Particle Physics Theory
The Glasgow Particle Physics Theory group researches fundamental particles and their interactions. We are principally interested in phenomena that can be probed at current and next generation particle colliders, such as the Large Hadron Collider, SuperKEKB, and the International Linear Collider. We use our current model of particle physics, the Standard Model, to make predictions that can be tested by our experimental colleagues. We also examine models of exotic new physics beyond the Standard Model.
In particular, we focus on the behaviour of the strong force as described by Quantum Chromodynamics, both at high energies (via perturbation theory) and at low energies (via lattice QCD); the physics of the Higgs boson; and models beyond the Standard Model such as supersymmetry, extra dimensions, and little Higgs.
The main areas of research pursued by our group are:
Recent student theses
- Will Parrott, 2022, supervisor Dr. C. Bouchard, The strange decays of heavy quarks
- Panagiotis Stylianou, 2022, supervisor Prof. C. Englert, Collider phenomenology of new physics Beyond the Standard Model
- Dan Hatton, 2020, supervisor Prof. C. Davies, High precision quark mass determinations and studies of meson properties using lattice QCD
- Dumitru Dan Smaranda, 2020, supervisor Dr. D. Miller, Grand unified theories in extra dimensions
- Euan McLean, 2019, supervisor Prof. C. Davies, Semileptonic b -> c Form Factors from Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics
- John McDowall, 2019, supervisor Dr. D. Miller, High scale boundary conditions in extension of the Standard Model
- Andres Luna Godoy, 2018, supervisors Dr. C. White and Dr. D. Miller, The double copy and classical solutions
- Ben Andrew Galloway, 2017, supervisor Prof. C. Davies, Properties of charmonium and bottomonium from lattice QCD with very fine lattices
- Karl Anders Mattias Nordström, 2017, supervisor Prof. C. Englert, Phenomenology for the Large Hadron Collider
- Michael Russell, 2017, supervisor Prof. C. Englert, Top quark physics in the Large Hadron Collider era
- Bipasha Chakraborty, 2016, supervisor Prof. C. Davies, Precision tests of the standard model using lattice QCD
- Stacey Elizabeth Melville, 2016, supervisor Dr. C. White, Next-to-soft radiative corrections in QCD and quantum gravity
- Liam Ronald Moore, 2016, supervisor Dr. D. Miller, Top quark physics in the standard model effective field theory
- Brian Colquhoun, 2015, supervisor Prof. C. Davies, Bottomonium and B physics with lattice NRQCD b quarks
- António Pestana Morais, 2013, supervisor Dr. D. Miller, Grand unification phenomenology at the LHC and beyond
- Daniel Coumbe, 2013, supervisor Dr. J. Laiho, Exploring a formulation of lattice quantum gravity
- Gordon Donald, 2013, supervosor Prof. C. Davies, Semileptonic and radiative meson decays from lattice QCD with improved staggered fermions
- Iain Kendall, 2010, supervisor Prof. C. Davies, Lattice QCD studies of Upsilon physics
- Luo Rui, 2010, supervisor Dr. D. Miller, Neutrino masses and Baryogenesis via Leptogenesis in the Exceptional Supersymmetric Standard Model
- Peter Athron, PhD, 2008, supervisor Dr. D. Miller, Aspects of electroweak symmetry breaking in physics beyond the standard model
- David Thomson, PhD, 2008, supervisor Prof. C. Froggatt, Low energy consequences of some non-standard Higgs models
- Ian Allison, PhD, 2006, supervisor Prof. C. Davies, Dynamical lattice QCD determinations for heavy quark physics
- Greig Cowan, PhD, 2005, supervisor Dr. M. Alford, Single-Colour and Single-Flavour Colour Superconductivity
- Jack Cheyne, PhD, 2005, supervisor Dr. M. Alford, Colour Superconductivity and steps beyond the mean field approximation
- Alan Gray, PhD, 2003, supervisor Prof. C. Davies, Upsilon Spectroscopy and Leptonic Decays using Fully Unquenched Lattice QCD [Ogden prize 2004 for best UK PhD in particle physics phenomenology]
- Josef Dubicki, PhD, 2002, supervisor Prof. C. Froggatt, Renormalization Group Study of Four Generation Models
- Laurence Marcantonio, PhD, 2001, supervisor Prof. C. Davies, Unquenched Lattice Upsilon Spectroscopy
- Alessandro Tiesi, PhD, 2003, supervisors Prof. C. Froggatt and Dr. A. Davies, Higgs boson masses in a Non-Minimal Supersymmetric Model
- Gordon Aird, PhD, 2000, supervisor Dr. A. Watt, Modelling the Induced Magnetic Signature of Naval Vessels
- Alessandro Usai, PhD, 2000, supervisor Dr. A. Davies, Spontaneous CP violation in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model