SCIPP (Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics) will be hosting a QuarkNet Masterclass where student participants get to be particle physicists for a day! The event will be held in-person and remotely, but in-person attendance is encouraged.

As a student, you will gain insight into methods used in analyzing data for particle physics. The day will begin with an introduction to particle physics from particle physicists at SCIPP. These faculty members are directly involved with experiments at CERN. The students will then work in groups to analyze actual data from LHC (Large Hadron Collider) and later discuss their results with masterclasses being held around the world. Students will be supervised the entire day by mentors who are trained to lead these classes and will be providing assistance throughout.

This event is scheduled for Saturday, March 4th, 2023.

Click here to register for Masterclass 2023!

Agenda for the day:

9:00 AM (PST) - Introduction to high-energy particle physics

UC Santa Cruz physicists will explain fundamental particle and their interactions.

9:30 AM - Analysis techniques

Your mentors will teach you various methods of analyzing LHC data from CERN.

10:00AM - Data Analysis 

You will receive some LHC data from the ATLAS experiment and a science task that you will complete with your group.

10:00 AM - Hands-on detector simulation (cloud chamber) 

In parallel with the data analysis, your group will participate in a cloud chamber demonstration at SCIPP.

11:30 PM - Discussion and Evaluation of results 

Analysis results from the groups will be collected and discussed in preparation for the conference.

12:00 PM Lunch

1:00PM - Video Conference with FermiLab 

Discuss and share your analysis results with all other groups and mentors, who will provide feedback on the results.

2:00PM (PST) - End of Masterclass