Nuclear Theory for New Physics

The combined “standard models" of fundamental interactions and cosmology leave a number of questions about the observed universe without answer. Outstanding puzzles include the origin and nature of neutrino mass, the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe, and the nature of dark matter. Low-energy processes involving neutrinos, hadrons, and nuclei have the potential to shed light directly or indirectly on some of these great mysteries. Given the potentially very high impact of the experimental program of electroweak and Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) physics with nuclei and the crucial need for the corresponding theory, we propose a DTP focused on ‘nuclear theory for new physics’. Through lectures and problem-solving sessions this DTP will provide nuclear theory students the motivation and context for electroweak and BSM studies with nuclei as well as the basic theoretical and computational tools needed in these studies. This DTP aims to establish a common ground for nuclear theory students in different sub-communities interfacing in the study of electroweak and BSM physics with nuclei: phenomenology and Effective Field Theory, lattice QCD, and nuclear structure. The concepts and tools presented at this DTP will prepare the students to apply cutting edge methodologies to challenging problems in the field and to identify new directions.