The MATHUSLA Test Stand

The rate of muons from LHC $pp$ collisions reaching the surface above the ATLAS interaction point is measured and compared with expected rates from decays of $W$ and $Z$ bosons and $b$- and $c$-quark jets. In addition, data collected during periods without beams circulating in the LHC provide a measurement of the background from cosmic ray inelastic backscattering that is compared to simulation predictions. Data were recorded during 2018 in a 2.5 $\times$ 2.5 $\times$ 6.5~$\rm{m}^3$ active volume MATHUSLA test stand detector unit consisting of two scintillator planes, one at the top and one at the bottom, which defined the trigger, and six layers of RPCs between them, grouped into three $(x,y)$-measuring layers separated by 1.74 m from each other. Triggers selecting both upward-going tracks and downward-going tracks were used.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures, 1 tabl

Recent Progress and Next Steps for the MATHUSLA LLP Detector

We report on recent progress and next steps in the design of the proposed MATHUSLA Long Lived Particle (LLP) detector for the HL-LHC as part of the Snowmass 2021 process. Our understanding of backgrounds has greatly improved, aided by detailed simulation studies, and significant R&D has been performed on designing the scintillator detectors and understanding their performance. The collaboration is on track to complete a Technical Design Report, and there are many opportunities for interested new members to contribute towards the goal of designing and constructing MATHUSLA in time for HL-LHC collisions, which would increase the sensitivity to a large variety of highly motivated LLP signals by orders of magnitude.Comment: Contribution to Snowmass 2021 (EF09, EF10, IF6, IF9), 18 pages, 12 figures. v2: included additional endorser

Nutrient Sensor mTORC1 Regulates Insulin Secretion by Modulating β-Cell Autophagy

The dynamic regulation of autophagy in β-cells by cycles of fasting-feeding and its effects on insulin secretion are unknown. In β-cells, mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is inhibited while fasting and is rapidly stimulated during refeeding by a single amino acid, leucine, and glucose. Stimulation of mTORC1 by nutrients inhibited the autophagy initiator ULK1 and the transcription factor TFEB, thereby preventing autophagy when β-cells were continuously exposed to nutrients. Inhibition of mTORC1 by Raptor knockout mimicked the effects of fasting and stimulated autophagy while inhibiting insulin secretion, whereas moderate inhibition of autophagy under these conditions rescued insulin secretion. These results show that mTORC1 regulates insulin secretion through modulation of autophagy under different nutritional situations. In the fasting state, autophagy is regulated in an mTORC1-dependent manner, and its stimulation is required to keep insulin levels low, thereby preventing hypoglycemia. Reciprocally, stimulation of mTORC1 by elevated leucine and glucose, which is common in obesity, may promote hyperinsulinemia by inhibiting autophagy

The MATHUSLA Test Stand

The rate of muons from LHC pp collisions reaching the surface above the ATLAS interaction point is measured as a function of the ATLAS luminosity and compared with expected rates from decays of W and Z bosons and b - and c -quark jets. In addition, data collected during periods without beams circulating in the LHC provide a measurement of the background from cosmic ray inelastic backscattering that is compared to simulation predictions. Data were recorded during 2018 in a 2.5 × 2.5 × 6.5 m 3 active volume MATHUSLA test stand detector unit consisting of two scintillator planes, one at the top and one at the bottom, which defined the trigger, and six layers of RPCs between them, grouped into three (x,y) -measuring layers separated by 1.74 m from each other. Triggers selecting both upward-going tracks and downward-going tracks were used.The rate of muons from LHC $pp$ collisions reaching the surface above the ATLAS interaction point is measured and compared with expected rates from decays of $W$ and $Z$ bosons and $b$- and $c$-quark jets. In addition, data collected during periods without beams circulating in the LHC provide a measurement of the background from cosmic ray inelastic backscattering that is compared to simulation predictions. Data were recorded during 2018 in a 2.5 $\times$ 2.5 $\times$ 6.5~$\rm{m}^3$ active volume MATHUSLA test stand detector unit consisting of two scintillator planes, one at the top and one at the bottom, which defined the trigger, and six layers of RPCs between them, grouped into three $(x,y)$-measuring layers separated by 1.74 m from each other. Triggers selecting both upward-going tracks and downward-going tracks were used

Explore the lifetime frontier with MATHUSLA

The observation of long-lived particles at the LHC would reveal physics beyond the Standard Model, could account for the many open issues in our understanding of our universe, and conceivably point to a more complete theory of the fundamental interactions. Such long-lived particle signatures are fundamentally motivated and can appear in virtually every theoretical construct that address the Hierarchy Problem, Dark Matter, Neutrino Masses and the Baryon Asymmetry of the Universe. We describe in this document a large detector, MATHUSLA, located on the surface above an HL-LHC $pp$ interaction point, that could observe long-lived particles with lifetimes up to the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis limit of 0.1 s. We also note that its large detector area allows MATHUSLA to make important contributions to cosmic ray physics. Because of the potential for making a major breakthrough in our conceptual understanding of the universe, long-lived particle searches should have the highest level of priority.The observation of long-lived particles at the LHC would reveal physics beyond the Standard Model and could account for the many open issues in our understanding of our universe. Long-lived particle signatures are well motivated and can appear in many theoretical constructs that address the Hierarchy Problem, Dark Matter, Neutrino Masses and the Baryon Asymmetry of the Universe. With the current experiments at the particle accelerators, no search strategy will be able to observe the decay of neutral long-lived particles with masses above GeV and lifetimes at the limit set by Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, cτ ∼ 107–108 m. The MATHUSLA detector concept (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) will be presented. It can be implemented on the surface above ATLAS or CMS detectors in time for the high-luminosity LHC operations, to search for neutral long-lived particles with lifetimes up to the BBN limit. The large area of the detector allows MATHUSLA to make important contributions also to cosmic-ray physics. We will also report on the analysis of data collected by the test stand installed on the surface above the ATLAS detector, the on-going background studies, and plans for the MATHUSLA detector

A Letter of Intent for MATHUSLA: a dedicated displaced vertex detector above ATLAS or CMS.

In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) [1], a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector (DV) for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) without trigger limitations and with very low or zero backgrounds, allowing it to probe LLP cross sections and lifetimes up to several orders of magnitude beyond the reach of ATLAS or CMS. MATHUSLA would also act as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN, exploring many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics.In this Letter of Intent (LOI) we propose the construction of MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles), a dedicated large-volume displaced vertex detector for the HL-LHC on the surface above ATLAS or CMS. Such a detector, which can be built using existing technologies with a reasonable budget in time for the HL-LHC upgrade, could search for neutral long-lived particles (LLPs) with up to several orders of magnitude better sensitivity than ATLAS or CMS, while also acting as a cutting-edge cosmic ray telescope at CERN to explore many open questions in cosmic ray and astro-particle physics. We review the physics motivations for MATHUSLA and summarize its LLP reach for several different possible detector geometries, as well as outline the cosmic ray physics program. We present several updated background studies for MATHUSLA, which help inform a first detector-design concept utilizing modular construction with Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) as the primary tracking technology. We present first efficiency and reconstruction studies to verify the viability of this design concept, and we explore some aspects of its total cost. We end with a summary of recent progress made on the MATHUSLA test stand, a small-scale demonstrator experiment currently taking data at CERN Point 1, and finish with a short comment on future work