Particle Physics Theory Group

The research group in Particle Physics Theory (PPT) at the University of Edinburgh is one of the largest in the UK. We currently have 18 PhD students working with us from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Italy and the United States. We are now looking for more good students to join us and begin studying for PhD doctoral degrees in September 2012. In many cases, full funding is available.

Our main areas of research are

• collider phenomenology,
• lattice gauge theory,
• particle cosmology.

There are opportunities to work in all of these areas. Some possible PhD projects are described below, but there is a lot of flexibility for changing to make sure you are working with the right supervisor on a topic that interests you.

The final deadline for applications is the 31^st of January 2012, but please register your interest as soon as possible. Details of the application procedure are given below.

What we are looking for

• You should have a keen interest in mathematical and theoretical physics, and in using this to understand particle physics
• You should have, or expect to get, a high 2:1 Honours degree in Physics or a related subject (or the equivalent, for applicants from outside the UK).

What we can offer you

• Comprehensive training in graduate level theoretical physics via lectures and tutorials as part of the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) Graduate School (e.g. the current timetable)
• Flexibility to choose your project and supervisor based on what you learn in your first year
• Further training at Summer Schools and workshops. This year, for instance, we sent students to BUSSTEPP (Cambridge), TASI (Boulder, USA), Erice (Sicily), Benasque (Spain), Saalburg (Germany) and Zuoz (Switzerland).
• Opportunities to present your results at international conferences.
• Additional training by visits to related international research institutes.

• All tuition fees,
• A stipend (usually tax free) of £12,600 per annum,
• Expenses for all research trips.

We take your future career seriously, whether in research or not:

• You have access to the University's dedicated graduate Transferable Skills (Transkills) and Careers Services.
• Edinburgh PPT has a wide network of collaborative partners both internationally and in the UK which guarantees a good starting point for an academic career.

Whilst you are here, you will also be able to enjoy the famously full range of cultural, sporting and recreational activities that the University, the City of Edinburgh and Scotland all have to offer.

PhD Projects in Collider Phenomenology and Astro-Particle physics

With the start of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in Geneva we enter a new era in particle physics. Our group is involved in the physics program of the LHC through various phenomenological predictions and studies of Standard Model and beyond Standard Model processes. We also explore the link between particle physics and cosmology.

Physics at the LHC: Theory and Experiment

Supervisors: R. D. Ball, E. Gardi, L. Del Debbio (PPT) A. Buckley, P. Clark, V. Martin (PPE)

The Large Hadron Collider at CERN, which started its opperation last year, presents an unprecendented opportunity to explore physics at high energy scales. A full understanding of physics at these scales may only be achieved by studying both the underlying theory, and its phenomonology, and by examining the experimental data. To facilitate this, we are looking for students who wish to work across the traditional boundary between particle physics theory and experiment. Students will be co-supervised by a theorist and an experimentalist. Students will work on LHC pheonomology, work on the ATLAS experiment and study early LHC data in order to test and refine their theortical work. Students could choose to work in QCD studies (jets) - which is the first step to understanding LHC data, in Higgs physics - studying either the signal or background processes, or in physics beyond the Standard Model.

The phenomenology of the Higgs boson at the LHC

Supervisors: R. D. Ball, E. Gardi

The discovery of the Higgs boson is one of the major goals of the LHC. As the Higgs mechanism was invented in Edinburgh our group has a dedicated line of research in this direction. PhD projects range from the design of extensions of the Higgs sector to the identification of optimal search strategies for individual discovery channels at colliders which in most cases rely on precise prediction of (beyond) Standard Model processes, including quantum (loop) corrections.

Precise predictions for LHC phenomenology

Supervisors: R. D. Ball, A. Berera, L. Del Debbio, E. Gardi

As the LHC is a proton collider, phenomenological predictions rely on a detailed knowledge of the underlying theory, i.e. Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). We have PhD projects in a wide range of phenomenologically relevant areas. Specific projects include the computation of higher order QCD predictions for various processes, developing and applying methods for resummation of QCD perturbation theory (soft gluon resummation), refining our understanding of parton distribution functions, the physics of low-energy gluons inside the proton (small x or BFKL physics), and the exploration of diffractive effects.

The all-order structure of scattering amplitudes

Supervisor: E. Gardi

Direct calculation of scattering amplitudes in gauge theories is practically limited to the first few orders in the loop expansion and to a small number of scattered partons (legs). There are, however, methods to explore the structure of amplitudes beyond what is known from explicit calculations, and there are certain limits where all-order results are available. Developing this understanding further is important from a purely theoretical perspective, as well as for the prospects of precision collider physics. Our present focus is on the understanding of the all-order structure of long-distance (soft) singularities in multi-leg on-shell scattering amplitudes, an area where significant progress was made over the past couple of years.

The interplay of collider with astro-particle physics

Supervisors: A. Berera

As there is a natural link between particle physics and astrophysics there are also PhD projects in that directions available. Two possible working areas are Dark Matter searches at colliders and modern inflation scenarios.

Quantum field theory methods applied to turbulence

Supervisor: A. Berera

We are interested in applications of statistical quantum field theory methods to the turbulence problem. Our theoretical analytic work in this area uses methods of renormalization, renormalization group and closures. We also study turbulence doing high-resolution direct numerical simulations (DNS) of the Navier-Stokes equation. Applications of our turbulence work range from the theoretical to the practical. Some theoretical applications include two-dimensional systems and the conseqences of turbulence in the Universe to the evolution of cosmic magnetic fields. Some practical areas include drag reduction and fluid flow.

Quantum field theoretical methods for precision observables

Supervisors: A. D. Kennedy

To match high precision measurements to theoretical predictions, it is necessary to evaluate the latter including quantum effects in form of multi-loop corrections. As the analytical evaluation becomes prohibitively difficult with the number of loops and legs increasing, we plan to explore new numerical algorithms for multi-loop computations using modern computer algebra and algorithms.

Particle Cosmology

Supervisors: A. Berera

Our work concentrates on the early phases of the Big Bang, primarily with interest in inflationary cosmology and cosmic magnetic fields. One of our specific areas of focus is in developing the warm inflation dynamics. This is an alternative solution to the cosmological puzzles, in which aspects of thermal and non-equilibrium field theory are employed as well as Supersymmetry model building. In regards cosmic magnetic fields, we are interested primarily in the evolution of seed magnetic fields. Thus we focus on understanding turbulence, both in fluid and magnetic fluids. Aside from the application to magnetic fields, our interest here extent also to more theoretical questions about turbulence.

PhD Projects in Lattice Gauge Theory

Edinburgh PPT is a world-leading centre of research in lattice field theory. As a major part of the UKQCD Collaboration, we exploit some of the world's fastest supercomputers to understand the behaviour of matter on the smallest scales (the quarks and gluons) and make predictions that are essential for interpreting the results from collider experiments such as the LHC.

Hadron phenomenology

Supervisors: P. Boyle, L. Del Debbio, R. Horsley, R. D. Kenway, B. Pendleton, J. Zanotti

Lattice QCD provides the best technique for treating with the strong force in hadronic systems via supercomputer simulation. We have particular interest in hadronic matrix elements relevant to CP violating physics both within and beyond the Standard Model, with programmes of research in both the Kaon system and the B system. These are a necessary ingredient for improving some of the constraints on the fundamental constants of the CKM matrix, and for searches for some of the possible supersymmetric extensions of the standard model.

Nonperturbative physics beyond the Standard Model

Supervisors: L. Del Debbio, B. Pendleton

The Standard Model might be an effective thory which is embedded in strongly interacting theories. In PhD projects such theories are simulated on the lattice to explore the phenomenological consequences for TeV colliders like the LHC.

Machines for Lattice QCD

Supervisors: Peter A Boyle, A. D. Kennedy

Supercomputers are an essential tool for Lattice QCD, and UKQCD has a programme to procure a BlueGene/P system in the medium term and jointly develop a prototype next generation BlueGene system (Boyle) with IBM Research and Columbia University. Development of high performance code and simulation of the new architecture is a critical component to ensure efficiency, and this project will both develop efficient code for both BlueGene/P and BlueGene/Q and apply it for physics simulations in both or either of our Hadron Phenomenology and BSM Lattice projects.

Algorithms for Lattice QCD

Supervisors: A. D. Kennedy, B. J. Pendleton

Numerical studies of quantum fields theories on a lattice are essentially the only reliable way we have of studying such theories beyond perturbative approximations. These computations involve the use of some world's most powerful supercomputers, and of course the development of the algorithms used for such computations is of crucial importance. The methods developed in Edinburgh are used world-wide, not only in lattice field theory but also in chemistry, biology and informatics.

Funding and how to apply

The deadline for applications will be 31^st of January 2012, but please apply as soon as possible to give us time to receive and consider letters of reference.

For information on funding and applying, see information page of the School of Physics and Astronomy.

In particular, we draw your attention to:

• UK students are eligible for full STFC-granted funding (EU students at a fees-only level) from the PPT group.
• If you are shortlisted for these places, you will be invited to interview on February 14th, 2012. We will pay your expenses for this.
• All prospective students (UK, EU and elsewhere) are strongly encouraged to separately apply for a SUPA prize studentship, deadline: 20^th of January 2012.
• If you have further questions regarding the application procedure, please contact Jane Patterson (Jane.Patterson@ed.ac.uk; tel: +44 (0)131 650 5273).

Questions or comments

• For questions concerning the projects on this page or research in the particle physics theory group in general please contact: Dr. Einan Gardi (Einan.Gardi@ed.ac.uk) or any other member of the theory group.

The particles of the Standard Model

Developing theoretical concepts

Proton collision

Feynman diagrams

Peter Higgs and his theory

Evidence for a light Higgs boson

Simulated hadronic Higgs decay

CMB anisotropy of the universe

The QCDOC supercomputer

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle

Scotland