Theoretical particle physics articles from across Nature Portfolio

Theoretical particle physics is the development of models for describing fundamental particles and their interactions. This includes testing and refining the prevailing theory: the standard model. Theoretical particle physics can also include developing the computation tools required to analyse vast quantities of data produced from particle-collider experiments.

Latest Research and Reviews

  • Research
    | Open Access

    Observations of the Schwinger effect—the creation of matter by electric fields—have been hindered by the high required field strength. A mesoscopic variant of the Schwinger effect has now been realized in graphene transistors.

    • A. Schmitt
    • , P. Vallet
    •  & B. Plaçais
    Nature Physics, 1-6

  • Research
    | Open Access

    The tension between measured W mass and its Standard Model prediction might arise from uncertainties in the hadronic contribution, and the same is true for the muon g − 2. Here, the authors show that such a common origin for the two anomalies is unlikely, while a model involving leptoquarks might explain them both.

    • Peter Athron
    • , Andrew Fowlie
    •  & Bin Zhu
    Nature Communications 14, 659

  • Research |

    The behaviour of quantum fields in curved spacetime is simulated using a two-dimensional trapped quantum gas of potassium atoms with a configurable trap and adjustable interaction strength.

    • Celia Viermann
    • , Marius Sparn
    •  & Markus K. Oberthaler
    Nature 611, 260-264

  • Research
    | Open Access

    Holographic duality, which relates systems with and without gravity, suggests that quantum entanglement is essential for understanding gravitational phenomena on a fundamental level. The authors conjecture an infinite set of necessary conditions for a quantum state, which can holographically describe a semiclassical gravitational spacetime, and relate those conditions to properties of evaporating black holes.

    • Bartłomiej Czech
    •  & Sirui Shuai
    Communications Physics 5, 244

  • Research
    | Open Access

    Precisely calculating differences between muon- and electron-neutrino interactions is difficult, but is vital for correctly interpreting neutrino oscillation experiments. Here, the authors determine the effect of electromagnetic quantum corrections in the predicted ratio of ve and vμ cross sections.

    • Oleksandr Tomalak
    • , Qing Chen
    •  & Kevin S. McFarland
    Nature Communications 13, 5286
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News and Comment

  • News & Views |

    The production of particle–antiparticle pairs in a vacuum — the Schwinger effect — requires extreme conditions that are out of reach of tabletop experiments. A mesoscopic simulation of this phenomenon has now been carried out in graphene devices.

    • Roshan Krishna Kumar
    Nature Physics, 1-2

  • Comments & Opinion |

    Past and present chairs of the Division of Particles and Fields of the American Physical Society explain how the high-energy physics community in the US decides the priorities for research through regular planning exercises that started 40 years ago at Snowmass, Colorado.

    • Joel Butler
    • , R. Sekhar Chivukula
    •  & Priscilla Cushman
    Nature Reviews Physics 4, 565-567

  • Editorial |

    We celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the discovery of the Higgs boson — a whopping 48 years after its prediction.

    Nature Physics 18, 721

  • Comments & Opinion |

    As we celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the discovery of the Higgs boson, CERN’s Director-General at that time reminisces about the years leading up to this milestone.

    • Rolf-Dieter Heuer
    Nature Physics 18, 722-724
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