Research in Particle Physics Phenomenology

Understanding the physics at the smallest scale and high energy is one of the major present challenges in particle theory. If there are new forces beyond those of the Standard Model, there should be new particles and we should be able to create the new particles at the Large Hadron Collider. In many scenarios that have been proposed, the new particles are very difficult to find because the cross section for making them is small and the structure of new physics signal events looks rather similar to that of Standard Model events that have larger cross sections. Thus one needs to distinguish signal events corresponding to a new physics scenario that one is trying to find from similar Standard Model background events. To best do this, we need to use differences between signal and background in the detailed substructure of the events. For this purpose novel reconstruction techniques have been proposed. The aim of this project is to develop new jet substructure techniques to improve on search strategies for new resonances and to improve measurements of the resonance's properties. To test the success of the newly developed techniques, the project will entail the simulation of new physics scenarios using full event generators. Because of the timeliness of the project a strong interaction with experimental groups is envisioned. The Institute of Particle Physics Phenomenology (IPPP) in Durham has an outstanding expertise in the novel field of jet substructure and in developing search strategies for new physics resonances. Therefore, it is an ideal place for this timely project.