Thesis

Searching for Dark Matter using top-quarks at the ATLAS experiment at the LHC

• Call:

  IDPASC Portugal - PHD Programme 2019

• Academic Year:

  2019 / 2020

• Domain:

  Experimental Particle Physics

• Supervisor:

  Nuno Castro

• Co-Supervisor:

• Institution:

  Universidade do Minho

• Host Institution:

  Laboratório de Instrumentação e Física Experimental de Partículas

• Abstract:

  The origin of Dark Matter (DM) is one of the current open questions in Particle Physics. The for DM at colliders can provide valuable information, complementary to those obtained from direct and indirect experiments. In the current proposal the proton-proton data collected by the ATLAS experiment during the second operation phase of the Large Hadron Collider (2015-2018) will be used. Monotop signatures, where a boosted top quark is produced in association with a large amount of missing transverse energy will be explored. In the scope of this thesis, a dedicated analysis sensitive to monotop signatures will be developed, including the definition of the signal and control regions, the detailed study of the systematic sources of uncertainty and the statistical interpretation of the obtained results. Advanced data analysis techniques, such as deep learning, will be used to tag the top quarks and a close collaboration with the LIP competence center on simulation and big data is foreseen. The phenomenological interpretation will also be done. The selected student will integrate the ATLAS Collaboration and technical work relevant for the consolidation of the student's expertise in experimental particle physics will be done. Travels to CERN in this context are expected.