nuclei of the ordinary elements • can additional energy be pumped in and converted to more mass? new exotic particles Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  9. Two quarks on a string • So what happens when you pull on a quark inside a proton? • N. Isgur, 1988: What happens if you stretch the string, and then pluck it? • the quark begins to move • a glue string forms • the string stretches • the quark slows down • the quark snaps back – denied! theoretical simulation courtesy of D. Leinweber Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  10. The GlueX experiment Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  11. The GlueX experiment • Time line for experiment • 1997 – first meeting • 1999 – initial proposal • 2002 – mature proposal • 2003 – project adopted by DOE • 2006 – mature design • 2009 – construction starts • 2014 – commissioning • 2017 – first results! UConn responsibility Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  12. Prototyping detectors Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  13. Prototyping detectors Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  14. The Competition • China – Beijing Electron-Positron Collider • BES experiment • Europe – FAIR Antiproton Accelerator • PANDA experiment • Japan – JPARC Proton Accelerator • several multi-GeV beam lines • proposals in preparation Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

  15. Status and Outlook • Funding is approved for GlueX • Construction should begin soon • Lots of opportunities for students at all levels • Exciting discoveries await! Science Symposium, Darien High School, May 29, 2008

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