Elementary Particle Physics

This programme studies the smallest building blocks of matter and the forces acting between them. The insights gained have a direct impact on our understanding of the evolution of the early universe. The origin of mass, the unification of all the fundamental forces at extremely high energies, as well as the reconciliation of quantum physics with the general theory of relativity all rank among the basic questions of physics. To solve these questions, the researchers also trace new particles and search for the supersymmetry partners of all presently known particles.

After the shut-down of the large-scale facility HERA at DESY, the programme substantially intensified its involvement in the two LHC experiments ATLAS and CMS. The aim of the programme is the continued safeguarding of Germany’s international competitive capability in the field of particle physics. The experimental activities at the LHC are supported by the further expansion of the Grid Computing Centre Karlsruhe (GridKa) at KIT as well as by the Tier2-Centres and the analysis centre at DESY. At the same time, the precision analyses of the HERA experiments will be completed. Its results are also of great importance for the LHC analyses. The DESY plays an internationally leading role in the further development of superconducting accelerator technology. The detector development is likewise being promoted. The theoretical analyses take place in close connection with the experimental activities, yet form also an interface with particle/astroparticle physics and string theory. The lattice gauge theory, including research and development for innovative kinds of processors, will be continued at DESY site in Zeuthen in close collaboration with the John von Neumann Institute of the Forschungszentrum Jülich.

The resources for the Helmholtz activities within the very successful alliance “Physics at the Terascale” could be stabilised by the result of the programme review.