A new era in fundamental physics

A new era in fundamental physicsHiggs: from theory to experimentsAndr Frana Baku 2013fundamental physics

Nature has different degrees of freedom at each scale. separation of scales:

fundamental physics

With enough energy, we can probe shorter length scales and discover more fundamental degrees of freedom.

LHC, Geneva

standard model of particle physics

higgs discoveryWhat is the Higgs boson?Why did we expect the Higgs?What comes next?quantum field theory 101-> Particles are (quantum) excitations of a field theory.u(x,t)(classical) equations of motion:

This is an example of a free wave no potential energy and no interactions.When a field excitation propagates, it creates disturbances in other fields.Example: A propagating electron creates a disturbance in the electromagnetic field photon.

Effects of interactions are given by a very complicated nonlinear wave equation.We use perturbation theory to compute probabilities.

quantum field theory 102If interactions are too strong: probabilities no longer add up to 1.unitarity crisisThis is what happens in the standard model without the Higgs.(Also, the theory is non-renormalizable. But you dont want to hear about that.)

H(x,t) = v + h(x,t)Vacuum expectation valueHiggs bosonParticles interacting with the Higgs field become massive because of its vacuum expectation value.higgs fieldWhat is beyond the standard model?Will the LHC give us dark matter?What is dark energy?Where do neutrino masses come from?What is the quantum theory of gravity?Is there supersymmetry around the corner?open questionsWhat is the correct model of inflation?Where are the axions?Why is the Higgs mass so small?conclusionIts a very exciting era for particle physics!Andr Frana, LMU Munich.