Fundamental Physics from Galaxies
Oxford
The philosophy behind the meeting is that galaxies are becoming precision laboratories for fundamental physics. With current and forthcoming data from surveys and observatories such as Euclid, LSST, JWST, SKA, MaNGA and Gaia, we are entering a period in which galaxy structure, dynamics, lensing and satellite populations can be used to test the nature of dark matter, dark energy and gravity in regimes that are difficult to access by other means. At the same time, advances in simulations, Bayesian forward modelling, simulation-based inference and galaxy - halo connection modelling are making it possible to connect fundamental theory to complex galactic observables with increasing rigour.
A central aim of the workshop is to bring together communities that often work in parallel rather than in concert: gravity theorists, dark matter phenomenologists, galaxy-formation modellers and observers. The meeting will focus on how these perspectives can be integrated into a coherent programme for using galaxies to test physics beyond the standard model, while also addressing the astrophysical and statistical systematics that make these tests challenging. The workshop will be a focused one-day meeting, designed to encourage discussion as much as presentation.