Objective
The observed asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the Universe is direct evidence that the Standard Model of particle physics, recently completed through the discovery of the Higgs boson, does not account for all (non-gravitational) physical phenomena. Although all the ingredients required to explain the asymmetry from fundamental interactions are present within the Standard Model, a comprehensive effort to reproduce the observed magnitude has sofar failed.
In particular, the process by which the asymmetry is created must be strongly out of thermal equilibrium, and this cannot be provided by the electroweak phase transition, as was originally expected. This follows directly from the value of the Higgs boson mass, observed to be 125-126 GeV at the LHC at CERN, and was established in a seminal paper by Kajantie et al. (1996).
The natural next step is to investigate what minimal extensions of the Standard Model can lead to a strong electroweak transition; what is the transition temperature and dynamics of the transition; and how do the resulting constraints on these theoretical extensions compare with the steadily improving experimental constraints from collider experiments.
I propose to use state-of-the-art numerical lattice simulations to answer these questions. Because the computation involves non-perturbative and/or out-of-equilibrium phenomena, analytic methods can only take us so far. Complementing known results with numerics will allow me to establish whether a number of extension of the Standard Model may account for the observed asymmetry, and what predictions this infers for collider experiments; and I will simulate the dynamics of a strongly first order phase transition, the nucleation of vacuum bubbles and interaction with a thermal plasma.
The fellowship will last for 2 years, and be hosted by the University of Stavanger. This will be my second Postdoctoral position, and will provide me with a platform for establishing my own research profile.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics particle accelerator
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics higgs bosons
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF
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Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
4021 Stavanger
Norway
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.