|
Résumé |
In the Standard Model of particle physics, a condensate of the Higgs boson
determines the range of the weak nuclear force. However, one finds that quantum
corrections generically shift this range to a much smaller value than what is
observed. This "hierarchy problem'' can be solved by postulating that the Higgs
boson is a composite particle, made up of constituents which are tightly bound by
a new force. Such a framework necessitates that the closely related top quark is
also composite. After briefly discussing the modeling of such a mechanism, I will
describe in more detail how we can test this idea in a wide variety of
experiments. These signals of Higgs/top compositeness include direct production of
the associated new, heavy composite particles at the LHC, as well as modifications
of the properties of the Higgs boson and the top quark themselves due to their
composite nature. In this model, the idea of grand unification of the fundamental
forces works very well and also naturally leads to an exotic particle that may be
the dark matter of the universe. Such ambient dark matter can be detected and also
produced at colliders in distinctive ways. I will highlight how some of this
phenomenological work has triggered the development of novel experimental
strategies, which have subsequently found applicability even beyond testing this
framework. Time permitting, I will also briefly discuss the cosmological
transition from the phase where the relevant degrees of freedom are the
constituents of the Higgs boson to the one with bound states. |
