Higgs Physics
With the discovery of a Higgs boson at the LHC a new era in particle physics has started. We are interested in elucidating if this new particle is the one predicted by the Standard Model of fundamental interactions or whether it is connected to new physics. The latter would signify new discoveries.
Exotics Physics
The interactions of the known particles are described within the Standard Model, where all particles and forces are accounted for. We take a look beyond this model at unknown matter which deviates from the norm and has "exotic" properties.
Electronics
We have a high throughput electronics laboratory at the School of Physics. High throughput electronics deals with massive transfer of data at very high rates in challenging environments. This laboratory serves the upgrade needs of the ATLAS detector and other large projects.
The GRID
The MAC Project
The Massive Affordable Computing project (MAC) is an exciting new project which involves the development of modular ARM boards designed to be combined into super clusters to provide a cheap alternative for high throughput super computing at extremely high power efficiencies.
Plastic Scintillators
The study of ionising radiation in various grades of plastic scintilators is necessary for radiation-hardness certification. This is an important topic as these plastics are used in the detectors at CERN and elsewhere. Working with industry to produce plastic scintillators in South Africa.
Members
Publications
In the Media
Congratulations
Stefan von BuddenbrockMSc Oral First prize at the South African Institute of Physics Conference(28 June - 3 July 2015) Title: "Dark matter production in association with Higgs bosons through heavy scalar resonance at the LHC" | Mitchell CoxMsC Oral First prize at the South African Institute of Physics Conference(28 - 3 July 2015) Title: "Online energy reconstruction on ARM for the ATLAS TileCal sROD co-processing unit" |
Daniel Ohene-Kwofie(PhD poster First prize at the South African Institute of Physics Conference(28 June - 3 July 2015) Title: "Efficient processing of physics quantities for the Processing Unit for the upgrade of the Tile Calorimeter of ATLAS" | Chad PelwanMsC Poster First prize at the South African Institute of Physics Conference(28 - 3 July 2015) Title: "A density functional theory and magnetic resonance studies of radiation damage in plastic scintillators" |
Announcement - "Why Dark Matters" - PowerFM Radio interview with WITS-ATLAS group
Radio
Radio Interview with the Wits-ATLAS group - 14th April 2015 - Audio
Announcement - Inauguration of the High Throughput Electronics Lab at Wits
We are very happy to announce the opening of the new Hight Throughput Electronics Lab (HTEL) at Wits. "The HTEL it is an institutional mechanism of a broader institutional community that spans nations, institutions, and sectors, and that will try to understand our world and change it" - Professor Adam Habib, Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Wits press release: New Physics lab will change our world
Pictures: HTEL Pictures
Right before cutting the ribbon.
Announcement - Massive Affordable Computing, TV and Radio Coverage
TV
The University of the Witwatersrand, SKA Africa, South Africa’s National Research Foundation’s iThemba Labs and CERN-SA in conjunction with a few other South African universities started the only state of the art training initiative and test lab in high-throughput computing for scientists in Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Supercomputer Training - http://featuresafrica.tv/ - pdf
Scientists and researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand are pioneering a new generation of generic supercomputers. The team of the High Energy Physics Group involved in the Massive Affordable Computing Project or the MAC Project is developing and building a new generation of supercomputers with so called high-throughput capability to deal with the high throughput data needs of scientist.
Massive Affordable Computing http://featuresafrica.tv/ - pdf
Radio
Radio Sonder Grense (RSG) - 9th February - Audio
SAFM - 26th January - Audio
