Welcome to the Department of Physics

Mesons – bound states of a quark and an antiquark – are more than just exotic particles: they are precision tools in the quest to uncover new fundamental particles and interactions. Especially intriguing are heavy mesons composed of a bottom quark and a light quark (up, down, or strange). These particles decay into lighter mesons and other products – and it is precisely in these decays that the search for New Physics begins. If hypothetical, yet-undiscovered particles exist, they could subtly influence these processes: for example, by causing tiny deviations in decay rates from what the Standard Model predicts, or through so-called CP asymmetries – delicate differences in the behavior of matter and antimatter. CP stands for “charge-parity”: charge conjugation swaps particles with their antiparticles, while parity reflects spatial coordinates. Any observed asymmetry could be a powerful sign of physics beyond the Standard Model. At the intersection of experimental precision and theoretical insight, these studies offer a unique window into the fundamental structure of our universe. Researchers in this field work at the cutting edge of particle physics – with the potential to reshape our understanding of nature itself. Please note: This talk will be held in German only.

Physikalisches Kolloquium, Chairperson: M. Garst