PPC 2025: XVIII International Conference on Interconnections between Particle Physics and Cosmology

Jun 23, 2025, 7:00 AM → Jun 28, 2025, 5:00 PM US/Mountain

Deadwood, SD

Registration fee is 450.00 USD 

Lodging room block/special rate extended. Availability is first come first serve. Make sure to mention the PPC Conference Room Block. 

The XVIII International Conference on Interconnections between Particle Physics and Cosmology (PPC 2025) hosted by The Institute of Underground Science at SURF, will take place the 23rd - 28th of June 2025 at the Cadillac Jack's Resort in Deadwood, South Dakota, USA. 

PPC 2025 is an event to bring together scientists from both experiments and theory associated with particle physics and cosmology to deliberate and explore the deep interconnections between the micro and macro-worlds, connecting the structures from the smallest to the largest in the universe.

Discussions and deliberations on the recent advances in high energy physics can enrich our understanding on the early universe based on the current observations, shedding light on the earliest evolution relating to the era of inflation to the one of dark energy, in particular, the form and nature of the dark matter, dark energy, the matter dominance of the universe, the relevance of neutrinos in the evolution of the universe, and also the formation of large scale structure. Similarly, the developments in the cosmic frontier in precision cosmology, high energy astrophysics, advances in observational astronomy can provide plausible directions and impetus in model building in particle physics and looking for signals in the high energy physics experiments both at the intensity and energy frontiers.

The intent of this conference is to be a captivating and dynamic forum for engaging, thought-provoking discussions, as well as a platform for the exchange of groundbreaking ideas at the intersection of nuclear physics, particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.

There will be plenary talks both in theory and experiments by invitation only. In addition, there will be parallel talks and a poster session. One can submit abstracts for the parallel and poster session (accepted abstracts will be intimated at an appropriate time). 

There is a provision for conference proceedings. The details will be provided during the conference. 

To help promote the conference please share this event and print the conference posters to display at your location. 

Local Organizing Committee:

Bhaskar Dutta – Texas A&M University  

Barbara Szczerbinska – Texas A&M University Corpus Christi

Jaret Heise – Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF)

Kaladi Babu – Oklahoma State University  

Louis Strigari – Texas A&M University

Stacie Granum – The Institute for Underground Science at SURF

 

 

DEADWOOD IN A DAY .pdf

PPC2025_11x17 large poster.pdf

PPC2025_8.5x11 small poster.pdf

Sanford Underground Research Facility Overview Video

The Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota Video

Video on The Institute for Underground Science at SURF

Mon, June 23 ¶

7:00 AM TIMETABLE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

1 Registration¶

2 Welcome by Sanford Underground Research Facility and The Institute at SURF¶

3 Plenary: Dark Matter Physics¶

Author: Nassim Bozorgnia
Presenter: Nassim Bozorgnia
Abstract: The search for dark matter is complicated due to the uncertainties in its distribution in the Milky Way. An accurate determination of the dark matter phase space distribution in the Solar neigh- borhood and throughout the galaxy is crucial for the correct analysis and interpretation of data from dark matter direct and indirect searches, respectively. High resolution cosmological simula- tions of galaxy formation provide important information on the properties of the dark matter halo. Combined with the information obtained from astronomical data, simulations can significantly im- prove our understanding of the dark matter distribution in the Milky Way and its subhalos. I will present the dark matter phase space distribution of Milky Way-like galaxies and their subhalos extracted from state-of-the-art hydrodynamical simulations. I will also discuss the implications for direct and indirect dark matter searches.

4 Plenary: Recent Results from the KM3NeT Neutrino Telescope¶

Author: Soebur Razzaque
Presenter: Soebur Razzaque
Abstract: KM3NeT is a deep-sea research infrastructure with the main goals of studying neutrinos from the atmosphere and from the cosmos. A dense array of optical detectors, called KM3NeT/ORCA, currently being deployed in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Toulon, France, will measure fundamental neutrino properties primarily using the atmospheric neutrinos. A sparser and larger array, called KM3NeT/ARCA is also under construction off the coast of Cape Passero, South-East of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, that is monitoring the sky for high-energy neutrinos from the cosmos. Both ORCA and ARCA use sea water as the detection volume where faint tracks of Cherenkov-light emitting particles, created by neutrino interactions, are detected by photo- multiplier tubes.
In this talk I will present the latest results on neutrino physics and astrophysics from the partially constructed KM3NeT/ORCA and KM3NeT/ARCA, covering neutrino mass ordering, nonunitary neutrino mixing, neutrino decays, and particularly the recent detection of an ultra-high-energy neutrino event, dubbed KM3-230213A. I will discuss the main features of this event, as well as the interpretations of the event in the context of the current global scope and the constraints it imposes on models of diffuse flux from astrophysical sources.

10:30 AM Coffee & Break

5 Plenary: The Search for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay by LEGEND-200: First Results¶

Authors: LEGEND Collaboration, Aparajita Mazumdar
Presenter: Aparajita Mazumdar
Abstract: Whether neutrinos are Majorana or Dirac in nature is an important open question in modern particle physics, which could provide insight on the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe. The observation of Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay (0νββ), a hypothesized Beyond Standard Model decay, would conclusively establish the Majorana nature of neutrinos and demonstrate lepton number violation. The search can also constrain the absolute mass scale of the neutrinos.
The LEGEND experimental program aims to have an ultimate discovery sensitivity to a 0νββ half- life beyond 1028 years for 76Ge, which improves upon the current limits by approximately 2 orders of magnitude. Currently, the first phase of the experiment, LEGEND-200 has acquired a year of stable data with 142 kg of enriched germanium detectors. In this talk, we’ll discuss the performance, first results and current status of LEGEND-200. We’ll also briefly discuss the status of the next phase of the experimental program, LEGEND-1000.
This work is supported by the U.S. DOE, and the NSF, the LANL, ORNL and LBNL LDRD programs; the European ERC and Horizon programs; the German DFG, BMBF, and MPG; the Italian INFN; the Polish NCN and MNiSW; the Czech MEYS; the Slovak RDA; the Swiss SNF; the UK STFC; the Canadian NSERC and CFI; the LNGS and SURF facilities.

6 Plenary: Recent Results from the PandaX Experiment and Future Plans¶

Author: Junting Huang
Presenter: Junting Huang
Abstract: PandaX is a dark matter and neutrino experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. The experiment uses a dual-phase liquid xenon TPC to search for dark matter particles and neutri- noless double-beta decay, as well as to detect astrophysical neutrinos. In this talk, recent results from the PandaX-4T experiment will be presented, including those from the latest dark matter searches, solar neutrino measurements, and neutrinoless double-beta decay searches. The plans of the PandaX program will also be discussed, including the next-generation PandaX-20T experiment.

7 Plenary: IceCube - The Experiment, Its Data and Science¶

Author: Xinhua Bai
Presenter: Xinhua Bai
Abstract: IceCube, a cubic kilometer neutrino observatory at the South Pole has accumulated an unprecedented amount of data since its completion in 2010-2011. Besides its primary science goal of neutrino astronomy, IceCube data support a variety of cutting-edge research in high-energy cosmic rays, particle interactions, neutrino physics, dark matter searches and more. This presenta- tion will review the status of the experiment and its scientific merits by highlighting several recent science results in the cosmic and energy frontiers. The on-going Upgrade and future IceCube Gen2 will be briefly introduced.

12:30 PM Lunch

8 Breakout Session¶

9 Breakout Sessions¶

10 Breakout Sessions¶

11 Breakout Sessions¶

12 Breakout Sessions¶

3:00 PM Coffee & Break

13 Poster Session¶

7:00 PM Reception

Tue, June 24 ¶

14 Plenary: Neutrino Models¶

Author: Bhupal Dev
Presenter: Bhupal Dev
Abstract: We will present an overview of neutrino mass models, covering Majorana, Dirac and quasi-Dirac possibilities, and their experimental signatures.

15 Plenary: The SNO+ Experiment¶

Author: Tereza Kroupova
Presenter: Tereza Kroupova
Abstract: SNO+ is a multi-purpose, low-background neutrino detector located at SNOLAB, Canada. Cur- rently filled with liquid scintillator, its physics programme includes measurements of solar, reac- tor, geo-, and potential supernova neutrinos. Preparations are underway to load natural tellurium into the scintillator to enable a search for neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ) in tellurium-130. This talk will highlight recent physics results, present the status of ongoing measurements, and outline the roadmap for the next phase of the experiment. It will conclude with a discussion of SNO+’s projected sensitivity to 0νββ and the outlook for future experimental developments.

16 Plenary: The Capture of Dark Matter in Stars¶

Author: Nicole Bell
Presenter: Nicole Bell
Abstract: The capture of dark matter in stars provides a cosmic laboratory in which to study the nature of dark matter particles and their interactions under extreme conditions. We discuss the capture of dark matter in neutron stars and white dwarfs, and the heating caused by the subsequent thermalization and annihilation of that dark matter. We find that most of the dark matter’s kinetic energy is rapidly deposited in the star. Moreover, capture-annihilation equilibrium, and hence maximal annihilation heating, can typically be achieved without complete thermalization of the captured dark matter. Comparing projected sensitivities with limits from direct detection experiments, we find that neutron stars and white dwarfs provide a possible means to probe dark matter interactions that would be difficult or impossible to observe in experiments on Earth.

10:30 AM Coffee & Break

17 Plenary: TBD¶

18 Plenary: TBD¶

19 Plenary: TBD¶

12:30 PM Lunch

20 Breakout Sessions¶

21 Breakout Sessions¶

22 Breakout Sessions¶

23 Breakout Sessions¶

24 Breakout Sessions¶

3:15 PM Coffee & Break

25 Breakout Sessions¶

26 Breakout Sessions¶

27 Breakout Sessions¶

28 Breakout Sessions¶

29 Breakout Sessions¶

Wed, June 25 ¶

30 Plenary: TBD¶

31 Plenary: TBD¶

32 Plenary: TBD¶

10:30 AM Coffee & Break

33 Plenary: TBD¶

34 Plenary: TBD¶

35 Plenary: TBD¶

12:30 PM Lunch

36 Breakout Sessions¶

37 Breakout Sessions¶

38 Breakout Sessions¶

39 Breakout Sessions¶

40 Breakout Sessions¶

3:15 PM Coffee & Break

41 Breakout Session¶

42 Breakout Session¶

43 Breakout Session¶

44 Breakout Session¶

45 Breakout Sessions¶

Thu, June 26 ¶

46 Plenary: TBD¶

47 Shuttle from Cadillac Jack's Resort to SURF¶

48 Plenary: TBD¶

49 SURF Overview¶

50 Plenary: TBD¶

51 SURF Underground Safety Training, Waivers, Lunch at 11:00 w/Cultural Awareness Committee, PPE and Shuttle to Yates¶

10:30 AM Coffee & Break

52 Plenary: TBD¶

53 Don PPE and Walk to Yates¶

54 Plenary: TBD¶

55 Box Lunch and Black Hills Tour¶

56 SURF Underground Tour¶

57 Shuttle, PPE, Return to Hotel¶

7:00 PM Evening Banquet

Fri, June 27 ¶

58 Plenary: TBD¶

59 Plenary: TBD¶

60 Plenary: TBD¶

10:30 AM Coffee & Break

61 Plenary: TBD¶

62 Plenary: TBD¶

12:00 PM Lunch

63 Breakout Sessions¶

64 Breakout Sessions¶

65 Breakout Sessions¶

66 Breakout Sessions¶

67 Breakout Sessions¶

3:15 PM Coffee and Break

68 Breakout Sessions¶

69 Breakout Sessions¶

70 Breakout Sessions¶

71 Breakout Sessions¶

72 Breakout Sessions¶

Sat, June 28 ¶

73 Plenary: TBD¶

74 Plenary: TBD¶

10:00 AM Coffee & Break

75 Plenary: TBD¶

76 Plenary: TBD¶

77 Closing Remarks, Box Lunch, and Departure¶