Particle Physics in Birmingham

Particle Physics Seminar

Wednesday 18th February 2015 at 13:30
Poynting Small Lecture Theatre

(tea, coffee and biscuits served at 13:15)

NA62 Status

Chris Parkinson (Birmingham University)


Abstract

The K+→π+νν decay is highly suppressed in the Standard Model, making the branching fraction extremely sensitive to contributions from new particles. Moreover, that same branching fraction can be precisely calculated in theoretical models. The combination of these facts makes the K+→ π+νν decay a powerful probe of the Standard Model flavour sector. The NA62 experiment at the CERN SPS began taking data in autumn last year. The goal of NA62 is to collect about 100 K+→π+νν events within two years of data taking, which means isolating the right 100 events from around 1013 K+ decays. Background rejection on such a scale requires a cutting-edge experiment such as NA62. The 100 K+→π+νν events will provide the basis for the world’s most precise measurement of the K+→π+νν branching fraction, which will impose severe constraints on physics beyond the Standard Model. In light of the pilot physics run that took place in autumn last year the status of NA62 will be presented. The beam line and detector systems will be outlined, including a description of the trigger. The similarities and differences of contemporary experiments, such as those at the LHC, will be identified. The expected physics performance, and prospects for discovery of new physics phenomena, will be examined.