Dark Intersections

Scientific organizers:
Hendrik Bekker (Universität Mainz, Germany), Dmitry Budker (Universität Mainz, Germany), Derek Jackson Kimball (California State University, USA), Vera Schäfer (MPI for Nuclear Physics, Heidelberg, Germany), Arne Wickenbrock (Universität Mainz, Germany)

August 2 - August 7, 2026, Physikzentrum Bad Honnef, Germany
supported by

 

 

 

Dark matter and dark energy dominate the mass and energy density in the universe but their composition is still unknown. There are various experimental efforts to solve this “elephant-in-the-room” problem. Some of the promising techniques involve areas of physics that are not widely known to workers in the field and are rarely discussed in “dark-sector” conferences and schools. An example is searches for axionlike particles with a ferromagnetic phase in liquid 3He.

We will attempt to remedy this and several other similar gaps between seemingly disjunct research fields with this school for junior scientists, primarily, PhD students and postdocs on “Dark Intersections” ‒ the subdisciplines in physics that are used for the dark-sector and gravitational-wave research but are rarely studied in this context.

We have identified such areas and have considered, who might be the best lecturers for these topics. The consideration included leadership and highest level of expertise in the topic plus the known ability to deliver understandable lectures appropriately geared for the audience. We then contacted the five candidates to gauge their interest and potential availability. To our delight, all of them agreed to lecture in our school.

Lecturers:

• William Halperin (Northwestern University, USA): Spin-polarized 3He liquid (3 lectures) 
• Andrew Geraci (Northwestern University, USA): Fundamental physics with levitated systems (3 lectures) 
• Diego Blas (IFAE, Spain): High-frequency gravitational waves (3 lectures)
• Reina Maruyama (Yale University, USA): Rydberg atoms and fundamental physics (3 lectures)
• Claudio Gatti (INFN, Italy): Quantum enhancement of dark matter and gravitational wave searches (3 lectures)

FEES: 200 € full board and lodging (for DPG* members 100 € )
* The German Physical Society (DPG)

⇒ Special Offer for Train Tickets

Attention: There are some fake companies, which pretend to organize your stay in Bad Honnef. Please, be careful and do not reply to them. Your accommodation and full board will be provided exclusively by the Physikzentrum.