Fermilab and University of Bern join forces for neutrino physics

Fermilab feature

Fermilab and the University of Bern in Switzerland have signed an agreement to develop detector components for the laboratory’s neutrino experiments. The agreement is the first of its kind between Fermilab and a Swiss university.

Resurrected detector will hunt for some of the strangest particles in the universe

From Science, Aug. 8, 2019: Fermilab physicists are resurrecting a massive particle detector by lowering it into a tomblike pit and embalming it with a chilly fluid. In August, workers eased two gleaming silver tanks bigger than shipping containers, the two halves of the detector, into a concrete-lined hole. Hauled from Europe two years ago, ICARUS will soon start a second life seeking perhaps the strangest particles physicists have dreamed up, oddballs called sterile neutrinos.

Is there really a fourth neutrino out there in the universe?

From Forbes, Dec. 5, 2018: If there’s a fourth neutrino out there, Fermilab’s Short-Baseline Neutrino Program experiments will lead the way.

Already beyond the Standard Model

Symmetry feature

We already know neutrinos break the mold of the Standard Model. The question is: By how much?

MicroBooNE demonstrates use of convolutional neural networks on liquid-argon TPC data for first time

Fermilab feature

Recently, the MicroBooNE experiment published a paper describing how they used convolutional neural networks — a particular type of deep neural network — to sort individual pixels coming from images made by a particular type of detector.

Machine learning proliferates in particle physics

Symmetry feature

A new review in Nature chronicles the many ways machine learning is popping up in particle physics research.

The Standard Model of physics is a tyrant

From Scientific American, July 5, 2018: This editorial weighs in on the latest result from the MiniBooNE experiment. The author says that, while winning experiments may soon give us clarity, at this time there is no resolution to the sterile neutrino question.

NMSU physics department awarded $1.26 million DOE grant

From KRWG, June 26, 2018: The three-year grant will fund New Mexico State University physics faculty, students and postdoctoral researchers for three projects: SeaQuest, MicroBooNE and PHENIX.

A boon for physicists: new insights into neutrino interactions

Fermilab feature

Physicists on the MicroBooNE collaboration at Fermilab have presented their first collection of science results at the international Neutrino 2018 conference in Germany.

Has U.S. physics lab found a new particle?

From BBC News, June 6, 2018: The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab may have found hints of a new particle. Specifically, the data may hint at a previously undetected form of neutrino, known as a “sterile neutrino.”