Academic Programs

Elementary Particle Physics

The Elementary Particle Physics (or high energy physics) group is engaged in the study of the most fundamental entities and interactions of matter. The experimental group is active in New Particle Searches (such as the Higgs, leptoquarks and supersymmetry) utilizing the D0, muon g-2, and mu2e experiments at Fermilab and the ATLAS experiment at CERN, and in developing detectors for possible future lepton colliders. The theorists are engaged in supersymmetry and mass matrices related work. Our proximity to major accelerator complexes at Fermilab and Argonne greatly enhances our research capabilities. The detector development research is organized through NICADD. To learn more about Particle Physics go on a Particle Adventure and some of its connections to cosmology in Tom Parisi's article on In Search of the Beginning.

Laboratories and Experiments

We are involved in experiments at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, 30 miles east of NIU.

Many in the NIU group work on Fermilab's D0 experiment and had major responsibilities for upgrading the muon and trigger systems. From 2002-2006 NIU's Professor Jerry Blazey was one of D0's spokespersons. Some of NIU's contributions to physics results have included five Ph.D. dissertations. D0 ended operations in September 2011; data analysis is proceeding. An overview of D0 and some results are shown here.

Some experimental group members also participate in the ATLAS experiment at CERN, with NIU's effort descibed here.

Other members of the experimental group have joined the mu2e and muon g-2 experiments at Fermilab, which will search for muon conversion to electrons in a nuclear field and make a precision measurement of the muon's magnetic moment, respectively.

Particle physics group members are also working on Linear Collider Detector R and D, studying both hadronic calorimetry and muon detection, for use at a possible electron-positron collider the International Linear Collider (ILC) (Fermilab's ILC page). Also, a number of students are working with Muons, Inc on R&D related to intense muon beams.

This work is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the Departments of Energy.