Presentation of IPhT : The Institute of Theoretical Physics (IPhT) is an Institute of the Direction of Fundamental Research (DRF) of the Commissariat for Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies (CEA).
Deconstructing the String Landscape (a.k.a. landscapia)
IPhT Conference: November 29, 2023 to December 1, 2023
Despite its uniqueness, string theory has a “landscape” of low-energy solutions with very different observable physics: different cosmological constants, matter content and interactions.
The goal of the conference is to bring together part of the community of researchers working on of string compactifications and their relation with a series of topics such as moduli stabilisation, non-supersymmetric vacua, de Sitter constructions, scale separation, non-geometric backgrounds and particle model building.
This event will be preceded by the String-Cosmo day, on the 28th of November at the APC, in central Paris.
Organizers: Mariana Graña, Alvaro Herraez and Nicolas Kovensky
Conference website: indico.in2p3.fr/event/29480
The first images taken by Euclid revealed
On 7 November 2023, the first images taken by Euclid, an ESA satellite launched on 1 July 2023, were revealed.
These images demonstrate the exceptional performance of this new space observatory: it has been designed to take wide-field images - the Euclid telescope's field of view is 0.53 degrees squared, or 100 times greater than that of the James Webb telescope, for example - while having an angular resolution of 0.1 arcsec over the entire field. The first images obtained demonstrate the instrument's performance, in particular the stability of the angular resolution obtained in the visible and infrared wavelengths.
This performance is crucial to Euclid's scientific objectives. They will enable us to unambiguously identify a large number of distant galaxies, and precisely measure their shape and luminosity. These cosmological surveys will enable us to tackle the central scientific questions of the mission: elucidating the laws of gravity on a cosmological scale and allowing a better understanding of what may be behind the acceleration of the expansion of the universe, attributed to the enigmatic dark energy.
Over the last three decades, the IPhT has developed expertise in the theory of the formation and evolution of the large structures of the universe, which Euclid will endeavour to observe and map. More recently, it has also developed expertise in the construction of alternative models to general relativity, whose observational signatures we are now endeavouring to identify. The expertise acquired at the IPhT is highly visible in the project. Deputy to the Euclid consortium leader, Francis Bernardeau is in charge of scientific performance verification, i.e. verifying Euclid's performance in measuring the parameters describing the equation of state of this famous dark energy. Francis Bernardeau is also one of the project's spokespersons, and as such he spoke at the ESA press conference on 7 November to present the consortium's challenges.
Links to find out more:
Celebration of IPHT's 60 years birthday
The Institute of Theoretical Physics (IPhT), formerly SPhT, is internationally known for the excellence of its scientific research, but has also a very ancient history. Its evolution is inextricably linked to that of the CEA and is almost as old. Its adventure began in 1947 with a small group of physicians passionated for abstraction, and to date more than 500 people have shared the life of the Institute, as well as the many visitors from all over the world. Today, 48 permanent researchers, 25 graduate students and 30 postdoctoral fellows, as well as the support staff, work at IPhT.
The Institute's 60th anniversary is therefore a major milestone. They were celebrated in the form of an anniversary on 9 and 10 November 2023 for all those who have led the adventure of theoretical physics within the Institute. Prestigious external personalities were also invited to the event. Lectures and testimonies by eminent members of the IPhT have alternated with intense and convivial moments of reunion between old and new members.
A photo exhibition and film screenings have given everyone the chance to remember the good memories of the past in a warm and friendly atmosphere. A dinner offered to all members of the Institute has closed the celebration.
You can find the full programme of festivities here:
Site des 60 ans de l'IPhT
The IPhT's 60th anniversary event has been approved for the Year of Physics 2023 and powered on its site:
Site de l'année de la Physique
You can also find out more about this event on the CEA/DRF website:
Article du site de la DRF
