Extensions of the Standard Model

   Lectures by Prof. Jean-Marie Frere (ULB) and Prof. Jorgen D'Hondt (VUB)


Master course at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in collaboration with the Universite Libre de Bruxelles to introduce divers aspects of physics models beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. The course of 6 Study Points is in English and accessible after having followed a course on the Standard Model of particle physics including the Electroweak theory. All course material is in English.

Agenda 2012-2013

Students not from the VUB have to register using the form via this link, and submit it at the secretary of the Faculty of Science at the VUB. This registration is free of charge. They will receive a VUB student card which is useful on the VUB campus.



Anomalies, GUT's and the Superspace formalism

Prof. Jean-Marie Frere (ULB)

This part of the course consists in mainly three parts

  • Quantum Anomalies (triangle anomaly): the cancellation of anomalies puts constraints on the charges; for this part, a small intro or reminder on Partially Conserved Axial Currents is provided, to establish the link with the Pi0 into 2 photons, which is a direct test of anomalies
  • Grand Unification Theories: mainly SU(5) as an example, mentions of SO(10), implications for the proton decay and charge quantization
  • Supersymmetry: a first introduction presenting the motivation and the superfield formalism, with some demonstrations and consequences for the extension of the Standard Model to SUSY (light scalars and the doubling of the scalar structure)


Depending on the demand, the content my change somewhat, for instance if students are more interested in neutrino physics and Majorana masses, a subject which is often only briefly touched upon in standard courses.

  • Link to the course material (not yet available)
  • List of reference articles
  • Michael E. Peskin and Daneil V. Schroeder, "An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory" (Addison-Wesley)
  • Paul Langacker, "Grand Unified Theories and Proton Decay", Phys. Reports C72 (1981) 185
  • Nir Polonsky, "Supersymmetry: Structure and Phenomena", hep-ph/0108236
  • Stephen P. Martin, "A Supersymmetry Primer", hep-ph/9709356v5
  • Paul Langacker, "Standard Model and Beyond" (Taylor & Francis, 2009)

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The phenomenology of Extended Higgs sectors and Supersymmetry

Prof. Jorgen D'Hondt (VUB)

The recently observed new particle at CERN could be crucial in the Standard Model of particle physics as it is within the precision corresponding to the Brout-Englert-Higgs boson(s). After a short reminder of the key elements of the Electroweak theory, it will be shown that in the Standard Model with one Higgs doublet the phenomena of the  Higgs sector are parametrized as a function of the mass of the scalar boson. An overview is given of the experimental and theoretical information on this mass. Using a phenomenological approach methods are introduced to search for this the Standard Model Higgs boson. Beyond the Standard Model there could be more than one Higgs doublet. In general two-Higgs Doublet Models (2HDM) we calculate the phenomena of this extended Higgs sector. This is the basis for the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), which is introduced. The main phenomena of the particle spectrum in this model are discussed, together with the properties of the Higgs sector. An overview of the experimental available information on supersymmetry is provided.

  • Content
  • Links to the course material:
    • The short reminder of the Electroweak theory and the introduction of the advanced concepts of the Electroweak fit are based on these transparancies
    • For all other parts of the course copies of written notes will be available
    • An initial (not complete) version of the slides can be found at HERE, but remember that these slides are merely didactic instruments.
  • List of reference articles
  • The exam of this part consist out of few questions on content of the course to be answered orally (when preferred with written preparation). Crucial for this exam is to be able to interpret the divers concepts covered by the course.
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Prof. Jorgen D'Hondt • Vrije Universiteit Brussel • Pleinlaan 2 • 1050 Elsene • Tel.: 02/629.34.83 • jodhondt@vub.ac.be