Dr Chris White Project Abstracts
BSc Independent Project / MSci Review Project:
The classical double copy
Recently, a new correspondence (the “double copy”) has been found between the theory of quark and gluons (plus generalisations), and possible theories of quantum gravity. This project will review what is known about the double copy, and how this applies to quantum scattering amplitudes. Students will then investigate matching up classical solutions in quark / gluon and gravity-like theories, including e.g. black holes, gravitational waves and accelerating particles.
Prerequisites: Physical Dynamics, Mathematical Techniques 3; Co-requisite: Spacetime and gravity
Recently, a new correspondence (the “double copy”) has been found between the theory of quark and gluons (plus generalisations), and possible theories of quantum gravity. This project will review what is known about the double copy, and how this applies to quantum scattering amplitudes. Students will then investigate matching up classical solutions in quark / gluon and gravity-like theories, including e.g. black holes, gravitational waves and accelerating particles.
Prerequisites: Physical Dynamics, Mathematical Techniques 3; Co-requisite: Spacetime and gravity
MSci Research/Investigative Project:
Soft radiation in quantum field theories
Fast-moving particles in collider experiments can emit gluon radiation with low energy / momentum, referred to as "soft radiation” in the literature. This causes problems in theoretical calculations, and it is necessary to classify this radiation to all orders in perturbation theory, in order to meaningfully compare theoretical calculations with data from e.g. the LHC. The same radiation is also relevant in gravity, where it may be related to black hole physics. This project will review this area, before focusing on some of the following:
* The resummation of soft effects to all orders in perturbation theory, with applications to Quantum Chromodynamics.
* Application of soft radiation in high energy scattering, in quantum gravity.
* The next-to-soft approximation in gauge theories and gravity.
Prerequisites: Physical Dynamics, Mathematical Techniques 3, Quantum Mechanics B, Spacetime and gravity (if focusing on quantum gravity); Co-requisite: Relativistic Waves and Quantum Fields, Advanced Quantum Field Theory,
Fast-moving particles in collider experiments can emit gluon radiation with low energy / momentum, referred to as "soft radiation” in the literature. This causes problems in theoretical calculations, and it is necessary to classify this radiation to all orders in perturbation theory, in order to meaningfully compare theoretical calculations with data from e.g. the LHC. The same radiation is also relevant in gravity, where it may be related to black hole physics. This project will review this area, before focusing on some of the following:
* The resummation of soft effects to all orders in perturbation theory, with applications to Quantum Chromodynamics.
* Application of soft radiation in high energy scattering, in quantum gravity.
* The next-to-soft approximation in gauge theories and gravity.
Prerequisites: Physical Dynamics, Mathematical Techniques 3, Quantum Mechanics B, Spacetime and gravity (if focusing on quantum gravity); Co-requisite: Relativistic Waves and Quantum Fields, Advanced Quantum Field Theory,
