SCIPP Research Program

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1 SCIPP Research Program R.P. Johnson UCSC Physics Department Associate Director Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics

2 Outline SCIPP Faculty Elementary Particle Physics Theory ATLAS BaBar ILC High Energy Astrophysics Theory Veritas Milagro GLAST X-ray astrophysics Retina and Neuroscience October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 2

3 SCIPP Faculty & Adjunct Faculty Aguirre, Anthony Atwood, William Banks, Tom Blumenthal, George Dine, Michael Haber, Howard Heusch, Clemens Johnson, Robert Litke, Alan Nielson, Jason Primack, Joel Profumo, Stefano Ramirez-Ruiz, Enrico Riordan, Michael Sadrozinski, Hartmut Schalk, Terry Schumm, Bruce Seiden, Abraham Smith, David Williams, David A. Theoretical Astrophysics Experimental Astrophysics Particle Theory Theoretical Astrophysics (UCSC Chancellor) Particle Theory Particle Theory Particle Experiment Experimental Astrophysics (SCIPP Associate Director) Particle Experiment, Neurobiology Particle Experiment Cosmology and Astrophysics Theoretical Particle Physics and Astrophysics Theoretical Astrophysics Physics Historian Particle Experiment, Biophysics Particle Experiment (Associate Dean for Computing) Particle Experiment Particle Experiment (SCIPP Director) Experimental Astrophysics Experimental Astrophysics Plus ~21 postdoctoral and research physicists, plus ~11 staff, and ~17 graduate students. And, research participation by many undergraduates. (Only faculty and senior research physicists are named in the following.) October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 3

4 Elementary Particle Theory Anthony Aguirre, Tom Banks, Michael Dine, Howie Haber, Stefano Profumo Standard-Model phenomenology CP violation Higgs boson Support of the BaBar experimental efforts Beyond-the Standard Model: Supersymmetry Higgs boson Support of the Atlas experimental efforts Superstring theory (ties to the Math Department) Connections to Astrophysics and Cosmology October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 4

5 BaBar Experiment at SLAC Abe Seiden, Bruce Schumm, Bill Lockman, Al Eisner, Terry Schalk, Alex Grillo, Robert Johnson Matter and antimatter are subtly different October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 5

6 ATLAS Experiment at the LHC General purpose particle spectrometer to be used at the LHC at CERN Search for the Higgs particle, new supersymmetric particles and other new phenomena at the 14 TeV energy scale Inner Detector One of 4088 Abe Seiden, Alan Litke, Jason Nielson, Bruce Schumm, Hartmut Sadrozinski, Alex Grillo October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 6 6 cm

7 International Linear Collider Bruce Schumm Clem Heusch The Gossamer Tracker concept for the Linear Collider October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 7

8 Astrophysics and Cosmology Theory Anthony Aguirre, George Blumenthal, Joel Primack, Stefano Profumo, Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz Inflation, dark matter, dark energy, early universe, compact objects, cosmic rays, relativistic flows and shocks, etc. Most powerful objects in the Universe Gamma-ray bursts (GRB) Active galaxies (AGN) Pulsars Black holes Extreme conditions Intense magnetic and gravitational fields High energy density Search for exotic phenomena Dark matter Primordial black holes October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 8

9 High-E Gamma Rays (Air Showers) David A. Williams Milagro detects ~100 GeV to 20 TeV gamma-rays from the particles that reach the ground. Simulated gamma-ray shower in the atmosphere Inside the Milagro water Cherenkov detector at Los Alamos National Lab VERITAS imaging air-cherenkov telescope array (Arizona). Veritas detects ~50 GeV to ~50 TeV gamma-rays from the flash of Cherenkov light produced in the atmosphere October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 9

10 High-E Gamma Rays (GLAST Satellite) Robert Johnson, Bill Atwood, Hartmut Sadrozinski, Terry Schalk, Troy Porter Hamamatsu Photonics SCIPP physicists conceived the original GLAST design and led the design and fabrication of the silicon-strip tracker as well as much of the reconstruction and analysis software. GLAST Silicon- Strip Tracker October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 10

11 High-E Gamma Rays (GLAST Satellite) γ GLAST launch planned for early in 2008! Cosmicray veto Tracker e + e Calorimeter All-sky view in galactic coordinates of gammaray emission, from the GLAST predecessor: EGRET October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 11

12 Solar-Flare Particle Acceleration How do flares convert magnetic energy to kinetic energy of nonthermal, high energy particles with ~ 50% efficiency? Where else in the universe might similar processes take place? David Smith Analysis of data from the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI), a NASA Small Explorer satellite. RHESSI FLARE SPECTRUM Mission planning (satellites and balloons) for the next Solar Maximum (2010 to 2014). October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 12

13 Nuclear and X-ray Astrophysics How are the elements synthesized in supernovae, novae, and other astrophysical events? Look at X-rays from newly created unstable nuclei from these exotic systems as a test of what physical processes are happening. SCIPP is the coordination point for RHESSI non-solar observations We also make use of data from other NASA spacecraft Design, planning, and technology development for future NASA astrophysics missions in the 1 kev to 10 MeV band is ongoing. David Smith RHESSI measurement of fresh radioactive 26Al from the inner Galaxy October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 13

14 Extensions of SCIPP into Neurobiology Alan Litke and Sasha Sher, in Collaboration with The Salk Institute: Goal: understand how the retina processes and encodes dynamic visual images Method: record the patterns of electrical activity generated by hundreds of retinal output neurons in response to a movie focused on the input neurons Technology: based on silicon microstrip detector techniques and expertise developed for high energy physics experiments Four other neurobiology groups have now expressed interest in new collaborations. Experimental Setup Chamber to hold saline solution and tissue 64-channel Custom IC Retina Tissue Mounted on 512-electrode array October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson with 60 µm spacing 14

15 Conclusion Vibrant research program involving faculty and students, including many undergraduates. Research in elementary particle physics, high energy astrophysics, and cosmology. Experimental and theoretical efforts exploit the close connections between these fields. Research program supporting cutting-edge neurobiology experiments. We are now entering into an exciting period: Launch of GLAST next year! Start of LHC and ATLAS operation next year! Many new discoveries expected in the next few years! October 11, 2007 R.P. Johnson 15