Higgs Centre School of Theoretical Physics 2018

The 4th edition of the Higgs Centre School of Theoretical Physics will take place on May 28- June 1, 2018 at the Higgs Centre, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Edinburgh. The scientific programme starts at 9:00 on Monday, May 28th, and ends at 16:00 on Friday, June 1st. The School comprises two in-depth lecture series, each involving five 2-hours lectures delivered on the blackboard, and a similar number of tutorials.

For detailed timetable see Indico page.

This year's School we are delighted to have:

Alex Pomarol ( Barcelona ):"State of the art of Physics Beyond the Standard Model”

Lectures: Monday through Friday, 9:00-11:00, Lecture Theatre A.
Tutorials: Monday through Friday, 11:30-13:00 in JCMB 3217 Teaching Studio.

Abstract: I will start with a brief introduction on how effective field theories (EFT) are constructed, taking as simple examples the first attempts towards the SM. I will then introduce the SM as an EFT, showing its strengths and weaknesses. In particular, I will discuss its accidental symmetries, consistency, no-lose theorems for discovery, unexplained experimental evidences, and naturalness issues that will provide motivations for physics beyond the SM. Main part of the course will be devoted to describe new physics attempts to solve the strong CP problem and hierarchy problem, and their experimental implications. I will conclude with new directions that particle physics could take in the future if the absence of experimental hints for BSM persists.

Related material:
​“Beyond the Standard Model,” Alex Pomarol, CERN Yellow Report CERN-2012-001 (arXiv:1202.1391).
“Future Direction Beyond the Standard Theory,” Alex Pomarol, Adv. Ser. Direct. High Energy Phys. Volume 26 (2016) 455.

For video recordings see this Playlist

Rafael Porto (São Paulo, Brazil): " Effective field theory approach to gravitational dynamics "

Lectures: Monday through Friday 14:00-16:00 in Lecture Theatre A.
Tutorials: Monday through Thursday, 16:30-18:00 in JCMB 3217 Teaching Studio.

Abstract: This course will provide an introduction to the new field of gravitational wave (GW) science oriented towards theory students. The first lecture will be a generic overview of the present and future of the field. During the remaining lectures we will illustrate the basic ideas and concepts with hands-on calculations. We will emphasize the analytic side, as well as the cutting-edge new tools recently developed—based on field theoretical ideas that originated in particle physics—to construct the most accurate template bank for GW searches from binary sources. We conclude with an outlook for future GW observatories, the type of foundational questions that we may be able to address through GW precision data, and the challenges ahead.

Related material:linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0370157316300370

For video recordings see this Playlist

The School's main target audience is PhD students working in Theoretical Particle Physics, in their second year on. Postdoctoral researches are also encouraged to participate. The School is free of charge for all participants and is funded by the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics (Edinburgh) and the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology (Durham). All partcipants are expected to make their own travel arrangements. The free PhD accommodation is now full.

There is a conference dinner at theDine Restarant on the evening of Thursday 31st May, 7pm.

The Dine Restaurant is located near Usher Hall, in **** Saltire Court 10 (1F) Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED

Directions by Bus to Usher Hall / Dine Restarant

Edinburgh is well served by trains and planes. Details on getting from the City Centre to JCMB here. A map of the Kings Buildings campus here.

For any question concerning the School please contact the Higgs Centre secretary Lyndsey Ballantyne at l.ballantyne [at] ed.ac.uk

Funding is provided by:

The Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics (University of Edinburgh)

The Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology (Durham University)