Research Rotation Project

Lee-Wick particles and renormalization

Richard Lebed
Home Department - Physics
Areas of Study - Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics
Office - PSF 433
Phone - 4809656271
E-mail - richard.lebed@asu.edu
Designation - Theoretical

The Large Hadron Collider at CERN will address a number of fundamental issues in particle physics, among which is why the parameters of the Standard Model (SM) are so stable under renormalization (the calculational procedure in quantum field theory that takes self interactions into account). If there were no new particles beyond the SM, then unnaturally precise relative "fine tuning" of parameters would be necessary to maintain physically correct values for observable quantities. One beyond-SM theory designed to eliminate this problem, the "Lee-Wick Standard Model", includes for every known SM particle a heavier partner that has unusual properties. [Warning: For the student to make progress, some minimal prior knowledge of particle physics is essential! Contact me if you are thinking of signing up for this project but not sure you are prepared.] The student will learn the basics of renormalization techniques and learn to calculate relevant Feynman diagrams.