The search for sparticles

Science - Pete Wilton | 02 Mar 11. One of the key theories underpinning modern physics is being tested by the latest results from the LHC 's ATLAS experiment. Supersymmetry theory says that every particle must have a Supersymmetric partner particle yet so far ATLAS hasn't found a single one of these 'sparticles'. I asked Alan Barr, one of the Oxford University physicists behind ATLAS, about these new results and whether the theorists should be worried. OxSciBlog: What is 'Supersymmetry' and why is it important? - Alan Barr: The subatomic world is described by a theory known as the 'Standard Model', which seeks to explain the basic building blocks of the universe, and the forces by which they interact. The Standard Model has been very well tested over the last several decades, but it's known to have several nasty problems: for example it does not explain the origin of the gravitational force, nor does can it account for the invisible 'dark matter' that seems to make up the bulk of the universe. The theory of 'Supersymmetry' extends the Standard Model, and solves many of its problems.