RTG 1504/2: Mass, Spectrum, Symmetry

The standard model of elementary particle physics summarises our theoretical understanding of the nature of elementary particles and has been formidably confirmed by experiment in the last decades. It is nevertheless 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 in May 2008 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 been so far the subject of speculative, theoretical research.
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. 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 centre of the training of doctoral students. The common link of the involved experimental groups is 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 generalisations in the context of string theory.
In addition to the broad spectrum of the involved research groups, which is unique for the eastern part of Germany, the Research Training Group applied for is characterised by a large number of particpating junior researchers. The curriculum aims at excellent doctoral students, who are trained in lectures and seminars at Humboldt-Universität and Technical University of Dresden as well as in weekly intensive courses on topics in elementary 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.