To probe the symmetries of the elementary particles and fundamental forces and their deeper relation to the ultimate truth is the goal of modern particle theory.
At The University of Alabama, this work is undertaken on a broad front from lower dimensional field theoretic models to relativistic superstring theory to the current phenomenology of particle reactions to the gravitational theory of black holes.
Supersymmetry is a unifying principle which helps overcome the divergence problem and the “naturalness” problem of the Standard Model. All consistent string theories are supersymmetric. Therefore the study of supersymmetric spacetimes is worthwhile because of the intrinsic interest of such spacetimes and because of their importance to other theoretical investigations. There are relatively few spacetimes which possess at least some supersymmetries.
Faculty Research and Interests
Current Faculty
Dr. Matthias Kaminski’s research focuses on the holographic principle, gauge/gravity correspondence, quantum field theory, and string theory, with the goal of connecting fundamental theoretical principles with feasible experiments. Using both analytical and numerical methods, he studies strongly coupled quantum systems and far-from-equilibrium phenomena, applying theoretical insights to areas such as heavy-ion collisions, the early universe after the Big Bang, neutron stars, ultracold atoms, and condensed matter systems.
Dr. Nobu Okada’s research focuses on New Physics Beyond the Standard Model, with research spanning various topics beyond the Standard Model, including new physics model building, LHC physics, particle cosmology, and astroparticle physics. His work investigates theories such as supersymmetry, extra-dimensional models, Higgs boson phenomenology, and dark matter, exploring how these ideas can be tested through experiments at the Large Hadron Collider as well as through cosmological and astrophysical observations.
Dr. Allen Stern’s research explores quantum groups and non-commutative geometry as tools for understanding fundamental problems in theoretical physics. His work investigates quantum groups as a novel procedure for quantizing classical theories, with potential applications in generalized gauge theories and systems with exotic statistics. His research also includes applications of non-commutative geometry, as well as studies of low-dimensional models, solitons, topological field theories, and duality.
Dr. Konstantin Matchev works in the areas of theoretical high-energy physics, theoretical astrophysics, machine learning, and quantum information science. He is involved in a number of projects in the areas of particle theory and phenomenology, exoplanets, fundamental AI or quantum information science. A primary area of interest is new physics beyond the standard model: model-building, discovery signatures at the Large Hadron Collider, direct and indirect detection of dark matter, Monte Carlo event generation, simulation-based inference, etc. A common theme in Dr. Matchev’s research is the development of new machine learning and quantum computing techniques for the analysis of big data and for novel breakthroughs in symbolic computation and theoretical model building.
Emeritus Faculty
Dr. Benjamin Harms has worked on the quantum description of microscopic black holes and their relation to extended objects such as strings and membranes. His research explores string theory as a candidate for a unified description of the known forces, including predictions of new forces such as a scalar component of gravity (the dilaton). Recent projects include calculations of the effects of a scalar component of gravity on measurable quantities, black hole and naked singularity decay rates in large extra dimensions, black hole decay rates in noncommutative spacetimes, dark energy as a manifestation of Casimir energy in noncommuting compact extra dimensions, noncommutative corrections to general relativity, and investigations of catastrophic black hole growth at the Large Hadron Collider.
Contact Us
If you are a student (undergraduate or graduate) with a possible interest in elementary particle theory we would be glad to hear from you via e-mail or otherwise. Please contact one of the physicists above or email physgrad@ua.edu for information about graduate study. Information about our graduate program is also available on our website.