University of Chicago awards seed grants

In July, the University of Chicago awarded a total of $258,000 in seed grants to four research teams with members from both the university and Fermilab.

The funding came from the Strategic Collaborative Initiative, a program that promotes collaborative research projects, strategic joint appointments and joint institutes among the University of Chicago, Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory.

"This initiative has been important strengthening ties among Fermilab, the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory," said Young-Kee Kim, deputy director of Fermilab. "It makes sense for us to share resources and expertise, especially since we are located so close together."

SCI will provide:

• $65,000 for an experiment run in part by Fermilab's Philippe Piot, "Generation and characterization of low-charge electron beams at the New Muon Lab facility with applications to next generation x-ray free-electron lasers".
• $52,000 for the continuation of an experiment run in part by Fermilab's John Marriner, "Confronting Supernova Explosion Models with Observations: Developing SNe Ia as Precision Tools to Probe Dark Energy".
• $75,000 for the continuation of an experiment run in part by Fermilab's Aaron Chu and Christopher Stoughton, "Prototype holographic noise experiment".
• $75,000 for an experiment run part by Fermilab's Ted Liu, "Rapid identification of heavy quarks and leptons at the Large Hadron Collider".

Three of the four research teams that received grants this year include researchers from Argonne.

The university has been awarding SCI grants to projects with Fermilab researchers since 2006.

-- Kathryn Grim

Clarification

Due to an administrative error, the names of individuals who took Chez Leon's survey before 11 a.m. were not recorded. If you took the survey before 11 a.m., please send an e-mail to today@fnal.gov with the subject line "drawing" to be entered into the drawing. You can take the online Chez Leon survey here. The names of those who take the survey will be entered into a drawing for a complimentary lunch for two.

Scientists have ambitious plans for colliders

From Monterey County Herald,
Aug. 5, 2010

Scientists behind the European particle collider aimed at uncovering the secrets of the universe are pushing to build an even bigger machine - with money and partners from around the world.

Instead of whirling atoms in giant rings, as existing colliders in Switzerland and the United States do, scientists want a new-generation machine that will shoot them straight.

Particle physicists, gathering in Paris last month for the most important conference in their field, said a linear atom blaster is needed to complement what existing colliders are telling scientists about the universe, inching them closer to understanding why we are here.

Mel Shochet, a professor at the University of Chicago, said "this is by far the most exciting time" in his particle physics career.

Shochet said "exciting new phenomena" would be seen first by existing colliders "and then followed up in great detail" by future machines.

Depending on who wants to host it - and how much they are willing to pay - the next-generation collider could potentially be built anywhere in the world - with Japan, Russia, the U.S. and Switzerland all possible hosts for the most advanced project.

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