The Normal Mannequin of particle physics — the present accepted idea that describes all recognized elementary particles and three of the 4 recognized elementary forces — nonetheless can’t clarify sure phenomena. For one, the mannequin holds no clues to dark matter, the invisible mass that makes up 27 p.c of the universe.
Suarez is on the coronary heart of the seek for new particles that might full the Normal Mannequin. She has been creating electronics and evaluation strategies for the Massive Hadron Collider’s Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at CERN in Switzerland. The large accelerator slams protons into one another at almost the velocity of sunshine, and scientists catch the ensuing occasion with the large CMS detector within the hope of discovering new particles.
“Detectors set limitations for testing new theories,” says Suarez. It’s not sufficient to construct a detector; one additionally must know its quirks and flaws. To that finish, her group is creating machine-learning algorithms to forestall false positives and establish defective tools that might mimic the detection of dark matter candidate particles. She can also be creating electronics for the following technology of precision timing detectors for the CMS. In 2021, Suarez acquired a Division of Power Early Profession Award, which can allow her group to pursue these tasks.
When she’s not trying to find new particles, Suarez can also be devoted to serving to college students from underrepresented backgrounds, making certain that they’ll commit their time to analysis and develop a way of belonging in physics.
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