Research
Current topics:
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Supersymmetry Transformations of Quantum Fields
(C. Rupp, R. Scharf, K. Sibold) - Numerical Studies on the Electroweak Phase Transition
(A. Schiller, H. Perlt, M. Gürtler, Ch. Strecha, Th. Hoffmann) - Perturbative Calculations in Lattice QCD
(A. Schiller, H. Perlt) - High Energy Asymptotics in QCD
(R. Kirschner) - Superconformal Symmetry
(J. Erdmenger, C. Rupp, K. Sibold)
Research general remarks:
The Particle Physics Group performs basic research in the quantum field theoretic description of elementary particles and in phenomenology. Topics of current interest are conformal symmetry and its breaking in the context of supersymmetric theories, renormalization problems, electroweak matter at finite temperature and the derivation of Regge behaviour of scattering amplitudes from Quantum Chromodynamics.
Perturbative and non-perturbative methods are applied to answer the questions.
In perturbation theory the work is essentially analytical usingcomputers only as a helpful tool.Lattice Monte Carlo calculations as one important non-perturbativeapproach however are based on computers as an indispensableinstrument. Correspondingly the respective working groups are organized:in analytical work usually very few people collaborate, inthe lattice community rather big collaborations are the rule.Our group is involved inmany cooperations on the national and international level (DESY, Munich;France, Russia, Armenia, USA, Japan).
Since elementary particles are very tiny (of the order of 10 -15 m)and for the study of their interactions large accelerators producing enormouslyhigh energy are needed it is clear that results in this direction of researchdo not have applications in daily life immediately. To clarify the structureof matter is first of all an aim in its own and is not pursued for otherreasons.
But particle theory has nevertheless a very noticeableimpact on many other branchesby its power of providing new methodological insight.Similarly for the student specializing in this field the main benefit isher/his training in analysing complex situationsand in applying tools which are appropriate for the respectiveproblem. As a rule there will be no standard procedures which haveto be learned and then followed, but the student has todevelop her/his own skill according to the need that arises. Thismay be a mathematical topic or a tool in computer application.Jobs which plainly continue these studies areto be found at universities and research institutes only. But the basic knowledgewhich one acquires in pursuing such a subject opens the way to manyfields where analytical thinking is to be combined with applicationof advanced mathematics. Nowadays this seems to be the case in banks,insurance companies and consulting business.
Professor Klaus Sibold