24/07/2018

Event discusses the detection of mysterious particles.

Reproduction from the IMPA Science & Mathematics blog, published in O Globo, and coordinated by Claudio Landim.

Martín Makler , Brazilian Center for Physics Research (CBPF)

Carla Bonifazi , Physics Institute of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IF-UFRJ)

Dark matter and neutrinos are among the most enigmatic particles in nature. Neutrinos were discovered decades ago, but some of their properties don't quite fit into the standard theory of particle physics. They are the most abundant known particles with mass in the Cosmos and could even elucidate why the Universe doesn't have the same amount of matter as antimatter. Dark matter, on the other hand, has also been theorized for decades, but has never been detected. Without its presence, the most accepted theories to describe the Universe fall apart, but so far there is no confirmation of its existence. Both particles share the fact that they are difficult to detect, given their low interaction with matter. Today there is a great deal of theoretical and experimental work in these two areas, which will likely lead to a new generation of physical theories, and one of the most promising paths to this is conducting large experiments to detect and measure these particles.

A school dedicated to the detection of neutrinos and dark matter.

Neutrinos and dark matter have many connections, both in terms of their possible physical properties and their detection methods. They form some of the most interesting branches of activity in current physics. On the other hand, these subjects are generally understudied in Brazil, including in postgraduate physics courses, especially regarding their detection methods. Although there is Brazilian participation in neutrino experiments (including two on Brazilian soil!) and dark matter experiments, this participation is still timid on a global level. In view of this scenario, a school on the detection of these two types of particles, the School on Dark Matter and Neutrino Detection, will be held for the first time, from July 23 to August 3 at the International Center for Theoretical Physics – South American Institute for Fundamental Research (ICTP-SAIFR), in São Paulo. The school will bring together internationally renowned researchers (Brazilian and foreign) who will address these two topics in an integrated way, combining theory and experiment. This is a fundamental and innovative feature of the school, which will dedicate its first week to theoretical foundations and the second to detection methods and associated experiments, both ongoing and under construction or planning.

The school's objective is to provide participants with a foundation in neutrinos and dark matter, summarizing the state of the art in these fields and highlighting the major current questions that motivate theoretical and experimental work in these areas. In addition to lectures, the school will include practical sessions where participants will engage in activities interacting with researchers, and discussion sessions where students can engage more directly with instructors. In the second week, students will have 4 hours of hands-on experimental work in small groups. Each day, the group will work on a different experiment illustrating techniques used in major research projects, so that by the end of the school, participants will have completed 5 experiments. There will also be poster sessions where students will present their work.

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