The Celebration of The Celebration of Undergraduate ResearchUndergraduate Research

Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso UniversitySpring 2009Spring 2009

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

Donald D. KoetkeDonald D. KoetkeDepartment of Physics and AstronomyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy

(Prof. Randy Fisk)(Prof. Randy Fisk)

Prof. David GrosnickProf. David GrosnickProf. Robert ManweilerProf. Robert Manweiler

Mr. Paul NordMr. Paul NordProf. Shrivel StanislausProf. Shrivel Stanislaus

MANY studentsMANY students

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

Donald D. KoetkeDonald D. KoetkeDepartment of Physics and AstronomyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy

1. Whatever you think you understand about your1. Whatever you think you understand about your science today - be prepared to modify that as science today - be prepared to modify that as time goes on -- sometimes rather dramatically! time goes on -- sometimes rather dramatically!

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

Bubble ChambersBubble Chambers

Detector Systems - thenDetector Systems - then

Bubble ChambersBubble Chambers

Detector Systems - thenDetector Systems - then

First neutrino interaction First neutrino interaction with hydrogenwith hydrogen First observations of the First observations of the --

Many discoveries & surprises! -Many discoveries & surprises! -

The elementary particle zoo -The elementary particle zoo -

And their antimatter twins!And their antimatter twins!

BaryonsBaryons MesonsMesons

The fundamental building blocks of natureThe fundamental building blocks of nature

The Standard Model of Particle Physics

The Standard Model of Particle Physics

antiMatter

antiQuark

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The Standard Model of Particle Physics

Fundamental Interactions in Nature -Fundamental Interactions in Nature -

The The SStandard tandard MModel -odel -

The The goodgood news: news:

• The SM is The SM is enormously successfulenormously successful - -

• Essentially Essentially every experimentevery experiment yields results that yields results that agree with the SM! agree with the SM!

• It postulates: the mechanism for particles acquiringIt postulates: the mechanism for particles acquiring mass is due to the mass is due to the HiggsHiggs particle/field as yet unfound. particle/field as yet unfound. (Will FNAL-tevatron or CERN-LHC find the (Will FNAL-tevatron or CERN-LHC find the HiggsHiggs?)?)

Fundamental Interactions in Nature -Fundamental Interactions in Nature -

The The SStandard tandard MModel -odel -

The The badbad news: news:

• The The SMSM is is notnot a fundamental theory a fundamental theory - -

- Over - Over 20 numbers must be put in20 numbers must be put in from experiment: from experiment:particle masses, lifetimes, spins, etc.particle masses, lifetimes, spins, etc.

- - Conservation lawsConservation laws are put in are put in ad hocad hoc - It does not explain the - It does not explain the matter - antimatter asymmetrymatter - antimatter asymmetry - It is “ - It is “brokenbroken” by two fundamental measurements!” by two fundamental measurements! - It - It does not include gravitydoes not include gravity, i.e., it is not a unified theory, i.e., it is not a unified theory - And more… (stay tuned) - And more… (stay tuned)

Homestake Mine Neutrino ObservatoryHomestake Mine Neutrino ObservatoryDr. Ray Davis, Univ. of PA, BNLDr. Ray Davis, Univ. of PA, BNL

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ν e + 37Cl → 37Ar + e−

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ν e + 37Cl → 37Ar + e−

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Neutrino Neutrino oscillations are oscillations are discovered!discovered!

Neutrinos must Neutrinos must have mass!!have mass!!

Neutrino Neutrino oscillations are oscillations are discovered!discovered!

Neutrinos must Neutrinos must have mass!!have mass!!

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

2. The more you learn and know, the more 2. The more you learn and know, the more questions you will discover beg for answers ! questions you will discover beg for answers !

This is really good news!This is really good news!You are not ever going to get “there”.You are not ever going to get “there”.

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

Here is my list of outstanding questions Here is my list of outstanding questions and upcoming surprises.and upcoming surprises.

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!- Why do particles have mass? - Why do particles have mass?

The Higgs mechanism?The Higgs mechanism?Will the Higgs be found at the LHC?Will the Higgs be found at the LHC?

- Why do particles have their specific masses?- Why do particles have their specific masses?

- What other surprises will come from the LHC?- What other surprises will come from the LHC?

- What, causes the proton to have a specific - What, causes the proton to have a specific intrinsic angular momentum (spin)? intrinsic angular momentum (spin)?

(Watch our spin experiment)(Watch our spin experiment)

- What happened to all of the antimatter created- What happened to all of the antimatter created in the Big Bang? (Watch our nEDM expt) in the Big Bang? (Watch our nEDM expt)

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2ΔΣ + ΔG + Lq + LG

STARSTAR

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!- Why are some conservation laws followed? - Why are some conservation laws followed? Will there be some allowed violation?Will there be some allowed violation?

- What will happen to the quark-gluon plasma at- What will happen to the quark-gluon plasma at LHC energies? LHC energies?

- What will be the next particle accelerator?- What will be the next particle accelerator? Will we be able to afford it?Will we be able to afford it? Where will it be sited? Where will it be sited?

- What will replace the present Standard Model?- What will replace the present Standard Model?

- What will be the near term impacts of global - What will be the near term impacts of global warming? warming?

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

- What is the dark matter?- What is the dark matter?

WIMPs ?WIMPs ?

Brown dwarfs?Brown dwarfs?

Large black holes?Large black holes?

A new form of matter? A new form of matter?

- What is the dark energy?- What is the dark energy?

Antigravity?Antigravity?

A new source of energy?A new source of energy?

Completely new science?Completely new science?

“Atoms” = 4.6% Free hydrogen & helium = 4% Stars = 0.5% Neutrinos = 0.3% Heavy Elements = 0.03%

Dark Matter & Dark Energy - 95% we cannot see!And, we don’t know what it is!

That’s my list. What’s yours?That’s my list. What’s yours?

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

3. Science is evermore a collaborative experience.3. Science is evermore a collaborative experience. You will meet and work with some You will meet and work with some extraordinary people: extraordinary people:

Very brightVery brightOften kind and helpfulOften kind and helpfulCritical but friendlyCritical but friendly

There will be a few that are NOT!There will be a few that are NOT!Choose how to deal with it …Choose how to deal with it …

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

4.4. There is There is subjectivitysubjectivity in science. in science. BUT - avoid injecting your own biases.BUT - avoid injecting your own biases.

There are powerful forces that want to corruptThere are powerful forces that want to corruptyour objectivity -your objectivity -

- Previous results can distort your objectivity- Previous results can distort your objectivity- “Get the right answer” : it’s been part of our - “Get the right answer” : it’s been part of our experience. experience.- When do you stop looking for problems in- When do you stop looking for problems in your work? your work?

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

HistoryHistoryHistoryHistory

HistoryHistoryHistoryHistory

4.4. There is There is subjectivitysubjectivity in science. in science. BUT - avoid injecting your own biases.BUT - avoid injecting your own biases.

There are powerful forces that want to corruptThere are powerful forces that want to corruptyour objectivity -your objectivity -

- Previous results can distort your objectivity- Previous results can distort your objectivity- “Get the right answer” : it’s been part of our - “Get the right answer” : it’s been part of our experience. experience.- When do you stop looking for problems in- When do you stop looking for problems in your work? your work?- - Consider blind analysis!Consider blind analysis!

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

5. Aim high! You should expect surprises.5. Aim high! You should expect surprises.

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

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ConcordiaConcordia Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso University

19691969 19791979 19891989 19991999 20092009

ConcordiaConcordia Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso University

DOE ContractDOE Contract

Student film scannersStudent film scanners

Bubble ChambersBubble Chambers

Learned to recognize Learned to recognize physics events of interestphysics events of interest

Student Research StudentsStudent Research Students

These events were then These events were then digitized and analyzeddigitized and analyzed

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DOE - ANL DOE - ANL ContractContract

DOE Medium Energy Nuclear DOE Medium Energy Nuclear Physics GrantPhysics Grant

ConcordiaConcordia Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso University

6.6. Not everyone will be as excited about what youNot everyone will be as excited about what youdo as you are.do as you are. - Work at getting them interested if not excited.- Work at getting them interested if not excited. - Keep your own perspective - Keep your own perspective There are other important things in life! There are other important things in life!

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

7. Accept unpleasant surprises in your work and 7. Accept unpleasant surprises in your work and move on. move on.

Search for “neutral currents” with elastic scatteringSearch for “neutral currents” with elastic scatteringof neutrinos on hydrogen.of neutrinos on hydrogen.

The MEGA disaster…The MEGA disaster…

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

19691969 19791979 19891989 19991999 20092009

ConcordiaConcordia Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso University

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Background ~ (beam rate)Background ~ (beam rate)88 Background ~ (beam rate)Background ~ (beam rate)

8. Don’t become jaded; step back and reflect on what 8. Don’t become jaded; step back and reflect on what has happened or developed or been learned.has happened or developed or been learned. - Be amazed! - Be amazed! - Marvel at what can be accomplished or learned. - Marvel at what can be accomplished or learned. - Expect that more surprises will come. - Expect that more surprises will come.

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

9. Research is hard work. 9. Research is hard work. - The ratio of hard work to great discoveries is - The ratio of hard work to great discoveries is very large! (Even small discoveries.) very large! (Even small discoveries.)

Draw strength from the work of others.Draw strength from the work of others.- Enjoy being part of the larger enterprise!- Enjoy being part of the larger enterprise!

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

10.10. Enjoy what you do and share that joy andEnjoy what you do and share that joy and enthusiasm with others as much as possible. enthusiasm with others as much as possible.

If you don’t, who will?If you don’t, who will?

Expect Surprises!Expect Surprises!

Thank youThank you