Particle physics phenomenology
Encyclopedia
Particle physics phenomenology
is the part of theoretical particle physics
that deals with the application of theory
to high-energy particle physics experiments. Within the Standard Model
, phenomenology is the calculating of detailed predictions for experiments, usually at high precision (e.g., including radiative corrections
). Beyond the Standard Model
, phenomenology addresses the experimental consequences of new model
s: how their new particles could be searched for, how the model parameters could be measured, and how the model could be distinguished from other, competing models. Phenomenology may in some sense be regarded as forming a bridge between the rarefied, highly mathematical world of theoretical physics proper (such as quantum field theories
and theories of the structure of space-time) and experimental particle physics.
Phenomenology (science)
The term phenomenology in science is used to describe a body of knowledge that relates empirical observations of phenomena to each other, in a way that is consistent with fundamental theory, but is not directly derived from theory. For example, we find the following definition in the Concise...
is the part of theoretical particle physics
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
that deals with the application of theory
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
to high-energy particle physics experiments. Within the Standard Model
Standard Model
The Standard Model of particle physics is a theory concerning the electromagnetic, weak, and strong nuclear interactions, which mediate the dynamics of the known subatomic particles. Developed throughout the mid to late 20th century, the current formulation was finalized in the mid 1970s upon...
, phenomenology is the calculating of detailed predictions for experiments, usually at high precision (e.g., including radiative corrections
Renormalization
In quantum field theory, the statistical mechanics of fields, and the theory of self-similar geometric structures, renormalization is any of a collection of techniques used to treat infinities arising in calculated quantities....
). Beyond the Standard Model
Beyond the Standard Model
Physics beyond the Standard Model refers to the theoretical developments needed to explain the deficiencies of the Standard Model, such as the origin of mass, the strong CP problem, neutrino oscillations, matter–antimatter asymmetry, and the nature of dark matter and dark energy...
, phenomenology addresses the experimental consequences of new model
Model building (particle physics)
In particle physics, the term model building refers to a construction of new quantum field theories beyond the Standard Model that have certain features making them attractive theoretically or for possible observations in the near future...
s: how their new particles could be searched for, how the model parameters could be measured, and how the model could be distinguished from other, competing models. Phenomenology may in some sense be regarded as forming a bridge between the rarefied, highly mathematical world of theoretical physics proper (such as quantum field theories
Quantum field theory
Quantum field theory provides a theoretical framework for constructing quantum mechanical models of systems classically parametrized by an infinite number of dynamical degrees of freedom, that is, fields and many-body systems. It is the natural and quantitative language of particle physics and...
and theories of the structure of space-time) and experimental particle physics.
Some examples
- Monte Carlo simulationMonte Carlo methodMonte Carlo methods are a class of computational algorithms that rely on repeated random sampling to compute their results. Monte Carlo methods are often used in computer simulations of physical and mathematical systems...
studies of physics processes at colliderColliderA collider is a type of a particle accelerator involving directed beams of particles.Colliders may either be ring accelerators or linear accelerators.-Explanation:...
s. - Next-to-leading order calculations of particle production rates and distributions.
- Extraction of parton distribution functions from data.
- Application of heavy quarkQuarkA quark is an elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons, the components of atomic nuclei. Due to a phenomenon known as color confinement, quarks are never directly...
effective field theoryEffective field theoryIn physics, an effective field theory is, as any effective theory, an approximate theory, that includes appropriate degrees of freedom to describe physical phenomena occurring at a chosen length scale, while ignoring substructure and degrees of freedom at shorter distances .-The renormalization...
to extract CKM matrix elements. - Using lattice QCDLattice gauge theoryIn physics, lattice gauge theory is the study of gauge theories on a spacetime that has been discretized into a lattice. Gauge theories are important in particle physics, and include the prevailing theories of elementary particles: quantum electrodynamics, quantum chromodynamics and the Standard...
to extract quark masses and CKM matrix elements from experiment. - "Phenomenological analyses," in which one studies the experimental consequences of adding the most general set of beyond-the-Standard-Model effects in a given sector of the Standard Model, usually parameterized in terms of anomalous couplingsCoupling constantIn physics, a coupling constant, usually denoted g, is a number that determines the strength of an interaction. Usually the Lagrangian or the Hamiltonian of a system can be separated into a kinetic part and an interaction part...
and higher-dimensional operators. In this case, the term "phenomenologicalPhenomenology (science)The term phenomenology in science is used to describe a body of knowledge that relates empirical observations of phenomena to each other, in a way that is consistent with fundamental theory, but is not directly derived from theory. For example, we find the following definition in the Concise...
" is being used more in its philosophy of sciencePhilosophy of scienceThe philosophy of science is concerned with the assumptions, foundations, methods and implications of science. It is also concerned with the use and merit of science and sometimes overlaps metaphysics and epistemology by exploring whether scientific results are actually a study of truth...
sense.
External links
- Papers on phenomenology are available on the hep-ph archive of the ArXiv.org e-print archive
- List of topics on phenomenology from IPPP, the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology at University of Durham, UK
- Collider Phenomenology: Basic knowledge and techniques, lectures by Tao Han
- Pheno '08 Symposium on particle physics phenomenology, including slides from the talks linked from the symposium program.