Brent Nelson Assistant Professor PhD University of California, Berkeley, 2001 (617)373-2956 b.nelson@neu.edu

Research Summary:

My research interests lie in the area of high energy particle physics beyond the Standard Model. In particular, I am interested in theoretical considerations and phenomenology that may be indicative of string theory in low-energy observations. This field of research is still developing and is very likely to grow significantly in importance with the advent of the LHC and other forthcoming experiments. The wide variety of my investigations are all geared towards answering one fundamental question: what observational evidence can be marshalled to bolster the proposition that some particular string theory construction is a strong candidate for an underlying theory of all interactions?

To truly make contact with the observable world a candidate string model must succeed on three fronts: (1) it must produce the Standard Model gauge group, particle content and superpotential couplings; (2) it must allow for moduli stabilization and supersymmetry breaking that produces a realistic phenomenology; and (3) it must be capable of explaining any new physics signals found at the LHC and other upcoming experiments. My research seeks avenues of attack on each of these challenges.

Recent Publications :

1. Mary K. Gaillard and B.D. Nelson, "Kahler Stabilized, Modular Invariant Heterotic String Models", International Journal of Modern Physics A22 (2007) 1451. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0217751X07036439

2. J. Gray, Y. -H. He, V. Jejjala and B.D. Nelson, "Exploring the Vaccum Geometry of N=1 Gauge Theories", Nuclear Physics B750 (2006) 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2006.06.001

3. J. Gray, Y. -H. He, V. Jejjala and B.D. Nelson, "Vacuum Geometry and the Search for New Physics" Physics Letters B638 (2006) 253. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2006.05.026

4. Mary K. Gaillard and Brent Nelson, "On Quadratic Divergences in Supergravity, Vacuum Energy and the Supersymmetric Flavor Problem", Nuclear Physics B751 (2006) 75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2006.05.035

5. P. Binetruy, G.L. Kane, J. Lykken and B.D. Nelson, "Twenty-Five Questions for String Theorists" Journal of Physics G32 (2006) 129. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0954-3899/32/2/006

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