Lattice gauge theory aims at using analytic and numerical methods to understand strong coupling problems in QFT. Strong coupling is encountered in understanding the behavior of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and other field theories, like Technicolor, of interest in possible extensions of the Standard Model (SM) of electroweak interactions.
We study extensions of the SM that address some of the fundamental problems in particle physics, such as the hierarchy problem (why is the mass of the carriers of the elctroweak force so small compared to the Planck mass that characterizes gravitational interactions) and the family problem (why are there three “families” of quarks and leptons, and why is there such a distinctive hierarchy oftheir masses and interactions strengths).
Supersymmetry is one conjectured explanation of the hierarchy problem. The dynamics of supersymmetric QFTs is one of the focuses of our group. We have also proposed and studied alternative conjectures, like the Lee-Wick extension of the SM.
To understand the outcome of experiments involving electroweak interactions, we apply novel methods (like HQET- Heavy Quark Effective Theory) to establish predictions of the SM and its extensions that can be tested against experimental results.