Fundamental Physics with Optically Levitated Dielectric Objects

In the past few years, optical cooling and manipulating of macroscopic objects, such as micro-mirrors and cantilevers has developed into an active field of research. In mechanical systems, the oscillator is attached to its suspension, a thermal contact that limits the motion isolation. On the other hand, when these small objects are levitated using the radiation pressure force of lasers, the excellent thermal isolation even at room temperatures helps produce very sensitive force detectors, and eventually quantum transducers for quantum computation purposes.

Hexagon functions and six-gluon scattering in planar N=4 super-Yang-Mills

Hexagon functions are a class of iterated integrals, depending on three variables (dual conformal cross ratios) which have the correct branch cut structure and other properties to describe the scattering of six gluons in planar N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory. We classify all hexagon
functions through transcendental weight five, using the coproduct for their Hopf algebra iteratively, which amounts to a set of first-order differential equations.  As an example, the three-loop remainder function is a particular weight-six hexagon function, whose symbol was determined
previously.

Directed Influence in the RG Flow

Given two lattice Hamiltonians H_1 and H_2 that are identical everywhere except on a local region R of the lattice, we propose a relationship between their ground states psi_1 and psi_2.  Specifically, assuming the states can be represented as multi-scale entanglement renormalization ansatz (MERA), we propose a principle of directed influence which asserts that the tensors in the MERA’s that represent the ground states can be chosen to be identical everywhere except within a specific, localized region of the tensor network.  The validity of this principle is justified by demonstrating

AMS02 results support the secondary origin of cosmic ray positrons

We show that the recent AMS02
positron fraction measurement is perfectly consistent with a secondary origin for positrons, and does not require additional primary sources such as pulsars or dark matter. Within the secondary model the AMS02 data imply a cosmic ray propagation time in the

Galaxy of about one Myr and an average traversed interstellar matter density of about 1/cc at a rigidity of 300 GV. These results may hint that high energy cosmic rays are confined to a thin halo of scale height similar to the gaseous disk.

From topological insulator to weak scale flavor physics

In this talk, I will start with
briefly introducing some universal physics behind quantum hall and topological
insulator , which inspired a BSM flavor model. It intimately relates
deconstructed little Higgs to flavor structure: fermion masses, CKM etc.
 This new cousin of little Higgs, we call it little flavor, shares a 10-20
Tev cut-off scale with little Higgs, so as to explain flavor structure at
surprisingly low scale without rising FCNC problem.

Higgs Boson in Condensed Matter: From Polaron to Topological Insulator

 In this talk I will briefly review the polaron physics, which has helped theorists to conceive the BCS theory of conventional superconductors as well as experimentalists to discover high temperature superconductors in the cuprates. Specifically I will talk about how charge carriers obtain their
masses from coupling to the phonon field in one, two, three or higher dimensions. More recently, there is increasing interest in topological insulators where a gap can be opened which may suggest new version of Higgs mechanism in condensed matter.

Meet a Scientist - Dr. Bernd Schroers

Mathematical aspects of modern theories of elementary particles and gravitation. Replacing the notion of particles with fundamental abstract fields (magnetic monopoles, vortices and Skyrmions) in an attempt to approach a formulation for quantum gravity.

Meet a Scientist - Prof. Herman Verlinde

Many aspects of string theory, ranging from its mathematical structure and various formulations, to possible implications for black holes and cosmology. Using string phenomenology to connect theory with reality, i.e. string mathematics with elementary particle physics.

Meet a Scientist - Lisa Randall

Particle physics, cosmology, and the study of a wide variety of theoretical models – most notably ones involving extra dimensions of space. Randall works on several of the competing models of string theory in the quest to explain the fabric of the universe.

Meet a Scientist - Prof. Neal Weiner

Physics beyond the standard model: theories of elementary particles with extra space dimensions (large, small, warped and flat); supersymmetry; grand unification; dark matter; inflation and dark energy; as well as relationships between the different subjects.