Khalifa University Officially Joins ATLAS Collaboration At CERN To Enhance Particle Physics Research

Khalifa University of Science and Technology has officially joined the ATLAS collaboration at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. This membership enhances the university's presence in global scientific research, particularly in particle physics. It also opens doors for student exchange programmes and significant scientific publications.

The ATLAS experiment is one of four main experiments at the LHC, involving a global network of physicists, engineers, technicians, and students. Khalifa University's participation was announced during the 109th ATLAS Collaboration Board meeting, which includes 182 academic institutions from 42 countries.

Prof. Bayan Sharif, Provost of Khalifa University, stated that joining the ATLAS Collaboration aligns with their strategic vision to advance scientific research and innovation. "Joining the ATLAS Collaboration, part of Geneva-based CERN, aligns with our strategic vision to advance scientific research and innovation, reinforcing our commitment to becoming a leader in science and technology, including high-energy physics," he said.

The university's research focuses on areas beyond the Standard Model, Physics Modelling, Jet Physics, and multidisciplinary topics involving Physics-Computing. This collaboration will help Khalifa University contribute to groundbreaking discoveries in particle physics while fostering partnerships with both local and international institutions.

The Khalifa University ATLAS group is led by Dr. Rachik Soualah, who played a key role in establishing the UAE-ATLAS cluster. The group includes Dr. Issam Qattan and several PhD students, a postdoc, and a computer engineer. Their focus is on computational analysis crucial for interpreting data from the ATLAS experiment.

Plans are underway to recruit more students and researchers to enhance the group's capabilities further. This will ensure significant contributions to ATLAS's ambitious scientific goals as they prepare for future phases of LHC operations.

Global Collaboration and Student Opportunities

Professors Bayan Sharif and Ahmed Al Durra highlighted that this collaboration would facilitate global partnerships while driving innovation involving Khalifa University students in high-energy physics. Exchange programmes will allow students hands-on experience at CERN, promoting interdisciplinary research.

Khalifa University will actively participate in ATLAS's future expansion activities. They will contribute to analysing Run 3 data while preparing for Run 4 operations at LHC's next phase. This involvement provides invaluable exposure to cutting-edge research for students.

This membership marks a significant step for Khalifa University in its pursuit of excellence in science and technology fields. It strengthens its role within the international scientific community while developing local capacities through collaborative efforts.

With inputs from WAM