13 June 2013

Welcome to the LHC Data Workshop at the AAPT Summer 2013 Meeting. We will focus on the ATLAS detector in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. This workshop is organized by the QuarkNet collaboration.

Introduction 

CMS Data Express is a short particle physics masterclass investigation that can be used as part of a workshop or as a short class project. The e-Lab Edition is specifically for use with the CMS e-Lab. Participants examine static displays of a limited number of events. The main goal is to separate Z candidate events other events by visual inspection and then create mass plot for the Z boson.

The Z boson is important in LHC discovery science and as a marker for calibration of LHC detectors: it is a well-known particle, so the location and width of the mass plot give physicists a good idea of how the detector is performing. The Z candidate events are "dimuon" events; the Z can decay into a muon pair. Z candidates are identified by 2 long muon tracks. Participants will search for Z candidates in the data.

Instructions

Individual or pair:

• Participate in analysis prep seminar
• Open the event display file
• Go to set of events assigned
• Determine whether each event is a Z candidate (2 distinct muon tracks)
• If the event is a Z candidate, note the mass, round to nearest odd number, record
• When finished, count how many instances of each odd number you have recorded

Group:

• Combine numbers of "odd masses" in all groups. (Download xls.)
• Create a histogram for whole group to observe.

Discussion

The histogram created by the group is a mass plot. Since the mass of any one type of particle is uncertain by nature and due to experimental uncertainty, it will have a distribution the peak of which is the experimental determination of the mass. Creation of mass plots and other histograms are the central measurements made in the CMS e-Lab but with many more events than used in this exercise.

Resources

• Full CMS Data Express investigation (includes more measurements)
• CMS e-Lab
• Histograms
• Units in particle physics
• Events
• Data combination spreadsheet
• CMS Masterclass Analysis Prep

Lead Teachers and Mentors should prepare the following for a CMS or ATLAS Data Workshop: 

Materials

• Name tags and markers/pens 
• Workshop evaluation forms - print one for each teacher
• Rolling with Rutherford: Marbles or balls, flat even space, ruler(s) or meter stick(s), optional targets
• Printed events, protractors, scientific calculators for Z Mass or Top Mass activities
• Other activity printouts (see agenda)

Venue

• Tables, outlets, lighting, space, etc.
• Set-up and clean-up of room
• Venue/parking passes if needed
• Food related: tea, snack, lunch?
• One computer for each two participants with good internet connection
• Projector and screen
• Webcam/mic/speakers or H.323 (Polycom or equivalent) for videoconference
• Black/white board & markers
• Access to a printer

Human

• Mentor presence
• Physicist to speak on CMS, ATLAS, or LHC; suggestions:
  • include a bit about standard model
  • introduce CERN, LHC, and CMS or ATLAS
  • say a bit about speaker's research
  • keep it simple and at a very general level - know the audience
• Ongoing communication before and after workshop
• International workshops: translators helpful

Schedule of Workshops, Summer 2013

Objectives

Participating teachers:

• gain knowledge and skills to successfully complete investigations using LHC data;
• interpret event displays from CMS and explain their meaning;
• conduct LHC investigations with students and successfully prepare them for masterclass; and
• assist mentors in organizing and facilitating a masterclass.

Agenda

Resources

• Pre-flight checklist for center leaders
• International Masterclasses
• Cincinnati QuarkNet Center group pages
• Schedule of Workshops
• Guide to LHC Fellows Workshops

Tiny URL for this page: http://tinyurl.com/l6oflk5.

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Objectives

Participating teachers:

• gain knowledge and skills to successfully complete investigations using LHC data;
• interpret event displays from CMS and explain their meaning;
• conduct LHC investigations with students and successfully prepare them for masterclass; and
• assist mentors in organizing and facilitating a masterclass.

Agenda

Resources

• Preflight checklist for center leaders
• International Masterclasses
• Rutgers QuarkNet Center group pages
• Schedule of Workshops
• Guide to LHC Fellows Workshop

Contacts

• Ken Cecire
• Mike Wadness

The QuarkNet LHC fellows offer several workshops related to using experimental data from CERN with students and teachers. Choose the workshop title to link to further information.

Summer Workshops 

• Summer 2013 workshop schedule
• LHC Activities
• CMS e-Lab

• Masterclass Library
• International Masterclasses