Research Group Prof. Harlander
Research Topics
After the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a new era has has started for particle physics. On the one hand the last building block of the so called Standard Model seems to be found. On the other hand the precise measurement of the Higgs boson's properties gives completely new opportunities to obtain even deeper insights into the basic laws of nature.
For the measurement of the Higgs boson's properties one does not only need precise experimental data, one also has to investigate with the same level of precision if this data is compatible with the Standard Model. Hence, one needs complex calculations, which are performed in our working group using modern techniques which have been in part developed by ourselves. For these calculations, we assume either the validity of the Standard Model or we calculate predictions for extended theories, for example supersymmetric models. Our results are often diectly used in experimental analyses.
To stay in touch with the experiments, we are involved, for example, in the LHC Higgs Cross Section Working Group, which continuously reconciles the necessary theoretical input with the experimental prospects.
In addition to Higgs physics at the LHC, we more generally investigate models which extend the Standrad model, for example to make contact with the theory of gravitation. In particular, we are interested in the relations between different parameters of the theory, which we want to describe as accurately as possible.
An additional branch of our working group investigates the LHC reserach from a philosophical perspective. Here, we closely collaborate with philosophers, historians, and sociologists. You can find more information here.
It is our wish to present our research as comprehensible as possible to the interested public, for example in popular science magazines or talks for the general public.
If you are interested, please contact us via email.