LHC Masterclass LBNL - ALICE Masterclass

What is ALICE?

ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) is a modern physics experiment where scientists from many countries and backgrounds have come together to try to answer some of the most interesting and challenging questions we have about our universe. Working with the largest machine in the world, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, researchers smash atomic nuclei together at nearly the speed of light (nature's ultimate speed limit), creating a newly discovered phase of matter which last existed only a millionth of a second after the Big Bang. These tiny droplets exceed in temperatures of 4 trillion degrees, but exist for only moments before they cool and shatter apart, leaving traces behind for us to decode their mysteries.

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) is one of only five major institutions in the United States working on ALICE. Students and researchers come from all over the country and world to work with the topmost experts at LBNL, helping to unravel the inner workings of our universe.

The MasterClass experience

Students will first get to interact with some of the best researchers in their field, learning about physics at ultra high energies and how ALICE specifically is helping to push the limit of fundamental human understanding. After this, students will work on a real data analysis project, guided by experts, so that they can directly and individually interact with real data from ALICE and experience what it's like to be a professional scientist first-hand. In the afternoon, a video call traversing nearly 6,000 miles to the ALICE Control Room at CERN will allow students to see the central nervous system of the experiment and talk with researchers who control its daily functioning. Afterwards students will get a chance to tour local labs and facilities at LBNL, situated in the incredible natural beauty of Berkeley's hills.

The data analysis project

Two and a half hours of the day will be dedicated to performing a real data analysis project led by experienced physicists at the lab. Students will search for strange particles, one of the fundamental particles of our universe. While not found in ordinary matter, these particles are produced in great quantity inside the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) created during nuclear collisions in ALICE. Although they never appear isolated in nature, we can detect strange particles by looking for their decay products and reconstructing them to a single point, allowing us to deduce the original particle and some of its interesting properties. Detection of this signal helps scientists confirm that the QGP is being produced and provides a handle for measuring its effects.

Tentative schedule:

9:00 - 9:30: Welcome to LBNL!

9:30 - 10:00: Lecture 1 -- High energy physics

10:15 - 10:45: Lecture 2 -- The ALICE Detector

11:00 - 12:00: Analyze ALICE data!

12:00 - 12:30: Lunch

12:30 - 2:00: Analyze ALICE data!

2:00 - 3:00: Video conference with the ALICE Control Room at CERN

3:00 - 4:00: Tour local labs

4:00 - 4:30: Closing

What is ALICE?

The MasterClass experience

The data analysis project

Tentative schedule:

Apply to attend the MasterClass here!