Particle Physics explores the most fundamental laws of Nature:
what are the fundamental elements of matter?
what are the interactions between these
constituents?
what are space and time?
Could it be that all phenomena taking place in the Universe could be
derived from
such basic laws?
All these questions are of fundamental nature and
their answers are generally simple and unique.
However, the process of answering to these fundamental questions is
difficult,
at the edge of technological achievements, and has a cost, for we are
probing
the frontier of our knowledge.
Experiments at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and
other international laboratories have established the validity of a
theoretical framework for the interactions between fundamental
particles.
Still fundamental questions remain unanswered. Some, but certainly
not all, of these questions will be answered at the Large Hadron
Collider (LHC). Other
questions will require complementary experiments like for example in
the field of neutrino physics and astroparticle physics.
In addition, detector R&D will be necessary for potential future
applications. In parallel, possible spin-offs will play an important
role. The success of particle physics research in Switzerland is
largely
a result from the highly-qualified and innovative scientific and
technical teams.
Another fundamental aspect of particle physics in Switzerland is
represented
by the high-level theoretical studies, such as phenomenology,
fundamental
theory, cosmology and astrophysics.
A strong connection between theory and experiment is
vital to the field.
Particle physics will have to continue
attracting the best students by developing and
promoting its attractiveness.
CHIPP aims at identifying, developing,
recommending and coordinating
these different aspects.
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