Light dark sectors and dark matter (DM) have attracted increasing interest in the past decade, resulting in a fruitful activity on the theoretical, phenomenological and experimental sides. The room for progress and new ideas in this field is still large, as testified for example by the recent identification of several new astrophysical probes of sub-GeV DM, like those linked to Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). Independently of DM, recent high-energy neutrino observations from AGN such as TXS 0506+056 and NGC 1068, together with their electromagnetic counterparts, have received a strong interest in the multi-messenger community. These observations are still not well understood via Standard Model processes and standard astrophysical background expectations, which has stimulated discussion around the possibility that dark sectors beyond the Standard Model (BSM) may be present at these sources. Even when interpreting these observations with standard astrophysical models, it has been demonstrated that multi-messenger AGN data have the potential to set world-leading constraints on well-motivated models of DM, and even to lead to their discovery. The realization of this potential hinges on refining the studies of AGN probes of dark sectors, as well as on advancing our knowledge of AGN themselves and of DM around them.
All these fields have started to attract increasing interest in very recent years, but we have only scratched the surface of their needed cross-fertilization.
This IFPU focus week is intended to bring together a community of experts in AGN observations and multi-messenger modeling, in super-massive black holes and DM around them, as well as in BSM phenomenology. The goal will be to shed light on recent results and to identify and start exploring future avenues, where mutual collaborations could lead to significant advancements in knowledge.
In person participation will be by invitation-only, but the workshop will be broadcasted in zoom for for anyone interested at these coordinates:
We look forward to welcoming you in Trieste and in zoom!
