Frühlingsemester 2011

Common Lectures (ETHZ + UZH) by

C.Grab, C.Regenfus

Institute for Particle Physics, ETH Zurich and
Physik-Institut, University Zurich

Assistants: A.Rizzi, P.Bortignon, A.Schmidt

Time/Place in FS11:

VL: Tuesday, 8:45 - 10:30, HIT-F21; start: 22.2.10

U: Tuesday, 10:45 - 13:30 , HIT-F21; start: 22.2.10

This lecture gives an introduction to the statistical methods and the various analysis techniques as applied in particle physics, using real life examples from actual particle physics experiments. The students are expected to have previously followed lectures on particle physics. The main focus of the lectures will be on the statistical aspects, and hence only a rather brief introduction to the physics background related to the various physics topics to be worked on shall be given.

The experimental analysis aspects will be mostly covered in the exercises hours. There, the students will split up into groups of two students each, working on a particular physics topic. Thus, they are given the opportunity to get hands-on experience with real data and simulations from a few of the worlds leading experiments in particle physics. The students will at the end present their results in a short scientific presentation.

The physics topics are:

• Z Physics at LEP : Analysis of the Z line shape with data from LEP, determination of the Z mass and the number of light neutrinos.
• Higgs search at LEP : Search for the Higgs boson at LEP with data from the last high energy run. Determination of a lower limit on the Higgs mass.
• Physics at LHC : Study of the detector resolution of a future detector at LHC (CERN). In particular you will determine the Higgs mass resolution for the Higgs decay into two photons, using the electromagnetic calorimeter of the CMS experiment.
• Physics at HERA : Determination of the cross sections for neutral and charged current interactions at HERA (positron-proton scattering) as a function of the momentum transfer.
• Neutrino Physics with NOMAD : Measurement of the muon production process via neutrino-nucleon charged current processes.
• Astroparticle Physics with MAGIC : Measurement of very high gamma rays from the Crab nebula.

Further information on the individual topics are available on the respective web pages. Students can put and exchange information, data, files, plots etc on a special ETH server, BSCW or they can use the lecture's wiki pages. For further questions don't hesitate to contact me or the assistants listed above, or consult the Lecture Notes as well as the Frequently Asked Questions.

The analysis material herein is based on a) lectures on "Computational methods in physics analysis" by G. Dissertori, C. Grab and A.Holzner at ETH, b) statistics lectures given by F.Lehner and C.Regenfus in 05 at University of Zuerich, and c) on the ETH FILEP Project, proposed by Prof. F.Pauss.

Special thanks for technical support to: F. Behner, B. List, A. Biland