Novel computational techniques in particle physics

Since the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, the Standard Model (SM) for particle physics has been a complete, self-contained theory. Indeed, this theory has been thoroughly tested and repeatedly confirmed in collision experiments over recent decades: All of the predictions made in the SM have been borne out, and no conclusive evidence has yet been found of deviations from the theory.

Is this a satisfactory result from the point of view of particle physics? Unfortunately not, because the universe confronts us with problems that cannot be entirely explained by the particles and interactions described in the SM. The existence of dark matter is one example: We can observe that dark matter exists, but we don’t know what it is made of. Likewise, the neutrino – an elementary particle in the SM – is shrouded in riddles, such as how much it weighs and why it has a mass in the first place.

In addition, particle physics also wants to get to grips with a number of theoretical questions, such as what mechanism stabilizes the value of the mass of the Higgs boson or why the strong interaction – unlike the weak interaction – does not violate the CP symmetry. Furthermore, scientists are searching for ways to accommodate gravitation within the quantum physical description of the universe.

These and other unsolved fundamental questions point to a new physics beyond the SM. In accelerator experiments such as the LHC or Belle II, scientists are attempting to provide evidence of this new world of physics. In the process, hitherto unknown particles or forces may be encountered and detected directly – or indirectly based on the frequencies of certain events: If, statistically speaking, fewer or more of the expected particles are produced, that strongly suggests that physics is taking place outside the SM.

However, it would not be possible to identify outliers from the SM without precise theoretical calculations, for these are able to make well-founded predictions about the expected results. In the Department for “Innovative calculation methods in particle physics” at the Max Planck Institute for Physics, scientists devote their time to mathematical calculations relating to collision events at the LHC and possible future colliders. This allows physicists to make statements about the energy region in which hypothetical particles ought to exist.

The Department’s specific subject areas include:

  • Physics of jets in collider physics
  • Higgs physics, diboson production, vector boson fusion processes
  • Distribution functions of photons and leptons in protons
  • Calculations that include logarithmically enhanced terms to all orders in perturbation theory predictions
  • Next-to-leading order (NLO) and next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) quantum chromodynamic (QCD) perturbative calculations

Group "Novel computational techniques in particle physics"

Giulia Zanderighi, director of the department "Novel computational techniques in particle physics" (Photo: A. Griesch/MPP)

Top quark: Searching for traces at the LHC with unprecedented precision

Interview with Giulia Zanderighi

The top quark is the heaviest of all elementary particles found in nature. The mass of this point-like particle corresponds to that of the comparatively of the much larger gold atom. One of the production sites for top quarks is the Large Hadron…

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Max Planck Institute for Physics welcomes Giulia Zanderighi as new Director

Theoretical physicist Giulia Zanderighi is joining the Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP) as new Director. The 43-year-old scientist was most recently a Professor at the University of Oxford and carried out research in the theoretical department…

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Higgs boson: New high-precision computation for self-coupling

Researchers are carrying out various experiments to check the currently valid Standard Model of elementary particle physics. They are also searching for other phenomena which occur beyond the Standard Model – for “new physics”. Their search is based…

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Looking into the future of theoretical particle physics

Symposium May 18-20, 2016

Where do the most important topics and trends in theoretical physics lie? This is the question to be pursued by internationally renowned experts at the symposium “New Developments in Theoretical Particle Physics.” The event takes place from May 18 to…

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Ahmadova, Fazila Student fazila 464 A.3.71
Biello, Christian PhD Student biello 406 A.3.61
Gauld, Rhorry, Dr. Senior Scientist rgauld 574 A.3.85
Haisch, Ulrich, Dr. Senior Scientist haisch 413 A.3.81
König, Florian, Ph.D. PhD Student fkoenig 528 A.3.65
Linder, Jakob, Ph.D. PhD Student linder 318 A.3.63
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Sturm, Annette Secretary asturm 482 A.3.45
Wang, Chenyu, Dr. Postdoc cywang 574 A.3.69
Weiss, Joachim PhD Student jweiss 273 A.3.83
Wiesemann, Marius, Dr. Senior Scientist wieseman 230 A.3.36
Zanderighi, Giulia, Dr. Director zanderi 553 A.3.49

Fully Differential Vector-Boson-Fusion Higgs Production at Next-to-Next-to-Leading Order; Matteo Cacciari (Diderot U., Paris & Paris, LPTHE & CERN), Frédéric A. Dreyer (Paris, LPTHE & CERN), Alexander Karlberg (Oxford U., Theor. Phys.), Gavin P. Salam (CERN), Giulia Zanderighi (CERN & Oxford U., Theor. Phys.); Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 139901 (2018)

How bright is the proton? A precise determination of the photon parton distribution function; Aneesh Manohar (CERN & UC, San Diego), Paolo Nason (INFN, Milan Bicocca), Gavin P. Salam (CERN), Giulia Zanderighi (CERN & Oxford U., Theor. Phys.); Jul 14, 2016. 6 pp., Phys.Rev.Lett. 117 (2016) no.24, 242002 


NNLOPS simulation of Higgs boson production; Keith Hamilton (University Coll. London & CERN), Paolo Nason (INFN, Milan Bicocca), Emanuele Re, Giulia Zanderighi (Oxford U., Theor. Phys.). Aug 30, 2013. 25 pp.; JHEP 1310 (2013); 222 MCNET-13-11, CERN-PH-TH-2013-205, OUTP-13-18P

Higgs and Z-boson production with a jet veto; Andrea Banfi (Freiburg U.), Pier Francesco Monni (Zurich U.), Gavin P. Salam (CERN & Princeton U. & Paris, LPTHE), Giulia Zanderighi (Oxford U., Theor. Phys.). Jun 2012. 14 pp.; Phys.Rev.Lett. 109 (2012) 202001 


One-loop calculations in quantum field theory: from Feynman diagrams to unitarity cuts; R. Keith Ellis (Fermilab), Zoltan Kunszt (Zurich, ETH), Kirill Melnikov (Johns Hopkins U.), Giulia Zanderighi (Oxford U., Theor. Phys.). May 2011. 157 pp.; Phys.Rept. 518 (2012) 141-250