Theoretical Physics of the Early Universe
Prof. Björn Garbrecht
Research Field
The observed Universe can be very well described in terms of the Standard Model (SM) of Particle Physics, gravitation, neutrinos and Cold Dark Matter. The present understanding ranges from times below the Electroweak Phase transition, 10^-12 seconds after the Bang, until today, 13.8 billion years later. The cosmic evolution depends sensitively on initial conditions, such as the matter-antimatter asymmetry, the Dark Matter abundance and density perturbations, that eventually grow into galaxies.
Understanding the initial conditions is one of the key motivations for exploring Physics beyond the SM. Cosmology thus complements laboratory experiments such as the Large Hadron Collider. The particular research interests of our group encompass the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry and of density perturbations from inflation. In particular, we develop theoretical methods for calculations on the dynamics and reactions of elementary particles at very high temperatures and in curved spacetimes, i.e. under conditions present in the Early Universe.
Members of the Research Group
Professor
| Photo | Degree | Firstname | Lastname | Room | Phone | |
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Prof. Dr. | Björn | Garbrecht | PH: 3334 | +49 89 289-12363 |
Office
| Photo | Degree | Firstname | Lastname | Room | Phone | |
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Daniela | Neufang | – | +49 89 289-12662 |
Scientists
| Photo | Degree | Firstname | Lastname | Room | Phone | |
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M.Sc. | Alexander | Baur | – | – | |
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M.Sc. | Mathias | Becker | – | – | |
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Emanuele | Copello | – | – | ||
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M.Sc. | Juan | Cruz Avendano | – | – | |
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M.Sc. | Kare | Fridell | – | – | |
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Dario | Gueter | – | – | ||
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M.Sc. | Patrick | Hager | – | – | |
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Dr. | Julia | Harz | – | +49 89 289-12602 | |
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Dr. | Chandan | Hati | – | – | |
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Juraj | Klaric | PH: 1132 | – | ||
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Dr. | Ricardo | Landim | – | – | |
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Dr. | Carlos | Tamarit Degenhardt | – | – | |
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M.Sc. | Giovanni | Zattera | – | – |
Students
| Photo | Degree | Firstname | Lastname | Room | Phone | |
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Bahaa | Ilyas | – | +491789265714 | ||
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Vernando Fransiscus | Limodya | – | – | ||
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Victor Tomas | Mari Surkau | – | – | ||
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Jamie | McDonald | – | – |
Other Staff
| Photo | Degree | Firstname | Lastname | Room | Phone | |
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Dr. | Aschraf | Abdelfattah | – | – | |
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Dr. | Marco | Drewes | – | +49 89 289-12726 |
Teaching
Course with Participations of Group Members
Offers for Theses in the Group
- Freeze-in dark matter and their implications on cosmology and terrestrial experiments
- So far, we can explain only 5% of our Universe by the standard model of particle physics. 25% of our Universe, however, consists out of “dark matter”. While we have different experimental hints for its existence, we do not know yet its true nature. With new experimental possibilities in the near future, so-called freeze-in scenarios receive increased interest. We want to study these models with respect to a modified cosmological history, their link to neutrino physics and their implications for experiments in more detail.
- suitable as
- Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
- Supervisor: Julia Harz
- Lepton number violating interactions as a guiding principle for the neutrino nature
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Even though we know that neutrinos must have masses, we do not know yet which mechanism generates them. One possibility is that they are their own antiparticles, being of “Majorana” type. An experimental hint for this would be the measurement of lepton number violating interactions e.g. at the LHC, neutrinoless double beta decay or meson decays. In an effective field theory, we want to study the complemenatry of these interactions and their experimental prospects in more detail.
- suitable as
- Master’s Thesis Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics
- Supervisor: Julia Harz
Current and Finished Theses in the Group
- Probing Baryogenesis
- Abschlussarbeit im Masterstudiengang Physik (Kern-, Teilchen- und Astrophysik)
- Themensteller(in): Julia Harz