Physics Department Summer Lectures 2021

15 Jun 2021, 08:00 → 6 Aug 2021, 18:00 US/Eastern

Zoom

Mary Bishai (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

The Physics Department Summer Lecture series introduces the latest research in nuclear and particle physics being pursued at Brookhaven Lab at a level appropriate for advanced undergraduate STEM students and beginning graduate students.  The series will include lectures on the Standard Model of particle physics, Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), current and future nuclear and particle physics experiments and introductory cosmology.  The lectures will cover both theoretical concepts  as well as detector technologies and the latest experimental and computational techniques.

This year's lectures will proceed in thematic blocks as follows:

1. Introduction to the Standard Model
2. Searches for Physics beyond the Standard Model 
3. Quantum Chromodynamics and the Strong Force
4. Introductory Cosmology
5. Instrumentation for Nuclear and Particle Physics
6. Select Experimental Results in Nuclear and Particle Physics
7. Statistical and Computational Techniques in Nuclear and Particle Physics

Lectures for summer 2021 will be held virtually  and recorded. To attend the lectures please use this zoom link. 

We highly welcome feedback on the lectures both online and through the recordings offline. Please consider filling out our survey and leaving any comments or suggestions.

Tuesday, 15 June

1 The Standard Model and Beyond (Block 1)

Abstract: Although the Standard Model of particle physics, in conjunction with General Relativity, explains a wide range of physical phenomena, there are good reasons to believe that it does not represent a complete description of Nature. In this lecture, we will introduce the Standard Model and discuss some of its empirical and conceptual shortcomings.
Some of the ideas that have been proposed to address these open questions will also be briefly discussed.

Speaker: Hooman Davoudiasl (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

Chat transcript

HDavoudiasl-SULI-lecture-2021.pdf

Lecture recording

Tuesday, 22 June

2 The Elusive Neutrino (Block 2)

Abstract: Neutrinos are the least understood of the currently known elementary particles.
In this lecture we will discuss the history of the neutrino including the astonishing phenomenon of neutrino flavor oscillations. We will then review the current knowledge of neutrino properties and the remaining open questions in neutrino physics.

Speaker: Julia Gehrlein

bnl_neutrino21.pdf

Chat transcript

Lecture recording

Wednesday, 23 June

3 A precision measurement of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon (Block 2)

Abstract: In this talk you will learn what a muon is, what a magnetic moment is, why it is anomalous, and what this has to do with the energy of the vacuum.

Speaker: Bill Morse (BNL)

Anomalous Magnetic Moment of the Muon7.pdf

Chat transcript

Lecture recording

Friday, 25 June

4 Latest in Higgs and new physics searches with the ATLAS Detector (Block 2)

Abstract: In this talk, we will review a few salient ATLAS results in the searches for new physics at the LHC. This will include searches for exotic states, super symmetry, extended Higgs sectors, long-lived particles and dark sector states.

Speaker: Dr Kétévi Adiklè Assamagan (BNL)

Chat transcript

Ketevi-BNL-June-2021.pptx

Lecture recording

Tuesday, 29 June

5 A Golden Age in Physics: nuclear collisions at ultra-relativistic energies (Block 3)

Abstract: I give a pedagogical introduction to gauge theories, and how they appear in the theory of strong
interactions, where quarks and gluons form neutrons, protons, and other particles. I make several historical detours, to emphasize how the lore of "As everyone who is anyone knows..." has failed in physics. A brief overview of results from the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider will be outlined, but the emphasis is on why a Quark-Gluon Plasma, created at about a trillion degrees, is a subject of fundamental interest.

Speaker: Rob Pisarski (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

Chat transcript

GoldenAge_June21.pdf

Lecture recording

Friday, 2 July

6 Introduction to high energy spin physics (Block 3)

Abstract: After a general introduction to hadrons, quarks and QCD, I will focus on spin physics.
I give a brief overview of spin in quantum mechanics and in particle physics.
I then introduce the physics of the proton spin. I explain the puzzle concerning the origin of proton spin and our past, present and future efforts to solve this puzzle.

Speaker: Yoshitaka Hatta (BNL)

2021Hatta.pdf

Chat transcript

Lecture recording

Tuesday, 6 July

7 Quantum Computation for Nuclear Physics and beyond (Block 7)

Abstract:
I will give an introduction into the exciting field of quantum computation and quantum simulation from the perspective of a nuclear theorists.
My goal is to convince you that this potentially is the very beginning of a new era, where theorists may be able to compute things that had been impossible before.
I will highlight the many connections between high energy and nuclear, condensed matter and atomic, molecular and optical physics that are inspired by advances
in controlling matter at the single quantum level. These connections force us to think about old (and new) problems in very different and exciting ways.

Speaker: Niklas Mueller (University of Maryland)

Chat transcript

Lecture recording

quantum_computation.pdf

Friday, 9 July

8 The journey to seek symmetry in Quark-Gluon Plasma (Block 6)

Abstract: Di-leptons and photons are a crucial probe of the strongly interacting matter created in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Leptons and photons are produced during the whole evolution of the created matter and can traverse the medium with minimal interactions. Different kinematics of dilepton pairs (mass and transverse momentum ranges) can selectively probe the properties of the formed matter throughout its entire evolution. In the low invariant mass range (Mll < 1.1 GeV/c2), vector meson in-medium properties may be studied via dilepton decays and may exhibit modifications related to possible chiral symmetry restoration. The di-lepton spectra in the intermediate mass range (1.1 < Mll < 3.0 GeV/c2 ) are expected to be directly related to the thermal radiation of the Quark-Gluon Plasma. In this lecture, I will talk about my journey to seek symmetry in Quark-Gluon Plasma using di-leptons.

Speaker: Lijuan Ruan (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

Chat transcript

Lecture recording

Tuesday, 13 July

9 The electron-ion collider: A collider to unravel the mysteries of visible matter. (Block 3)

Abstract:Understanding the properties of nuclear matter and its emergence through the underlying partonic structure and dynamics of quarks and gluons requires a new experimental facility in hadronic physics known as the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). The EIC will address some of the most profound questions concerning the emergence of nuclear properties by precisely imaging gluons and quarks inside protons and nuclei such as the distribution of gluons and quarks in space and momentum, their role in building the nucleon spin and the properties of gluons in nuclei at high energies. In January 2020 EIC received CD-0 and Brookhaven National Laboratory was chosen as site. This presentation will highlight the capabilities of an EIC and discuss its status, accelerator design and the concepts for the experimental equipment.

Speaker: Dr E. C. Aschenauer (BNL)

Chat transcript

eca.EIC.BNL.Summer.pptx

Lecture recording

Friday, 16 July

10 First steps in cosmology (Block 4)

Abstract: In the lecture, I will outline the basic assumptions of cosmology. We'll derive the Friedman equation in the Newtonian approximation and discuss its standard solutions as well as complications arising from general relativity. Then we will discuss some observational milestones the support the standard cosmological model.

Speaker: Anze Slosar (BNL)

Chat transcript

Lecture recording

Slides

Tuesday, 20 July

11 Flavorful ways to new physics (Block 6)

Abstract: This lecture will give a brief overview heavy-flavor physics, i.e., the study of weakly decaying b and c quarks. It will discuss why heavy flavors are an excellent laboratory for new physics searches, what is the current experimental status, focusing the attention on recent measurements (“b anomalies”) that form coherent set of deviations from the standard model and could represent a first hint of new physics.

Speaker: Angelo Di Canto (BNL)

2021_bnl_suli.pdf

Chat transcript

Lecture recording

Friday, 23 July

12 Basic statistics of charge and time measurements from photo-sensors (Block 5)

Abstract: In this lecture, we will take a detailed look at the functioning and analysis of a common detector used in particle and nuclear physics. We will go through a detailed calculation of what we expect from a sensitive photo-multiplier tube used to detect photons.
We will perform a statistical analysis of the charge spectrum, gain fluctuations, the measurement of time, and statistics of counters. We will learn to use methods from probability and statistics that are applicable for many other circumstances.

Speaker: Milind Diwan (BNL)

Chat transcript

Lecture recording

PMT-char-time-summer21-update.pdf

Tuesday, 27 July

13 Demystifying Radio Astronomy (Block 5)

Abstract: If you have ever wondered what radio astronomy is, this lecture will attempt to demystify the topic. What is radio astronomy? Is it about listening to or watching the sky? Why is the universe transmitting radio waves anyway? This talk will explain techniques for doing radio astronomy and provide insights into the nature of light and radio. As well, Brookhaven's role in the exciting new field of 21cm dark energy cosmology will be introduced.

Speaker: Justine Haupt

Chat transcript

Lecture recording

Friday, 30 July

14 Charge and Light Detection for Noble Liquid Time Projection Chambers (Block 5)

Abstract: Time projection chambers, which take 3D pictures of elementary particles as they interact with matter, have been used in experimental particle physics since the 1970s. Measuring how neutrinos, which are very light, very weakly interacting particles, interact with matter can help solve some key mysteries of physics, such as why the universe is matter instead of anti-matter. Huge time projection chambers filled with tons of noble liquid, such as argon or xenon, are the next generation of particle detectors designed to measure properties of neutrinos. These detectors need to make accurate measurements of the electric charge and light generated by neutrinos in the noble liquid mass. This talk will describe some of the instrumentation critical to accurate measurement of the electric charge and light in noble liquid time projection chambers.

Speaker: Matthew Worcester (BNL)

Chat transcript

Lecture recording

mworcest-lecture-july-2021.pdf

Tuesday, 3 August

15 Computing challenges in nuclear and particle physics (Block 7)

Abstract: Big physics experiments, like the Electron Ion Collider, DUNE and the Large Hadron Collider experiments at CERN, present many technical challenges, one of which is computing. This talk will use the ATLAS experiment at the LHC as an example to explain why computing is so important in our physics experiments, and how we use computing resources around the world to get from the raw detector data to physics results. We will also see that, while things may look challenging now, they will become even more challenging in the future!

Speaker: Paul Laycock (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

Chat transcript

Computing_Challenges_BNL_2021.pdf

Lecture recording

Friday, 6 August

16 Introduction to deep learning methods and their scientific applications (Block 7)

Abstract: Deep learning is the backbone technology of the current wave of AI revolution that has changed people's daily lives from smart assistants, autonomous driving, to computational photography. In this talk, I will introduce some deep learning methods, their milestone breakthroughs, popular tools, and AI projects for science at BNL.

Speaker: Yihui Ren

Chat transcript

IntroDL_SULI.pdf

Lecture recording