Dr I A Bertram
Reader
Room: B14 Physics Building
Tel: +44 (0)1524 593611
Fax: +44 (0)1524 844037
Email: i.bertram@lancaster.ac.uk
Member of the Lancaster Particle Physics Research Group
- Where's Iain?: A calendar with Iain's Current Location
Departmental Roles
- Phys 281 - Programming and Modelling
- Fourth year Projects in CP Violation on the DØExperiment
Research Interests
Two of the major questions facing fundamental physics are:
What are the fundamental constituents of the universe and how do they interact? and How did the Universe begin, and how does it evolve?
Currently our best description of the theory of fundamental interactions of particles, the standard model of particle physics (SM), does not describe the Universe we live in. The SM cannot explain the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe. This is before we consider the problem the 95% of the Universe that is made up of "dark" matter and energy of which the SM has nothing to say.
My research interests are in the experimental investigation of the matter anti-matter asymmetry. On the DØ experiment I carry out research on the deacys of particles containing b-quarks and on the T2K experiment we will be attempting to understand the fundamental properties of neutrinos.
On the DØ experiment the Lancaster group is investigating B-hadrons (particles containing b-quarks). We hope that this research will provide some answers to why the Universe is made of matter. One of the recent highlights of our programme is the first evidence of quantum mechanical oscillations of the Bs meson (public description, research paper). We are currently investigating CP violation in the Bs system along with other topics in B physics (see the results page). I am currently investigating CP violation in the decays B0d → D∗-μ+ νμ with my graduate student, Anthony Ross. I am the current spokesperson and principle investigator of the UK group on DØ
Until recently it has been assumed that neutrinos are massless and that lepton number (the total number of leptons in the universe) is a conserved quantity. Recent experiments worldwide have now demonstrated that neutrinos have mass and oscillate, which is the first confrmed evidence for physics beyond the Standard Model.
The T2K experiment will represent a very substantial step forward in our ability to probe neutrino oscillations. The most intense artificial neutrino beam ever constructed will be produced at the newly built JPARC facility on Japans east coast, and directed underground to the refurbished Super-Kamiokande detector 295km away. The T2K experiment has developed into a ma jor international collaboration, with almost 400 collaborators at 65 institutes from 12 countries, fewer than half of whom are Japanese.
The T2K neutrino oscillation experiment will search for the νμ → νe oscillations. The muon neutrinos will be produced via a high intensity proton beam which produces charged pions in collisions with a target. I am working on the design and implementation of a database for storing calibration information for the experiment.
In a addition to my research work I am a member STFC's Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics Science Committee (PPAN) which provides advice to the science board and the executive on all aspects of STFC's particle physics, astronomy, space and planetary science and nuclear physics programmes. The duties of this panel include formulating long term science strategy; input to the science boards programme prior- ities; carry out full programme reviews; priorities short to medium term investments; develop detailed investment plans for research; monitor and review operations of other peer-review panels.