Theoretical Physics

Sezione Fisica Teorica

Coordinator Prof.ssa Patrizia VITALE

The research activities of the Section span multiple areas of fundamental physics.
They are part of the specific initiatives of the theory division of INFN; the Section collaborates on experiments and projects of the Institution for the theoretical aspects. Its members are involved in national and European projects, including several COST Actions and one ERC project. The research topics cover the following areas, listed in alphabetical order.

  • Astroparticle physics and Cosmology
    • Inflation and primordial perturbations
    • Dark Matter in the early and local Universe
    • Astrophysical signatures of BSM (Beyond Standard Model) physics
    • High energy multimessenger astrophysics
    • Primordial nucleosynthesis and cosmological neutrinos
    • Primordial Black Holes and Gravitational Waves
  • Field and String Theories
    • Study of strongly interacting systems through symmetries, dualities, and internal consistency. Application of the holographic principle beyond AdS and study of conformal theories, including complex ones related to holography in flat and de Sitter spaces
    • String dualities between strong and weak coupling regimes, focusing on three main research lines:

 a) Supersymmetric quantum field theory

 b) Holography and quantum gravity

 c) String phenomenology and cosmology

  • General Relativity, Quantum Gravity and Quantum Spacetime
    • Classical general relativity and functional integrals in quantum gravity
    • Noncommutative geometry and quantum spacetime, event localizability and quantum observers
    • Low dimensional gravity models and holographic duality
    • Theoretical models of particle propagation in quantum spacetime
    • Astrophysical neutrinos as probes of the microscopic structure of spacetime
    • Decoherence of quantum systems induced by spacetime quantization
    • Implications of IR/UV mixing for experiments with cold atoms
  • Mathematical Methods in Gauge and Field Theories
    • Noncommutative Quantum Field Theory and Semiclassical Models, Quantum Symmetries
    • Groupoids in Gauge and Field Theories
    • Gauge Models for Quantum Gravity
  • Physics Education and History
    • The role of cognitive, metacognitive, and psychological factors in the teaching of Physics and Astronomy
    • Research in the history of physics (figures, instruments, foundations) and historical dissemination of physics
  • Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Information, and Foundations
    • Fundamental limits and quantum resources related to precision measurements, thermodynamic meaning of quantum resources 
    • Entanglement theory, decoherence and open quantum systems
    • Quantum complexity
    • Relativistic quantum information 
    • Quantum mechanics on non-Archimedean fields: invariant measures on p-adic Lie groups, composite quantum systems and entanglement on p-adic fields, applications in quantum information
  • Statistical Mechanics
    • Applications to Molecular Biology through physical models, computer simulations, machine learning, high-capacity data analysis. 3D architecture of the mammalian genome and links to gene regulation in health and disease: underlying physical and molecular mechanisms, applications in diagnostics and drug discovery for genetic diseases
    • Study of critical phenomena in neural networks and phase transitions in open quantum systems
  • Theory and Phenomenology of Fundamental Interactions
    • Analytical and numerical techniques and effective models in quantum field theory and gravity; conformal theories
    • Standard Model, its extensions, and astrophysical and cosmological applications
    • Heavy meson decays and CP symmetry violation in the charm sector
    • Decays of heavy mesons and CP violation in the charm sector
    • Neutrino physics
    • Scattering amplitudes and higher order radiative corrections for Collider Physics
    • Hadronic light-by-light contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon

 

LIST OF ACTIVITIES

The research topics involve the activities listed below in alphabetical order. Each activity may involve multiple independent research groups or individual researchers.

  • Astroparticle Physics and Cosmology
  • Field and String Theories
  • General Relativity, Quantum Gravity and Quantum Spacetime
  • Mathematical Methods in Gauge and Field Theories
  • Physics Education and History
  • Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Information, and Foundations
  • Statistical Mechanics and Complex Systems
  • Theory and Phenomenology of Fundamental Interactions