Seminar :: January 31 :: Luca Visinelli

From Darkness to Discovery: Tracing the Footprints of Dark Matter

Luca Visinelli

Tsung-Dao Lee Institute (TDLI) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Abstract

Despite the recent progresses in precision cosmology, the elusive nature of dark matter persists as a mystery. This presentation explores the global efforts to probe dark matter in the form of particles, particularly light bosons like the QCD axion. I delve into recent advancements in the theory, astrophysics, and phenomenology of the QCD axion, elucidating its potential contributions to the dark matter budget based on factors such as the axion mass, production mechanism, and early Universe history. Emphasizing upcoming search strategies, I highlight the evolving landscape of experiments poised to unveil the existence of QCD axions in the coming years.

Biography

I am currently an Associate Professor in physics at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, holding a joint position at the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute. Prior to this, I completed my graduate studies at The University of Utah in Salt Lake City (USA) and subsequently held postdoctoral positions at various prestigious institutes in Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden. My research activities encompass a wide range of topics within particle astrophysics, including investigations into dark matter, dark energy, and black holes. My primary focus lies in exploring the intriguing role of light bosons as potential dark matter candidates, addressing the Hubble tension, and unraveling the implications of black hole physics in cosmology.