Physics & Astronomy Colloquium

3:30 PM, Friday, November 10, 2006

Room 155, Chem-Phys Building

Dr. JoAnne Hewett

Theory Group
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

``Discovering the Quantum Universe:
The Role of Particle Accelerators''

We are on the verge of a revolution in our understanding of what the universe is made of and how it works. Today, a special opportunity is at hand to address the fundamental nature of the quantum universe through astrophysical observations, in underground experiments, and at particle accelerators. Here, I will focus on the special role of particle colliders, which recreate the conditions in the first instants after the Big Bang. The Large Hadron Collider, under construction in Geneva, Switzerland, will begin operations in 2007 and will provide the first clear look at a region of energy beyond the reach of today's colliders. Physicists expect that the LHC experiments will find new particles never before observed. These particles will be messengers, telling profound stories about the universe, and their discovery will be the opening chapter of the story. The proposed International Linear Collider will allow us to listen very carefully to these stories and consequently discover the corresponding new laws and symmetries that govern the new particles. I will highlight the roles of these two colliders in three scenarios: solving the mysteries of the Terascale, shedding light on Dark Matter, hunting for ultimate unification.

Refreshments will be served in CP 155 at 3:15 PM