Category Archives: Physics

Latest and greatest from ATLAS and CMS

CERN, LMU, Physics

run280673_final10_display

This week ATLAS and CMS have presented their latest and greatest in results obtained with the 13 TeV data set recorded in 2015. Quite an event with some interesting, though not yet exciting, results. Yet the theory community, or at least parts therein, got a bit crazy about some of the results.

I guess we’ll have to wait for our publication aiming for Moriond 2016 to get to the really interesting stuff ;)
Just kidding … well, the last part is true, we are aiming for first public results in March 2016.

It’s public …

LEGO, Outreach, Physics

… my first ever public note on outreach :)
“Building Blocks of the Universe – using stackable plastic bricks to impart knowledge in particle physics“

ATL-OREACH-PUB-2015-001Abstract: This article presents possibilities to impart knowledge of and enthusiasm for particle physics to essentially all non-expert target audiences by the use of LEGO bricks and models of particle physics experiments built from these. Methods of using LEGO models, both as a passive exhibit and as part of interactive outreach events, are presented, along with a historical review of the “Build Your Own Particle Detector” programme and the corresponding idea of hosting competitions in building detector models in LEGO pieces as a perfect setting to grasp people’s attention, get them involved and ultimately convey knowledge in particle physics to them.

PopScience, BYOPD and PhD Comics

CERN, Geneva, LEGO, Outreach, Switzerland

Yesterday, we had another PopScience BYOPD event in Geneva. While it was a bit calm in the morning it ended up quite nice with a decent number of visitors/participants in the afternoon. In fact, I had Jorge Cham, creator of PhD Comics,  joining the competition. Unfortunately, I missed his talk and the showing of the PhD Movie sequel the day before. Luckily, I could make it up with a nice autograph from him (see below).
For the actual European researchers’ night, there were discussion of the physics in movies such as Gravity, Interstellar, Star Trek or Angels & Demons as well as a screening of Particle Fever and a discussion with some of physics cast.

Deadwood, SD

Deadwood, Physics, United States

Deadwood, South Dakota it is for this week. The IX International Conference on Interconnections between Particle Physics and Cosmology (PPC2015) at The Lodge at Deadwood, to be even more precise. Yesterday we had our excursion to Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, today I gave my presentation on Dark Matter searches in ATLAS (so I’m done with the compulsory part .. hehe) and tonight we’ll have the conference dinner :)

It’s all a bit in the middle of nowhere, but it’s seemingly really beautiful landscape in the Black Hills and the Badlands. Unfortunately, I ain’t got no time to see it all, or even a small part for that sake.