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Theoretical physics

Explore cutting-edge theoretical physics research conducted at prominent Dutch institutions like NIKHEF, Utrecht University, and more. Topics range from string theory to quantum gravity, attracting top researchers and funding sources. Collaborations with international universities nurture academic growth.

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Theoretical physics

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  1. Theoretical physics Eric Laenen NIKHEF and Utrecht University RECFA at NIKHEF

  2. Dutch theory groups Groningen U. U. of Amsterdam Free U., Amsterdam Free U. of Amsterdam Utrecht U. NIKHEF Radboud (Nijmegen) U. Leiden U. Utrecht U. RECFA at NIKHEF

  3. Groningen (RuG) M. de Roo [Strings & quantum gravity] E. Bergshoeff [Strings & quantum gravity] E. Pallante [Lattice field theory] [50%] 6 Ph.D.’s, 1 Postdoc 8 papers in 04 Funding: RuG, FOM, EU networks, INTAS, Nordic Network Collaborations: KVI, Utrecht, Cambridge, Kings’s Coll, Brussels, Leuven, Stanford Noteworthy: Pallante starts particle/lattice group, using LOFAR BlueGene/L computer String theory cosmology focus Groningen (KVI) R. Timmermans [Baryon interactions, chiral PT, Atomic P violation] O. Scholten [Nucl. Phys., HE Cosmic rays] 2 Ph.D, 1 Postdoc 11 papers in 04 Funding: FOM, RuG, EU networks Collaborations: VU, Nijmegen, Gent, Osaka,.. Noteworthy: Workshops at Trento, Seattle Close contact with TRImP, GSI More ambitions towards astroparticle physics RECFA at NIKHEF

  4. Free University (VU) Amsterdam P. Mulders [QCD spin ph., proton structure] D. Boer [QCD spin ph., phase structure] B. Bakker[Lightfront field th., hadr. Struct.] [40 %] 3 to 4 Ph.D.’s, 1 to 2 Postdocs 8 papers in 04 Funding: VU, FOM, EU Collaborations: KVI, Torino, Regensburg, BNL, Imperial, Heidelberg Noteworthy: Joint theory Master’s program with UvA Good contacts with NIKHEF theory, VU Exp. (Babar/LHCb,HERMES, LISA) Leiden University A. Achucarro [Topological/NP field theory and cosmology] P. van Baal [NP Yang-Mills, lattice, HiSparc] W. Van Neerven[pert. QCD at colliders] Lorentz professor [Susskind, Wilczek, Kadanoff] [30%] 3 to 5 Ph.D’s, 3 to 4 Postdocs 19 papers in 04 Funding: UL, FOM, NOW, EU-RTN, ESF, other countries Collaborations: NIKHEF, Cambridge, Sussex, Berkeley, Madrid, Trinity, Princeton Noteworthy: Workshops at Lorentz Center RECFA at NIKHEF

  5. Utrecht G. ‘t Hooft [quantum field theory/gravity] B. de Wit [strings & quantum gravity] R. Loll[quantum gravity] J. Ambjorn[quantum gravity] T. Prokopec [cosmology] G. Aryutanov [strings & quantum gravity ] S. Vandoren [strings & quantum gravity] K. Peeters (‘06) [strings & quantum gravity] Kramers professor [Schwimmer,Olive,..] [60%] 7 Ph.D’s, 7 Postdocs 33 papers in 04 Funding: UU, FOM, NWO, KNAW, EU, INTAS Collaborations: UvA, Groningen, many abroad Noteworthy: Summer school, well-attended Master’s program Nijmegen (Radboud U.) R. Kleiss [collider physics, QFT methods] W. Beenakker [(B)SM at colliders, EW] T. Rijken[Baryon interactions] 3 Ph.D.’s 8 papers Funding: RU, FOM, EU Collaborations: Athens, DESY, PSI, Osaka Noteworthy: Good contacts with NIKHEF theory, and Nijmegen HEP [ATLAS/D0] and PA [HiSParc/NAHSA] RECFA at NIKHEF

  6. University of Amsterdam (UvA) R, Dijkgraaf [Strings & quant. gravity, math.] J. de Boer [Strings & quant. gravity] E. Verlinde [Strings & quant. Gravity] F..Bais[Strings & topol. FT] J. Smit[Lattice FT, cosmology] K. Skenderis [Strings & quant. Gravity] M. Taylor-Robinson [Strings & quant. Gravity] K. Schalm [Strings & quant. Gravity] C. van Weert[Thermal field theory] [50%] 10 Ph.D.’s, 7 Postdocs 36 papers in 04 Funding: UvA, FOM, NWO, EU Collaborations: UU,NIKHEF,NBI, Harvard, CERN, Princeton, Caltech,… Noteworthy: Spinoza prize for Dijkgraaf; Highly acclaimed annual summer workshop on Strings Outreach NIKHEF J. Koch[Fin. T. lattice QCD, RHIC phys.] B. Schellekens [Strings & quant. gravity] J.W. van Holten [SUSY, Cosmol., HiSPARC] J. Vemaseren[high order pQCD, FORM] E. Laenen [pert. QCD, heavy quark physics] 5 Ph.D’s, 2 Postdocs 13 papers in 04 Funding: FOM, UvA, UU Collaborations: DESY, Durham, Bielefeld, CERN, Torino,Chennai,Madrid Noteworthy: Host of National Seminar Close contact with NIKHEF experiments RECFA at NIKHEF

  7. Nikhef theory group Activities • Pursuit of active, wide-ranging research program • Close interaction with NIKHEF experiments (analyses, Ph.D.’s, topical lectures) • Introduce new theoretical developments to NIKHEF • Training of Master’s, Ph.D. students and postdocs • Members have professorships at 4 Universities teaching & exposing students to NIKHEF research Future funding? • New FOM program with University groups (2007 ?) • EU-RTN networks, NWO, small FOM grants… Special: FORM (Jos Vermaseren) RECFA at NIKHEF

  8. Strings & quantum gravity [14] Groningen (2) Utrecht (5) U. of Amsterdam (6) NIKHEF (1) Lattice & non-pert. FT [4] Groningen (1) KVI-Groningen (2) Leiden (1) Cosmology & PA [3] Leiden (1) Utrecht (1) NIKHEF (1) High-energy collider physics [6] NIKHEF (2) Nijmegen (2) Free U. (2) Permanent staff/topic in 5 years from now RECFA at NIKHEF

  9. Theory Ph.D students and postdocs Ph.D. students • Total: 40-50, more than half from NL • 60% continue to postdocs • Education through Dutch Research School for Theoretical Physics Postdocs • About 20-25 • Mostly non-Dutch (policy) RECFA at NIKHEF

  10. Dutch Research School for Theoretical Physics • Offers joint program for education of TH Ph.D. students at 6 universities + NIKHEF via advanced courses • Two themes: 1. Quantum Field Theory and Elementary Particles 2. Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics • Organizes biannual 2-day symposium with both themes • Organizes yearly Winter Schools in Nijmegen. 2 weeks, 4 lecturers, 25-30 1st & 2nd year Ph.D. students. E.g. 2005: G. ‘t Hooft: Advanced quantum field theory E. Verlinde: String theory and black holes S. Weinzierl: Methods in higher order perturbation theory T. Prokopec: Cosmology Theoretical physics

  11. Strings & quantum gravity Holography/AdS-CFT Black hole entropy Topological strings Standard Model from strings String cosmology Lattice & non-pert. field theory Calorons Finite T lattice Light-front, effective theories Cosmology & PA Baryogenesis Domain walls Cosmic scalar fields High-energy collider physics Higgs + t-tbar production Jet production Color glass Spin physics Resummation, top quark physics Key research topics on lattice RECFA at NIKHEF

  12. Theory and Experiment QCD - ATLAS/D0, HERA Structure functions (Next-to-leading order) Monte Carlo’s Jet physics Resummation PA - Antares/KM3Net Cosmic neutrinos Gravitational waves Cosmic Rays Spin - Hermes/Compass Transversity Spin structure functions EW - LHC, ILC, LEP Radiative corrections Top quark physics Higgs physics Kaon physics Heavy Ions - Alice/STAR Finite T lattice Color glass condensate RECFA at NIKHEF

  13. Quantum gravity via causal dynamical triangulations [Loll, Ambjorn, ..] (Utrecht) 3-loop QCD splitting functions [Vermaseren, Moch, Vogt] (NIKHEF) Two physics topics RECFA at NIKHEF

  14. The Universe from Scratch[Loll, Jurkiewicz, Ambjorn] • Minimalist approach to quantum gravity • No strings etc assumed Premise • At very short distances, spacetime fluctuates wildly • No background spacetime; “the stage itself becomes actor” Sanity conditions • Wild geometries at short distance ok • Einstein GR at larger distance RECFA at NIKHEF

  15. Tools: Path Integral Path integral • Genuinely non-perturbative • Most paths very weird • Magic of PI: true quantum physics due to superposition • Sum over suitable class of geometries • Sum eventually done on computer RECFA at NIKHEF

  16. Tools: Triangulation of spacetime Represent each spacetime in sum by piecewise flat geometries Curvature located at vertices • Edges all common length • Sum over gluings Triangles 4-simplices RECFA at NIKHEF

  17. Inputs Usual Euclidean version produced weird spacetimes, with strange (Hausdorff) dimensions. Dimension is dynamical quantity! Key condition: causal dynamical triangulations (microcausality)! RECFA at NIKHEF

  18. Results • Dimension of spacetime • Hausdorff dimension: 4! • Dimension (diffusion) at large scale • Dimension at short distance • Glimpse of spacetime near Planck length? Quantum cosmology Scale factor a(t) of Universe CDT allows expansion RECFA at NIKHEF

  19. Second order parton evolution kernels[Vermaseren, Moch, Vogt] • Opens gate to 2nd order perturbation theory at LHC • Marvellous computer algebra tool: FORM • 3-loop QCD. “Calculation of the decade” Quick acclaim: • 200 citations after 1.5 year • selected Top Article in Nuclear Physics Earlier, the 4-loop QCD function.. RECFA at NIKHEF

  20. # colors in QCD (strong interaction)(3: “red”, “green” & “blue”) # quark flavors(6: u-, d-, c-, s-, t- & b-quarks) 1, 2, 3 & 4-loop calculators FORM author

  21. Hadronic cross sections and pQCD RECFA at NIKHEF

  22. Theoretical cross section: Input: • hard scattering cross section • calculate in perturbative QCD • parton distribution functions PDF • determine from benchmark data (DIS) RECFA at NIKHEF

  23. Evolution kernels RECFA at NIKHEF

  24. How well do we know the PDF’s? RECFA at NIKHEF

  25. Evolution kernels in QCD perturbation theory RECFA at NIKHEF

  26. RECFA at NIKHEF

  27. RECFA at NIKHEF

  28. Heroic effort • 20 Man-years • 1M lines of FORM code • Several CPU years • 10K diagrams, 100K integrals Scale dependence at NNLO much better… First NNLO PDF sets appearing RECFA at NIKHEF

  29. A corolllary (Moch, Vogt).. RECFA at NIKHEF

  30. Prospects for Dutch theoretical physics Staff • A number of retirements coming up. Some positions prefilled. • Strings & quantum gravity effort strong, young • Cosmology & astroparticle physics smallish • Phenomenology not too large, decreasing. Funding of Ph.D.’s and Postdocs • University funding: under pressure • Present: 3 FOM-TH programs: Universities (<2007), NIKHEF (<2007), Strings (<2009): also under pressure • Very important: new FOM-TH proposal, in preparation. Universities + NIKHEF • Increasingly look toward European funding RECFA at NIKHEF

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