Effective Field Theory for Top and Weak Boson Physics

Effective field theory is the ideal framework for discussing top and weak boson properties. We discuss the application of this framework to top physics at both tree level and one loop. We consider weak boson pair production within an effective field theory framework, and argue that one need not be concerned with the violation of unitarity bounds at energies beyond the region where there are data.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures. Talk presented at the Hadron Collider Physics Symposium 2011 (HCP 2011), Paris, France, November 14-18, 201

Gauge Symmetries and Vector-Boson Self Interactions

I review why we believe the electromagnetic, strong, and weak interactions are gauge theories, and what this implies for the self interactions of the gauge bosons. The modern point of view regarding non-renormalizable effective field theories is emphasized.Comment: 15 pages, Revtex. Figures added. Published in the Proceedings of the International Symposium on Vector-Boson Self Interactions, AIP Conference Proceedings No. 350, edited by U. Baur, S. Errede, and T. Mulle

The Road Ahead

I describe the surrounding landscape on the road to the CERN Large Hadron Collider. I revisit the milestones of hadron-collider physics, and from them draw lessons for the future. I recall the primary motivation for the journey - understanding the mechanism of electroweak symmetry breaking - and speculate that even greater discoveries may await us. I review the physics that we know beyond the standard model - dark matter, dark energy, and neutrino masses - and discuss the status of grand-unified theories. I list the reasons why the Higgs boson is central to the standard model as well as to physics beyond the standard model.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures. Opening talk presented at the IV International Symposium on LHC Physics and Detectors, Fermilab, May 1-3, 200