STFC Particle Physics Department

@BerkleyLabs have just announced new results in their search for dark matter. With help from @STFC, @LZdarkmatter has delved into weaker interactions of #darkmatter, imposing further constraints on WIMPs. These results represent progression towards understanding the nature of #physics greatest mystery. For more detail can be found within the latest press release at https://lnkd.in/eWg8n52z PPD was a founding member of @LZdarkmatter and was responsible for delivery of the ultra radio-pure titanium cryostat, calibration system and project management. Our contribution has helped to yield the world leading sensitivity results detailed.  Analysed 280 days' worth of data, the experiment plans to produce a total of 1000 days of data. Keep a watch for further dark matter news on our twitter, LinkedIn and the news page of the Berkley Laboratories.

Berkeley Laboratory have just announced new results in their search for dark matter. With help from STFC, @LZdarkmatter has delved into weaker interactions of #darkmatter, imposing further constraints on WIMPs. These results represent progression towards understanding the nature of #physics greatest mystery. The search is detailed here https://lnkd.in/eziqgFPn PPD was a founding member of @LZdarkmatter and was responsible for delivery of the ultra radio-pure titanium cryostat, calibration system and project management. Our significant contribution has helped to yield the world leading sensitivity results detailed.  Analysed 280 days' worth of data, the experiment plans to produce a total 1000 days of data. Keep a watch for further dark matter news on our twitter and LinkedIn.

Today is national dog day 🐶! Our canine companions are loyal and beloved pets. Check out this These pets are not to be confused with PETs which are something else entirely! I explain how within these posts. The concept of positron emission tomography (PET) is attributed to David E. Kuhl, Luke Chapman and Roy Edwards in 1957. This spurred a range of imaging instruments that made use of this concept, notably James Robertson's at Brookhaven. The modern PET procedure takes 20 minutes to generate detailed anatomical and biochemical images. Its typically used to quantify glucose consumption, though tracking of oxygen consumption and even specific chemicals can be traced. The mechanism and applications of PET is outlined below.

This date is symmetrical (24/7/24) so would provide an opportunity to post about supersymmetry. Today is a symmetrical date and so we are commemorating supersymmetry (SUSY). Originating as a mathematical theory in the 1970s, its models have since been expanded and changed it has since become a dominant and popular theory within particle physics. Some supersymmetric particles have been proposed as potential dark matter candidates, given that they have properties such as being electrically neutral, very light and rarely interacting with their standard model counterparts.   The mechanism of the broken symmetry is not yet known, the extent to which it is broken will define the particles' mass/production cross section. The search for supersymmetry continues with the findings of Run 2 at ATLAS being detailed here.  There has yet to be any detection of SUSY particles though Run 2 has been productive in producing constraints for various models, an important step in narrowing down the SUSY candidate masses.  

As part of her placement year, our comms student Emma Hattersley got to visit CERN, and she thought she’d show you round (as quickly as possible)! Read more about her time at the #LargeHadronCollider here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eADsGpUd

I annoyed the physicists of PPD with a long survey across various topics. The first investigated physicists curiosity in the unknown 🤔 I asked physicists what discovery of a theoretical concept within particle physics are you most excited for? Dark matter come out on top with a large majority! The next question of what is your favourite particle drew so many answers with most particles of the standard model covered! With muons coming out on top with a less convincing majority than in the last question. This was followed by what is difficult in particle physics? A question I'd find hard to reduce to just ONE answer. These tricky theories and challenging concepts will stump even the most perceptive particle physicist. Are you able to explain any? (4/4) Looking to the future of #physics, highlighting the most intriguing proposed facilities / experiments. Much like with the favourite particle answers there were too many chosen to display so only the top four have been shown here. It just goes to show they'd be grateful for any new data or discoveries regardless of the facility it took place in 😊. 

Today is national Tell-a-joke day! We are celebrating by posting some cringeworthy quips! These stinkers were not enough to illicit so much as a chuckle but I'm sure there are plenty of other hilarious particle physics based zingers. Post your own down below! My personal favourite is Have you heard about the physicist that got cooled to absolute zero? He's 0K now. (I've ordered those below from least to funniest)

Louis de Broglie was born #Onthisday in 1892! 🎂 Best known for his contributions to #quantum theory, de Broglie was awarded The Nobel Prize in physics in 1929 for his PhD thesis on the wave-like nature of electrons. He proposed that every particle has a wavelength related to its momentum. In 1905, Einstein proved the wave-particle duality of photons. De Broglie built on his work, and the work of others, to explore electron behavior. In 1927, George Thomson helped confirm his hypothesis. De Broglie was a duke, but with his brother Maurice broke with family tradition to pursue #science, rather than becoming a soldier, diplomat or politician. In WW1, he served at a radio station in the Eiffel Tower, which intercepted many German messages. The tower is still a functioning radio transmitter and receiver today!

This #InternationalYouthDay we'd like you to meet some of our recent #WorkExperience students! As part of a programme run by the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Public Engagement Team, 17 students joined PPD from June to August. They were able to gain a wide variety of experience including working on coding projects for CERN, helping with outreach, and learning more about STFC research through different site tours. Stay tuned for some of the content created by two of the students on our science communication placement, which will be published over the next few weeks!

This #NationalLazyDay we thought we'd tell you that particle physics is good.