Extreme quantum field theory and particle physics with IZEST

The prospect of next-generation ultra-high-intensity laser sources has prompted recent renewed study of nonlinear QED processes, such as the Schwinger effect, in which the instability of the QED vacuum is probed by external fields. Experimental observation of these nonlinear QED effects would provide unprecedented controlled access to non-perturbative processes in quantum field theory under extreme conditions, which is of direct interest in particle physics and astrophysical applications. I summarize important theoretical issues, both conceptual and computational, related to these nonlinear QED effects.     

Perspectives in nuclear physics

We discuss some of the many important questions in modern subatomic physics that have been addressed over the past two decades at Mainz. These achievements range from precision studies of nucleon form factors, to nucleon spectroscopy, novel probes of nucleon structure such as virtual Compton scattering and fundamental tests of quantum chromodynamics. In the future one may expect to see this effort expanded to precision tests of physics beyond the Standard Model.     

Perspectives in neutron physics research

Discovery of the neutron in 1932 by Chadwick ushered in a new era of scientific research and technology. The neutron is endowed with unique properties in its mass, life time, spin and magnetic moment etc and every important property has been used in the study of condensed matter, biological molecules, nuclear forces, stellar objects and other fields. Neutron has a wide range of applications in power production, breeding of fissile fuel, radiography, medicine and others.     

Cherenkov detectors in particle physics

The most impressive examples of the application of Cherenkov detectors in modern-physics experiments are considered.     

Strongly interacting particle physics

A dynamical strongly interacting particle theory is presented. The theory explicitly exhibits the structures of particle states and provides intriguing insights into their working mechanisms. Agreement of the results with the experimental observations is excellent.     

Fractal diffusion processes in particle physics

A series of consistent measurements of kinematic variables for pion diffraction production processes by pions with an initial momentum of about 4 GeV/c were analyzed: π ⁺ + p → p + 2π ⁺ + π ^? and π ^? + p → p + 2π ^? + π ⁺. The Hurst method analysis discovered the presence of the memory effect for both data arrays. The distributions of the transition probability density appeared to seek some equilibrium shape, characteristic of the fractal Brownian motion (FBM). The process can be defined by the special diffusion Fokker-Planck equation (FPE). The obtained values of Hurst coefficient 0.5 < H < 1, which is a parameter of FPE, mean that the processes explored are realized in fractal generalized phase space with fractional dimension.     

Summation of power series in particle physics

The large-order behaviour of power series used in quantum theory (perturbation series and the operator-product expansion) is discussed and relevant summation methods are reviewed. It is emphasised that, in most physically interesting situations, the mere knowledge of the expansion coefficients is not sufficient for a unique determination of the function expanded, and the necessity of some additional, extra-perturbative, input is pointed out. Several possible nonperturbative inputs are suggested. Applications to various problems of quantum chromodynamics are considered.This lecture was presented on the special Memorial Day dedicated to Professor Ryszard Ra̧czka at this Workshop. The last section is devoted to my personal recollections of this remarkable personality.     

Perspectives for neutrino physics at CERN

The experimental status of neutrino oscillation searches at accelerators is presented, and the future medium and long baseline projects at CERN are discussed, including the knowledge on the neutrino beam production. Perspectives on future neutrino factories based on muon storage rings are also presented.     

Cosmic rays and particle physics

The study of high energy cosmic rays is a diversified field of observational and phenomenological physics addressing questions ranging from shock acceleration of charged particles in various astrophysical objects, via transport properties through galactic and extragalactic space, to questions of dark matter, and even to those of particle physics beyond the Standard Model including processes taking place in the earliest moments of our Universe. After decades of mostly independent evolution of nuclear, particle and high energy cosmic ray physics we find ourselves entering a symbiotic era of these fields of research. Some examples of interrelations will be given from the perspective of modern Particle-Astrophysics and new major experiments will briefly be sketched.     

Time-varying alpha and particle physics

We argue that models in which an observable variation of the fine structure constant is explained by motion of a cosmic scalar field are not stable under renormalization and require massive fine-tuning that cannot be explained by any known mechanism.     

Topics on fundamental symmetries in particle physics

Topics on the test of fundamental symmetries are shown. Comparison of the gravitational interactions between particle and anti-particle is one of the most important experiments for the test of the CPT-theorem. The measurement of K _L ⁰ →π⁰e^{+ -} is being carried out in order to find the direct CP-violating amplitude. Several experiments to search for the T-violation are being carried out. The muon polarization in K⁺→π⁰μ⁺υdecay and the electron polarization in the β-decay of polarized⁸Li are very interesting from the viewpoint of T-violation. Recent progress of the measurement of electric dipole moments of atoms and the neutron are mentioned. Studies of parity-violating processes in nucleon-nucleon scattering and nucleon-nucleus reactions are discussed. The results encourage us to measure the T-violation using polarized neutrons and a polarized nuclear target.     

Measurement theory for physics

A highly abstracted theory of measurement is synthesized from classical measurement theory, fuzzy set theory, generalized information theory, and predicate calculus. The theory does not require specific truth value concepts, nor does it specify what subsets of the reals can be observed, thus avoiding the usual fundamental difficulties. Problems such as the definition of systems, the significance of observations, numerical scales and observables, etc. are examined. The general logico-algebraic approach to quantum/classical physics is justified as a special case of measurement theory.