PhD project: Electromagnetic corrections to hadron processes in finite volume
Project description
The Standard Model is our best current theory of fundamental particle physics. Despite its success we know there must be new, hitherto unknown physics to explain observations from astronomical data, such as dark matter and the matter asymmetry of the Universe. A promising avenue to discover the new physics is to test the Standard Model to its absolute limits through high-precision calculations scrutinised against experimental measurements. In this project you will work on theoretical developments needed for precision tests at low energies, where both the strong force (QCD) and electromagnetic corrections (QED) must be taken into account.
At low energies QCD is non-perturbative and must be handled with tools such as numerical lattice QCD and analytical effective field theory. Lattice QCD simulations are performed in non-physical Euclidean spacetimes of finite volume, and a particular challenge is to extract physical information from the simulations. The mapping between simulation and prediction requires good analytical knowledge of in particular the volume dependence, and is governed by singularities that can be studied with generic effective-theory methods. In this project you will work on scattering and decay processes of hadrons in QCD+QED, relevant for precision tests involving charge-parity violation and the fundamental Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements. The main focus here will be the inclusion of QED in finite volume, which is challenging because electromagnetism is a long-range force as opposed to QCD.
The project will include both analytical and numerical studies.
References:
https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.07936
https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.12865
https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.05002
https://arxiv.org/abs/1903.10591
https://arxiv.org/abs/1811.00368
https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-lat/0507006
Project supervisor
- Dr Nils Hermansson Truedsson (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
The project supervisor welcomes informal enquiries about this project.
Find out more about this research area
The links below summarise our research in the area(s) relevant to this project:
- Find out more about Lattice Gauge Theory.
- Find out more about Particle Physics Theory.
- Find out more about the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics.
What next?
- Find out how to apply for our PhD degrees.
- Find out about fees and funding and studentship opportunities.
- View and complete the application form (on the main University website).
- Find out how to contact us for more information.