Origin of Matter Domination in the Universe

The cosmic matter-antimatter asymmetry represents one of the main open puzzles in particle physics and cosmology. Since Andrei Sakharov identified in 1967 the necessary ingredients for baryogenesis, which is a mechanism to generate a cosmic matter-antimatter asymmetry, many exciting theoretical developments have taken place in the field.

This two-week school will introduce graduate students (and young researchers not familiar with this field) to topics related to baryogenesis. This is a rich field which involves cosmology, particle physics and some specific calculational techniques, such as finite-temperature field theory. The school will cover topics including basic cosmology of the early Universe, the observational evidences for the existence of a cosmological matter-antimatter asymmetry (big bang nucleosynthesis, cosmic microwave background), the standard model of particle physics and its extensions, ingredients and mechanisms for baryogenesis, ways to test the models (e.g. CP violation in electric dipole moment of electron/neutron, gravitational wave production from first order phase transition), calculational methods and more specialized topics which relate the puzzle of the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry to other open puzzles like neutrino mass and dark matter. Although the school focuses on topics related to baryogenesis, it will also cover basic topics in cosmology and particle physics pertaining to the early Universe that are important whether the participant aspires to work as a particle physicist, a cosmologist or both.

There is no registration fee and limited funds are available for travel and local expenses.

Announcement:

Online application will be available by the end of May

Organizers:

• Chee Sheng Fong (Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Brazil)
• Enrico Nardi (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Italy)
• Rogerio Rosenfeld (ICTP-SAIFR, Brazil)
• Géraldine Servant (DESY, Hamburg, Germany & II. Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Hamburg, Germany)

• Mikhail Shaposhnikov (EPFL, Switzerland): Cosmology and evidences of matter-dominated Universe
• Yossi Nir (Weizmann Inst., Israel): The Standard Model of particle physics, its extensions and the ingredients for baryogenesis
• Mikko Laine (Bern U., Switzerland): Thermal field theory, phase transitions and thermal rates
• Thomas Konstandin (DESY, Germany):  Electroweak baryogenesis: models, calculations and experimental constraints
• Thomas Hambye (Brussels U., Belgium): Leptogenesis and neutrino mass
• Iason Baldes (Brussels U., Belgium): Alternative mechanisms: Affleck-Dine, asymmetric dark matter

Announcement:

Online application will be available by the end of May

BOARDING PASS: All participants, whose travel has been provided or will be reimbursed by ICTP-SAIFR, should bring the boarding pass  upon registration. The return boarding pass (PDF, if online check-in, scan or picture, if physical) should be sent to secretary@ictp-saifr.org by e-mail.

COVID-19: Fully vaccinated Brazilians and foreigners are required to present proof of vaccination, printed or electronically before boarding an international flight. Not vaccinated and not fully vaccinated passengers have to present a medical certificate with a negative test result before entering the country. Tests should be taken up to 24 hours before boarding.

Visa information: Nationals from several countries in Latin America and Europe are exempt from tourist visa. Nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan and USA are exempt from tourist visa until October 1st, 2023. Please check here which nationals need a tourist visa to enter Brazil.

Accommodation: Participants, whose accommodation will be provided by the institute, will stay at The Universe Flat. Hotel recommendations are available here.

How to reach the Institute: The school will be held at ICTP South American Institute, located at IFT-UNESP, which is across the street from a major bus and subway terminal (Terminal Barra Funda). The address which is closer to the entrance of the IFT-UNESP building is R. Jornalista Aloysio Biondi, 120 – Barra Funda, São Paulo. The easiest way to reach us is by subway or bus, please find instructions here.