I Workshop "Challenges of New Physics in Space"

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The first Workshop "Challenges of New Physics in Space", will take place in Brazil from April 25-30, 2009.

Annual Workshops on New Physics in Space have taken place in Brazil over the past seven years, in which ~100 Brazilian physicists and astrophysicists meet to discuss recent astronomical observations that require new physics. The physics discussed, which ranges from black holes to dark energy, is analyzed against the backdrop of observations that can determine their viability.

In this 5 day workshop, "Challenges of New Physics in Space", visiting specialists have been invited to present what, in their view, are some of the major challenges of the new physics in space. After each lecture, ample time will be set aside for discussion.

The workshop will take place in Campos do Jordão, a favorite, charming resort town near the city of São Paulo.

The new astronomical observations in all frequencies require new physics to explain them. For example, observations of objects at high redshifts which, are affected by:

1. Dark Energy (the vacuum energy? a new scalar field? a more than four dimensional universe?);
2. Dark Matter (the lightest stable supersymmetric particle?);
3. Massive Black Holes (the nuclei of the first objects?); and
4. Plasma Physics.

Another example are the observations of the cosmic microwave background which is affected by:

1. Dark Energy;
2. Dark Matter;
3. Primordial Gravitational Waves;
4. Topology of the Universe; and
5. Plasma Physics.

Examples of new theories and the astronomical observations that are able to confirm them include:

THEORY: Black Hole Theory
OBSERVATION: Black Hole Horizon

THEORY: Hadron to Quark Transition
OBSERVATION: Quark Core at the Center of a Neutron Star

THEORY: History of the Primordial Expansion of the Universe
OBSERVATION: Sensitive CMB Data

THEORY: Cosmic Accelerators
OBSERVATION: Origin of Ultra-High Energy Particles in Active Galactic Nuclei

THEORY: Topology of the Universe
OBSERVATION: Sensitive CMB Data

THEORY: General Relativity
OBSERVATION: Gravitational Waves Emitted From Newly Born Black Holes and/or Neutron Stars

THEORY: Galaxy Formation
OBSERVATION: Radio and Infrared Data From First Objects

THEORY: Dark Matter
OBSERVATION: Dark Matter Densities at the Centers of Galaxies

THEORY: Dark Energy
OBSERVATION: Evolution with Redshift of Dark Matter Structure

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