CMS stands for Compact Muon Solenoid: compact because it is "small" for its enormous weight, muon for one of the particles it detects, and solenoid for the coil inside its huge superconducting magnet. It is a high-energy physics experiment in Cessy, France, part of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. CMS is designed to see a wide range of particles and phenomena produced in high-energy collisions in the LHC. Like a cylindrical onion, different layers of detector stop and measure the different particles, and use this key data to build up a picture of events at the heart of the collision. Scientists then use this data to search for new phenomena that will help to answer questions such as: What is the Universe really made of and what forces act within it? And what gives everything substance? CMS will also measure the properties of previously discovered particles with unprecedented precision, and be on the lookout for completely new, unpredicted phenomena.
This search is carried out by detectors that consist of layers of material that exploit the different properties of particles to catch and measure the energy and momentum of each one. CMS was designed around getting the best possible scientific results, and therefore to look for the most efficient ways of finding evidence for new physical theories. This put certain requirements on the design. CMS needed: 1. a high performance system to detect and measure muons, 2. a high resolution method to detect and measure electrons and photons (an electromagnetic calorimeter), 3. a high quality central tracking system to give accurate momentum measurements, and 4. a "hermetic" hadron calorimeter", designed to entirely surround the collision and prevent particles from escaping.
The CMS experiment is 21 m long, 15 m wide and 15 m high, and sits in a cavern that could contain all the residents of Geneva; albeit not comfortably. The detector is like a giant filter, where each layer is designed to stop, track or measure a different type of particle emerging from proton-proton and heavy ion collisions. Finding the energy and momentum of a particle gives clues to its identity, and particular patterns of particles, or "signatures", are indications of new and exciting physics.
This project is directed toward requirement #2 above. The group will participate in the Forward Pixel Detector subsystem for the CMS. The main thrust of group's efforts will be in the commissioning of the Forward Pixel detector, establish the data-taking stable mode at the Remote Operations Center (ROC) and develop its geometry as the details of the upgrade are finalized, into the framework of CMS tracking software and perform its software alignment using reconstructed tracks. An educational outreach program will form a very essential component of these research efforts. It will involve undergraduate students from several disciplines, engineers, science teachers and high school students in this research at the cutting edge of technology.
Purdue University Calumet is a member of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), since 2005. The LHC is the largest scientific machine ever built to probe the smallest possible structures. The continued support from NSF has supported the Purdue Calumet High Energy Physics Group, led by the PI. While the University is located in Northwest Indiana and the only institution in the area with a High Energy Physics Program, its proximity to Fermilab has facilitated the research profile and contributions of the group. This NSF award supported the research activities of the Purdue Calumet group on the CMS experiment. Historically a Forward Pixel Detector institution, the grant has enabled significant contributions from developing the FPIX geometry to participation in the construction of the forward pixel disks at Fermilab’s Silicon Detector (SiDet) Facility, this award facilitated us to utilize our experience and expertise in becoming valuable members to the upgrade of the pixel detector. Specifically, we developed the geometry for the upgrade option, led the Offline Tracker shifts and Data Quality Monitoring Effort, Tracker Monte Carlo Software Validation, Pixel Offline Gain Calibration Validation and performed physics analyses on the data delivered by the proton-proton collisions at the LHC. Our contributions include measurement of inclusive jet cross sections, observation of top signal with the early LHC data, measurement of the b tagging performance using a muon in jet sample, W prime boson search, measurement of W muon asymmetry and a Charged Higgs Physics Analysis. In preparation for the future of particle physics the group’s postdoc John Stupak spearheaded the effort in the 2 Higgs Doublet model analysis for the Snowmass and subsequently for the European Council for Future Accelerators (ECFA). The group consisted of the PI, postdoctoral research associates, and undergraduate students, all of whom participated in the activities mentioned above. A remarkable achievement during this period was the discovery of the Higgs boson, which had remained elusive for the last 50 years or so. This particle is responsible for explaining the origin of mass, ie why certain particles have mass, a very fundamental ingredient in the Standard Model of Particle Physics. This award also led a very successful education and outreach component, especially by the PI. Developing on the success of the high energy physics program, a general education science course of immense popularity is offered by the PI, namely, "The Origin of the Universe". The discovery of the Higgs boson has put Purdue Calumet on the global map of discoveries, thereby bringing it the reputation of having a regional University involved in this high profile research. Additionally, the PI has given numerous lectures with a wide spectrum of audience and won several awards and recognition for her direct impact in innovations and influence in Northwest Indiana. She has also been invited to lead an effort on establishing a STEM Institute at the University. In summer 2014, Purdue Calumet became the 4th QuarkNet center in Indiana, with the PI as the faculty mentor. Presenting the research work by all the members of the group, including the undergraduate students, at conferences and meetings remained an integral part of this award. The PI remains committed to promoting education for women and is a common face at events in the region, with regular media coverage.
