Johns/Sheldon/webster HEP Johns/Sheldon/Webster HEP

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 Dark Matter? Extra Dimensions?

This elementary particle physics (EPP) research group is investigating fundamental questions about the structure and behaviour of the universe. Our work provides information about the weak and strong forces (counterparts to gravity and electromagnetism) and offers sensitive probes for new fundamental phenomena. There is growing evidence that discoveries in the next decade may bring to light new physical phenomena that will shed light on important mysteries. For example, the matter asymmetry of the universe tells us two things: there must be large sources of CP violation we have not yet found and there must be baryon number violating processes, which are also not yet observed. Also, the amount of dark matter in the universe is about ten times larger than the amount of baryonic matter, but no dark matter candidates have been observed. An unknown force, often called ``dark energy,'' is forcing the universe apart. These are only three examples.


 CMS and FOCUS

Experiments in this field are long lived (5-15 years). We are major contributors to two: the FOCUS experiment at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), near Chicago, Illinois, and the CMS experiment at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland.

 Cutting Edge Technology

Particle physics experiments present significant technical challenges, which require us to collaborate with colleagues in other disciplines to develop new cutting-edge technologies. Our activities in this area are described here.


 JSWHEP in the Vanderbilt Register
The activities of our group have recently been described in the Vanderbilt Register.




This research is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants SCI-0121658 and PHY-0600694.