Light by Light and High Granularity Timing Detector
Yassin Bimgdi,
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (Institute of Applied Physics)
IAP Physics Seminar Series will occur on Tuesday 19 November, at 11:15 at the UM6P campus (Ryad 8, 1st floor).
Abstract:
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is renowned for its ability to collide proton beams, producing new particles subsequently detected by various detectors. Among these, the ATLAS detector stands out due to its size and unique location 100 meters below the earth’s surface in the LHC tunnel. As the LHC’s luminosity is projected to significantly increase by 2029, challenges arise, notably the pile-up phenomenon where multiple collisions occur simultaneously. To counteract this, the High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) will be integrated into the ATLAS detector, enhancing time resolution and mitigating pile-up effects. This upgrade is pivotal for precision physics measurements, especially in luminosity. Our work on HGTD is mainly focused on software development and monitoring of its components to ensure their optimal performance. Our research also incorporates data analysis of a process known as light by light(LbyL). In classical physics, photons, which mediate the electromagnetic force, don’t typically interact with each other; however, in quantum electrodynamics, two photons can indeed scatter off of each other, a phenomenon called ’light by light’ scattering. This rare event might be the key to uncovering ’axion-like particles’, potentially shedding light on enigmas like dark matter. Light-by-light scattering is a powerful tool for testing quantum electrodynamics, probing new physics, and understanding the behavior of light in extreme conditions. It has the potential to lead to new discoveries in physics and to new technologies.
Biography:
Yassin Bimgdi graduated from Cadi Ayad University with a master’s degree in theoretical physics in 2022 and have been with um6p as a PhD since December 2022.
Localization: Ryad 8, 1st Floor.