High Energy Physics

Fundamental particles and their interactions hold the key to the mysteries of our Universe. Our eternal quest for these mysteries led to spectacular discoveries and inventions. There are four fundamental interactions namely strong, weak, electromagnetic and gravitational that govern the dynamics of Nature. Barring the gravitational interaction, Standard Model (SM) of particle physics beautifully explains all the fundamental particles and their interactions. Nevertheless, there are some experimental observations which require not only better understanding of the existing theory but also brand-new ideas There are astrophysical and cosmological observations, like the presence of dark matter, dark energy etc., which cannot be accommodated in SM. On top of it the existence of neutrino mass, matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe also necessitates new physics beyond SM (BSM). We are involved in the exploration of various BSM scenarios with emphasis to dark matter and neutrino physics. The theory of strong interaction, the quantum chromo-dynamics (QCD) is of utmost interest in our understanding of the early Universe. This is because it is QCD which governs the dynamics of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) that existed in the very early Universe. Our group is involved in the research of QGP which in the modern times can be mimicked in the high-energy colliders via relativistic heavy ion collisions (HIC). We perform both experimental as well as theoretical research on HIC phenomenology that serves multi-directional opportunities of studies e.g., unravelling the hot and dense QCD medium properties, the physics of the QCD phase diagram etc. Further, the study of QGP helps to explore the core of neutron stars as well as the early universe.

HEP Journal Club

Faculties

M.D. Nasim

Sandeep Chatterjee

Ujjal Kumar Dey

Natasha Sharma