Abstract

The Standard Model of particle physics provides the foundation of modern high energy physics. Nevertheless, it is not without its shortcomings, as it fails to address several critical issues. Firstly, it lacks a viable candidate for dark matter. Further, there are a few tiny parameters, such as the strong CP phase, which remain to be explained. These deficiencies strongly suggest the existence of new physics beyond the Standard Model. The search for new physics typically falls into two categories: extending the scientific goals of existing large-scale experiments or building new small-scale experiments with dedicated targets. In this talk, I will provide an overview of recent research efforts pursued by my group based on both of these strategies. Specifically, I will discuss how to repurpose the LIGO gravitational wave detectors and the Event Horizon Telescope as tools to search for new ultralight particles, such as dark photons and axions. Additionally, I will explore the developments of small-scale table-top experiments featuring state-of-the-art quantum sensing techniques for dark matter research, including DM Radio and AMAILS.

 

Biosketch

Yue Zhao got his Bachelor's degree from Peking University in 2007 and his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 2012. Following this, he held postdoctoral positions at Stanford/SLAC and the University of Michigan before joining the University of Utah as an Assistant Professor in 2018. Yue's research covers a wide range of subjects, with a particular emphasis on innovative strategies to searching for dark matter and exploring new physics beyond the particle Standard Model.

Additionally, he leads the LIGO gravitational wave group at the University of Utah. As a theorist, he collaborates closely with experimentalists.