SLUO LHC Workshop:
Closing Remarks
David MacFarlane
Associate Laboratory Directory for PPA
SLUO LHC Workshop: Closing Remarks
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Outline
• Why are meetings like this workshop important to SLAC
and the US community?
– Context, plans and possible areas of evolution for SLAC/ATLAS
program and connections to US ambitions at the LHC
• Where should we go next?
– Another important step along a path of creating a new paradigm for
SLAC and the US-LHC community
SLUO LHC Workshop: Closing Remarks
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SLAC Particle Physics & Astrophysics
LHC upgrades
Linear Collider,
Project-X
Accelerator research:
LHC, ILC, high-gradient,
plasma-wakefield, laser
Non-accelerator physics:
EXO-200, CDMS
ATLAS upgrade
SiD, SuperB
Accelerator-based
particle physics:
ATLAS & BABAR
Astrophysics &
Cosmology:
Fermi GST, DES
EXO
CMB, AGIS
GeODM
LSST, JDEM
SLUO LHC Workshop: Closing Remarks
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Physics Opportunities
Discovery reach
Future energy
frontier facilities
Accelerator research:
ILC, high-gradient,
plasma-wakefield, laser
Non-accelerator physics:
EXO-200, CDMS
Higgs, SUSY,
discovery physics
Energy &
intensity frontiers
Accelerator-based
particle physics:
ATLAS & BABAR
Astrophysics &
Cosmology:
Fermi GST, DES
Nature of the
neutrino
Direct dark
matter searches
Inflation,
cosmic rays
Dark matter &
dark energy
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Reminder: why did SLAC join ATLAS?
• The most compelling questions in particle physics can only
be addressed at the energy frontier
• The best way of sustaining a vibrant energy frontier
community for a future linear collider is to be engaged now
• ATLAS is the future for our accelerator-based program, and
therefore the glue tying together the HEP program at SLAC
• The energy frontier is the highest priority program for the
national user community & our traditional user base
– This meeting is another important step is translating this idea into
concrete terms and areas of engagement
SLUO LHC Workshop: Closing Remarks
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Ongoing challenges and opportunities
• Late entry (2006) into a major worldwide collaboration with
established players and institutional responsibilities
– Major impact still achieved by operating in a service mode to resolve
many real issues arising during commissioning over the last 3 years
• Core capabilities and unique expertise from constructing &
operating BABAR are now being applied to ATLAS
• Gaining an understanding with OHEP about size and role
for SLAC/ATLAS effort has been challenging
– Our goal is to significantly strengthen the US ATLAS effort by the
infusion of a large and experienced SLAC team
• Next decade will see operation & physics exploitation of ATLAS, as well
as a very ambitious and challenging upgrade effort
– Need to build on a common vision by US ATLAS community, US
ATLAS management, SLAC and OHEP of the SLAC role
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Present elements of SLAC/LHC plan
LHC:
LARP collimators, PS2 design, other opportunities
ATLAS:
Theme 1: Pixel System
Theme 2: DAQ and trigger
Theme 3: Simulations
Theme 4: Tier 2 Center & potential Western Data
Analysis Facility [future]
Theme 5: The Bay Area as an ATLAS physics center
[future]
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What is the overall long-term SLAC/ATLAS plan?
06
08
10
12
14
16
Development & critical service roles
Pixel
System
Stage 1: new inner layer
Upgrade R&D
Development & critical service roles
Trigger/DAQ
System
Stage 2: full
system upgrade
SLAC a major partner in
ATLAS, broadly supporting
US ATLAS community
Stage 1: new architecture
& incremental upgrades
Upgrade R&D
Stage 2: full
system upgrade
Physics engagement, computing and regional center growth
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Exploring ideas for an Analysis Facility
• Future direction for ATLAS Tier 2 & 3 implementation may
need to evolve after first data
– Tier 2s may struggle to meet combined needs of simulation and
data-intensive analysis, alignment, calibration & HLT validation
– Hosting Tier 3 centers at SLAC may be an attractive option, both in
terms of maintaining efficient operation and sharing CPU resources
• Option exists for a Western Data Analysis Facility at SLAC
– Migration from BABAR dominated to ATLAS dominated computing
hardware operation, within site power and cooling capabilities
– Need to understand economies of sharing support personnel, CPU
and disk hardware across Tier 2 and Tier 3 needs
– Need to integrate into US ATLAS and ATLAS planning for Tier 2 & 3
planning and initial experience with data
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The Bay Area as a west-coast ATLAS center
• CERN cannot host major portions of the LHC collaborations
long term
• The Bay Area could play a leading role in supporting LHC
physics
– Concentration of expertise on computing, analysis and detector
systems
– Proximity of physics analysis support centers, capability for hosting
workshops, tutorials and seminars
– Attractive training centers due to a combination of tutorials, available
expertise, & participation in upgrade activities
– Strength of Theory Groups & their strong interest in LHC physics
• This is just a vision at the moment!
– Would need to create a consensus in the US ATLAS community
about a new paradigm for exploiting physics at the LHC
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What are possible elements of a regional center?
Similar to DESY Analysis
Center, but with some
important advantages
Strong Theory Group
Upgrade R&D and
construction
Significant computing
resources & expertise
Physics tools expertise
Detector systems
& operations expertise
Remote monitoring
& operations
Meeting rooms
& user space
Regional Center
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Where should we go next?
• Opportunity to define together a new paradigm for SLAC’s
role as a national lab in support of the LHC as the highest
priority element of the national program
– Significantly enlarged SLAC/ATLAS program could provide an
additional strong anchor on the west coast at a time when
operations, physics and major upgrade needs are all converging
– SLAC’s role should be driven by the real needs of the US
community
– Will only happen if the US community and SLAC speak to OHEP
with one voice about a coherent vision for our role
• Need to turn ideas, e.g., enhanced computing role, regional center,
upgrade R&D and future upgrade roles, benefits of laboratory
infrastructure, into a common vision and a concrete implementation
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