Los Alamos National Laboratory
Delivering science and technology to protect our nation and promote world stability
High Energy Physics
Investigating the field of high energy physics through experiments that strengthen our fundamental understanding of matter, energy, space, and time.
- Advanced Scientific Computing Research
- Basic Energy Sciences
- Biological and Environmental Research
- Fusion Energy Sciences
- High Energy Physics
- Nuclear Physics
- Pioneering accelerator technology to improve the intensity of particle beams
- Astrophysics’ observations of the Universe’s most violent phenomena
- Cosmologists use supercomputers to simulate the evolution of the universe
- Demystifying subatomic particles; elucidating the nature of matter and antimatter
- Sensitive light sensors and sophisticated computations detect and identify neutrinos
Seeking an understanding of how our universe works
The DOE Office of Science's High Energy Physics program seeks to understand how our universe works. It involves exploring the basic nature of space and time itself, discovering the elementary constituents of matter and energy, and probing the interactions between them.
Through the Office of High Energy Physics (HEP), Los Alamos conducts research in particle physics and cosmology to understand the fundamental particles and forces of nature and the evolution and structure of the universe. Current LANL HEP experimental and theoretical efforts are an integral part of the HEP priorities for their Intensity and Cosmic Frontier Programs.
Los Alamos projects in this area include the following:
- On the trail of one of the greatest mysteries in physics, Los Alamos researchers play a significant role on three accelerator-based experiments and projects at Fermilab: MiniBooNE, MicroBooNE, and the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). These experiments are central to the HEP Intensity Frontier program."
- The centerpiece of the Los Alamos contribution to the HEP Cosmic Frontier is the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory http://www.hawc-observatory.org/ , an Extensive Air Shower Detector with 300 detector tanks under construction at 13500 feet in Parque Nacional Pico de Orizaba, Mexico. The Observatory builds on the experience. YouTube Video: “Probing Nature’s Highest Energy Particle Accelerators”
- LANL Principal Investigators have been the recipient of two HEP Early Career Awards, and one Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.