measure the structure of the proton study fundamental interactions between particles search for physics beyond the Standard Model of the elementary particles.

Method:

The experimental method employed is to collide highly energetic protons [920 GeV] with electrons (positrons) [27.6 GeV] which are provided by the HERA accelerator. The particles created in the collision are detected with the H1 Detector

Areas of Research

The characteristics of the particles detected after such a collision provides access to the following areas of current research:

Structure Functions of the Proton, of the Pion, and of the Diffractive Exchange

Parton Distributions of Real and Virtual Photons
Tests of QCD in Jet, Particle, Photon, and Heavy-Quark Production
Tests of Electro-Weak Theory
Study of Non-Perturbative Phenomena of Strong Interactions

Diffractive Scattering and the Mechanism of Colour Neutralization
Searches for New Particles and New Interactions

HERA II data taking

Since 2003 HERA is in the second phase of its operation which continues until summer 2007. For the first time the lepton beam is polarised.