Beyond the Standard Model and the String Theory Landscape

Lecturer: A. Hebecker , Time and Location: Wed and Fri, 9:15-11:00, Tutorials: Tue, 16:30-18:00, Philosophenweg 19, Seminar Room

Tutor: Sascha Leonhardt

First lecture: 16 Oct., First tutorial: 22 Oct.

Please register using this link

Plan:

The plan is to give a concise but technical introduction to `Physics Beyond the Standard Model' and early cosmology as seen from the perspective of string theory. In particular, the two hierarchy problems (of the cosmological constant and the electroweak scale) will be discussed in view of ideas like string theory landscape, eternal inflation and multiverse. The presentation will include critical points of view and alternative ideas and explanations. Basic knowledge of quantum field theory and general relativity (but not of string theory) will be assumed. An elementary but technical introduction to string theory and string phenomenology will be part of the course.

Notes:

Lecture Notes, to the extent available so far...

Problems:

Problems (PDF-file)

References:

This course will overlap with earlier courses on `String Theory and String Phenomenology', `Beyond the Standard Model' and `Supersymmetry and Supergravity'. Hence, the material available at the corresponding Web sites (accessible from here) may be useful.

more specifically, useful references include:

Any of the varous QFT books discussing the Standard Model of Particle Physics

Ibanez/Uranga: String Theory and Particle Physics

Baumann/McAllister: Inflation and String Theory

Denef: Les Houches Lectures on Constructing String Vacua

For further material see the reference list of the lecture notes.

Notes of a similar course one year back:

Lecture Notes

Final handwritten comments (by now mostly include in the Notes)