Particle physics does not only deal with the classification and measurement of the properties of known particles (and possibly the search for new ones), but also with their theoretical description within the framework of so-called quantum field theory. It often happens that the internal consistency of such a description requires the existence of new, unknown particles or phenomena, which can then be sought experimentally. This, in turn, admits testing various theoretical ideas about how the microworld works.

The Theoretical Particle Physics Group at the Institute of Particle and Nuclear Physics (IPNP) focuses on several key areas of contemporary research, in particular:

• Studies of the consistency and structure of various types of quantum field theories and the construction of so-called quantum amplitudes. These are fundamental mathematical objects closely related to observable quantities corresponding to different types of particle processes.

      Contacts:

• Karol Kampf
• Jiří Novotný

• Physics beyond the Standard Model which is the theory that can describe the vast majority of currently observed particle processes and the results of measurements of various derived quantities, but not all. Our research in this area focuses especially on questions concerning the effects of neutrino oscillations, the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the Universe, the possible fundamental instability of protons, and related topics.

      Contacts:

• Michal Malinský
• Lukáš Gráf

• Studies of macroscopic systems whose behavior may reflect different types of microscopic dynamics that is difficult to describe at the level of their fundamental constituents.

      Contacts:

• Alfredo Iorio

• Effective descriptions of low-energy hadron interactions within the framework of the so called chiral perturbation theory and its generalizations.

        Contacts:

• Marián Kolesár