Physics & Astronomy Colloquium – Spring 2019 – Batell

Speaker: Brian Batell (University of Pittsburgh)

Title: Portals to the Dark Sector

Abstract: It is widely believed that most of the matter in the universe consists of new fundamental
particles beyond those comprising familiar matter. So far the evidence for this “dark matter” comes
from purely gravitational phenomena. Therefore, a basic open question is whether or not dark matter
has non-gravitational interactions with the known elementary particles. Even if dark matter does not
experience the known forces of nature (strong, weak, and electromagnetic), it may still interact through
a so-called “portal” interaction connecting the dark sector to ordinary matter. In this talk I will introduce
the basic theoretical framework for dark sectors and portals. I will also highlight the growing experimental
program to search for a variety of novel phenomena associated with portals and dark sectors.

Speaker Biography: TBA

Homepage: TBA