The search for axion dark matter

by Benjamin Safdi

Thursday 16 Jul 2026, 16:30 → 18:00 Europe/Zurich

500/1-001 - Main Auditorium (CERN)

Axions are some of the best-motivated beyond the Standard Model particle candidates at present. These ultralight particles may account for the cosmological dark matter and explain other outstanding problems in nature, such as the strong-CP problem; they also are now known to emerge generically in string theory.  Axions are expected to couple ultra-weakly with ordinary matter, which complicates their detection. However, thanks to recent theoretical, experimental, and observational progress these particles may be discovered or ruled out within the near future. I will review some of the recent ideas that may soon play a role in axion discovery, including lumped-element axion detection and novel observational signatures of axions that emerge in extreme astrophysical environments such as supernovae.

 

 

Coffee and tea will be served at 16h

Organised by : Alexander Zhiboedov