Physics (Internal)
Research Interests:
Electroweak Symmetry
The problems of the breakdown of electroweak and flavor symmetries are among the most pressing facing particle physics today. Electroweak symmetry breaking is manifested by the nonzero masses of the weak W and Z bosons, and requires the existence of a Higgs boson or some other yet unseen mechanism. To solve the problem of flavor, one must understand why there are six quarks and six leptons forming three families, and why these particles exhibit such a peculiar pattern of masses and mixing.
Selected Publications:
“A conformal truncation framework for infinite-volume dynamics”, Emanuel Katz, Zuhair Khandker and Matthew Walters, JHEP 1607, 140 (2016)
“Dynamical trapping near a quantum critical point” Michael Kolodrubetz, Emanuel Katz, Anatoli Polkovnikov, Phys. Rev. B91 (2015) 5, 054306
“Solving 2d QCD with an adjoint fermion analytically” Emanuel Katz, Gustavo Marques, Yiming Xu. JHEP 1405 (2014) 143
“Conformal field theories at nonzero temperature: ope expansions, monte carlo, and holography” Emanuel Katz, Subir Sachdev, Erik S. Srensen, William Witczak-Krempa, Phys.Rev. B90 (2014) 24, 245109
“The Effective Theory of Dark Matter Direct Detection”, A.Liam Fitzpatrick, Wick Haxton, Emanuel Katz, Nicholas Lubbers, Yiming Xu. JCAP 1302 (2013) 004
For a full list of publications, See the attached CV.
Education:
- B.S. in Physics and Theoretical Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- PhD in Theoretical Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Honors/Awards:
- NSF CAREER Award
- Sloan Research Fellowship
In the news:
Research Descriptions:
Electroweak Symmetry Breaking
The problems of the breakdown of electroweak and flavor symmetries are among the most pressing facing particle physics today. Electroweak symmetry breaking is manifested by the nonzero masses of the weak W and Z bosons, and requires the existence of a Higgs boson or some other yet unseen mechanism. To solve the problem of flavor, one must understand why there are six quarks and six leptons forming three families, and why these particles exhibit such a peculiar pattern of masses and mixing. This question has become especially acute with the recent experimental proof that neutrinos have mass and experience oscillations. Several theoretical approaches to electroweak and flavor symmetry breaking, as well as the related question of CP violation, are being investigated actively. All of them require that there be new particles and new interactions at soon-to-be accessible energies. In particular, experiments at the Large Hadron Collider are currently accumulating data which should clarify the origins of electroweak symmetry breaking. The high-energy theorists are interacting closely with their experimental colleagues who will be working on these experiments. Research is aimed at formulating consistent theoretical models and exploring their observable consequences.