Max-Planck-Institut für Physik

Experimental Physics Division

The Institute's experimental research focuses on the fundamental constituents of matter, their intrinsic properties and interactions, and their role in astrophysics.
This involves extensive participation in experiments at the large particle accelerators at CERN (Geneve), DESY (Hamburg) and Brookhaven (USA), and in complementary non-accelerator and astroparticle physics projects.

High Energy Physics at Particle Accelerators

ATLAS: Proton-Proton Collisions at CERN

ATLAS is one of the two large detectors to be installed at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The scientific focus of the ATLAS collaboration is the search for the Higgs boson (the particle at the origin of particle masses), precision studies of top- and b-quark physics, and the search for new physics beyond the Standard Model, e.g. supersymmetry.

H1: Electron-Proton Collisions at DESY

The H1 detector is installed at the HERA accelerator at DESY. The main research interest of the H1 collaboration is to measure the structure of the proton, to study the fundamental interactions between particles, and to search for physics beyond the Standard Model.

ZEUS: Electron-Proton Collisions at DESY

ZEUS is the second large multi-purpose detector at DESY's HERA accelerator. Like for H1, the research at ZEUS focuses on investigating the structure of the proton, on studying the fundamental interactions between particles, and on searches for physics beyond the Standard Model.

International Linear Collider: Electron-Positron Collisions

The International Linear Collider (ILC) is the next large accelerator after LHC. It will be built in the frame of a world-wide co-operative effort. Scientific questions addressed will be precision studies of e.g.\ the mass generation mechanism, and beyond standard model physics like supersymmetry.

Muon Cooling: Research and Development of Accelerator Physics issues for a future Muon Collider

Muon Cooling is the main technological obstacle in the building of a Muon Collider. A Muon Cooling Scheme based on Frictional Cooling is being investigated and holds promise in solving this problem.

Astroparticle Physics

MAGIC

The MAGIC Telescope Collaboration has built a very large imaging Cherenkov telescope, the largest worldwide with 239 m² mirror surface. This device will allow to lower the energy threshold of Cosmic Gamma Rays (< 30 GeV), giving access to a large number of hitherto unexplored astronomical objects.
The telescope is operational since 2004 and first results have been published.

CRESST

The CRESST experiment, installed in the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory, employs cryogenic detectors to search for WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles) which are a favorite candidate for the Dark Matter in our universe.

CAST

The CAST experiment, installed at CERN, searches for axions being emitted by the Sun. The axion, a hypothetical particle which was originally proposed in order to solve the so-called CP-puzzle of strong interactions, is among the prime candidates for Dark Matter.

Neutrino Physics

GERDA: Search for neutrinoless double beta decay

The GERDA Collaboration builds a new experiment at Gran Sasso, in order to search with unprecedented sensitivity for neutrinoless double beta decay in the isotope ⁷⁶Ge of Germanium. This investigation will provide further insight into the intrinsic nature of the neutrino.

Physics of Nuclear Matter at High Temperature and Pressure

STAR: Search for the Quark-Gluon Plasma at Brookhaven

At Brookhaven's heavy-ion collider RHIC the available energy per nucleon pair exceeds that of the former NA49 experiment by a factor of 12. This leads to improved conditions for investigating the Quark-Gluon-Plasma, a predicted new state of matter at high temperature and pressure.

Other Projects

Detector Development (Cryogenic Detectors, Semiconductor Detectors)

Small Animal Electron-Positron Scanning Tomograph (PET)

Human Proteom Analysis

Completed Experiments

ALEPH: Electron-Positron Collisions at CERN

With the ALEPH detector, installed at the Large Electron Positron (LEP) collider at CERN, electron-positron-collisions in an energy range between 90 and 200 GeV are investigated. ALEPH played a prominent role in establishing the Standard Model of Electroweak and Strong Interactions. (Data taking is completed.)

OPAL: Electron-Positron Collisions at CERN

OPAL was another of the four large detectors at CERN's LEP collider. Like ALEPH, the OPAL experiment investigates electron-positron-collisions.

JADE: Electron-Positron Collisions at DESY

From 1979 until 1986 the JADE experiment collected data from particle collisions at energies below 45 GeV. A research team at MPI re-analyzes these data in order to scrutinize the nature of quantum chromodynamics (QCD).

HERA-B: Study CP-Violation at DESY

The HERA-B detector at DESY is built to study CP-violation in the B-system, i.e. to measure the angle beta of the unitarity triangle.

NA49: Search for the Quark-Gluon Plasma at CERN

The NA49 experiment at the SPS accelerator at CERN investigates collisions of heavy nuclei at high energy, searching for hints of the Quark-Gluon-Plasma, a predicted new state of matter at high temperature and pressure.

NA35: Heavy Ion Physics

HEGRA

The HEGRA experiment (High Energy Gamma Ray Astronomy) at La Palma (Canarian Islands) was constructed for investigations of cosmic rays (seen as extended air showers) at energies too high to be detectable by small satellite experiments.

Radiation Physics (Channeling, Parametric X-rays)

Studies for Future Experiments:

HERA-III/eRHIC: Low x, Low Q², the New Frontier in Structure Functions

Proposals for new experiments to study the transition between perturbative and non-perturbative QCD.

The Local Technical Facilities

Semiconductor Laboratory

Together with the Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, the Max-Planck-Institut für Physik operates a research laboratory devoted to the development of innovative semiconductor detectors for the institutes' experimental projects.

Technische Fachabteilungen: Mechanical and Electronics Engineering

An essential prerequisite for the Institute's experiments is the continuous support from the mechanical and electronics engineering departments. The services offered to the experimental projects comprise mechanical construction, technical layout and high-precision fabrication of complex detector components and other apparatus employing modern CAD tools, as well as the development and fabrication of dedicated electronics boards.

	ATLAS: Proton-Proton Collisions at CERN
ATLAS is one of the two large detectors to be installed at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The scientific focus of the ATLAS collaboration is the search for the Higgs boson (the particle at the origin of particle masses), precision studies of top- and b-quark physics, and the search for new physics beyond the Standard Model, e.g. supersymmetry.
	H1: Electron-Proton Collisions at DESY
The H1 detector is installed at the HERA accelerator at DESY. The main research interest of the H1 collaboration is to measure the structure of the proton, to study the fundamental interactions between particles, and to search for physics beyond the Standard Model.
	ZEUS: Electron-Proton Collisions at DESY
ZEUS is the second large multi-purpose detector at DESY's HERA accelerator. Like for H1, the research at ZEUS focuses on investigating the structure of the proton, on studying the fundamental interactions between particles, and on searches for physics beyond the Standard Model.
	International Linear Collider: Electron-Positron Collisions
The International Linear Collider (ILC) is the next large accelerator after LHC. It will be built in the frame of a world-wide co-operative effort. Scientific questions addressed will be precision studies of e.g.\ the mass generation mechanism, and beyond standard model physics like supersymmetry.
	Muon Cooling: Research and Development of Accelerator Physics issues for a future Muon Collider
Muon Cooling is the main technological obstacle in the building of a Muon Collider. A Muon Cooling Scheme based on Frictional Cooling is being investigated and holds promise in solving this problem.

	MAGIC
The MAGIC Telescope Collaboration has built a very large imaging Cherenkov telescope, the largest worldwide with 239 m² mirror surface. This device will allow to lower the energy threshold of Cosmic Gamma Rays (< 30 GeV), giving access to a large number of hitherto unexplored astronomical objects. The telescope is operational since 2004 and first results have been published.
	CRESST
The CRESST experiment, installed in the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory, employs cryogenic detectors to search for WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles) which are a favorite candidate for the Dark Matter in our universe.
	CAST
The CAST experiment, installed at CERN, searches for axions being emitted by the Sun. The axion, a hypothetical particle which was originally proposed in order to solve the so-called CP-puzzle of strong interactions, is among the prime candidates for Dark Matter.

	GERDA: Search for neutrinoless double beta decay
The GERDA Collaboration builds a new experiment at Gran Sasso, in order to search with unprecedented sensitivity for neutrinoless double beta decay in the isotope ⁷⁶Ge of Germanium. This investigation will provide further insight into the intrinsic nature of the neutrino.

	STAR: Search for the Quark-Gluon Plasma at Brookhaven
At Brookhaven's heavy-ion collider RHIC the available energy per nucleon pair exceeds that of the former NA49 experiment by a factor of 12. This leads to improved conditions for investigating the Quark-Gluon-Plasma, a predicted new state of matter at high temperature and pressure.

	Detector Development (Cryogenic Detectors, Semiconductor Detectors)
	Small Animal Electron-Positron Scanning Tomograph (PET)
	Human Proteom Analysis

	ALEPH: Electron-Positron Collisions at CERN
With the ALEPH detector, installed at the Large Electron Positron (LEP) collider at CERN, electron-positron-collisions in an energy range between 90 and 200 GeV are investigated. ALEPH played a prominent role in establishing the Standard Model of Electroweak and Strong Interactions. (Data taking is completed.)
	OPAL: Electron-Positron Collisions at CERN
OPAL was another of the four large detectors at CERN's LEP collider. Like ALEPH, the OPAL experiment investigates electron-positron-collisions.
	JADE: Electron-Positron Collisions at DESY
From 1979 until 1986 the JADE experiment collected data from particle collisions at energies below 45 GeV. A research team at MPI re-analyzes these data in order to scrutinize the nature of quantum chromodynamics (QCD).
	HERA-B: Study CP-Violation at DESY
The HERA-B detector at DESY is built to study CP-violation in the B-system, i.e. to measure the angle beta of the unitarity triangle.
	NA49: Search for the Quark-Gluon Plasma at CERN
The NA49 experiment at the SPS accelerator at CERN investigates collisions of heavy nuclei at high energy, searching for hints of the Quark-Gluon-Plasma, a predicted new state of matter at high temperature and pressure.
	NA35: Heavy Ion Physics
	HEGRA
The HEGRA experiment (High Energy Gamma Ray Astronomy) at La Palma (Canarian Islands) was constructed for investigations of cosmic rays (seen as extended air showers) at energies too high to be detectable by small satellite experiments.
	Radiation Physics (Channeling, Parametric X-rays)

	HERA-III/eRHIC: Low x, Low Q², the New Frontier in Structure Functions
Proposals for new experiments to study the transition between perturbative and non-perturbative QCD.

	Semiconductor Laboratory
Together with the Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, the Max-Planck-Institut für Physik operates a research laboratory devoted to the development of innovative semiconductor detectors for the institutes' experimental projects.