DEPP: An Overview
1. Scientific profile
The Department of Elementary Particle Physics (DEPP) operates in AIP since 1952 traditionally working in the areas of particle theory, cosmic ray
physics and high energy physics on accelerators. The sphere of activity of the Department had covered in the past many branches of particle physics
including weak interactions of mesons and baryons, elastic and inelastic hadron processes at high and superhigh energies, high multiplicity hadron
processes etc. Since 70-ies the DEPP was recognized as one of leading centers in elementary particle physics in the former Soviet Union.
In the later years the theoretical research at the DEPP was largely related to unified theories of quarks and leptons, grand unification and
superunification, superstring phenomenology, local and global conservation laws, extra space-time dimensions. Members of the theory
group have made a number of important contributions, such as an introduction of the horizontal SU(3) symmetry for quark-lepton families
and its applications to the flavor mixing of quarks and leptons, the model building providing natural solution to doublet-triplet problem in
Supersymmetric Grand Unified Theories, an elaboration of the brane models with large and infinite extra space-time dimensions,
study of the spontaneous violation of relativistic invariance at the small distances and its physical and astrophysical consequencesand many others.
As to experimental research at the Department, the scientific program in cosmic ray physics is presently dominated by the successful study of the
primary content of the cosmic rays traveling through the cosmological distances, while the experimental research on accelerators is virtually
determined by the DEPP participation in the ALICE, ATLAS and CMS experiments at LHC (CERN). In this connection, a number of the original
methodical approaches were suggested for the processes being expected to be observed.
2. People
There are 25 research scientists and assistants including 5 associate members related to the present DEPP activity. Some of
the former Department members permanently work now at the Western scientific centers or are in the long-term visits:
Zurab Berezhiani (Aquila U. & Gran Sasso)
Giorgi Dvali (New-York U. & CERN & MPI)
Ilia Gogoladze (AIP & U. of Delaware)
Oleg Kancheli (ITEP, Moscow)
Archil Kobakhidze (AIP & U. of Sydney)
Teimuraz Lomtadze (INFN, Pisa & CERN)
Avtandil Kharchilava (Fermilab & CERN)
Ia Iashvili (Fermilab & CERN)
Edisher Tskhadadze (AIP && JINR & CERN)
3. Collaboration
The Department has a long-run collaboration with colleagues from Western and Russian scientific centers including CERN, Fermilab,
Brookhaven and JINR in experiment, while Niels Bohr Institute, University of Glasgow, Universities of Maryland, Melbourne, Sydney,
Delaware University and Helsinki in theory.
Presently, the DEPP is deeply involved in the main experiments at CERN in the framework of the ATLAS and CMS collaborations (study of new physics, data analysis, physics simulation etc).
4. Conferences organized
The DEPP was organizer or co-organizer of a number of the International meetings on Particle Physics in Georgia. The most important were:
(i) Annual USSR Winter Schools on Particle Physics and Cosmology (Bakuriani, Georgia, 1970-1990);
(ii) The XVIIIth Rochester Conference on High Energy Physics (Tbilisi, 1976);
(iii) International Seminars "Quarks" (Tbilisi, 1982-1986);
(iv) George Chikovani Memorial Conference on High-Energy Physics (Tbilisi, 1988);
(v) International Workshop "Standard Model and Beyond" (Tbilisi, 1996);
(vi) International Workshop "Low Dimensional Physics and Gauge Principles"
(Tbilisi, 2011).
5. Teaching
The DEPP has a strong tradition and experience of work with MSc and PhD students. The lecture courses on the basics of the particle physics,
such as "Introduction to Special and General relativity", "Quantum Mechanics", "Quantum Fields – Theory and Applications", "Standard
Model and Beyond" and others are regularly going on at the Department. Most of students had successfully occupied postdoctoral positions at
universities of Europe and USA after the completion of their study at the Department. Over 30 young scientists were prepared by the DEPP for the
research work in particle physics, both in theory and experiment, during the last decade.
6. Epilogue
Presently, the Department of Elementary Particle Physics of AIP belongs to the top 500 major high-energy physics and astrophysics institutions in
the World. This and other infrmation including the DEPP publications (over 1700 since 80-ies), the experiments in which the Department
participate and people involved can be found at the regular HEP website:
http://inspirehep.net/
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Members of Department
I. Theoretical Particle Physics
Principal Researcher
Senior Researchers:
II. Experiment
Senior Researchers:
III. Engineers and Technical personnel
IV. Associate Members
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