Recentcern$$p\bar p$$ collider data on anomalousZ° events suggest, among other possibilities, a composite structure for the weak intermediate vector bosons. We present a short review of these developments and examine how far the scenario for weak interactions with such composite models of the weak vector bosons presents a viable alternative to the standard electroweak theory. In particular, we show how the scale of the dynamics underlying the composite structure is set by the magnitude of the weak mixing angle sin²θ_w and point out the possibility of accommodating the anomalous$$Z^ \circ - l\tilde l\gamma $$ decay events presently observed within this picture.

A modification of the Wick-Cutkosky equation for the relativistic bound state of two scalar particles interacting through the exchange of a massless scalar field within the ladder approximation has been considered by incorporating the self-energy diagrams in the integral kernel. An exact analytical solution of the equation is obtained at vanishing total energy and it is shown that the self-energy effects generally diminish the eigenvalues in agreement with the findings of Liet al, who, however solved the equation numerically for the case of massive scalar exchange. An additional feature of the modified equation is that it preserves the 0(5) symmetry at zero total energy as was first noted by Cutkosky for the scalar bound state equation without self-energy effects.

We study high energy photon production from a quark-gluon plasma at finite baryon density. We find that the photon production spectrum from the quark-gluon plasma maintained at constant temperature is only mildly dependent on the quark chemical potential.

The astroparticle physics working group witnessed intense discussion and activity covering a broad range of topics ranging from supergravity and baryogenesis to compact stars and the large scale structure of the Universe. A summary of some of the subject areas in which collaborations were initiated during WHEPP-5 is presented below.

The eigen frequencies of radial pulsations of neutron stars are calculated in a strong magnetic field. At low densities we use the magnetic BPS equation of state (EOS) similar to that obtained by Lai and Shapiro while at high densities the EOS obtained from the relativistic nuclear mean field theory is taken and extended to include strong magnetic field. It is found that magnetized neutron stars support higher maximum mass whereas the effect of magnetic field on radial stability for observed neutron star masses is minimal.

We study chiral symmetry structure at finite density and temperature in the presence of external magnetic field and gravity, a situation relevant in the early Universe and in the core of compact stars. We then investigate the dynamical evolution of phase transition in the expanding early Universe and possible formation of quark nuggets and their survival.

Recently there have been important developments in the determination of neutron star masses which put severe constraints on the composition and equation of state (EOS) of the neutron star matter. Here we study the effect of quark and nuclear matter mixed phase on mass radius relationship of neutron stars employing recent models from two classes of EOS’s and discuss their implications.

Though the predictions of the standard model (SM) are in excellent agreement with experiments, there are still several theoretical problems associated with the Higgs sector of the SM, where it is widely believed that some new physics will take over at the TeV scale. One beyond the SM theory which resolves these problems is the Little Higgs (LH) model. In this work we have investigated the effects of the LH model on $\gamma \gamma \rightarro \gamma \gamma$ scattering [1].