Higgs boson coupling sensitivity at the LHC using H->tau tau decays

We investigate the potential for measuring the relative couplings of a low-mass Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider using WH, ZH, and ttbarH production, where the Higgs boson decays to tau-lepton pairs. With 100/fb of sqrt(s) = 14 TeV pp collision data we find that these modes can improve sensitivity to coupling-ratio measurements of a Higgs boson with a mass of about 125 GeV/c^2.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, 12 table

Production and decay of spinning black holes at colliders and tests of black hole dynamics

We analyse the angular momentum distribution of black holes produced in high energy collisions in space-times with extra spatial dimensions. We show that the black hole spin significantly affects the energy and angular spectra of Hawking radiation. Our results show the experimental sensitivity to the angular momentum distribution and provide tests of black hole production dynamics.Comment: 6 figure

Electromagnetic Shower Properties in a Lead-Scintillator Sampling Calorimeter

The Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) is a general-purpose experimental apparatus with an inner tracking detector for measuring charged particles, surrounded by a calorimeter for measurements of electromagnetic and hadronic showers. We describe a {\sc geant4} simulation and parameterization of the response of the CDF central electromagnetic calorimeter (CEM) to incident electrons and photons. The detector model consists of a detailed description of the CEM geometry and material in the direction of the incident particle's trajectory, and of the passive material between the tracker and the CEM. We use {\sc geant4} to calculate the distributions of: the energy that leaks from the back of the CEM, the energy fraction sampled by the scintillators, and the energy dependence of the response. We parameterize these distributions to accurately model electron and photon response and resolution in a custom simulation for the measurement of the $W$ boson mass

Drift Chamber Alignment using Cosmic Rays

The Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) is a general-purpose experimental apparatus with an inner tracking detector for measuring charged particles, surrounded by a calorimeter for measurements of electromagnetic and hadronic showers, and a muon detector system. We present a technique for, and results of, a precise relative alignment of the drift chamber wires of the CDF tracker. This alignment has been an important component of the track momentum calibration, which is the basis for the charged-lepton calibration for the measurement of the W boson mass at CDF

ATLAS measurements of multi-boson production

Measurements of electroweak gauge-boson pair-production in sqrt(s) = 7 and 8 TeV pp collisions at the LHC probe self-couplings and interference effects to an accuracy of O(10%) or better. ATLAS measurements of ZZ and WZ production at both center of mass energies, and of WW, Zgamma and Wgamma production at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, are presented. Total, fiducial, and differential cross sections are given, along with limits on anomalous triple-gauge couplings.Comment: Proceedings of the LHCP 2014 conferenc

Relative Pose Uncertainty Quantification Using Lie Group Variational Filtering

The applications of visual sensing techniques have revolutionized the way autonomous systems perceive their environment on Earth. In space, the challenge of accurate perception has proven to be a difficult task. Due to adverse lighting conditions, high-noise images are common and degrade the performance of traditional feature-based estimation and perception algorithms. This work explores the applications of a variational filtering scheme founded in Lie Group theory to an autonomous rendezvous, proximity operations and docking problem. Two methodologies, a Monte Carlo approach and an Unscented Transform, for propagating uncertainty using a Lie Group Variational Filter are introduced and developed

New Techniques in the Search for Z' Bosons and Other Neutral Resonances

The search for neutral resonances at the energy frontier has a long and illustrious history, resulting in multiple discoveries. The canonical search scans the reconstructed invariant mass distribution of identified fermion pairs. Two recent analyses from the CDF experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron have applied novel methods to resonance searches. One analysis uses simulated templates to fit the inverse mass distribution of muon pairs, a quantity with approximately constant resolution for momenta measured with a tracking detector. The other analysis measures the angular distribution of electron pairs as a function of dielectron mass, gaining sensitivity over a probe of the mass spectrum alone. After reviewing several models that predict new neutral resonances, we discuss these CDF analyses and potential future applications

Nominal SpaceShipTwo Flights conducted by Scientist-Astronaut Candidates in a Suborbital Space Flight Simulator

In this paper SpaceShipTwo (SS2) nominal flights were conducted by various pilots and compared with other nominal flights as part of the Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere (PoSSUM) program. The first set of flights was performed by student pilots in the left seat of the Suborbital Space Flight Simulator (SSFS) with the intent to fly a nominal flight. The second set of nominal flights was flown by the same student pilots but instructed by Scientist-Astronaut Candidates (SAC). The SAC, who occupied the right seat of the SSFS, wore an intravehicular activity (IVA) pressurized suit designed by Final Frontiers Design. Since the SAC’s goal was operation of the scientific instrumentation inside the cockpit during the suborbital flight, the SAC communicated specific instructions to the pilot to adjust the trajectory to meet the science requirements when the vehicle transited the mesosphere. Mesospheric measurements were obtained during the ascent and descent of the suborbital trajectory at an altitude of approximately 273,000 feet. During this 20 to 30 second phase of the flight, the SAC instructed the pilot to maneuver SS2 along the trajectory required to optimize data collection measurements. These attitude maneuvers performed by the pilot using the reaction control system aboard the vehicle can significantly affect the flight corridor of the vehicle. These operations will help characterize operations above 60,000 feet in analogue suborbital missions and can alleviate communications between the ATC controllers and the STM controllers and improve the Concept of Operations (CONOPs) as part of the FAA initiative

A Statistical Approach for Commercial Space Vehicle Integration into the National Airspace System

This paper explores commercial space vehicle (CSV) suborbital flight trajectories in the temporal and spatial domains for CSV integration into the National Airspace System. The research data was collected via the Suborbital Space Flight Simulator (SSFS) housed in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach campus, and analyzed using an original MATLAB data analytics tool. This study primarily focuses on statistical trends observed in previously simulated flights supported by three Project PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere) campaigns comprised of 34 flights and 19 control flights, and to identify relevant milestones in the CSV flight path. The correlations found in these flight milestones are key for the development of a predictive model for flight and ground safety operators, and reduce the necessity for extensively restricted flight hazard areas. In this paper, the PoSSUM and Control flights are compared to evaluate the deviation caused by different thrust operations conducted by the Scientist Astronaut Candidates (SACs) to enhance scientific data collection in the mesosphere. Preliminary results show the adjustments made by the PoSSUM flights have little affect in the domain with a mean difference of 10.4 seconds in time-of-flight (ToF) outside of the NAS, and a noticeable affect in the spatial domain with a mean difference of 9.3 km in the descent threshold range