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Ayana T. Arce

Associate Professor of Physics
Physics
Box 90305, Durham, NC 27708-0305
269 Physics, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Hadron colliders are attempting to produce evidence of phenomena beyond the "Standard Model" of particle physics, which is our current, best description of how fundamental particles interact. This description works very well for collider experiments, but is known to be incomplete: it doesn't explain neutrino masses and mixings, it cannot account for dark matter, and it doesn't treat gravity or the accelerating expansion of the universe. The observation of particle interactions that the Standard Model cannot explain would help us build up a better theory that accounts for these striking phenomena. In my research I concentrate on better understanding what takes place in hadron collider events with complicated final state topologies, like the production and decay of top quarks and heavy gauge bosons. In these events, I am looking for any hint of non-Standard Model interactions. My current studies use the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), and consequently, many of my recent research activities also support the broader experimental program of ATLAS.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor of Physics · 2016 - Present Physics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

In the News


Published July 12, 2021
Duke Physicist’s Work Inspires Washington D.C. Mural
Published March 30, 2017
Hidden No More: Women in STEM Reflect on Their Journeys
Published February 23, 2017
The Importance of 'Hidden Figures'

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Recent Publications


The ATLAS trigger system for LHC Run 3 and trigger performance in 2022

Journal Article Journal of Instrumentation · June 1, 2024 The ATLAS trigger system is a crucial component of the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. It is responsible for selecting events in line with the ATLAS physics programme. This paper presents an overview of the changes to the trigger and data acquisition system d ... Full text Cite

Search for Heavy Resonances Decaying into a Photon and a Hadronically Decaying Higgs Boson in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV with the ATLAS Detector.

Journal Article Physical review letters · December 2020 This Letter presents a search for the production of new heavy resonances decaying into a Higgs boson and a photon using proton-proton collision data at sqrt[s]=13  TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The data correspond to an integrated luminos ... Full text Cite

ATLAS Collaboration

Journal Article Nuclear Physics A · February 1, 2019 Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


REU Site: Undergraduate Research in Nuclear Particle Physics at TUNL and Duke

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2022 - 2027

Research in High Energy Physics at Duke University

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Department of Energy · 2013 - 2025

ITK Module and Stave Assembly and Testing

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Brookhaven National Laboratory · 2024 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


Harvard University · 2006 Ph.D.
Princeton University · 1998 B.S.