FRIDAY, OCT. 4, 2019, 9 A.M.-NOON

Particle Physics and Dark Matter

The goal of this workshop is to cover the experimental search for dark matter, whose motivation touches on topics at the forefront of particle physics, cosmology, and astrophysics. This gives us an opportunity to discuss and to provide a broad overview, with an emphasis on conceptual understanding appropriate for high school students, of the Standard Model of particle physics, particle accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider, the detection of new particles like the Higgs boson, general relativity, big bang theory, various astronomical observations, and the ongoing searches for dark matter. We will use household materials to construct a simple particle detector, a cloud chamber, and use it to discuss particle detection techniques and the types of ionizing radiation that form the dominant background, or “noise” from which the signal for dark matter is hoped to be teased apart.

Orrin Harris, Department of Physics

For more information, please contact Acting Chair Tim Scherman at [email protected] or our Office Administrator Hilary Jirka at [email protected].

Tim Scherman
English Department Chair

INDIVIDUAL TUITION

$110 per seminar

GROUP TUITION

For departments, schools, or districts: If you would like to register for a total of five or more seats for various seminars, you will still receive the discounted price. $500 for five seats; $900 for 10 seats; $1,500 for 20 seats.

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The seminar takes place on Friday mornings on Northeastern Illinois University’s Main Campus on the 3rd floor of the Ronald Williams Library unless otherwise noted. Northeastern Illinois University is located on Chicago’s Northwest Side.