Here you will find current press releases, a review of past campaigns and much more.
Please feel free to contact us if you wish to get in touch with the scientists at PRISMA++ or are interested in our student programs.
Contact
The Cluster of Excellence PRISMA+:
In search of new physics
We already know quite a bit about the smallest building blocks of matter and the forces that act in the cosmos. But it is also clear that we do not know everything by a long shot. Many questions remain open, including the one about dark matter: What is it made of and what is the mysterious dark energy? Why is there more matter than antimatter in the universe? And what role do the ghost particles – the neutrinos – play in the early universe?
The Cluster of Excellence PRISMA+ has been investigating the inner structure of matter and the fundamental forces in the universe for ten years now. Find out more about the scientists’ research and methods.
MESA | The new particle accelerator at the JGU
With a grant from the cluster of excellence PRISMA, the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is building a new particle accelerator – MESA. Its energy recovery concept is a global innovation and puts MESA in a pioneering role.
The image film uses simulations and recordings of the components to explain the accelerator, its operating principles and the physics it will explore.
MESA | A new particle accelerator for the JGU
The Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is building a new electron accelerator with funding from the cluster of excellence Precision Physics, Fundamental Interactions and Structure of Matter (PRISMA).
The animation illustrates the design and operating principle of MESA, the “Mainz Energy recovering Superconducting Accelerator”. With an innovative concept, part of the energy required to accelerate the electron beam is recovered. This principle is similar to that of a car with a hybrid drive, in which the braking energy is fed back into the battery.
MESA will offer unique conditions for experiments that can address the most pressing questions in Particle Physics, such as precision measurements of important natural constants or the search for the so-called dark photon, the discovery of which would provide important insights into the mystery of dark matter.
Videos of “Physik im Theater” can be found on the pages of the MITP.
Elementary particle experiment Muon g-2: The standard model on the test bench
Deutschlandfunk reports on the latest result of the g-2 experiment.
Huge magnet for particle accelerator
The regional magazine of SAT.1 reports on the installation of the 21-ton magnet for the P2 experiment of the MESA particle accelerator.
M. Fertl and M. Wurm, Neutrino research: New knowledge through global experiments
Prof. Dr. Michael Wurm and Prof. Dr. Martin Fertl were the guests of the 36th episode of the podcast “Exzellent erklärt”, which presents the 57 currently funded clusters of excellence. As leading experts in the field, they gave an overview of neutrino physics and the work being done at the JGU in the research groups of the PRISMA+ cluster of excellence.
New elementary particles of physics?
M. Kramer, A. Pawlak et. int., M. Delbrück:
Physik Journal 4
S. Bacca, Dark matter, quantum computing, COVID vaccine:
From precision to innovation
The parliamentary evening was a joint event of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) with its PRISMA+ cluster of excellence, German U15 and the Vertretung of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate to the federal government and the European Union.
How can cutting-edge research become innovation? What are the necessary framework conditions for this? Based on the success model of the Mainz research location, we discussed these and other questions in detail on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the reopening of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz at a parliamentary evening in the state Vertretung of Rhineland-Palatinate in Berlin.
Afterwards, the coordinators of the PRISMA+ cluster of excellence, Prof. Matthias Neubert and Prof. Hartmut Wittig, opened the accompanying exhibition PRÄZISION. This will also be on display in Mainz from February 7 to March 31, 2022.
M. Neubert, H. Wittig and R. Dillinger-Reiter, New Insights into Dark Matter
German Research–Magazine of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
NEW EVERY MONTH – EXZELLENT ERKLÄRT / TOP RESEARCH FOR EVERYONE
57 clusters of excellence – a podcast: “Exzellent erklärt” regularly reports from one of the research alliances that are funded as part of Germany’s Excellence Strategy program.
The scientists at the cluster of excellence PRISMA++ see their task not only in informing about ongoing projects, but also in making a substantial contribution to general physical education, especially of students.
Among other things, one-day master’s degree classes are regularly offered on various topics that are dedicated to the big questions of Particle Physics: How was the Higgs boson found and what is a proton made of? What is a cloud chamber and how is it built? What is the IceCube Experiment at the South Pole all about?
During the annual Particle Physics Academy, on the other hand, participants can try themselves out as particle physicists on the campus of the JGU for ten days and conduct research with self-built detectors at the “Mainz Microtron” (MAMI).
Finally, the Physics on Saturday lecture series is aimed at anyone interested in physics of all ages every spring.
These and other exciting offers as well as further information can be found on the overview page for all student programs in physics at the JGU (in German).
Contact
“The Masked Particle” is a unique learning game that takes you into the world of Particle Physics. Learn through interactive puzzle mechanics by using different detector components to unmask “masked” particles.
The game is aimed at students, science enthusiasts and anyone who wants to learn more about the world of Particle Physics. Perfect for education and entertainment!
- Interactive puzzle mechanics for particle identification
- Discover different types of particles such as muons and electrons
- Use realistic detector components to analyze particles
- Fun learning for all ages
Our PRÄZISION exhibition will soon be on display again and can be viewed virtually at any time in the digital school of seeing.
Our interactive traveling exhibition PRÄZISION provides insights into the exciting and fascinating research of the PRISMA++ cluster of excellence.
Participating and trying things out is the motto here.
On this web page you will get first insights into the new exhibition, learn what awaits you in the seven theme stations and what is special about our research. Also those who want to know even more are right here: We have also compiled further links and in-depth content that no longer fit in the exhibition for you.
Test your knowledge in our quiz! The questions can be found at the end of the theme stations.
The PRISMA++ Outreach Team wishes you lots of fun
Welcome to the highlights of PRISMA+ – here you will find an overview of the most important developments, successes and findings of our Cluster of Excellence in Physics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
Every year, we publish a Highlights brochure containing key scientific findings, important collaborations and innovative projects from the PRISMA+ environment. In addition, our “What are you currently researching?” section introduces young scientists and their research projects. You can share in our passion for research in the fields of particle and hadron physics, precision physics, and the search for new physics beyond the Standard Model.
Here you can find the current issue as well as an archive of all previously published highlights. Whether you are a researcher, student, science communicator or simply interested in physics – discover what makes PRISMA+ tick.
