Electroweak Symmetry Breaking and BSM Physics (A Review)

Abstract

In this talk, I shall first discuss the standard model Higgs mechanism and then highlight some of its deficiencies making a case for the need to go beyond the standard model (BSM). The BSM tour will be guided by symmetry arguments. I shall pick up four specific BSM scenarios, namely, supersymmetry, Little Higgs, Gauge-Higgs unification, and the Higgsless approach. The discussion will be confined mainly on their electroweak symmetry breaking aspects.

Comments: 17 pages, 10 eps figs, Based on plenary talks at the International Conferences: WIN07, Kolkata, Jan'07, and WHEPP-10, Chennai, Jan'08. To appear in the WHEPP-10 proceedings (a special issue of PRAMANA)