Project acronym COSMOLAB
Project Laboratory simulation of cosmological magnetic fields
Researcher (PI) Gianluca Gregori
Host Institution (HI) THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary The advent of high-power laser systems in the past two decades has opened a new field of research where astrophysical environments can be scaled down to laboratory dimensions, yet preserving the essential physics. This is due to the invariance of the equations of ideal magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) to a class of self-similar transformations. In this proposal, we will apply these scaling laws to investigate the dynamics of the high Mach number shocks arising during the formation of the large-scale structure of the Universe. Although at the beginning of cosmic evolution matter was nearly homogenously distributed, today, as a result of gravitational instability, it forms a web-like structure made of filaments and clusters. Gas continues to accrete supersonically onto these collapsed structures, thus producing high Mach number shocks. It has been recently proposed that generation of magnetic fields can occur at these cosmic shocks on a cosmologically fast timescale via a Weibel-like instability, thus providing an appealing explanation to the ubiquitous magnetization of the Universe. Our proposal will thus provide the first experimental evidence of such mechanisms. We plan to measure the self-generated magnetic fields from laboratory shock waves using a novel combination of electron deflectometry, Faraday rotation measurements using THz lasers, and dB/dt probes. The proposed investigation on the generation of magnetic fields at shocks via plasma instabilities bears important general consequences. First, it will shed light on the origin of cosmic magnetic fields. Second, it would have a tremendous impact on one of the greatest puzzles of high energy astrophysics, the origin of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays. We plan to assess the role of charged particle acceleration via collisionless shocks in the amplification of the magnetic field as well as measure the spectrum of such accelerated particles. The experimental work will be carried both at Oxford U and at laser facilities.
Summary
The advent of high-power laser systems in the past two decades has opened a new field of research where astrophysical environments can be scaled down to laboratory dimensions, yet preserving the essential physics. This is due to the invariance of the equations of ideal magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) to a class of self-similar transformations. In this proposal, we will apply these scaling laws to investigate the dynamics of the high Mach number shocks arising during the formation of the large-scale structure of the Universe. Although at the beginning of cosmic evolution matter was nearly homogenously distributed, today, as a result of gravitational instability, it forms a web-like structure made of filaments and clusters. Gas continues to accrete supersonically onto these collapsed structures, thus producing high Mach number shocks. It has been recently proposed that generation of magnetic fields can occur at these cosmic shocks on a cosmologically fast timescale via a Weibel-like instability, thus providing an appealing explanation to the ubiquitous magnetization of the Universe. Our proposal will thus provide the first experimental evidence of such mechanisms. We plan to measure the self-generated magnetic fields from laboratory shock waves using a novel combination of electron deflectometry, Faraday rotation measurements using THz lasers, and dB/dt probes. The proposed investigation on the generation of magnetic fields at shocks via plasma instabilities bears important general consequences. First, it will shed light on the origin of cosmic magnetic fields. Second, it would have a tremendous impact on one of the greatest puzzles of high energy astrophysics, the origin of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays. We plan to assess the role of charged particle acceleration via collisionless shocks in the amplification of the magnetic field as well as measure the spectrum of such accelerated particles. The experimental work will be carried both at Oxford U and at laser facilities.
Max ERC Funding
1 119 690 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-12-01, End date: 2015-11-30
Project acronym ODYCQUENT
Project Optimal dynamcal control of quantum entanglement
Researcher (PI) Florian Mintert
Host Institution (HI) IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary The present proposal aims at the optimal control of the preparation, distribution and storage
of entangled states of multipartite quantum systems.
We will employ our recently developed observable entanglement measures to dynamically optimize entanglement per se
rather than fidelity with respect to some specified entangled target state.
We will apply these tools to NV-centers and trapped ions in order to devise time-dependent control pulses
(e.g.) laser pulses) that steer these systems into highly entangled states.
In a second branch we will extend our theoretical tools for entanglement control
in order to achieve close-to-perfectly correlated states even in systems with strong decoherence.
Summary
The present proposal aims at the optimal control of the preparation, distribution and storage
of entangled states of multipartite quantum systems.
We will employ our recently developed observable entanglement measures to dynamically optimize entanglement per se
rather than fidelity with respect to some specified entangled target state.
We will apply these tools to NV-centers and trapped ions in order to devise time-dependent control pulses
(e.g.) laser pulses) that steer these systems into highly entangled states.
In a second branch we will extend our theoretical tools for entanglement control
in order to achieve close-to-perfectly correlated states even in systems with strong decoherence.
Max ERC Funding
1 173 240 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-01-01, End date: 2016-08-31
Project acronym SYDUGRAM
Project Symmetries and Dualities in Gravity and M-theory
Researcher (PI) Marc André Marie Albert Henneaux
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITE LIBRE DE BRUXELLES
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2010-AdG_20100224
Summary Despite its considerable success, Einstein theory of gravity is an unfinished revolution: it has limitations both at the microscopic scales and at the macroscopic scales. The objective of this proposal is to provide a better understanding of the gravitational interaction beyond Einstein. This will be done by analyzing, with the aim of identifying it, the symmetry structure underlying the searched-for fundamental formulation of gravity, relying on and exploring further the intriguing and fascinating infinite-dimensional algebras uncovered recently in the study of supergravities and M-theory. One of the motivations of the project is to make progress in the development of quantum gravity, with the goal of providing new insight into black holes and cosmological singularities.
Summary
Despite its considerable success, Einstein theory of gravity is an unfinished revolution: it has limitations both at the microscopic scales and at the macroscopic scales. The objective of this proposal is to provide a better understanding of the gravitational interaction beyond Einstein. This will be done by analyzing, with the aim of identifying it, the symmetry structure underlying the searched-for fundamental formulation of gravity, relying on and exploring further the intriguing and fascinating infinite-dimensional algebras uncovered recently in the study of supergravities and M-theory. One of the motivations of the project is to make progress in the development of quantum gravity, with the goal of providing new insight into black holes and cosmological singularities.
Max ERC Funding
1 511 556 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-01-01, End date: 2015-12-31
Project acronym UNIVERSALEPTO
Project Test of Lepton Flavour Universality with Kaon Decays
Researcher (PI) John Bourke Dainton
Host Institution (HI) THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2010-AdG_20100224
Summary Physics at the high-mass scale can also be manifest in dynamical effects at lower, accessible energy. Thus, the existence of new high-mass-scale physics implies new mechanisms by which new interactions between constituents, quarks and gluons with leptons, must also exist. This proposal is for a precision measurement at the NA62 experiment at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) of the ratio R(K) of the branching ratios (BR) of two rare, leptonic, decays of the K+, namely K+ to e+ neutrino and K+ to mu+ neutrino, with a precision of 0.2%. When compared with the prediction of the Standard Model (uncertainty 4E-4), the measurement will be sensitive to physics at the Terascale (TeV energy). The experiment is based on a sample of about 10E13 in-flight K+ decays, for which selection and background rejection exploit precision kinematic reconstruction and particle identification. The team will contribute a Cerenkov detector, which will time-stamp individual K +decays in the decay volume of the experiment at the 50 MHz K+ beam rate. When operating in the NA62 experiment, the sensitivity to K decay BRs will then be better than 10E-11. Such a measurement of R(K) will certainly constrain in a unique manner the nature of Terascale physics. The reality of measurements at this level of precision, which may point to lepton flavour violation, will make possible a number of definitive tests concerned with the violation of lepton flavour universality. The importance of the measurements is therefore compelling, and especially so when taken in the context of imminent measurements using long baseline neutrino beams.
Summary
Physics at the high-mass scale can also be manifest in dynamical effects at lower, accessible energy. Thus, the existence of new high-mass-scale physics implies new mechanisms by which new interactions between constituents, quarks and gluons with leptons, must also exist. This proposal is for a precision measurement at the NA62 experiment at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) of the ratio R(K) of the branching ratios (BR) of two rare, leptonic, decays of the K+, namely K+ to e+ neutrino and K+ to mu+ neutrino, with a precision of 0.2%. When compared with the prediction of the Standard Model (uncertainty 4E-4), the measurement will be sensitive to physics at the Terascale (TeV energy). The experiment is based on a sample of about 10E13 in-flight K+ decays, for which selection and background rejection exploit precision kinematic reconstruction and particle identification. The team will contribute a Cerenkov detector, which will time-stamp individual K +decays in the decay volume of the experiment at the 50 MHz K+ beam rate. When operating in the NA62 experiment, the sensitivity to K decay BRs will then be better than 10E-11. Such a measurement of R(K) will certainly constrain in a unique manner the nature of Terascale physics. The reality of measurements at this level of precision, which may point to lepton flavour violation, will make possible a number of definitive tests concerned with the violation of lepton flavour universality. The importance of the measurements is therefore compelling, and especially so when taken in the context of imminent measurements using long baseline neutrino beams.
Max ERC Funding
2 282 255 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-09-01, End date: 2016-08-31
