Searching for Supersymmetry

About this Course

About the Course

In this course, Professor Tina Potter (University of Cambridge) explores the big questions that experimental particle physicists and high energy physicists are working towards answering, especially those related to finding supersymmetric Dark Matter candidates. In the first mini-lecture, we review the basics of particle physics, including the Standard Model particles and fundamental forces. In the second mini-lecture, we discuss the evidence for Dark Matter and ways to find Dark Matter, as well as the concept of supersymmetry. The third mini-lecture turns towards the experimental side of particle physics, where we look at the Large Hadron Collider and its experiments at ALICE, ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb. In the fourth mini-lecture, we delve into the search for supersymmetry (SUSY), discussing how we can detect SUSY via missing energy and reviewing some of the SUSY results found thus far. In the fifth mini-lecture, we consider the future of the Large Hadron Collider program, including some of the results that hint at new, undiscovered physics.

About the Lecturer

Tina Potter is a Professor of High Energy Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. Her research interests lie in the discovery of new physics beyond the Standard Model, in particular understanding Dark Matter. This work involves searching for signs of new particles formed in the high energy proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Her research focuses on the design of novel and sensitive searches for new physics, such as Supersymmetry, using the ATLAS (A Toroidal LHC Apparatus) detector. Professor Potter is a 2021 recipient of the University of Cambridge’s Pilkington Prize for her contributions to teaching excellence.