Abstract: “I will discuss the one-loop divergence structure of effective field theories from Z3 and Z7 orbifold compactifications of the heterotic string in the U(1)K superspace formalism and its regularization through the use of Pauli-Villars fields.The conformal and chiral anomalies for the two theories are determined in this scheme by matching the chiral anomaly to string calculations. In particular, I … Read More

Abstract: The production of Higgs boson pairs at hadron colliders may allow for direct measurements of the trilinear Higgs coupling in the future. Deriving reliable theoretical predictions for this process is, however, uniquely challenging because it is induced by loops of heavy quarks instead of tree-level couplings. Only recently a full fixed-order NLO prediction has become available and thus led … Read More

Abstract: Most current dark matter detection strategies, including both direct and indirect efforts, are based on the assumption that the galactic dark matter number density is quite high, allowing for the detection of rare events. Such a paradigm arises naturally if the dark matter self-interactions are weak. However, strong interactions within the dark sector give rise to large composite objects … Read More

Abstract: General relativity—Einstein’s theory of gravitation—has been studied for more than 100 years. Over the past century, we have learned that the theory agrees with all available experimental and observational tests. At the same time we know that the theory is incomplete, as it leads to inconsistencies when coupled with quantum mechanics. The strong-field regime is our best hope to … Read More

Abstract: The next generation of axion direct detection experiments may rule out or confirm axions as the dominant source of dark matter. In this talk I will describe how to develop a general likelihood-based framework for studying the time-series data at such experiments to search for signatures of the QCD axion or axion like particles. I will illustrate how in … Read More

Abstract: Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could use the same variational approaches familiar from quantum mechanics to study quantum field theories? We can, of course; the real question is how do we do this efficiently? In this talk I will discuss the recent revival of approximate Hamiltonian diagonalization as a means to numerically study field theories, both of the … Read More

Abstract: Self-Destructing Dark Matter (SDDM), a new class of dark matter models will be presented In this class of models, a component of dark matter can transition from a long-lived state to a short-lived one by scattering off of a nucleus or an electron in the Earth. The short-lived state then decays to Standard Model particles, generating a dark matter … Read More