High Energy Particle Physics Workshop (HEPPW2015)

Abstract

The motivation for this workshop began with the discovery of the Higgs boson threeyears ago, and the realisation that many problems remain in particle physics, such aswhy there is more matter than anti-matter, better determining the still poorly measuredparameters of the strong force, explaining possible sources for dark matter, naturalnessetc. While the newly discovered Higgs boson seems to be compatible with the StandardModel, current experimental accuracy is far from providing a definitive statement withregards to the nature of this new particle. There is a lot of room for physics beyond theStandard Model to emerge in the exploration of the Higgs boson. Recent measurementsin high-energy heavy ion collisions at the LHC have shed light on the complex dynamicsthat govern high-density quark-gluon interactions. An array of results from the ALICEcollaboration have been highlighted in a recent issue of CERN courier. The physicsprogram of high-energy heavy ion collisions promises to further unveil the intricacies ofhigh-density quark-gluon plasma physics.The great topicality of high energy physics research has also seen a rapid increasein the number of researchers in South Africa pursuing such studies, both experimentallythrough the ATLAS and ALICE colliders at CERN, and theoretically. Young researchersand graduate students largely populate these research groups, with little experiencein presenting their work, and few support structures (to their knowledge) to shareexperiences with. Whilst many schools and workshops have sought to educate thesestudents on the theories and tools they will need to pursue their research, few haveprovided them with a platform to present their work. As such, this workshop discussedthe various projects being pursued by graduate students and young researchers in SouthAfrica, enabling them to develop networks for future collaboration and discussion. The workshop took place at the iThemba Laboratories - North facility, in Gauteng,from the 11th to the 13th of February 2015, where excellent conference facilities withoutdoors and indoor tea areas for discussions and interactions were provided, alongwith a state-of-the-art remote access to the conference venue such that those who wereunable to attend the workshop in person could also be present. The laboratory is locatednext door to the Wits Professional Development Hub (on the corner of Jan SmutsAvenue and Empire Road), which provided the catering for this workshop. A morningplenary session, followed 15+10 minute presentations, was the format across our threedays. The topics covered being in high-energy theory and phenomenology (heavy ions,pp, ep, ee collisions), ATLAS physics and ALICE physics. The workshop website ishttp://hep.wits.ac.za/HEPPW2015.php