Search for ultra-light dark matter and gravitational waves using astronomical observations

In addition to the high-energy frontier, there exists a frontier that is characterized by ultra-light and ultra-weak phenomena. Detection of ultralight wave-like dark matter is an important aspect in addition to gravitational wave detection. When particle mass is extremely light, its de Broglie wavelength reaches the galactic scale. This makes detection possible through gravitational wave detection and radio astronomy observation methods. Phase transitions in the early universe may have left various topological defects. The evolution of first-order phase transitions or topological defects can produce a stochastic gravitational wave background. Recent advances in pulsar timing array astronomy (e.g., future square kilometer array SKA), Gaia astrometry observation for star positions, and detection by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) have led to the detection of gravitational wave phenomena and ultralight dark matter. With the further development of related experiments, better detection accuracy of ultra-light dark matter and gravitational wave related physics can be achieved, which will allow us to gain breakthrough understanding of the possible fundamental physical laws behind them.

Speaker: 
Jing Shu (PKU)
Place: 
KIAA-Auditorium
Host: 
Xian Chen
Time: 
Thursday, April 6, 2023 - 3:30PM to Thursday, April 6, 2023 - 4:30PM
Biography: 
Jing Shu is a Boya Distinguished Professor of Physics at Peking University. He obtained his PhD from the University of Chicago in 2008 and conducted postdoctoral research in Japan and Italy. From 2012 to 2022, he worked at the Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was awarded the Asian Achievement Award by the Global Chinese Society for Physics and Astronomy for his leading research on the breaking of fundamental symmetries in particle physics and cosmology. Professor Shu has been engaged in the research of particle physics and cosmology for a long time, and has made influential and original contributions in various fields such as Higgs physics, phase transition of the early universe, baryon asymmetry, dark matter, and quantum field theory methods. His research has resulted in 87 published papers, including 12 papers in Physical Review Letters (Phys. RevLett.) (2 selected as Editor's Picks), and 1 paper in Nature Astronomy, with over 4700 total citations as of March 2023.