SLAC topics

Theoretical physics RSS feed

SLAC theorists explore particle physics, particle astrophysics and cosmology, including searches for new phenomena, extra dimensions, collider physics, neutrino physics, dark matter and cosmic inflation.

 Blackboard with equations.

News Feature

A new center brings astrophysics, data science, and AI together to answer some of the universe’s biggest questions.

A rendering of a galaxy.
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His wide-ranging curiosity, original way of looking at problems and sheer joy in solving them drove many important contributions to particle physics. 

SLAC theoretical physicist James D. "BJ" Bjorken
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SLAC experimentalists and theorists collaborate to develop critical detector components, data analysis tools, and theoretical models for the HL-LHC upgrade, which will investigate the...

Eight pipes arrayed in a circle lead to a central experimental apparatus.
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Together with two long-time collaborators, he is recognized for work that helps us understand the strong nuclear force.

A man standing in front of a chalkboard.
News Brief

Bernhard Mistlberger will receive the APS's 2023 Henry Primakoff Award for Early-Career Particle Physics for his work on precision Standard Model calculations.

A man smiles at the camera.
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Toro and Schuster are being recognized for their contributions to the design of experiments that use particle accelerators to search for dark matter particles.

SLAC physicists Natalia Toro and Philip Schuster
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The research could lead to a better understanding of extreme astrophysical environments and the development of compact high-energy radiation sources for science.

high-energy electrons strengthen magnetic fields
News Brief

Bernhard Mistlberger has developed new methods to make Standard Model predictions more precise than ever. The European Physical Society recently awarded him the 2021...

A white man with dark hair.
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An analysis of the first three years of Dark Energy Survey data is consistent with predictions from the current best model of the universe...

An observatory bathed in red light against a starry night sky
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Rebecca Leane and colleagues showed dark matter could heat planets in our galaxy to incredible temperatures. Here, she explains how that works and how...

Portrait of Rebecca Leane
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For the first time, DES scientists can combine measurements of the distribution of matter, galaxies, and galaxy clusters to advance our understanding of dark...

A map of the sky showing the density of galaxy clusters, galaxies and matter
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SLAC cosmologists are using multiple images of the same quasars, produced by massive galaxies’ gravitational pull, to calibrate cosmic distances. Their work may help...

Light from a distant quasar bends around a galaxy, creating four images of the quasar.