Title: D-Branes: Perturbative And Non-Perturbative Applications To SUSY Gauge Theories.

Alberto Lerda

In these lectures we discuss the general properties of D-branes and their applications in the study of supersymmetric gauge theories. We focus in particular on SQCD-like models with N=2 supersymmetry realized with D-branes at orbifold singularities, and analyze both their perturbative and non-perturbative features. We also discuss the role of D-instantons in these models and their relation to gauge instantons.

Schedule:
1/03/2012 11:00-13:00 Room 208
2/03/2012 11:00-13:00 Room 410B
5/03/2012 12:00-13:30 Room 208
7/03/2012 15:30-17:30 Room 208
9/03/2012 10:00-12:00 Room 220

Title: D-Branes and Black Holes.

Costas Bachas

Schedule:
27/02/2012 11:45-13:30 Room 208
28/02/2012 15:00-17:00 Room 410B
29/02/2012 11:00-13:00 Room 208

Title: Mini Introduction to CFT.

Rodolfo Russo

I will provide a short and basic introduction to Conformal Field Theories by following Di Francesco, Mathieu and Sénéchal book. In particular, I will focus on Sections 2.4, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2.

Schedule:
20/02/2012 15:00-17:00 Room 226
21/02/2012 15:00-17:00 Room 226

Title: Exact Results in SUSY

Brian Wecht

In this series of lectures, I will describe how to use techniques from holomorphy to get exact results in four-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric theories. I will cover non-renormalization theorems, dynamically generated superpotentials, classical and quantum moduli spaces of super QCD with different numbers of flavors and colors, Seiberg duality, a-maximization, and the basics of superconformal field theories (and when applicable, their gravity duals).

Schedule:
23/11/2011 16:00-18:00 Room 208
24/11/2011 11:00-13:00 Room 208
30/11/2011 16:00-18:00 Room 208
 1/12/2011 11:00-13:00 Room 208
 8/12/2011 11:00-13:00 Room 208

Title: An Introduction to Particle Phenomenology, (with a pro-SUSY bias)

Gabriele Ferretti

I will give an elementary introduction to particle physics phenomenology, with particular attention to the theoretical issues that are relevant for the LHC program. The discussion will be aimed at people not working in the area, so very little background will be assumed. The first three hours will be devoted to a short introduction to collider physics, a cursory look at the Standard Model and a closer look at the Electro-Weak breaking mechanism, discussing e.g. the various expectations on the Higgs mass. The following two hours will concentrate on the attempts of going beyond the Standard Model using Supersymmetry. I will present the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, discuss its physical content and some of the most distinct experimental signatures. The last hour will deal with the issue of Supersymmetry breaking.

Schedule:
08/11/2011 11:00-13:00 Room 609
10/11/2011 11:00-13:00 Room 208
11/11/2011 11:00-13:00 Room 609

Title: Semiclassical N-Point Correlators In The Context Of Gauge/Gravity Duality

Rodolfo Russo

After a short review of the AdS/CFT correspondence and of n-point correlators in the supergravity approximation we will discuss some recent progress on the calculation of correlation functions involving operators dual to massive string states with large charges. An interesting weak/strong coupling agreement of 3-point functions will also be discussed. Finally, we will mention some puzzling discrepancies, as well as some open problems.

Schedule:
06/10/2011 11:00-12:00 Room 208
07/10/2011 11:00-12:00 Room 410

George Georgiou

Schedule:
10/10/2011 14.00-16.00 Room 410,
12/10/2011 11.00-13.00 Room 410,
13/10/2011 11.00-13.00 Room 208.