New Perspectives on Beauty and Charm Quarks at LHCb: Physics Studies, Computing, and Instrumentation for a New Chapter in Flavor Physics

This award will further explore new physics at the LHCb experiment at CERN. The work will continue developing the detector and algorithms that could lead to new discoveries in B physics that could shed light on fundamental questions such as why the universe is dominated by matter rather than antimatter. This work builds on the ongoing work of the Syracuse group on the Upstream Tracker (UT), a key component of the LHCb experiment. This UT plays a crucial role in identifying b quarks in the collisions at LHCb. The group is developing Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to further refine the identification process in this b-quark analysis. This award will also provide R&D focused on the electronics that optimize the performance of the new calorimeter considered for the last chapter of LHCb to fully exploit the unique opportunities of the HL-LHC. This instrumentation work supports the technological leadership of the US, which ultimately is also a strong factor in ensuring our National Security. This group will also work on the education of the next generation of STEM professionals, thoroughly aligned with the goals of promoting national health, prosperity, and welfare. The team includes undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral research associates. In addition, they will engage high-school students from city schools in summer internships. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.