Tao Han

  • Distinguished Professor of High Energy Physics
420B Allen Hall
(412) 624-2763

Research

My research field is in elementary particle physics theory, focusing on high-energy collider physics and in connection to astro-particle physics and cosmology. I formulate theoretical models of elementary particles and their interactions, and develop strategies to test the theory by experiments and observations. This research direction, bridging the abstract theory and experimental observation, is the field of Phenomenology.

The fundamental questions I have been contemplating on from theory, and seeking for an answer in experiments, include

  • The Higgs mechanism, electroweak symmetry breaking and mass generation
  • Fundamental forces and their unification
  • Symmetries and their breakdown: Gauge-, Super-symmetry, CP Violation etc.
  • Nature of particle Dark Matter
  • Neutrino mass generation
  • Property of Space-time
  • Quantum tomography and information in high-energy physics

I have been involved in the studies of the Higgs boson and associated physics for many years. The final discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2012 is a milestone and opens a window to physics beyond the Standard Model in the new frontiers. New facilities such as a "Higgs factory" and future lepton and hadron colliders of 10-TeV partonic c.m. energy would be called for to understand Nature to a deeper level. The discovery of neutrino mass and oscillation has stimulated the theoretical development for further understanding of many fundamental aspects in particle physics. Experiments and observation in cosmology and astro-particle physics have deeply reached the regime to probe the nature of dark matter and dark energy. Quantum Information Science has found direct connection and application in particle physics. Phenomenology is thus in a golden era and I am thrilled to play an active role in new discoveries associated with the above questions at the shortest distances of about 10-9 nm. 

For further details of my research and some excititng results, please visit my personal web site here.

Selected Publications

Here is my publication List, with citation statistics (InSPIRE).

Teaching Experience 

At Pitt, I have taught Introductory Physics 1 (PHYS 0110) and Physics 2 (PHYS 0111) in the Fall and Spring. The course syllabi can be found at the department course site HERE.

I have also taught the following graduate courses: (1). Quantum Mechanics II (PHYS 2566); (2). Introduction to Particle Physics (PHYS 3717); (3). Quantum Field Theory (PHYS 3765); Special topics on (4). "Particle Physics Phenomenology" (PHYS 3101) and, (5). "Collider Physics" (PHYS 3102). The course syllabi can be found at the department course site HERE.

Degree

PhD

Postdoctoral Affiliates

Zaha Tabrizi
Kun Cheng

Graduate Advisor

Francis Burk
Tong Wu
Juhun Kwak
Vatsalya Sharan
Harman Singh
Youle Su

Alumni Spotlight text

University of Wisconsin 1990; Dsitinguished Alumni in Physics 2025