Events at 402 Classroom Physics South Hall, Campus

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Abstract: The structure of the proton and other hadrons can be expressed in various ways, e.g. by considering non-local correlations between its constituents, or the distribution of fundamental properties like charge and energy inside it, which are encoded in its parton distribution functions (PDFs) and its form factors respectively. Fully characterizing hadron structure is important not only to properly describe how … Read More

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String theory generically predicts an “axiverse” of O(100) axion-like particles, spanning a vast range of masses (roughly 50 orders of magnitude). If the Pecci-Quinn Symmetry breaks before or during inflation, these axions, if not directly driving inflation, are present as scalar spectator fields throughout. While much recent attention has focused on ultralight axions as dark matter candidates, heavy axions nearer … Read More

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Abstract: We introduce a new class of smooth correspondences between Nakajima quiver varieties called split parabolic quiver varieties, and study their properties. We also construct some interesting operators in  equivariant K-theory of these varieties, and relate them to K-theoretic Hall algebra  and double Dyck path algebra. This is a joint work with Nicolle Gonzalez and Jose Simental.

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We describe an unexpected application of geometry of the space of gauge fields in two dimensional Yang-Mills theory, the subject of celebrated works of Narasimhan-Seshadri and Atiyah-Bott, to the active domain of research in condensed matter physics: the search for high-Tc superconductivity in exotic materials. Specifically, we shall clarify the meaning of the phenomenon of “magic angles” in the physics … Read More

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Jet substructure is a powerful tool for performing fundamental QCD tests in elementary particle collisions, and offers unique insight into the microscopic structure of the QGP in heavy-ion collisions. Defined as the energy-weighted cross section of particle pairs inside jets, the two-point energy-energy correlator (EEC) is a novel jet substructure observable probing the correlation of energy flow within jets. In … Read More

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Abstract: I will study planar, maximally supersymmetric 4d EFTs that reduce to \mathcal{N}=4 SYM at low energies and show that novel constraints arise from the six-point amplitude. By constructing the six-scalar amplitude and imposing supersymmetry together with standard tree-level factorization, assuming parity-even scalar contact terms, I find striking nonlinear relations among the four-point Wilson coefficients. These relations collapse much of … Read More

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Abstract: Sub-GeV dark matter is a well-motivated possibility. However, its feeble interactions make it hard to detect, often falling below experimental thresholds, requiring new detection ideas. In this talk I will describe two complementary, data-driven strategies to close in on light dark matter. First, I will show how large neutrino observatories can be repurposed to look for the cumulative imprint of … Read More

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Abstract: I will review the construction of the action of quantized Coulomb branches on critical cohomology of quasimap spaces from the previous talk, emphasizing essential features. Then I will sketch some conjectural features of this action, in particular the compatibility of geometric R-matrices with monopole and instanton scattering matrices. This is based on ongoing joint work with Tommaso Botta.

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Abstract: The categorical dimension of the second fundamental representation of \mathfrak{sl}_4 is q^4 + q^2 + 2 + q^{-2} + q^{-4}, which is the graded dimension of a vector space spanned by all partitions fitting in a 2 \times 2 box. The transpose operation preserves that set of partitions, and if instead of counting partitions (the trace of the identity) … Read More

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I will derive the analytic structure of the S-matrix for classical wave scattering on a Schwarzschild black hole in 4-dimensions. The argument relies on the analytic continuation of the gravitational potential, with the singularity behind the horizon playing a crucial role. We observe the emergence of Stokes phenomena leading to a surprising branch cut in the upper half plane, seemingly … Read More