ACFI Workshop - Primordial Black Holes: Theory Meets Experiment

Primordial Black Holes (PBHs) could play a relevant role in several physical phenomena: PBHs are particularly attractive as a macroscopic DM candidate, they might provide the seeds for the formation of the supermassive black holes that we observe in our universe today, and they might also be responsible for a fraction of the merger events detected by LIGO/Virgo, among other motivations. In addition, they also constitute unique probes of the inflationary phase, early universe physics associated to the smallest scales, and hidden BSM degrees of freedom which are almost inaccessible otherwise. 

The interest in PBHs has grown exponentially since the first detection of gravitational waves in 2015, where the existence of black holes was definitively established.  PBHs have since become one of the most prominent research topics in the field of high-energy physics.  The workshop aims to address questions related to PBH formation, Hawking radiation, experimental detection, and the role of PBHs in the Universe.

This three day workshop will host around 20 participants, giving most or all participants the opportunity to present their recent work as well as allowing time for informal discussion.  There will be no registration fee and we expect to be able to provide coffee breaks, lunches and a workshop dinner on Thursday night.  If you are interested in attending, please contact the organisers.

David Kaiser (MIT)
Stefano Profumo (UCSC)
Jane MacGibbon (University of North Florida) 
Yang Bai (University of Wisconsin–Madison)

Wednesday Sep 17 - Introductory and Other Topics

Thursday Sep 18 - Exploding PBHs and PBH Detection

Friday Sep 19 - PBH Formation

The workshop will (mostly) take place 4th floor of LGRT (the entrance is here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/twFsWsZ5MoKGEAHm9).  When you come up the elevator, the ACFI Theory wing is straight in front of you.

To facilitate local transport, if you can offer or need a ride from a nearby city or airport please fill in your information here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qe_IQQxFru_eag-ojVyZEIGrtzv7iQGHSNnmCiPvsHs/edit?usp=sharing

For those driving to Amherst, you can park on campus either at metered spaces ($1.60/hour, metered from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m) or in the parking garage ($1.85/hr, metered 24 hours per day).  For more information on parking, please see: https://www.umass.edu/transportation/parking

The nearest airport to UMass Amherst is Bradley International (BDL) about 1 hour's drive away, while Boston Logan International (BOS) is about 2 hour's drive away and has more flight options.  There are public transport options from/to these airports but they are generally not very good, so please fill in your information (see above) if you don't find a good option.

UMass Hotel (for those who want to be on site - has garage parking - may book out early)

The Black Walnut Inn (more airbnb like for those who prefer that boarding style)

Inn on Boltwood (can be expensive)

Comfort Inn (nice and likely going to be the cheapest option)

Courtyard by Marriott Hadley Amherst (median cost, but can also be expensive)

Homewood Suites by Hilton Hadley Amherst (median cost, but can be expensive)

Michael Baker (UMass - [email protected])

Andrea Thamm (UMass - [email protected] - Diversity Coordinator)

Joaquim Iguaz Juan (UMass - [email protected])

Mehr U Nisa (MSU - [email protected])

Kristi Engel (UMD - [email protected])

All participants are required to agree with the following code of conduct. Organisers will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.

Our workshop is dedicated to providing a harassment-free workshop experience for everyone, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion (or lack thereof). We do not tolerate harassment of workshop participants in any form.  Workshop participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the workshop at the discretion of the workshop organisers.