Colloquium

A review of asymptotic (more generally, boundary) symmetries will be given in the context of the Hamiltonian formulation. General features (such as the form of the symmetry generators and the structure of the algebra) as well as specific examples will be covered.  A particular attention will be paid to asymptotically flat spaces and the asymptotic BMS algebra, where nonlinear redefinitions will be shown to yield a supertranslation-invariant angular momentum.

Cosmology is undergoing a data revolution. Surveys such as the imminent Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) to be conducted by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will deliver huge galaxy catalogues that provide critical tools for understanding the nature of dark matter and dark energy. However, in order to obtain accurate cosmological constraints from these enormous datasets, we need reliable ways of estimating galaxy properties using only photometry. I will present pop-cosmos: a forward modelling framework for photometric galaxy survey data, where galaxies are modelled as draws from a population prior distribution over redshift, mass, dust properties, metallicity, and star formation history. These properties are mapped to photometry using an emulator for stellar population synthesis, followed by the application of a learned model for a survey's noise properties. Application of selection cuts enables the generation of mock galaxy catalogues. This enables us to use simulation-based inference to solve the inverse problem of calibrating the population-level prior on a deep multiwavelength catalogue, COSMOS2020. We use a diffusion model as a flexible population-level prior, and optimise its parameters by minimising the Wasserstein distance between forward-simulated photometry and the real COSMOS2020 survey data. The resulting model can then be used to derive accurate redshift distributions for upcoming photometric surveys, to facilitate weak lensing and clustering science. I will show applications of this framework, demonstrating how we are able to extract redshift distributions, and make inferences about galaxy evolution. I will also discuss the use of pop-cosmos as a prior for performing inference on individual galaxies in a highly scaleable manner, as well as ongoing work to analyse data from the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS) in preparation for LSST.

I will introduce the Entanglement Bootstrap, a program to extract and understand the universal information characterizing a state of matter, starting from the local entanglement structure of a single representative state. This universal information is usually packaged in the form of a quantum field theory; the program therefore provides a surprising new perspective on quantum field theory. I will discuss what we can learn about gapped topological phases and their associated topological field theories, and about quantum critical points and their associated conformal field theories.

Astrophysical compact objects, neutron stars, and black holes are powerful sources of non-thermal electromagnetic emission spanning many orders of magnitude in photon energy, from radio waves to multi-TeV gamma rays. Despite multiple groundbreaking observational discoveries done in recent years, our understanding of the dynamics of relativistic plasmas that produce these emission signatures remains limited. In this talk, I will describe a few successful examples of modeling the observed light coming from these remarkable astrophysical laboratories using various numerical approaches. I will focus on advances in understanding coherent radio emission of rotating neutron stars, pulsars, and multi-wavelength flares from accreting black holes. 

Quantum biology explores how phenomena like superposition, tunneling, and entanglement influence biological systems, with growing experimental evidence supporting their role in processes such as photosynthesis, enzymatic reactions, DNA mutations, and animal navigation. These discoveries have profound implications for medicine, renewable energy, and our understanding of life. Quantum neurobiology applies this perspective to the brain, exploring how brain cells function beyond traditional models of electrical activity and chemical neurotransmission. Moving beyond classical models of chemical and electrical neuronal signaling, quantum approaches could revolutionize diagnostics and treatments for neurological disorders while offering deeper insights into cognition, behavior, and consciousness. Here will be presented an overview of quantum biology, examining the current state of quantum neurobiology, both theory and experiment, and exploring its potential applications in diagnosing and treating neuroinflammatory conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Gravitational waves were detected in 2015 after 100 years of their prediction. Coalescence of black holes and neutron stars have been studied giving birth to a new way of studying our Universe. The coincidence of the gravitational signal with a gamma ray burst has been identified as the beginning of multi-messenger astronomy. In order to move from the limited statistics, allowed by the actually running interferometers (LIGO and VIRGO), to a huge sample a new generation of detectors has to be designed , built and operated. Einstein Telescope is the project for a third generation detector, supported by a large European collaboration. It is going to be formed by a combination of a Low Frequency Cryogenic interferometer and an High Frequency high laser power interferometer both located underground in order to minimise the noise. Laser technology, seismic noise attenuation, quantim squeezing are a few of the keys to success. The experiment is going to produce results in several field of research like astronomy, astrophysics, nuclear physics, cosmology. It is going to be in competition and cooperation with the US project Cosmic Explorer.

Celestial Holography encompasses a decade-long endeavor to understand a flat space realization of the holographic principle starting from symmetries in the infrared.  But where does it fit within other attempts at constructing a flat hologram? This colloquium delves into some fun tensions in the literature and hopes for resolving them.

Cosmic surveys offer a unique window into fundamental physics, particularly the physics of light particles such as neutrinos. As a striking example, the recent results from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) have placed surprisingly stringent constraints on the sum of neutrino masses, nearly excluding the entire range of masses consistent with neutrino oscillation measurements. In this colloquium, I will review what we have learned about cosmic neutrinos from maps of the universe. I will then discuss this confusing situation, the status possible explanations for the current data, and the implications for Beyond the Standard Model physics.