My primary research is directed at the study of new particles and new interactions using the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.  My group has been active in the commissioning of the ATLAS pixel detector, where we have participated in the development of the data acquisition system and various calibrations.  Although we are broadly involved in searches for new physics, we have initially been focused on the study of jets and photons in high-energy proton-proton collisions.  We are active in work pertaining to jet and photon energy calibrations as well as first QCD measurements.  As the data size increases, we will continue to participate in the study of jets and missing energy that provide potential signals for the study of SUSY and the search for Dark Matter, as well as searching in the Higgs to two-photon channel.

We are also pursuing R&D activities in collaboration with Brookhaven National Lab and Strasbourg (IPHC) on ultra-thin silicon detectors for future colliders. Nevis laboratory has a high intensity x-ray source, which provides a unique test facility for new detectors to be used in high radiation environments.   The silicon research also will provide PhD theses for Columbia students based in New York City.  A significant research investment in undergraduate education is also attached to this laboratory work.

Via my background in nuclear physics activities, I have a deep interest in issues relevant to nuclear proliferation.

RESEARCH POSITIONS: 

* Four graduate students from my group will finish their PhDs this academic year (2010-2011).  PhD positions are available starting in fall 2011.

(1)  “ATLAS Pixel Detector Electronics and Sensors”, G. Aad et al., JINST 3, P07007 (2008).    E. Hughes: co-editor.

(2)  “Measurement of inclusive jet and dijet cross sections in proton-proton collisions at 7 TeV centre-of-mass energy with the ATLAS detector”, ATLAS collaboration, accepted for publication in Euro Phys. J. C., arXiv:1009.5908v2. Kerstin Perez: editor and PhD student.

(3)  “The ATLAS Simulation Infrastructure”, ATLAS Collaboration, Euro. Phys. J. C. 70 (2010).  Z. Marshall: editor and PhD student.

(4)   “Charged-particle multiplicities in proton-proton interactions at 900 GeV center of mass energy measured with the ATLAS detector at the LHC”, Phys. Lett. B688, 21 (2010). Heather Gray: PhD student.

(5)  “Measurement of multijet production cross sections in proton-proton collisions at 7 TeV center-of-mass energy with the ATLAS detector”, ATLAS Collaboration, ATLAS-CONF-2010-084.   David Lopez Mateos: editor and PhD student.