Department of Particle Physics 

Itzhak Tserruya, Head

The Department of Particle Physics is engaged in both experimental and theoretical research, in various directions. These include elementary particle physics, relativistic heavy ion physics, field theory, string theory, molecular physics, nuclear physics, plasma physics, and radiation detection physics.

O. Aharony 

String theory descriptions of weakly coupled large N gauge theories
O. Aharony, Z. Komargodski, S. Razamat, J. David, R. Gopakumar

Supersymmetric gauge theories and supersymmetry breaking
O. Aharony, E. Silverstein, S. Kachru, N. Seiberg

String theory description of large N QCD
O. Aharony, Z. Komargodski, E. Karzbrun

AdS/CFT correspondence and its generalizations
O. Aharony, J. Sonnenschein, S. Yankielowicz, A. Buchel, M. Berkooz, Y. Antebi

The Hagedorn and deconfinement phase transitions
O. Aharony, S. Minwalla, M. Van Raamsdonk, J. Marsano, K. Papadodimas, S. Hartnoll, A. Buchel

A. Breskin 

Basic phenomena, related to radiation detection, including charge transport and multiplication in gases, photoemission and secondary electron emission.
A. Breskin, R. Chechik

Novel particle and photon detection techniques for particle physics, x-ray diffraction. Bio-medicine, surface analysis.
A. Breskin, R. Chechik

Digital mammography, early detection of cancer, radiation damage to DNA.
A. Breskin, R. Chechik

E. Duchovni 

Search for Supersymmetry with the ATLAS detector at CERN

1.  Inclusive Search

2.  Study of Gauge Mediated symmetry breaking

3.  Study of R-Parity violating models

4.  Study of Anomaly Mediated Symmetry breaking

Search for Fermiofobc Higgs with the OPAL detector at CERN

D. Gepner 

Rational conformal field theory and solvable lattice models.

E. Gross 

Higgs Physics with the ATLAS detector at the LHC
E. Gross, Students: Ohad Silbert and Ofer Vitells, Post Doc: Amit Klier

1.  Search for Charged Higgs Boson

2.  Search for Supersymmetric Higgs decaying into Muons

3.  Search for Higgs via its decay to Tau Leptons

Muon Identification with the ATLAS detector at the LHC
E. Gross, Student: Ohad Silbert

S. Gurvitz 

Multi-dimensional tunnelling.
S. Gurvitz, W. Nazarewicz, K. Kato

1.  Two-potential approach to tunneling problems

2.  Cluster decay

3.  Complex scaling and the semi-classical approximation

4.  Modified tunneling Hamiltonian

Final state interaction in inclusive reactions.
S. Gurvitz, M. Traini

1.  Bjorken scaling and confinement

2.  Higher twist corrections to nucleon structure functions

Quantum transport in mesoscopic systems and the measurement problem.
S. Gurvitz, G. Berman, D. Mozyrsky

1.  Quantum rate equations for coherent transport

2.  Relaxation and dephasing in a qubit measurement

3.  Single-spin measurement and decoherence

4.  Zeno effect and quantum description of classical apparatus

H. Harari 

Neutrino Physics (Particle Physics, cosmology, astrophysics implications)

Patterns of quarks and leptons (masses, mixing, substructure)

M. Hass 

Low-Energy nuclear resctions in astrophysics. Solar fusion reactions (neutrino oscillations) and nucleo-synthesis
M. Hass, Dr. Dan Berkovits, Soreq Nuclear Research Centre.

1.  Low-energy fusion reactions, relevant to the solar neutrino issue. Exeriments at the Van de Graaff accelerator of the Weizmann Institute

2.  Explosive nucleo-synthesis scenraios and the nuclear reactions playing a role in these astrophysical sites; x-ray bursts, supernoave, rp-process reactions

3.  Development of techniques and tools for light radioactive beam production for nuclear astrophysics and neutrino physics. Connection to the SPIRAL-II facility at GANIL (France) and the SARAF accelerator at NRC Soreq

M. Kirson 

The shell model and interacting boson model for nuclei.

Theory and systematics of nuclear structure.

Y. Maron 

Dynamics of plasmas subjected to high energy deposition, shock waves, ionization fronts, kinetics and transport in nonequilibrium plasmas, magnetic field penetration, particle flows, turbulent electric fields, nonthermal electron energy distributions.
Y. Maron, V. Bernshtam, V. Fisher, Y. Ralchenko, A. Starobinets

Z-pinches and plasma switches, spectroscopic diagnostics of plasmas in the visible to x-ray region.
Y. Maron, V. Bernshtam, V. Fisher, Y. Ralchenko, A. Starobinets

Atomic calculations, cross sections and probabilities, field ionization, Stark and Zeeman effects.
Y. Maron, V. Bernshtam, V. Fisher, Y. Ralchenko, A. Starobinets

G. Mikenberg 

Search for the standard-model and SUSY Higgs-bosons at LEP.
G. Mikenberg, E. Duchovni, E. Gross, L. Levinson, D. Lellouch

Detector development and study of physics for LHC.
G. Mikenberg, E. Duchovni, E. Gross, L. Levinson, D. Lellouch

Search for Supersymmetry at LEP.
G. Mikenberg, E. Duchovni, E. Gross, L. Levinson, D. Lellouch

Search for Higgs bosons and SUSY particles at LHC.
G. Mikenberg, E. Duchovni, E. Gross, L. Levinson, D. Lellouch

Trigger and data acquisition for LHC experiments.
G. Mikenberg, E. Duchovni, E. Gross, L. Levinson, D. Lellouch

Reconfigurable computing.
G. Mikenberg, E. Duchovni, E. Gross, L. Levinson, D. Lellouch

Y. Nir 

Flavor at the LHC
Y. Nir, J. Feng, S. French, Y. Grossman, G. Hiller, C. Lester, Y. Shadmi, J. Thaler, T. Volansky, J. Zupan

Particle cosmology
Y. Nir, M. Berkooz, K. Blum, S. Davidson, M. Dine, E. Nardi

Astroparticle physics
Y. Nir, K. Blum, E. Waxman

I. Tserruya 

Study of ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions using the PHENIX detector at RHIC (Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider) at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the CERES detector at CERN
I. Tserruya, I. Ravinovich

R&D of an HBD (Hadron Blind Detector) for the PHENIX experiment at RHIC.
I. Tserruya, I. Ravinovich

Electron pair production in relativistic heavy ion collisions: search for quark-gluon plasma and chiral symmetry restoration.
I. Tserruya, I. Ravinovich

D. Zajfman 

Molecular astrophysics.
D. Zajfman, O. Heber, Z. Vager

Cooling of molecular ions, ion trap dynamics.
D. Zajfman, O. Heber, Z. Vager

Molecular physics using storage rings.
D. Zajfman, O. Heber, Z. Vager

Molecular structure using Coulomb explosion imaging and laser-induced photodetachment.
D. Zajfman, O. Heber, Z. Vager