Public Abstract

DE-SC0019066: Dark matter searches and theoretical research in high energy physics at Penn State

Award Status: Active

Institution: The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
UEI: NPM2J7MSCF61
DUNS: 003403953

Most Recent Award Date: 09/30/2025
Number of Support Periods: 8
PM: Turner, Kathleen

Current Budget Period: 06/01/2025 - 03/31/2026
Current Project Period: 06/01/2025 - 03/31/2029
PI: Carmona Benitez, Maria del Carmen

Supplement Budget Period: N/A

Public Abstract

Dark matter searches and theoretical research in high energy physics at Penn State Maria del Carmen Carmona Benitez, Pennsylvania State University (Principal Investigator). Luiz de Viveiros, Pennsylvania State University (Co-Investigator). Jacob Bourjaily, Pennsylvania State University (Co-Investigator). Radu Roiban, Pennsylvania State University (Co-Investigator). The High Energy Physics Group at Penn State is engaged in experimental and theoretical research in the fields of particle astrophysics and elementary particle physics, with the goal of answering fundamental questions about the nature of the universe. The research spans the Cosmic Frontier (Task A) and Theory (Task B) programs of the Department of Energy, and pursues some of the main science drivers of particle physics today. The two programs are brought together into a single umbrella grant proposal in order to facilitate future scientific and intellectual collaboration, maximizing the synergies between these fields. Cosmic Frontier program (LZ): The identification of dark matter is presently one of the greatest challenges in science. The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment has constructed a next generation dark matter detector at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota, using a dual-phase time projection chamber with 7 tonnes of active liquid xenon. This experiment aims to achieve unprecedented sensitivity to weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), projected to reach a WIMP-nucleon cross section of 1.4x10^-48 cm^2 for a 40 GeV/c2 WIMP mass in 1000 live-days. The Penn State group led by Carmona and de Viveiros worked on the construction and operations of the LZ detector, and continues to make vital contributions to the experiment in both operations and analysis. Our work focuses on development of simulations and analysis software; data quality monitoring; measurement of internal xenon backgrounds; production of background models for statistical analysis of potential signals; fiducial volume studies; salting; detector calibration using neutron sources; and working on the analysis of the science run data to produce the main WIMP dark matter results, to test new dark matter candidates, and to search for new physics. PIs: M.C. Carmona-Benitez, L. de Viveiros. Theory program: The goal of the theoretical effort is to improve our understanding and extend our knowledge of particles, forces, space-time, and the universe. Proposed work will: - improve our understanding of and ability to use perturbative quantum field theory by pushing the present limits of our understanding of scattering amplitudes; expanding the applicability of modern methods for constructing loop integrands, performing loop integration, and understanding loop integrals to a wider class of more realistic quantum field theories—in particular, those without supersymmetry, massive particles, and those beyond the planar limit; to generate and explore new sets of theoretical data about large classes of previously unreachable scattering amplitudes; and to discover new, unanticipated simplicities therein; - enhance the understanding of spinning bodies in general relativity, compute higher-order perturbations in classical gravity, explore nonlinear memory in gravitational waves, develop new methods for quantum and classical calculations, investigate hidden structures in supergravity, study duality symmetries and their anomalies, determine if all supergravities are double copies, identify new theories with off-shell color/kinematics duality, extend color/kinematics duality and double copy to curved space, and create new techniques for evaluating integrals in AdS and cosmological correlators. PIs: J. Bourjaily, R. Roiban.

Dark matter searches and theoretical research in high energy physics at Penn State
Maria del Carmen Carmona Benitez, Pennsylvania State University (Principal Investigator).
Luiz de Viveiros, Pennsylvania State University (Co-Investigator).
Jacob Bourjaily, Pennsylvania State University (Co-Investigator).
Radu Roiban, Pennsylvania State University (Co-Investigator).

The High Energy Physics Group at Penn State is engaged in experimental and theoretical research in the fields of particle astrophysics and elementary particle physics, with the goal of answering fundamental questions about the nature of the universe. The research spans the Cosmic Frontier (Task A) and Theory (Task B) programs of the Department of Energy, and pursues some of the main science drivers of particle physics today. The two programs are brought together into a single umbrella grant proposal in order to facilitate future scientific and intellectual collaboration, maximizing the synergies between these fields.

Cosmic Frontier program (LZ): The identification of dark matter is presently one of the greatest challenges in science. The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment has constructed a next generation dark matter detector at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota, using a dual-phase time projection chamber with 7 tonnes of active liquid xenon. This experiment aims to achieve unprecedented sensitivity to weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), projected to reach a WIMP-nucleon cross section of 1.4x10^-48 cm^2 for a 40 GeV/c2 WIMP mass in 1000 live-days. The Penn State group led by Carmona and de Viveiros worked on the construction and operations of the LZ detector, and continues to make vital contributions to the experiment in both operations and analysis. Our work focuses on development of simulations and analysis software; data quality monitoring; measurement of internal xenon backgrounds; production of background models for statistical analysis of potential signals; fiducial volume studies; salting; detector calibration using neutron sources; and working on the analysis of the science run data to produce the main WIMP dark matter results, to test new dark matter candidates, and to search for new physics.
PIs: M.C. Carmona-Benitez, L. de Viveiros.

Theory program: The goal of the theoretical effort is to improve our understanding and extend our knowledge of particles, forces, space-time, and the universe. Proposed work will:
- improve our understanding of and ability to use perturbative quantum field theory by pushing the present limits of our understanding of scattering amplitudes; expanding the applicability of modern methods for constructing loop integrands, performing loop integration, and understanding loop integrals to a wider class of more realistic quantum field theories—in particular, those without supersymmetry, massive particles, and those beyond the planar limit; to generate and explore new sets of theoretical data about large classes of previously unreachable scattering amplitudes; and to discover new, unanticipated simplicities therein;
- enhance the understanding of spinning bodies in general relativity, compute higher-order perturbations in classical gravity, explore nonlinear memory in gravitational waves, develop new methods for quantum and classical calculations, investigate hidden structures in supergravity, study duality symmetries and their anomalies, determine if all supergravities are double copies, identify new theories with off-shell color/kinematics duality, extend color/kinematics duality and double copy to curved space, and create new techniques for evaluating integrals in AdS and cosmological correlators.
PIs: J. Bourjaily, R. Roiban.