Graduiertenkolleg "Masse Spektrum Symmetrie"
Research Training Group
Mass, Spectrum, Symmetry (GK 1504):
Particle Physics in the Era of the Large Hadron Collider
The standard model of elementary particle physics summarizes our theoretical understanding of the nature of elementary particles and has been formidably confirmed by experiment in the last decades. Nevertheless it is clear, that the standard model only provides us with an effective quantum theory for the presently accessible energy range which in particular does not include the gravitational force. The start of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN marks the onset of a new era from which we expect new fundamental discoveries likely to take us beyond the standard model. The LHC will explore the mass generation mechanism of the standard model, but will also search for supersymmetric particles, for dark matter candidates in the universe, and even for the existence of extra dimensions of space, which have so far been the subject of speculative, theoretical research in the past.
The challenges emerging from the LHC require a strong integration and communication of the different experimental and theoretical working areas of elementary particle physics. Precisely this is the key goal of the research training group (Graduiertenkolleg). It aims at unifying the broad experimental and theoretical expertise in Berlin, Dresden and Zeuthen and to place the common character of elementary particle physics back into the center of the training of doctoral students. The common link of the involved experimental groups are in particular their participation in the ATLAS experiment at LHC and the search for new physics there. The link of the theoretical groups involved is quantum field theory, which is treated perturbatively, nonperturbatively, numerically and in its generalizations in the context of string theory.
Next to the broad spectrum of the involved research groups, which is unique for the eastern part of Germany, the research training group is characterized by a large number of participating junior researchers.
The curriculum aims at excellent doctoral students, who will be trained in lectures and seminars at the Humboldt University and the Technical University of Dresden as well as in weekly intensive courses on topics in elemtary particles taking place twice a year. Further features of the research training group are a secondary advisor concept, a midterm report as well as a fast track to PhD opportunity for excellent Master's students.
