-> Please note that the ASTER workshop has been postponed to Fall 2026.
Axions have become a central focus in contemporary particle physics and cosmology, emerging as theoretically well-motivated dark matter candidates that naturally arise from solutions to the strong CP problem. They provide a unique bridge between the visible and dark sectors, connecting high-energy theory, early-universe cosmology, and a broad range of experimental frontiers. As a result, searches for axions and axion-like particles now span precision laboratory experiments, large-scale astrophysical observations, and collider studies, forming one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving research programs in the quest to identify the nature of dark matter.
New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) and Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU) will host a two-day workshop: Axion Searches at TeV Era (ASTER) Alliance. The workshop will focus on the interplay between astrophysical observations, high-energy collider searches, and advanced haloscope technologies in exploring axion parameter space. By integrating perspectives across subdisciplines, the workshop aims to discuss prospects for discovery and to inform coordinated strategies for advancing axion searches in the coming decade.
The workshop will include keynote presentations as well as contributed talks from participants across all subfields of axion physics. We invite the submission of abstracts from the research community engaged in theoretical model-building, numerical simulations, observational and laboratory experiments, and collider phenomenology related to axion and axion-like particle physics. Selected contributions will be presented to an audience of leading researchers and practitioners in the field, facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering collaborative research initiatives.
Plenary Speakers:
- Qaisar Shafi (University of Delaware, US)
- Claudio Gatti (INFN, Frascati, Italy)
- Giacomo Polesello (INFN, Pavia, Italy)
- Sebastian Ellis ( King's college, London, UK)