Collegium Helveticum
Switzerland
fellow
Matthias Neubert
2024-2025
Home institution
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, DE
Country of origin (home institution)
Germany
Discipline(s)
Mathematics; Science and technology studies; Science of matter; Sciences of the universe
Theme(s)
Education & Science; Future Studies
Fellowship dates
›
Biography
Matthias Neubert has been Professor of Theoretical High-Energy Physics at Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU) since 2006 and is the founding director of the Mainz Institute for Theoretical Physics (DE) since 2012. His research focuses on theoretical particle physics, strong interactions and collider physics, flavor physics, charge-parity violation, and physics beyond the Standard Model, with over 250 published papers. Since 2012, he has served as Spokesperson of the Cluster of Excellence PRISMA+ at JGU.
Matthias studied Physics and Mathematics at the University of Heidelberg (DE), earning his PhD in 1990. He was a research associate at SLAC, senior staff at CERN, and later professor and head of the theory group at Cornell University (US). He has also been a member at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton (US). He is adjunct professor at the University of Heidelberg (DE) and Cornell University (US).
Matthias is a member of the Mainz and Heidelberg Academies of Sciences and a fellow of the American Physical Society. He has received prestigious awards, including the Alexander von Humboldt Research Award (2005), the J. Hans D. Jensen Award (2010 and 2015), and two ERC Advanced Grants (2011, 2023).
Research Project
Effects of Quantum Electrodynamics in Rare Decays of B Mesons
During his fellowship, Matthias Neubert aims to improve the precision of calculations for rare decays of B meson. These processes are pivotal for two reasons: they enable the determination of key parameters within the Standard Model of particle physics and serve as sensitive probes for potential "new physics" beyond the Standard Model. With experiments like LHCb and Belle-II delivering increasingly precise data on rare B decays, it has become critical to account for electromagnetic (QED) effects in these processes. These effects, which involve real and virtual photons, provide insights into the inner structure of the B meson but have historically been challenging to estimate. Using modern tools grounded in effective field theory, Neubert’s group recently developed a novel method to calculate these effects from first principles, linking them to measurable properties of the B meson. He now seeks to extend this approach to more complex decays, involving other mesons in the final state—offering promising opportunities to uncover physics beyond the Standard Model.
Research Interests:
theoretical physics; theoretical particle physics; strong interactions and collider physics; flavor physics; charge-parity violation; physics beyond the Standard Model