Dr. Gold's Research

What are the ultimate constituents of matter, what are there properties, and what is the nature of the forces by which they interact? These most basic of questions are the intellectual motivation for my research. The current Standard Model of particle physics describes the world in terms of quarks and leptons. The model is in precise agreement with experiments, but at the very least requires one additional heavy particle called the Higgs. Can we find the Higgs, and are there any more particles? To answer these questions requires big, powerful colliders like the Fermilab's Tevatron to make heavy elementary particles out of kinetic energy. To detect new particles (if they exist and can be produced) requires a precision multi-purpose detector. One such detector is CDF, which uses silicon and wire drift chambers to track charged particles, and energy absorbing detectors (calorimeters) to measure energy. I have worked with both types of detectors, but have most recently helped build the silicon detector. Successful operation of the silicon is critical to the entire experiment, and I will be working to ensure it performs as expected. I currently have one postdoctoral research assistant (resident at Fermilab) and two graduate students. There is much to be done, and I have an opening for at least one more graduate student. Come join us in the hunt for the smallest part of the littlest thing. Its fun, but you'd better pack a lunch!

The fully assembled silicon vertex detector being installed at the center of the CDF detector at the start of the Fermilab Tevatron's Run 2, February, 2001. The detector is being slid out of the supporting aluminum box and precision mounted inside of the central tracking chamber. Visible outside of the central tracking chamber are blue calorimeter wedges. The "plug" calorimeter visible on the left is later moved into place behind the silicon detector and tracking chambers to fully cover the outside. A small hole remains along the central axis of the detector, through which the proton and anti-proton beams of the Tevatron can pass. Once inserted inside the Tevatron ring, the beams are made to collide at the very center of the detector.

mgold@unm.edu