Alexey Petrov, Ph.D. - US grants

The primary objective of the research proposal is to understand the structure of the electroweak interactions using data obtained at particle accelerators. In particular the PI intends to reduce theoretical uncertainties pertaining to extracting the CKM matrix elements from data and also understand better how to extract new physics from data on inclusive B decays. The PI also intends to study parton-hadron duality in a simple 1+1 model of QCD. Other efforts will be to understand non-perturbative QCD effects in exclusive nonleptonic decays of B mesons and to identify direct signals of new physics in low energy electroweak transitions.

Wayne State University offers an REU program to bring disadvantaged students from the Detroit Metro Area to national laboratories over the summer. Opportunities for students are offered at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Fermilab, and at Cornell University's Laboratory for Elementary and Particle Physics. Similar opportunities also exist for in-service teachers through an RET component of the program. WSU recruits a uniquely diverse group of students, largely from underrepresented segments of society. The program consists of a preparation phase involving a one-hour course given over the winter to students and prospective teacher participants (14 hours total). The course introduces the students and teachers to the physical and mathematical concepts relevant for the summer experience. The course also provides an introduction to the computing environment of a large experiment, and a computer homework, which requires the students to write and understand simple programs, produce some graphic output, and write their own web page within a Unix environment. This preparation phase provides the students with intensive faculty interaction, encouragement, and an effort to make sure that student needs are met. Wayne State faculty then travel with the students and teachers to Brookhaven, Fermilab, and Cornell in early June to help them get settled and started. The participants merge with other existing REU programs at each site for social activities, and lectures on various scientific topics.

The PI proposes to study properties of B-mesons with the aim of extracting
fundamental parameters from precision data obtained at B-factories and other
accelerators. He will perform detailed calculations of B-Bbar mixing and
develop factorization theorems for the two-body decays of B-mesons into a
charmonium state plus a light meson. In this way he plans to separate the
effects of strong interaction matrix elements from those of fundamental
parameters such as CKM matrix elements.

In the broader aspects of the proposal, the PI plans an active program of
outreach to African-American students and other under-represented groups in
Detroit schools. In particular he will establish a network of computers in
the schools which will be used to train students during the school day and
to perform particle physics calculations at other times. He will also be involved in the local REU and RET programs and develop courses on the ?History of the Universe? to instruct high school teachers and students about particle physics and astrophysics and cosmology.

The proposal requests funds from the National Science Foundation to help defray the cost of organizing the 2009 Meeting of the Division of Particles and Fields (DPF2009) of the American Physical Society on July 26 - 31, 2009, at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. The funds are to be used entirely to support graduate students and postdoctoral research associates who otherwise could not afford to attend the conference. The organizers will waive the registration fee for these students and postdocs, and to pay for housing costs and some travel.

At the 2009 Division of Particles and Fields Meeting the latest results in both experimental and theoretical particle physics, particle astrophysics, cosmology, and heavy ion physics will be presented in plenary and parallel sessions. Many of the talks at this meeting will be presented by younger physicists, including the graduate students and postdoctoral research associates who will be supported by this grant.

The broader impacts are as follows: The proposed program of the 2009 Meeting of the Division of Particles and Fields will promote general interest in science while advancing discovery. It will include a special lecture given to the public. The organizers will invite a speaker who is known to the public and who can present forefront results in high energy physics in a popular manner.

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). This award supports an REU site at Wayne State University, with project opportunities offered at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, and locally at Wayne State University. The REU program primarily recruits local students and the program starts with a preparation phase at Wayne State University involving a one-hour course given over the winter to student participants. The course introduces the students to the physical, mathematical and computational concepts relevant for the summer experience. It includes a computer training homework and an ethics component. The PI and Co-PI plan/organize the students travel to FNAL and SLAC. The participants merge with other existing REU programs at each site for social activities and lectures on various scientific topics. Students are mentored by PhD researchers working on leading edge physics topics and/or technologies chosen for good mentorship qualities as well as their leadership in their respective scientific fields. Students are required to submit a report in the form of a paper at the end of their experience and deliver oral presentations. This program will motivate the students to take interest in fundamental physics and attract them to careers in science and engineering.

This award supports the renewal of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program hosted at Wayne State University. The program consists of a preparation phase involving a one-hour course given over the winter to student participants, followed by ten weeks of summer research at either Wayne State University, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), or the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) in topics including Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, or Particle Physics. The one-hour course introduces the students to the physical, mathematical and computational concepts relevant for the summer experience. It includes a computer training homework and an ethics component. The participants then merge with other existing REU programs at each site for social activities and lectures on various scientific topics.

Students are mentored by PhD researchers working on leading edge physics topics and/or technologies chosen for good mentorship qualities as well as their leadership in their respective scientific fields. Students are given an opportunity to choose to participate in one of two domains of activities hosted at Wayne State University and FNAL or SLAC (the choice of the away site depends on the availability of projects in a given year). The program features many research avenues and activities, including: studies of the properties of supernovae observed photometrically, development of new detection instruments for particle physics or astrophysics, development of systems to manage a large number of computers, designing and coding advanced software for data analysis, research and development of the design of an optical all sky survey focused on measuring cosmology, data analysis in experimental nuclear and particle physics, development of science education and outreach projects, and theoretical studies of properties of strong interactions. Students are required to submit a report in the form of a paper at the end of their experience and deliver oral presentations.