Run II physics at the Fermilab Tevatron and advanced analysis methods

The Fermilab Tevatron has the unique opportunity to explore physics at the electroweak scale with the highest ever proton-antiproton collision energy of roots = 1.96 TeV and unprecedented luminosity. About 20 times more data are expected to be collected during the first phase of the collider Run II, which is in its second year of data-taking. The second phase of Run II, expected to begin in 2005, will increase the integrated luminosity to about 10-15 fb(-1). Discovering a low-mass Higgs boson and evidence for Supersymmetry or other new physics beyond the Standard Model are the main physics goals for Run II. It is widely recognized that the use of advanced analysis methods will be crucial to achieve these goals. I discuss the current status of Run II at the Tevatron, prospects and foreseen applications of advanced analysis methods. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.