Expect Surprises The Celebration of Undergraduate Research Valparaiso

Expect Surprises! The Celebration of Undergraduate Research Valparaiso University Spring 2009 Donald D. Koetke Department of Physics and Astronomy

Expect Surprises! (Prof. Randy Fisk) Prof. David Grosnick Prof. Robert Manweiler Mr. Paul Nord Prof. Shrivel Stanislaus MANY students Donald D. Koetke Department of Physics and Astronomy

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

Detector Systems - then Bubble Chambers

Detector Systems - then Bubble Chambers First neutrino interaction with hydrogen First observations of the -

Many discoveries & surprises! The fundamental elementarybuilding particleblocks zoo -of nature Baryons Mesons And their antimatter twins!

The Standard Model of Particle Physics

The Standard Model of Particle Physics anti. Lepton anti. Quark anti. Matter

The Standard Model of Particle Physics

Fundamental Interactions in Nature The Standard Model The good news: • The SM is enormously successful • Essentially every experiment yields results that agree with the SM! • It postulates: the mechanism for particles acquiring mass is due to the Higgs particle/field as yet unfound. (Will FNAL-tevatron or CERN-LHC find the Higgs? )

Fundamental Interactions in Nature The Standard Model The bad news: • The SM is not a fundamental theory - Over 20 numbers must be put in from experiment: particle masses, lifetimes, spins, etc. - Conservation laws are put in ad hoc - It does not explain the matter - antimatter asymmetry - It is “broken” by two fundamental measurements! - It does not include gravity, i. e. , it is not a unified theory - And more… (stay tuned)

Homestake Mine Neutrino Observatory Dr. Ray Davis, Univ. of PA, BNL Neutrino oscillations are discovered! 4, 500 ft e e Neutrinos must have mass!! Expect Surprises! e

Expect Surprises! 2. The more you learn and know, the more questions you will discover beg for answers ! This is really good news! You are not ever going to get “there”. Here is my list of outstanding questions and upcoming surprises.

Expect Surprises! - Why do particles have mass? The Higgs mechanism? Will the Higgs be found at the LHC? - Why do particles have their specific masses? - What other surprises will come from the LHC? - What, causes the proton to have a specific intrinsic angular momentum (spin)? (Watch our STAR spin experiment) - What happened to all of the antimatter created in the Big Bang? (Watch our n. EDM expt)

Expect Surprises! - Why are some conservation laws followed? Will there be some allowed violation? - What will happen to the quark-gluon plasma at LHC energies? - What will be the next particle accelerator? Will we be able to afford it? Where will it be sited? - What will replace the present Standard Model? - What will be the near term impacts of global warming?

Expect Surprises! - What is the dark matter? WIMPs ? Brown dwarfs? Large black holes? A new form of matter? - What is the dark energy? Antigravity? A new source of energy? 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? Expect Surprises!

Expect Surprises! 3. Science is evermore a collaborative experience. You will meet and work with some extraordinary people: Very bright Often kind and helpful Critical but friendly There will be a few that are NOT! Choose how to deal with it …

Expect Surprises! 4. There is subjectivity in science. BUT - avoid injecting your own biases. There are powerful forces that want to corrupt your objectivity - Previous results can distort your objectivity - “Get the right answer” : it’s been part of our experience. - When do you stop looking for problems in your work?

History

History

Expect Surprises! 4. There is subjectivity in science. BUT - avoid injecting your own biases. There are powerful forces that want to corrupt your objectivity - Previous results can distort your objectivity - “Get the right answer” : it’s been part of our experience. - When do you stop looking for problems in your work? - Consider blind analysis!

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

Concordia Valparaiso University

Concordia Valparaiso University DOE Contract

Student Research Students Bubble Chambers Student film scanners Learned to recognize physics events of interest These events were then digitized analyzed

Concordia Valparaiso University DOE - ANL Contract DOE Medium Energy Nuclear Physics Grant

Expect Surprises! 6. Not everyone will be as excited about what you do as you are. - Work at getting them interested if not excited. - Keep your own perspective There are other important things in life!

Expect Surprises! 7. Accept unpleasant surprises in your work and move on. Search for “neutral currents” with elastic scattering of neutrinos on hydrogen. The MEGA disaster…

Concordia Valparaiso University 1014 0 MEGA 500 MHz instantaneous decay rate Background ~ (beam rate)8 Background ~ (beam rate)

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

Expect Surprises! 9. Research is hard work. - The ratio of hard work to great discoveries is very large! (Even small discoveries. ) Draw strength from the work of others. - Enjoy being part of the larger enterprise!

Expect Surprises! 10. Enjoy what you do and share that joy and enthusiasm with others as much as possible. If you don’t, who will? Thank you