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pythia-mcp

A specialized MCP server for particle physics that interfaces with the Lilith library to constrain Beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics using LHC Higgs boson measurements and signal strength data.

Tools
13
Updated
Jan 12, 2026

MCP Server CERN License Physics

TypeScript Python Lilith Higgs Claude


╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                                                                              ║
║   🔮  Named after the Oracle of Delphi, Pythia brings the power of          ║
║       particle physics to your AI assistant — enabling Claude to            ║
║       constrain new physics from LHC Higgs boson measurements.              ║
║                                                                              ║
║       ⚛️  Interface: Lilith library for Higgs phenomenology                  ║
║       📊  Data: ATLAS + CMS signal strength measurements                     ║
║       🔬  Physics: Beyond Standard Model constraints                         ║
║                                                                              ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

🚀 Quick Start · ⚛️ Physics · 🔧 Tools · 📖 Examples · 📚 Citations




🏛️ Built on Lilith

⚠️ IMPORTANT: This project is a wrapper around Lilith-2, a powerful Python tool developed by Sabine Kraml and collaborators at LPSC Grenoble. All physics calculations are performed by Lilith — Pythia simply provides an MCP interface.

⭐ Star the Original Lilith Repository and cite the Lilith papers in your research!




🎯 What is Pythia?

🔬 The Challenge

New physics theories predict
modified Higgs couplings...

But how do we test them
against LHC data?

❌ Complex calculations
❌ Multiple decay channels
❌ Statistical combinations
❌ Expert knowledge required

✅ Pythia Solution

Ask Claude in plain English:

"What constraints does LHC
 data place on a two-Higgs
 doublet model?"

✅ Lilith handles the math
✅ Signal strengths computed
✅ Constraints calculated
✅ Results explained clearly



⚛️ Physics Background

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                                                                             │
│                    THE 125 GeV HIGGS BOSON                                 │
│                                                                             │
│    Discovery: July 4, 2012 at CERN's Large Hadron Collider                 │
│                                                                             │
│    ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐         │
│    │                                                             │         │
│    │   Production Modes          Decay Channels                  │         │
│    │   ────────────────          ──────────────                  │         │
│    │   • ggF (gluon fusion)      • H → γγ (diphoton)            │         │
│    │   • VBF (vector boson)      • H → ZZ* → 4ℓ                 │         │
│    │   • WH, ZH (associated)     • H → WW* → ℓνℓν               │         │
│    │   • ttH (top associated)    • H → bb̄, ττ, μμ               │         │
│    │                                                             │         │
│    └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘         │
│                                                                             │
│    Signal Strength: μ = σ_observed / σ_SM_predicted                        │
│                                                                             │
│    μ = 1  →  Standard Model ✓                                              │
│    μ ≠ 1  →  New Physics! 🎉                                               │
│                                                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

📊 Reduced Couplings (κ-Framework)

CouplingSM ValueDescription
C_V1.0Coupling to W and Z bosons
C_t1.0Coupling to top quark
C_b1.0Coupling to bottom quark
C_τ1.0Coupling to tau lepton
C_g1.0Effective coupling to gluons (loop)
C_γ1.0Effective coupling to photons (loop)



🚀 Quick Start

📦 Installation

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/consigcody94/pythia-mcp.git
cd pythia-mcp

# Install Node.js dependencies
npm install

# Build TypeScript
npm run build

# Ensure Python dependencies are installed
pip install numpy scipy

⚡ Claude Desktop Configuration

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pythia": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/pythia-mcp/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "LILITH_DIR": "/path/to/pythia-mcp/lilith",
        "PYTHON_CMD": "python3"
      }
    }
  }
}

✅ Verify Installation

cd lilith
python run_lilith.py userinput/example_couplings.xml



🔧 Available Tools

🔬 Core Analysis

ToolDescription
compute_likelihoodCalculate -2 log(L) for BSM scenarios
compute_sm_likelihoodGet Standard Model reference
compute_pvalueCalculate p-value for model comparison
scan_1d1D parameter scan with likelihood profile
scan_2d2D scan for contour plots

📊 Data Management

ToolDescription
list_experimental_dataList datasets in Lilith database
search_hepdataSearch HEPData for new measurements
fetch_hepdata_recordDownload specific HEPData record
get_latest_higgs_dataFetch latest from all sources

🧪 Physics Models

ToolDescription
analyze_2hdmTwo-Higgs-Doublet Model analysis
analyze_singlet_extensionHiggs singlet extension
get_sm_predictionsSM cross sections & branching ratios
convert_to_signal_strengthConvert couplings to μ values



📖 Usage Examples

Example 1: Standard Model Check

"Use Pythia to compute the Standard Model likelihood and tell me if the Higgs data is consistent with the SM."

Example 2: BSM Scenario

"Calculate the likelihood for a model where the Higgs coupling to top quarks is 0.9 and to vector bosons is 1.1"

{
  "mode": "couplings",
  "Ct": 0.9,
  "CV": 1.1
}

Example 3: 2HDM Analysis

"Analyze a Type-II 2HDM with tan(β) = 2 and sin(β-α) = 0.99"

{
  "type": "II",
  "tanBeta": 2,
  "sinBetaMinusAlpha": 0.99
}

Example 4: Parameter Scan

"Scan the CV-CF plane from 0.8 to 1.2 with 50 steps each"

{
  "param1": {"name": "CV", "min": 0.8, "max": 1.2, "steps": 50},
  "param2": {"name": "CF", "min": 0.8, "max": 1.2, "steps": 50}
}



📊 Data Sources

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                                                                             │
│   ┌─────────────────┐  ┌─────────────────┐  ┌─────────────────┐            │
│   │  🔬 LILITH DB   │  │  📚 HEPDATA     │  │  🌐 CERN OPEN   │            │
│   │  ────────────── │  │  ────────────── │  │  ────────────── │            │
│   │  Run 1 (7+8TeV) │  │  Official HEP   │  │  Real collision │            │
│   │  Run 2 (13TeV)  │  │  data archive   │  │  data & MC      │            │
│   │  ATLAS + CMS    │  │  CERN/Durham    │  │  analysis code  │            │
│   └─────────────────┘  └─────────────────┘  └─────────────────┘            │
│                                                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘



🏗️ Architecture

pythia-mcp/
├── 📦 src/
│   ├── index.ts          # MCP server entry point
│   └── tools/            # Tool implementations
│
├── 🔮 lilith/            # Lilith library (bundled)
│   ├── run_lilith.py     # Main entry point
│   ├── userinput/        # XML input templates
│   └── data/             # Experimental database
│
├── 📦 dist/              # Compiled output
├── 📄 package.json
└── 📄 tsconfig.json



📚 Citations & Acknowledgments

📖 Required Citations

If you use Pythia for research, you MUST cite Lilith:

@article{Bernon:2015hsa,
    author = "Bernon, Jérémy and Dumont, Béranger",
    title = "{Lilith: A tool for constraining new physics from Higgs measurements}",
    journal = "Eur. Phys. J. C",
    volume = "75",
    pages = "440",
    year = "2015",
    doi = "10.1140/epjc/s10052-015-3645-9",
    eprint = "1502.04138",
    archivePrefix = "arXiv"
}

@article{Kraml:2019sis,
    author = "Kraml, Sabine and others",
    title = "{Lilith-2: Improved precision constraints}",
    year = "2019",
    eprint = "1908.03952",
    archivePrefix = "arXiv"
}

🙏 Special Thanks

Sabine Kraml & Lilith TeamLPSC Grenoble
ATLAS & CMS CollaborationsHiggs measurements
HEPData TeamDurham/CERN
AnthropicMCP Protocol



🔗 References

ResourceLink
Lilith-2github.com/sabinekraml/Lilith-2
Lilith PaperarXiv:1502.04138
HEPDatahepdata.net
CERN Open Dataopendata.cern.ch
LHC Higgs XS WGtwiki.cern.ch



📄 License

GNU General Public License v3.0

This project and Lilith are licensed under GPL v3 - see LICENSE for details.




🔮 PythiaSeeking Truth in the Higgs Sector


"The Higgs boson is the key to understanding the origin of mass in the universe."
— Peter Higgs


Made with dedication to open science and particle physics research


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