Elena Villhauer (UChicago): Schmidt AI in Science Speaker Series

Organized by the University of Chicago’s Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship Program.

Agenda
4:00pm – 4:45pm:  Presentation
4:45pm – 5:00pm:  Q&A
5:00pm – 5:30pm: Reception

Meeting location
William Eckhardt Research Center. Room 401
5640 S Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637
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Title: Probing Parallel Universes with Artificial Intelligence: Novel AI-Driven Detector Technology and Novel AI-Driven Searches for String Theory

Abstract: The Standard Model (SM) of particle physics describes the known fundamental particles and three of the four fundamental forces, but it does not explain gravity. String theory is an alternative model of the universe that does incorporate gravity. According to string theory, the fundamental building blocks of nature are not the point-like particles that the Standard Model predicts, but instead vibrating strings. String theory includes fascinating ideas such as extra dimensions (beyond the 3 spatial and 1 time dimension that we know about) and the existence of parallel universes. The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, along with proposed future colliders, can be used to search for evidence of string theory. In this talk, I show how modern machine-learning techniques—including deep sets, graph neural networks, and transformers—enable novel experimental searches for string theory. I also present recurrent neural networks that identify that angle at which a particle passes through a detector, which enhances detector capabilities and improves sensitivity to detecting string theory.

Bio: Elena Villhauer is a Schmidt AI in Science Fellow at the University of Chicago. Elena obtained her Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Edinburgh while being based at CERN, working on ATLAS experiment at the LHC in Geneva, Switzerland. She was previously based at CERN as a member of the Duke University and Columbia University ATLAS groups. In addition to a Ph.D. in Physics, she holds a B.S. degree in Chemistry, a B.S. degree in Physics, and an M.S. degree in Physics.

Research: Elena Villhauer is an experimental particle physicist focused on searching for evidence of extra dimensions and string theory and designing tools to enable such endeavors. During her Ph.D., she proposed, designed, and executed novel machine learning (ML) based searches for signatures of string theory via three models that have never been searched for by any experiment: noncommutative black holes, non-minimal dark sectors, and scalar cascades. This included the first-time exploration of a novel final state. She enjoys collaborating with theorists to uncover new territory at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). As a Schmidt AI in Science Fellow at the University of Chicago, Villhauer is designing a new search program for string theory at the LHC using ML. Additionally, she is using ML to enhance detector performance and, thereby, improve search capabilities.