3:30 pm MCP 201
The standard model of particle physics has been remarkably successful in describing and predicting particles and their interactions. Nevertheless, overwhelming evidence suggests the need for new physics beyond the standard model, and each phenomenon may introduce a new scale. In this talk, I will explore the exciting possibilities of probing fundamental scales with new light particles below the electroweak scale, which shed light on the boundaries of diverse frontiers.
I will discuss the motivations for exploring new light particles, how the search for them encompasses various observations, and how they might manifest in data differently compared to heavy new physics scenarios. Subsequently, I will highlight the QCD axion in the GeV mass range, an uncharted yet testable possibility that arises naturally in theories solving the strong CP problem. The search for QCD axions requires a detailed analysis of high-intensity experiments, such as KOTO, NA62 and Belle II; LHC searches; and cosmological data, making it an excellent example of how new light particles can be probed through a variety of experimental techniques.