Nonrelativistic bound states lie at the core of quantum physics,
permeating the fabric of nature across diverse realms, spanning particle
to nuclear physics, and from condensed matter to astrophysics. These
systems are pivotal in addressing contemporary challenges at the forefront
of particle physics. Characterized by distinct energy scales, they serve
as unique probes of complex environments. Historically, their
incorporation into quantum field theory was fraught with difficulty until
the emergence of nonrelativistic effective field theories (NREFTs).

In this talk, we delve into the construction of a potential NREFT
(pNREFT), a framework that directly tackles bound state dynamics
reimagining quantum mechanics from field theory.
Focusing on heavy quarkonia, pNRQCD facilitates systematic definitions and
precise calculations for high-energy collider
observables. At the cutting edge, we investigate nonrelativistic bound
states in intricate environments, like the newly discovered exotics X, Y,
Z  above the strong decay threshold and the behavior in out-of-equilibrium
scenarios, such as quarkonium suppression in a Quark Gluon Plasma or dark
matter interactions in the early universe.

Our ability to achieve precision calculations and control strongly
interacting systems is closely linked to bridging perturbative methods
with nonperturbative tools, notably numerical lattice gauge theories.

In recent years, new theories of particle physics have been discovered whose short-distance behaviour is controlled by an interacting (rather than a free) UV fixed point. The very existence of these asymptotically safe particle theories has opened up new directions to UV-complete the Standard Model of particle physics beyond the paradigm of asymptotic freedom. In this talk, I give a systematic overview of QCD-like theories with weakly and strongly coupled fixed points, with and w/o supersymmetry, and discuss key features. Concrete applications for BSM physics are also given. If time permits, I briefly outline how some of these ideas and insights are used to understand the quantisation of gravity.

Biography:
Dr. Robert A. Stokes is an alumnus of our department, having received his B.S. He went on to Princeton and received a M.A. and a Ph.D. in Physics. During that time he was involved in the early experiments which detected the Cosmic Microwave background.
He recently retired from his position as President as President and CEO of Versa Power Systems, Inc. a joint venture of GTI, EPRI, Fuel Cell Energy, Inc. and the University of Utah. Under his leadership, FCE and Versa were awarded a $139 Million contract by the USDOE as part of the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA). More recently Versa Power partnered with the Boeing Company on a DARPA project to develop a revolutionary SOFC electricity storage unit that enables the Vulture solar powered aircraft to complete multi-year high altitude missions without refueling. On December 20, 2012 FuelCell Energy, Inc. acquired all of Versa Power’s capital stock.

   Before leading Versa Power Dr. Stokes was Senior Vice President of the Gas Technology Institute of Chicago. From 1988-1995, he was Deputy Director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and was responsible for major research programs in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and private industry to speed the commercial adoption of breakthrough technologies. From 1990-1995, he was also a vice president of the Midwest Research Institute, the operating contractor for NREL.
Prior to his work at NREL, Dr. Stokes was Director of the Applied Physics Center at Battelle, Pacific Northwest laboratories where he directed the activities of a staff of 300 engineers and scientists engaged in energy and technology related R&D. Before joining Battelle, he was an associate professor of physics at the University of Kentucky.