Particle Physics after the Discovery of the Higgs Boson

• Grant number: 14/17772-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: January 01, 2015
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Elementary Particle Physics and Fields
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Alberto Burdman
• Grantee: Gustavo Alberto Burdman
• Host Investigator: Nima Arkani-Hamed
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), United States
• Associated research grant: 12/10995-7 - Particle physics phenomenology, AP.TEM

Abstract

The discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the ensuing confirmation of the Standard Model of particle physics, posses a fundamental problem in theoretical physics. Up to now, our understanding was that in order to have a Higgs boson as light as the one found at the LHC, new states must exist with masses not much above the Higgs mass. Whether the LHC discovers new physics in Run II, but especially if it does not observe anything new, the basic foundations of our understanding of particle physics must be questioned.New theoretical developments are necessary to understand the lack of a natural solution to the so-called hierarchy problem. Then, this is an excellent time to reflect on the present and future of the field, as well as to look for new ideas. The goal of this proposal of a sabbatical at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, is to take advantage of the contact with a large number of theoretical physicists with experience in both formal and phenomenological aspects of quantum field theoriesin general, and of extensions of the standard model in particular. This time will be used to continue with current lines of work but trying to deepen theoretical aspects, as well as to incorporate new lines of research.